Last Night A Showtune Changed My Life

    Well it is no secret that I'm a big ole show queen! If it has anything to do with the theatre or musical theatre I'm there.   When I lived in Columbus, OH, I would got to Showtunes Sunday at Union Station, now called U.  I would meet my friends and we drink some drinks, eat some food, and spend way to many hours watching clips of all things musical.  It was a great way to end the weekend and often led to very hungover Monday! 

  *Note to my Ohio followers.   Check out U in the short north for Showtunes Sunday!  It's been a while since I've been, but I think they still have it.

   When I moved to NYC, I was happy to discover a night like that at Splash Bar on 17th and 6th.   Every Monday starting at 7:00pm the super sweet VJ John Bantay, who is no stranger to the Broadway stage himself, creates an amazing night of fun for the show queens and newbies alike. 

   I am often teased because I rarely miss a Monday.  Chances are if you need to find me between the hours of 7 and 11pm on Mon. I'm there.  But what people don't realize is that for me, its not just about the great videos, happy hour, and all that jazz.  It's the community, the energy, and the chance to reconnect. 

   I live less than one block away from my friend of almost 7 years and I rarely get to hang out. Sure we text, maybe chat phone call, but its tough meeting up, I have friends that I met in Ohio that now live in the city and I see them even less. The different schedules and the hustle and the bustle just makes it impossible!  The one thing we all know is that on Musical Monday nights at Splash we will get a chance to see each other, catch up, enjoy some tunes, sit, bitch, argue, sometimes cry, and of course laugh.  It's our chance to reconnect in this "City of Strangers."

  VJ John  B also does something else for me. He helps me forget the bad day or previous week I may have had, forget about new medical bills I have to pay, the student loan that's gonna make my paycheck disappear, etc... And if only for a moment, live in a musical life of where people express their joys and sorrows in song, dance, and acting.  It's kinda like Church of the Sacred Showtunes.  It seems that whatever I may be going through, something will get shown that will "preach" to me.  I've seen it happen! One moment everyone is laughing and carrying on ,then a clip will get shown, and the table will go silent.  We just watch, take it in, maybe shed a single tear, give a nod, and continue on.   

  Now if you decide to come on out, I suggest you follow my strategy.  Send a text to see who's going and who gets off of work first.   Whoever does, hustles to the bar to make sure that we get a table.  Because you know Q does not stand up! I prefer to sit and pose! Then, if you're the first one there you have the "wait of shame", where you have to sit by yourself and fight off bitchy queens, oldie dirties, and annoying twinks that want to take the chairs from the table, block your view, or attempt to pick you up. It's even worse if you have to pee.  If you leave, your spot is gone! After the wait is over, the others usually start arriving and the fun begins, Regine, the resident bar mistress who has been taking care of for way too many years, comes by takes the drink orders and the rest is history.  What follows is a lot of singing,  a few arguments over who sang it better, a couple of Patti versus Bernadette, dancing, friend making, maybe some making out,  and, for some, DRINKING!  Even if you've never seen a show in your life, I'm pretty sure you will find some way to have a good time.

    Now, I'm not saying screw live theatre and don't go and actually see a show.  Nothing can replace the real thing.  Think of this as a quick fix till you get a chance to. I'm also not saying  "go all ye Christians and put down your bibles." I'm just saying go out and see a show and pick up a cast recording. You might be surprised.  Besides, doesn't all art come from the divine?

Showtune of the day: "Another Hundred People" from Company

watch it here!

  Ok kids1   I'm finished for the day1 As usual, I thank everyone that is following and subscribing.  Don't forget to spread the word and share with your friends.  I'm very excited for what I have in store for the blog and you all so hang in there.

Till next time!

-Q

You Gotta Gimmick A Gimmick- Q's adventures in Burlesque!

   I guess burlesque will always hold a special place in my heart!  My very first professional show was in the North Carolina Theatre's production of "Gypsy". Many years ago, like chubby fat Q years ago! Back then my family was living in a small shitty tobacco farming town in North Carolina, so my mother would drive me an hour to Raleigh, North Carolina for rehearsals and performances pretty much everyday, sometimes I would have to get dropped of on two show days and the actress that played Mazeppa made sure that I was taken care of. Yes, I was baby sat by an actress dressed as a trumpet welding dominatrix stripper! 

   For those unfamiliar with the show. "Gypsy" is loosely based on the life of the famous burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee.Q is too lazy to write what Gypsy is about so click here!

