Sunday, October 23...

Boy time flies, doesn't it???

So, what's going on around here? Well, I'm doing the Cafe Sevilla's in both San Diego, and Long Beach, not on a regular
basis, though. I'm on a week to week schedule. Don't like that, but I'm grateful for what ever bookings they give me.

Heard Diego El Cigala was in Redondo Beach last Thursday. Didn't attend. For me to do so entails a car rental, a ticket, and buying gas. Gets too expensive for me at this point in time.

Angelita's Concierto Flamenco is coming up in Baldwin Park in a couple of weeks. I'll probably do that one. The Segerstrom Theatre in Orange County is presenting Jose Porcell and his Spanish and Flamenco Dance Company in November, right after my birthday. I might treat myself and go see that. I saw them in Palm Springs a couple of years ago, and in Jerez, Spain a few years ago. Awesome theatre and dance stuff. I highly recommend that show.

Finally settled on the student recital and professional Flamenco show. Sunday, August 26, 2012 is the date. Met with Orbit Rentals and discussed my plans for the outdoor Fiesta Bash! They're bringing in a tent, tables, chairs, a raised stage, so I'm at the point of no return now. We'll be having Sangria, Snacks, Spanish food, Salads, and Tintos de Verano for sale.

Tickets will be on sale starting in January. It will be very limited seating, as we can only do about 150 seats. We'll have standing room also, but maybe for about 20 extra people. Went to the City of Whittier to discuss the event, and they want a Typed Proposal with all the pertinent information before they can rule on it. The young lady said she didn't see any problems.

Hell, my neighbors on both sides, across the street, and behind us throw loud parties with DJs and lousy music until three and four AM! We'll be doing a Sunday Afternoon thing. Please tell your friends and relations out there. As we get closer to the event I'll let you know the Professionals that will be appearing in the second part of the shows. Awesome Artists.

Hoping we don't have too many problems with the food portion of the Fiesta. If any of you have suggestions for Spanish food
caterers, let me know. We have a tapas place here in Whittier, but they don't really do authentic Spanish Tapas. Their wines are good, but that's about it.. Once you've had real Spanish tapas in Sevilla, Jerez, and Madrid, the places here don't cut it.
Suggestions? I'm all ears.

Hey, see a movie called 50/50. It's awesome. A comedy about a young man who contracts spinal Cancer. It's funny, poignant and very real. I was watching the movie, and it hit a lot of stuff I went through in 2005. The young actor that portrays the lead character is awesome. He works a lot. Deservedly so...
Saw the new 3 Musketeers movie. A big waste. Great Locations. Awesome castles, churches, visuals, and costumes for the most part, but that's about all. It was very disconcerting to hear the characters speak present day slang in some of the dialog. I'm sure they didn't speak that way then. I kept waiting for a high five somewhere along the way?
I remember seeing one of the first Musketeer movies with Lana Turner, Gene Kelly, and a host of other fine actors when I was a kid. I'm sure that movie would more than hold it's own even now. I saw it on my birthday. Have never forgotten that movie.
See the one called Drive. Bloody as hell, but great acting. Good story...

Waiting to hear about an audition at the New York Film School. I must have submitted for something but wasn't able to audition a while back, and got a call from the director regarding this audition. He said he liked my photos and called to ask me to audition for this new feature he's doing. I'm going.. I'm going.. There are a lot of film schools here in Los Angeles, and they're always looking for actors. You get a reel that you can submit to other auditions or to an agent to get an agent. That's how it went for me.. Hoping to book a part in a real movie or Tv show...

So, I'll leave you guys with that note. Keep following your dreams.. They do come true. Don't Give them up!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

So, O.K., It's Saturday, Sept. 24th, AND....

I'm not working tonite because of a big snafu at Cafe Seviila in San Diego. The Cafe Sevilla's seem to be all working very well on snafu's these days. Mixed up dates, no checks to pay the artists, leaking faucets in the restrooms, No dressing rooms, all sorts of idiotic stuff for a big business concern that shouldn't be happening.

If I was managing, the faucets in the restrooms in Long Beach wouldn't be leaking water all over the floors, as they have been for the past year!!! Doesn't look good for the money spending public to see that! Give us a place to dress, and put our stuff between shows! Doesn't look good for the Public to see us in our underwaear before the shows. Somehow that breaks the whole "flamenco Magic" of the the show.

That said, I had the honor of performing at the Hotel Laguna in "wait for it" ... Laguna Beach, last Wednesday, as part of the Irvine Flamenco Dance Festival that starts at the Barclay Theatre in Irvine this Friday nite. Very well organized, so it can be done. My only complaint was the stage. It was too small for three dancers.

Heard through the flamenco grapevine that unfortunately, tickets aren't moving as they should for the Festival Performances at the Barclay. Everyone concerned is worried. But the three prior shows at three different hotels were sold out. Certainly our's was. We heard from the waiters and waitresses that cater these affairs, that our's was the best and most organized show. When waiters and waitresses take their time to tell you that, you can believe it..

Mizuho Sato, Juan Talavera and Rina Orellana were the dancers, along with Jesus Montoya, Singing, and Antonio Triana playing the guitar. Magical!!! We had such a blast performing with Jesus and Antonio, that yesss, it was magical. Guess What? No rehearsals. Just verbal ones, at best. "What are you dancing? Alegrias! How many letras? Two. Silencio? no. Castellana? no. Escobilla? yes. Buleria at the end? of course, two." Mizujo did an awesome Taranto. Rina did a Solea por Buleria that was great. I did an Alegrias that killed. Even Jesus said WE should be doing the shows at the Barclay instead! The director of the Barclay Theatre was there. Maybe next year? Hint, Hint!!

Classes are going well. Seriously planning a student recital, but with a twist. I would like to set up a stage in my back yard with sound, etc. I certainly have the space for it. My neighbors always have loud, terrible DJ parties till all hours, so I figure if I do something on a Sunday afternoon (Sunday, July 15, 2012) it won't disturb anyone. I'm planning a tent, a raised stage, Flamenco Music, Sangria, Sandwhiches, Snacks, and fun! Certainly, we'll have a Professional Flamenco Show after the student recital! I'll keep you posted.

Movies??? See DRIVER. Awesome. Gut Bloody, but Awesome. See the Planet of the Apes movie. See CONTAGION. What happens in that movie, can happen folks. Big article in the L.A. Times by reknown doctors saying the movie was very authentic and that what happens can and has happened but it's been covered up.
I'll eat at home, thanks.

So, all of you out there in TV land, and Flamenco Land, continue "Flamencoing!" Take classes. Do the Workshops that are offered. See the shows! Support Flamenco! I would, but being carless, I'd have to rent a car to get there. Can't! I only rent when I get paid for it. Otherwise it's the bus, and I don't want to be on busses at 10:00 PM, coming back to Whittier! LOL!

Take care out there!

Juan

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