Cheers!

Well today marks a milestone for SAK. We have finally secured a beer and wine license. The process was not as complicated as I had expected, although the hurdles to overcome still took us a couple of months. In fact, it was several months into our first year that we were finally able to concentrate on the effort to get the license. Now more hurdles to make sure we are as compliant as we need to be in order to serve and sell legally at the SAK Concession stand. I think we have all the ducks in a row. This will certainly test our core audience and clientele. We do not know for sure if our regulars will still be regular for us if we have beer and wine available. we hope they will still come, but the move seemed more than necessary to attract more folks to the SAK Comedy Lab. I am surprised how many people do not come to SAK simply because we do not have beer and wine available. If we lose patrons who are upset that we now serve beer and wine I will truly feel sorry. If we had enough of those folks coming on a regular basis, filling our seats to the projections we laid forth when we moved in, we would probably have not needed to consider it as we did when we did. We shall see. I think if nothing else if will be kind of nice after a show to enjoy a beer with my fellow performers without having to gather at one or other of the bars in downtown. I don't want to avoid those places completely, but it will be nice to have a beer right in our own place.

Parking "Whoa's"

Seems like every move forward has its complimentary setback, minor or major. SAK is very fortunate to enjoy the ability to offer parking validation for our guests at the Cinema Plaza Parking garage, which is conveniently located right across the street from SAK. There are other parking possibilities, but the Plaza is the most convenient. It seems also, however, it is the most confusing and complicated of the options - or at least until you learn how to navigate it properly.

We have recently learned that the restaurants at the Plaza no longer validate your parking ticket - but SAK still does!! The best news is if SAK is a part of your evening's entertainment you only pay $4 to park. Even if you go to a Magic Game on Friday or Saturday and see the 11:30pm show at SAK you will only pay $4 at the Plaza. This is GOOD NEWS we need to spread!

It is unclear who designed the engineering marvel, but chances are the designers and engineers all drive nothing but Smart Cars (or have lived in Manhattan all their lives). You have to be an expert driver to maneuver through the windy spirals and tight curves and corners your first time. Then there's the labyrinth of elevators, floor letters and numbers and payment options.

We have found through extensive research (and parking there every day) the following best best bets, hints and tips:

• If you're going to SAK or other downtown location park on levels 3 or above. These levels are reserved during the day but at night they are the best bet. The elevators on these floors will take you directly into the Plaza common ground level (plaza) area.
• NOTE:  Levels 2A, 2B and 2C will take you to an elevator on Church and Court and you will undoubtedly feel lost.
• When you exit, you can conveniently get to your car from the same plaza level elevators.
• Always return to the same elevator you arrived on.
• When exiting, if you're paying with credit card - bypass all the payment machines! You don't have to hassle with them unless you're paying cash for your parking. We recommend credit card payment. Not only more convenient but you get a receipt.
• Credit card payment can happen easily and conveniently from your car as you are exiting. Put in your parking ticket (validated if you've been to SAK and you only pay $4), put in your credit card, wait for your receipt after your credit card comes out and you're on your way!

Quantum Improv Back in Session

A new session of Quantum Improv begins this weekend, October 23rd at SAK Comedy Lab. Looking forward to moving forward with Quantum Improv and the Quantum Vision. The class filled to capacity in just 2 hours - very exciting. As the class start approaches I realize I feel like a little kid going back to an old toy box as I feverishly try to remember where I put all the pieces and materials for the Laws of Motion demonstration.

My handy visual aid (I'm now recalling in the 11th hour) takes a good bit of time to set up - and I'm still looking for ways to streamline the process and the demo so it can pack up easier as well as travel more easily. I can't wait to get back into it. I'll be doing a more condensed version this time around to make sure we get done with the class well before the Christmas holiday rush of things begins. This will be a 6 week course.

Bloggy Blog Backlog

What? A blog post? Haven't seen one of these in a while... I am chock full of great excuses though. First and foremost, we've moved the SAK Comedy Lab to a great new location! We're downtown at the CityArts Factory on the corner of Pine and Orange. In addition to that, they changed the rules at blogspot.com and I had to migrate my blog from the SAK site where I was hosting it to another place. They did do a good job helping to make the migration somewhat seamless and painless, but it took a while for me to get all the ducks in a row. Having said that, I hope you will enjoy the new look and feel of MeBloggyBloggy!

Incidentally, I have launched several other blogs along with the MeBloggyBloggy migration, all about the Quantum Vision - which is the other thing that has been taking up my time. It all began with Quantum Improv and has grown since then. Feel free to check out the links at the top of this blog or use some of the other links for MyBlogs, etc.

Fagzilla

Tonight - what a wonderful awful rainy night. Tonight featured Princeton Elementary's "Evening of Excellence," a night of recognition of Princeton Elementary students. Both Marina and Walker were invited to take part. Both kids are on the Principal's Honor Roll meaning they've received A's on their report card for each of the grading periods this year.They both also were honored for reaching their AR goals (Accelerated Reading) for all three grading periods. And if that wasn't exciting enough, they both were honored with the distinction of Writing Wizard for their class. Great job kiddos!!

