My 20th High School Reunion

Yep, I got a call from an old classmate from high school. It seems that the class of 1988, the single greatest example of unused potential in high school history, has a wild notion to have a 20th reunion.

Truthfully, the likelihood of my attending is heavy on the "none" side and barely listing towards "slim". This has nothing to do with feeling old or any of that crap. I generally don't care one way or another about going. If I wanted to keep in touch with any of these folks I'd surely have done so. Curiosity is not a reason to attend such a thing.

I enjoy hearing from old classmates, but do I want to know what they look like now, learn how their lives have turned out, hear about how many kids they have? Fuck no. Good lord, NO!

And for the record I have no intentions of attending my 20th (and the school's 40th) reunion of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Clown College either. Again, I enjoy hearing from the folks when they seek me out, but attending a reunion of Clown College graduates? That's an even more repellant notion to me. I can't stand being around that many people who are in that much need for attention ya know? A lot of these folks have no idea when the show is over if you get my meaning. I went to a party of some CC grads here in Vegas, hoping to meet new people who could provide some help in getting work out here in Vegas. NOT. A. GOOD. IDEA.

Anyway, I am certain I'll be making my decision as I get closer to the date of the high school reunion. However I rather doubt I'll be going unless I am already in the area for work or something. Seriously, somebody actually called me and essentially asked this of me...

"Andy, would you like to leave vibrant, exciting, and scenic Las Vegas, Nevada, at your own expense, mind you, to return to the floundering micropolis known as Marengo, Illinois to hang out with people you haven't seen in 20 years?"

Am I a jerk? Hell yeah. Does any of this make sense even outside of Andy Land? MOST DEFINITELY!

And I own the copyright on the term "micropolis" so don't try and use it without crediting me ya thieving bastards!

Had a Gig Wednesday

If this were Chicago, I'd know I'd be getting called again soon from this company.

Since this is Las Vegas I have no idea if the "home run" I hit today at this corporate event will bring about any future work.

It was the second time I've worked for this company since being here in the Vegas Valley. The first time was the comedy club in Laughlin, which went extremely well and was full of high praise from audience members and casino workers alike. Taking all this into account, I have not been able to get re-booked there nor have I been able to get the guy at the agency to return a call, give a reason for not booking me again, etc. [SIGH!]

This gig was an excellent one for me. The audience loved me on stage and when strolling (no, really!) and the owner of the company that booked me was in attendance. All things considered I left happy to have waited so long for the event. Still and all, this being Vegas I have no idea how this will affect future bookings . I did two killer bookings awhile back for another company, they loved me and told me so, and...no subsequent calls. [DOUBLE SIGH!]

Perhaps when I can tell you about some of my other prospects all this will change. Until then...back to work (at two day jobs, promoting myself, and rehearsing for another gig).

More from Bryce Canyon

Still working hard. Still nothing new to report. Still not much I can talk about.

Let's just say that things are a bit more settled at Big Horn, life is rather bizarre at Houdini's, and one day I hope to be able to talk about some of the entertainment stuff I'm working on.

Oh yeah, people who use the Yellow Pages are cheap & unrealistic. OK, maybe not all of them...just the ones who've called me recently. I'll give a Yellow Book update sometime soon.

I know that I have not been the prolific Andy of the past. I'm just too tired and far too unmotivated to share much of anything right now. Lots of work and little to show for it. This town is nearly impossible to get ahead in if you're an entertainer new to the area and that is far too depressing for me. Therefore I don't blog much. When I do blog, vague or not, you get something to read. Sending me e-mails asking for more details only makes me more upset so just be glad I'm posting something.

Until life is better, here are a few more snapshots of my birthday trip to Bryce Canyon National Park. I can't wait to return there and see more.


We've got many more of these on the ole hard drive and you'll be seeing many of them along the way.

Vote for the Mustard Museum

From Barry Levenson, Curator, Mount Horeb Mustard Museum.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. VOTE FOR THE MUSTARD MUSEUM!

Vote early and vote often! The Ketchup Kartel is planing another of its infamous dirty tricks campaigns to sabotage the vote. But we can show the real power of mustard and win this crucial vote. The Mount Horeb Mustard Museum was recently named a top-ten finalist for one of two $25,000 Markham Vineyard Mark of Distinction grants. The program recognizes individuals and organizations that have contributed to their respective communities and can use financial help to do even more.

This grant would be a tremendous opportunity to bring even more excitement to the Mustard Museum with new displays, exhibits, and interactive programs.

The two winners are determined by online voting at the official web site: www.markhammarkofdistinction .com. Visitors to the web site can cast one vote per day through July 21. Mustard lovers everywhere can make a big difference by casting daily ballots for America?s favorite condiment museum, the Mount Horeb Mustard Museum.

Please visit the Markham Mark of Distinction Website. Vote every day if you'd be so kind. Should they win this grant, there may be a much better chance for me to return to the Museum this year and entertain. ;)

Trying to Cheer Things Up

Since I have no news to share about all of the entertainment things I can't talk about and I don't really feel like bitching about how cheap people who use the Yellow Pages really are I will simply post a few photos from my birthday trip this year to Bryce Canyon National Park.

I'll put up one or two every so often to remind me and those who still read this blog (both of you) that there are some good things out there.

Besides, I need a pick-me-up.

Fourth of Ju-[SIGH!]

Every damn person in this town blows up major fireworks on the street here. Kinda cool. Kinda dangerous, but still cool. Cooler still is that most folk seem to clean up after their mess.

The Station Casinos also have a big fireworks display choreographed to music and running simultaneously among most of their properties. Find a cool spot somewhere close and listen to the simulcast on the radio. NICE!

Otherwise I'm all bummed out about some major mistake I made on a tour today. this will likely cost me about $240.00...which i really don't have to lose right now.

The tour gig is fun, but there's a lot that can go wrong and there's definitely a bit too much stress over the little things. My mistake was "major", but I'd already essentially solved the problem by
A) Stating I didn't know I was making a mistake.
B) Offering to make it right so the company doesn't "eat it".
C) Assuring the boss it won't happen again.

Should be enough, right? Well I don't REALLY need to hear the same six sentences over and over again explaining my error, especially after I've done what I could to make it right, will have to wait for the results to see if my offer is even necessary, and I'm still so damned new at this I don't even know if I'm making a mistake or not.

Plus, with the exception of today and maybe one earlier this week, the gratuities have not been working out to the amount I should "expect". I know that you can't truly place expectations on a gratuity, but so far as I can tell, the folks who do this kind of work don't do it for the much more than the tips. I mean, how many times can you see the Hoover Dam, right?

Add all this to the fact that I've now gone through TWO pay periods at Houdini's and am still waiting for my FIRST check from the tour company (I've no doubt I'll be "in the system" soon, these guys are honest and good people. I'm just sayin'...) and I'm starting to think that two weeks will soon be given. I can survive on 4 days a week at the magic shop and my comedy magic show gig I can't tell you much about is starting to bear some fruit...which I also can't talk about yet.

Moreover I can use the
sleep more than the stress!

All frustrating. I thought I did so well given the rather large amount of stuff on my plate today.

Why Not Me?

That's my political slogan.

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