   My favorite number in the show is the act two showstopper "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" sung by Tessie, Mazeppa, and Electra. I remember watching this number every night and singing and bumping and grinding along.  Who knew it would about 18 years before I would actually go to a burlesque show.

   After receiving the text from Sina, my high energy hottie bestie!, that I would be going to Kitty Nights Burlesque @ Bar on A, I spent an agonizing amount of time trying to decide  on what to wear and finally made it downtown to meet my partners in mischief for the evening.    Shortly after arriving, we were greeted by the sexy and chic BooBess. The best way I can describe her is like a hottie librarian. Tight pencil skirt, heels, proper fitted blouse, hair pinned back, with that sexy,"I've got a secret!" look...very kitty with a whip! She tells us that if we want a good seat we better get to the other room, the show is about the start.   What followed was an hour of music, humor,comedy, and sexy burlesque! I wanted to see more!

  It wasn't the sleazy experience I was expecting.   It was a celebration of the female and male body, of art, and acceptance.  The energy was one of community,freedom, and sensuality! That's really the best way I could sum up what I experienced.  If you are in the NYC area, check out "London Britches Falling Down" presented by Siren Song Burlesque and hosted by the phenomenal BooBess & Kat Mandu! The show will be at the Delancey on August 31, starts at 9:30pm and there is a $8.00 cover.  Go to the show and get a master class on loving your body and being sexy!

  That's all for today kids! Thanks for checking out my blog and don't forget to subscribe, follow, and share!  Let's keep growing! Oh and don't forget to follow me on twitter! @QtheBowtiedOne.

 " If ya wanna make it. Twinkle while ya shake it!"

"If ya wanna grind it. Wait till you refine it!"

"If ya bump it. Bump it with a trumpet!"

"Get yourself a gimmick and you to will be a star!"

-from "You Gotta Get a Gimmick"-Gypsy

You Gotta Get a Gimmick 2003 bway 

Screw the bedbugs! BEWARE THE LEECHES!

   If you live in NYC you can't go anywhere without being reminded of the ongoing threat of bedbugs. I'm not going to explain what they are, here's a link: bedbugs?

   But, as i was sitting here watching my blood being filtered by a machine, I'll get on my organ donation soapbox later, I was reflecting on the conversations I've had with my friends and realized that there is a huge epidemic taking over the city just like bed bugs. I'm talking about leeches! Not the kind that live in water and attach and suck your blood; once used to treat medical conditions. I'm talking about the human kind.  

    Beware these leeches are sneaky and come in many disguises, your friends, family, co-workers, anyone.  They come in like a vampires drain your patience, your charity, time, energy, dignity, and respect! But wait there's more!  Some have this ability to make you feel guilty for demanding  the respect and gratitude you deserve and then refuse to accept the consequences that are of result of the situation that they, not YOU have put themselves in.

   So Q, what does one do if they find themselves dealing with a leech? 

     Well, the first step is summon your inner Claire Huxtable ( if you're new to my blog you got some catching up to do!)  Then you need to take a moment and have a chat with your leech. Be prepared, they may yell, cry, call you names, or just be stone cold quiet. Let them know how you are feeling and then give them a deadline to leave, get a job, clean their mess, get their ass in gear, whatever they need to do at that moment.  Make sure they are aware of what will happen if these changes aren't made. Be very clear that you will no longer accepting whatever behavior that has been really ticking you off. You will be treated with the respect and gratitude you deserve. And finally, stick to your guns. Do not back down.  I was told to never make promises or ultimatums that you don't intend on keeping.   

  Please don't let your emotions get the best of you and just go off.  You catch more flies with shade and honey than with vinegar.  Say what you need to say in a calm manner and get it done.  If the leeches are truly friends they will might get angry but will realize that this is for their own good. If they pitch a fit and attack you. maybe you need to evaluate your relationship.   If this a work situation, please follow the proper channels as set by your place of employment. No sense in getting fired because your give a damn broke!

QtheBowtiedOne has spoken!
   Thanks to everyone that has shown their support for my blog and please don't forget to follow on here, subscribe to it, share it with your friends, and follow me on twitter @QttheBowtiedOne!

Hopefully Ever After

   So I had a hell of a day yesterday and feeling really down. You know how it goes, you try to sleep and close your eyes but the mind is still racing and you finally give up.  So I sat there in bed feeling a bit sorry for self, cried a few tears, muttered a few why me's, then popped a Valium.  Well, that didn't work so I thought to myself MUSICAL.  I needed to escape for a hour or two.  So in goes Bob Fosse's "Sweet Charity".   Not only does this film have great singing, dancing, acting, and (of course) direction and choreography, it also tells a story of a woman who basically gets shit on the throughout the entire film and in the end finds the strength to just keep going and not let it get her down.   In fact the movie ends with, " And she lived HOPEFULLY ever." 