Afterwards we go to Jade Bistro on Edgewater avenue for a celebration Asian fusion dinner. While we're ordering, Walker is drawing on the back of his sushi form and Marina is writing on the back of hers. Suddenly Walker holds up his drawing and announces "Look what I drew - it's Fagzilla."
"What? We responded, embarrassed and surprised.
"It's Fagzilla." Now our minds are reeling, wondering how our writing wizard has bolstered his vocabulary with this word.
"How have you come to know this word, Walker?"
"Well, he's fat, and he's Godzilla, so that's Fagzilla."
"Oh, of course. Fagzilla." In our relief we didn't really realize how comfortable we'd now become with this new and wonderful name. So for the rest of the dinner we had a wonderful time saying Fagzilla over and over without any shame or remorse. Thanks Walker.


Oh, and this one is his follow up drawing - King Pong - it's a ping pong reference. See how he's shaped like a paddle?

Another Blog to Get Behind On

Hey, now I have 2, count em' 2 blogs I can struggle with keeping current. With that, I officially introduce my Quantum Improv blog to the world. If you get a chance to check it out, be sure to look at the foundation posts - they are easily bookmarked at the top.

Quantum Improv is a new venture that is be becoming a major part of my life, not to mention my improv teaching. The basics molded in Quantum are shaping a philosophy, process and program that will continue to grow. I call it the Quantum Vision and it has wonderful applications past even Quantum Improv. But improv is where it starts and improv is where it will always have a base.

I am currently writing the book Quantum Improv and plan to have the first published copies available by the end of the year. I'm excited to be entering a publishing agreement with a firm that will be a combination I guess you could say of self-publishing and mainstream publishing. I'm talking about a co-publishing arrangement which will allow me to keep my book rights while the publisher (having limited trade rights) will do all the marketing and promotion of the book to retailers like Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon as well as retailers such as Target, Wal-Mart, etc. All the things I have no earthly idea how to do. I am very thankful for such an arrangement. My part of the deal will be to order an initial printing of books that I will sell myself through SAK, the Quantum Improv website, etc.

It is all new to me so surely I will post the victories and the defeats along the way.

Be sure to check out the Quantum Improv blog. Onward and Forward!

The Hammer Comes Down at Disney

Well the several weeks of nervous Disney employees is pretty much over. And how things can change over just a few months. Although I have served as a contract Show Director for the past several years and not an actual Disney employee, I was not really on the chopping block, as they say. But, the current climate has affected me as well. Last September, 2 of the shows I looked after closed - Comedy Warehouse and Adventurers Club. Luckily I still had Turtle Talk, Monsters Laugh Floor and World Showcase Players. And last week, I was informed that Monsters and Turtle Talk have been reassigned to one of the full time Show Directors at Maingate. I don't officially know at this time who has them, (althought I think it is Jason Surrell), I just know it isn't me. So the hammer has come down on my wee little head. I do still have responsibility for World Showcase Players so fortunately I get to keep my parking pass and still have a reason to stroll through Maingate from time to time. But my goodness - 8 months ago I was looking after 5 shows, and today, I have one. This represents a 90% decrease in my Disney responsibilities.

So like many others, I eagerly await the next chapter in my life. I bet you'll be seeing a bit more of me down at the ol' SAK Comedy Lab, that's for sure. I'll be teaching more classes I think, especially Quantum Improv which is steadily growing. Two semesters under the belt and looking forward to more of that.

As sad as it is to lose the Disney shows, I'm still amazed that I had so many in-park shows to look after in the first place. It is very unusual for a contract (outside) show director to look after even one ongoing show. For awhile there I had 5. I'm pleased to say I have really enjoyed every one of them very much. It was very sad to see the Island shows come to an end. Obviously the Comedy Warehouse is especially near and dear to my heart. I really loved the Adventurers Club too. Somehow the closing of those was dignified and I felt we really celebrated the legacy and history of what those shows were.

My wife pointed out what a special and wonderful surprise that was - to have a chance to close the shows with a little celebration and fanfare. Usually, (as it was with the current layoffs), Disney likes minimal (if any) fanfare and quick closure. You don't even get 2 weeks if laid off. You're immediately escorted off property. What a great and wonderful opportunity we had (because someone leaked the plans to the press), to close the Warehouse and Ad Club as we did. Morgan said I was able to bring a nice balance of celebrating the legacy and maintaining the dignity of all those who lost their jobs.

For some reason - there is a deeper sadness to having Turtle and Monsters reassigned. I understand it is a better fit to have them looked after by the full time Show Director staff, but I have marshalled those shows from their infancy, after being birthed by WDI. It is with a great deal of sadness that I say good bye to those wonderful shows and especially the wonderful actors who made/make those shows what they are.

Good Bye my lovelies. I wish you all the very best.