Orchestral Highs

I write songs and sing in dive bars, but quite often, I am a "jobber." In Chicago, jobbing means you are hired by bands or orchestras to play parties, fundraisers, weddings, and other fancy affairs. In New York, apparently it's called "playing clubs" or "clubbing," presumably named for the country club circuit. 

In Los Angeles, they play "casuals." It's all the same thing, however I am told that in NY and LA, "jobbing" (or "clubbing" or doing "casuals") is completely UNKEWL. However, in Chicago, the BEST MUSICIANS job (verb form of "jobbing"). And believe it or not, you may often find yourself playing cheesy wedding music, but with a hot band and good arrangements, this can be extremely fun.

Fun was the case last week, when I rocked it with The Chris Sarlas Orchestra. 

First and foremost, Chris is a very classy guy who is endlessly grateful to have such an awesome band. The band - Tom Leddy (drums), Wayne Jones (bass), Paul Coscino (keys), Dave Berger (guitar), Mark Hoffman (trumpet), Mike Pendowski (sax) and Tim Coffman (trombone) - is replete with super nice people who play their asses off. How rare and amazing! I have worked with a lot of popular Chicago bands, and this was a highlight. Another amazing element: Chris's singers, most notably Opal.  

Opal is pure astoundingness. I know, that's not even a word. She has earned the creation of a new word to describe her! Her energy is infectious and upbeat, sweet and generous. She threw me leads when she could have sung them herself quite easily. And from the minute I met her at rehearsal, she was all "Hey Steph! I got your back Stephie! Sing it Steph!!!!" Damn, she made me feel so welcome. And, Opal is a singer of stratospheric high caliber. No lie. Maybe she could be like a Whitney or a Mariah. 

Sometimes it sucks being a sub on a gig. You don't know how things roll and the songs might be arranged uniquely. You're trying to look like you've been with the band for years while following signals and watching the other singers to match harmonies. It can be awkward. But, Chris, Opal, Barry and Dick (his other singers) were all incredibly smooth and inclusive and I was on a high for three days after hanging with them. 

Set Up

i would have snuck quietly under the radar, humming along time (i have blogged since 1999, see musings). but, i've now given in. i have an artsy mom blog. sheesh. 

quick set-up for those who are new to the artsy mom blog scene. 

this is where i started. all naive and intense, a student in boston. the floppy sweater and careless hair give me away as a theatre major. what you don't see are a very practiced lauren bacall smolder and the myriad hippy jewelry.

i spent one year at the school for the arts at bu. it was a fun time, punctuated by flirting in the student lounge between cigarette drags and rolling around on the floor in acting class - you're a snake! you're a mammal! you're going through the birth canal!

i wasn't ever lonely. i was surrounded by about 80 other like-minded nutters. i remember most of them fondly. thespians can be extremely generous and cool. lots of tarot, conversations about jung and chekhov, journaling, and plenty of cheap red wine. yum!

in spite of all the fun to be had in boston, i transferred to northwestern university after one year, which is where i wanted to be in the first place. a steady decline in grades and a penchant for trouble-making delayed my entree, so i came in as a soph. this is me here during junior year, playing ann margret—i mean the mom—in tommy, my first and, to date, only musical theatre role.

i was in a band then and another after graduating. i consulted famous psychic sonia choquette to see what to do next, music or acting. She told me " just do not move to los angeles, no matter what." 

despite her warnings, i was on a plane two weeks later to find fame and fortune.

 I don't think there was an actor in LA back then who was less famous or less fortunate. I got cancer and had to hike it back home to Chicago for some medical interventions. 

Then I met the guy. Then we had the baby. Then some other stuff. 

The rest comes next.