   Watching the adventures of Miss Charity Hope Valentine  helped me realize that no situation is hopeless and feeling sorry for yourself sitting in doom and gloom accomplishes nothing.   Are you living hopefully ever after or hopelessly?   Think about it.

   "Have you ever had one of those days that was just perfect?  Well I have.   This wasn't it! This definitely wasn't it! But, there's always tomorrow..." - Charity Hope Valentine from "Sweet Charity"

Showtune of the moment: I'm the Bravest Individual (Reprise) from "Sweet Charity"
Here is a link to one of my favorite numbers! The Rich Man's Frug! I wanna be the featured dancer chick in the middle for halloween!

 Rich Man's Frug: The Aloof
If ya have never seen it, get it, watch it , get the soundtrack,  you'll love it. Just forgive the first number of the show "My Personal Property".   It makes me wanna rip my ears off and it gets stuck in your head.  It's like herpes...the gift that keeps on giving!

Shade. Embracing the subtle and not so subtle art of shade

It gives relief from the sun. And when one queen casts it at another--or at a straight heckler--it raises eyebrows and makes the corners of the lips twitch. You might say shade's a subtler form of dishing, a mode of repartee with a black accent whose connotations are more ironic and notably more nuanced than what's usually meant by the largely straight term "dis (as in the verb 'disrespect')." Like so many terms from gay slang--black, white, and down to camp itself--shade is shot through with the idea of irony; and irony, literary theorist René Welleck tells us, is the aspect of those phrases and rhetorical figures which we are not sure how to respond to--where language opens up, through a moment's hesitation, into an explosion of potentialities, some appalling, some unimaginably wonderful, and all of which seize power for the speaker and, however momentary, articulate wildly subversive possibilities.
--From "Introduction: Shade..." by Samuel R. Delany

---

You hear me talk about shade a lot and what you read above is my favorite scholary defintion of the meaning of shade.  Although, the explanation above refers to the gay community, I would like to point out that shade does not discriminate and doesn't have to be done with any accent.  Although I feel when delivered with proper grammar it packs more of a punch.   I have been taught many lesson in shade by quite a few straight women and men.  I live for the shade thrown by my best friend who sings like Ethel merman and Patti Lupone haad a love child, and throws shade like an old black woman.  But, remember throwing true shade is not being an out right bitch.  Anyone can be a bitch.  Giving shade is an art.  The target may not even realize they got it till a few minutes or even hours later and when they feel that lil sting.  You will feel aflutter in your heart and a slight smile will form, and somewhere a shady little angel will get it's wings!

   So instead of just ripping someone a new *hole, try cooling them off with a little bit of shade.

Right me back folks!  I want to here some examples of shade you've given or received!

Summon your inner Mrs. Huxtable! Welcome to the shade!

    I have been sitting in front of this computer screen for about two hours trying to figure out what my very first blog posting should be about and nothing was coming to me.    So i turned on the telly and like an angel sent by God she appeared! Claire Huxtable.   She possesed humor, style,wit, and the abilitiy to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done with just the right amount of bitchiness and grace.   In fact, my friends have taken to calling me Mrs.Huxtable. 
     So back to my blog!  I'm going through a lot right now and I feel as if my life is at a crossroads.   I find myself struggling with my emotions, job, relationships, and life and I've decided that now is the time to summon my inner Mrs. Huxtable and start taking care of business.   And you know what...it's working!  I find myself unafraid to say whats on my mind, to try new things, to take risk, to be honest with others and myself.   I encourage everyone who feels over or underwhelmed to find their inner Mrs. Huxtable.   Choose a characteristic of her that will help see you through what you need to do at the moment. 
   I wish I could give you a true description of what this blog will be about but, fat chance! I'll prolly laugh at people, cry a bit, bitch a little, be a lil bit nasty and raunchy who knows! If ya want to know my opinion on something ask me! Need information ask me.  I don't claim to know everything but i sure can get answers!  at the end of the day this is all about living, laughing, and loving.  So let's get started and welcome!
"It's showtime folks!"
Showtune of the Moment: Use What You Got from The Life
Bowtie rating for this day 3.5 of 5bties