HEF MONO musings
Apr. 19th, 2007 03:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thehefnerSo big, big thanks to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
2sick2pray for lending me her book, CREATING YOUR OWN MONOLOGUE, by Glenn Alterman, which has proven an invaluable resource for THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES. Seriously, this book is absolutely tailor-made for (pretty much) every damn thing I'm looking for. It's written in an upbeat, fun, and fully supportive style, which is absolutely essential for me, but at the same time doesn't bullshit the aspiring performer either. Good.
For one thing, Danny Hoch's interview brings up two very good points. 1.) It's not about the money (which is plainly obvious, but always good to be reminded point-blank) and 2.) Who's Your Audience? I'm trying to figure that one out. So far, I think my audience is between the ages of 18 and 35, readers of alternative free city newspapers and The Onion, people who listen to "This American Life" on NPR and those with an ear towards pop culture. I'm not quite certain if that's the best description of my demographic, or if I'm even entirely correct, but that's my current theory this far into the game.
The book also raises an interesting idea: I could put THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES up as the Fringe as a "work in progress." That way I could develop it, rehearse it with a live audience and get feedback. That might be an ideal situation this early on in the game. And the book also says that by letting the audience know ahead of time that it's a "work in progress," it lowers expectations a little... which might benefit me? Or would that not be a good idea?
I'm also considering maybe taking this opportunity to go all-out and, alacavenessity, get some kick-ass professional promotional photos of me in a number of outfits and backgrounds. But perhaps I should hold off until I do the shows in a bigger venue. Do I really wanna go all-out for five performances in a place that seats 35? Or should I after all, since this is not gonna be the easiest sell anyway?
Finally, the book has a whole sub-chapter titled "Gimmicky Openings." I read that and went, "Whuh-oh." Erm... after reading this, folks, I think... well, I thinkspacechild, sole naysayer to me doing the 300 trailer, might have been right on the money. Ah well. Maybe it could be an extra feature on the DVD?
Because yes, I need these to be filmed. Partially for my own benefit, so I can watch and critique myself. And partially for promotion, so I can send demo tapes to venues. Also, lord knows I'd want a whole HEFNER MONOLOGUES IN CONCERT DVD.
Which reminds me, I've been trying to do some research on other storytellers/stand up comedians who seem comparable to what I have to offer. I just watched BILL COSBY: HIMSELF, am constantly rewatching the wonderful CHRISTOPHER TITUS: NORMAN ROCKWELL IS BLEEDING, and, since it's not available to buy or rent, am going to purchase sight-unseen all four of John Leguizamo's one-man shows via eBay. You'd better be right about how brilliant he is, Danny. I except nothing less than inspiration and awe! And I just threw Spalding Gray's MONSTER IN A BOX to the top of the Netflix queue.
Because that's something else I'm trying to keep in mind. What do THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES have to offer that no one else can? My stuff is mostly spoken word storytelling, not all-out stand-up like Cosby or Titus, but I throw a few more dashes of stand-up comedy in there than Spalding Gray or Garrison Keillor. So far, the closest person who seems to do what I do (or want to do) is Henry Rollins, and I benefit from being a decidedly un-Rollinsian person.
Ooh, I should add some Henry Rollins to my Netflix queue. Any other one-man shows out there on DVD I should look for?
The book reminded me that I'm still really gonna need a director though. Like, really really. Someone who understands my throughline and can strengthen the show as a whole. Hmm. Maybe I'll put out a plea for help to the Rudes/Speakeasy/Dale/Gary Sloan and see if anything comes from it.
Oy. OK, back to the more pressing matter of FAUSTUS. And maybe Studio class, but at this point, it's fallen at the bottom of my priorities. You hear that, Serge?! YOU can be REPLACED!
2sick2pray for lending me her book, CREATING YOUR OWN MONOLOGUE, by Glenn Alterman, which has proven an invaluable resource for THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES. Seriously, this book is absolutely tailor-made for (pretty much) every damn thing I'm looking for. It's written in an upbeat, fun, and fully supportive style, which is absolutely essential for me, but at the same time doesn't bullshit the aspiring performer either. Good. For one thing, Danny Hoch's interview brings up two very good points. 1.) It's not about the money (which is plainly obvious, but always good to be reminded point-blank) and 2.) Who's Your Audience? I'm trying to figure that one out. So far, I think my audience is between the ages of 18 and 35, readers of alternative free city newspapers and The Onion, people who listen to "This American Life" on NPR and those with an ear towards pop culture. I'm not quite certain if that's the best description of my demographic, or if I'm even entirely correct, but that's my current theory this far into the game.
The book also raises an interesting idea: I could put THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES up as the Fringe as a "work in progress." That way I could develop it, rehearse it with a live audience and get feedback. That might be an ideal situation this early on in the game. And the book also says that by letting the audience know ahead of time that it's a "work in progress," it lowers expectations a little... which might benefit me? Or would that not be a good idea?
I'm also considering maybe taking this opportunity to go all-out and, ala
cavenessity, get some kick-ass professional promotional photos of me in a number of outfits and backgrounds. But perhaps I should hold off until I do the shows in a bigger venue. Do I really wanna go all-out for five performances in a place that seats 35? Or should I after all, since this is not gonna be the easiest sell anyway?Finally, the book has a whole sub-chapter titled "Gimmicky Openings." I read that and went, "Whuh-oh." Erm... after reading this, folks, I think... well, I think
spacechild, sole naysayer to me doing the 300 trailer, might have been right on the money. Ah well. Maybe it could be an extra feature on the DVD? Because yes, I need these to be filmed. Partially for my own benefit, so I can watch and critique myself. And partially for promotion, so I can send demo tapes to venues. Also, lord knows I'd want a whole HEFNER MONOLOGUES IN CONCERT DVD.
Which reminds me, I've been trying to do some research on other storytellers/stand up comedians who seem comparable to what I have to offer. I just watched BILL COSBY: HIMSELF, am constantly rewatching the wonderful CHRISTOPHER TITUS: NORMAN ROCKWELL IS BLEEDING, and, since it's not available to buy or rent, am going to purchase sight-unseen all four of John Leguizamo's one-man shows via eBay. You'd better be right about how brilliant he is, Danny. I except nothing less than inspiration and awe! And I just threw Spalding Gray's MONSTER IN A BOX to the top of the Netflix queue.
Because that's something else I'm trying to keep in mind. What do THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES have to offer that no one else can? My stuff is mostly spoken word storytelling, not all-out stand-up like Cosby or Titus, but I throw a few more dashes of stand-up comedy in there than Spalding Gray or Garrison Keillor. So far, the closest person who seems to do what I do (or want to do) is Henry Rollins, and I benefit from being a decidedly un-Rollinsian person.
Ooh, I should add some Henry Rollins to my Netflix queue. Any other one-man shows out there on DVD I should look for?
The book reminded me that I'm still really gonna need a director though. Like, really really. Someone who understands my throughline and can strengthen the show as a whole. Hmm. Maybe I'll put out a plea for help to the Rudes/Speakeasy/Dale/Gary Sloan and see if anything comes from it.
Oy. OK, back to the more pressing matter of FAUSTUS. And maybe Studio class, but at this point, it's fallen at the bottom of my priorities. You hear that, Serge?! YOU can be REPLACED!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 08:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 02:08 pm (UTC)And yeah, in the book I'm reading, they actually mention Woolly Mammoth as a place to try to sell your one-man show, but they warn that they're interested in more surreal stuff. Still, you're right, I absolutely never know.
WRT Rollins spoken word
Date: 2007-04-19 09:37 pm (UTC)Re: WRT Rollins spoken word
Date: 2007-04-20 03:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-19 11:04 pm (UTC)just understand that while i didnt think the trailers bit was the best idea, i always have your back and am standing behind you, little brother. aim for the stars and reading is fundamental and all that crap.
as for Leguizamo.. i have to warn that i saw one of his others and found it to be far weaker than Freak. you may still find it useful.. but Freak is the only one that i strongly recommend.
Rollins is good, too. waaaaaaay different from your style, but you may still pick up some tips there.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 03:09 pm (UTC)Well, it looks like if I ever want to see FREAK, I'm gonna have to buy all the DVDs at once, since that's the only way it's on eBay.
I was just thinking that Rollins is one of the only others I know to be primarily storytelling, but with a stand-up comic flair. Just thinking back to when I saw him at the 9:30 club eight years ago.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 04:05 pm (UTC)thats the only way they sell it? weird.
yeah, i enjoy Rollins.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 04:15 pm (UTC)Well, bear in mind, as with Titus' stand-up, Leguizamo's shows are not available for official DVD, so I hafta find bootleg recordings of his HBO specials. That's what they're selling on eBay. I can't even find any footage on youtube!
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 04:23 pm (UTC)that sucks that neither is available on dvd.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 03:06 am (UTC)Um, I prefer "The Weekly World News" to "The Onion", actually.
Glad you're ditching the trailer idea. It wouldn't have ruined anything, but it would have gotten in the way of the storyteller thing. And doing it as a work-in-progress in from of 35 people sounds perfect. It's more personal in a smaller space, which is ideal for a little soundingboarding.
I imagine. I mean, what do I know about talking to people?
The responses are coming soon! Now that I'm on summer vacation, I just need enough sleep to enable me to attach sentence-words together again and I'll finish them up and send them. Had an early-morning exam, a sort of bad boy-day and a late thing at work and I can't brain anymore.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 02:05 pm (UTC)And soon, I'll finally have that short scene which I'd very, very much like for you to draw the end of! If you read it and are still so inclined, of course! So I look forward to your responses (as always!) and shall continue work on my other stuff!
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 03:12 am (UTC)I think you'll like "Monster in A Box". It's not as giddy or gutsy as "Swimming to Cambodia", but it's good stuff.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 03:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 08:02 am (UTC)Brilliant speaking voice and a natural racounteur (and no I don't know how to spell!)
Not sure if he is the same style as you but he has a wonderful way of linking stuff together, you may get some tips.
I really hope you do put the show on DVD (along with the 300 trailer for definate!) as I would pimp it around this Granite City like mad.
Glad to see it's all coming together for you bud
no subject
Date: 2007-04-20 03:05 pm (UTC)It is indeed coming together, but even for this show, it's all a work in progress. The Dr. Leo Marvin method: Baby Steps.