In today's column, Sue changes places - instead of her own, she reports on "pet peeves" from readers! She also reviews three shows seen: Frank Torren at MAMA's, Shaynee Rainbolt & Terese Genecco at THE IRIDIUM and Christine Pedi - also at the IRIDIUM. She has a few words about reviewers, recommends some upcoming shows and reports on some shows she will be appearing in.
VIEWS
I put out one simple question recently on line to my readers and friends asking them to tell me their Pet Peeves about the business and boy, did I get a response. All of the items below are just cut and pasted from their actual Emails to me. If I have any comments I identified them by writing NOTE. I also did not post some of them because they got too personal or they identified the parties involved to the point that they could be figured out and this is not what I intended by asking this question. Here goes:
- The ONE & BIGGEST ANSWER from all will (should absolutely) be NOT GETTING PAID after one has put so much time, energy, passion & money into preparing & presenting a show!!!
NOTE: This person was SO right ... this was the #1 response to this question by about 15 people! Not only did the majority of readers feel that we as artists should be paid to perform, others literally meant ... get paid (see below):
- Clubs that don't pay timely. One week is the maximum amount of time anyone should have to wait to get paid for any job they have just completed. I have a band to pay which I had to front the money for so I am now awaiting payment from the club so that I can pay my rent. Yes, it's that real. PAY US!
- Cabaret is a medium of tremendous value, but little is known. What IS known about the biz is "Stereotype of untruth" (mediocre shows and performers). I constantly say "If only". If only there was a way to introduce the Media Masses, every day 9-to-5ers and other working class people to the hidden treasures of clubs in NYC and beyond and show them what they are missing out on. The executive in the elevator listening to a series of tunes on his Ipod or IPhone or IWhatever. How can we get this guy to the clubs to hear these amazing Treasures in the club? The answer is Simple, a little help from our friends, the "Nightclub owners"
- PR (Public Relations)! If I owned a club, I would darn well advertise in every place that would bring bodies into my club about the shows that my club had to offer. I'd advertise the better or bigger named star's shows but I'd be all over the place with my ads. If I owned the club and, upon opening my doors, I could not pay my staff for the evening because the talent only has 20 people on the books, whose fault is that? Why aren't more clubs placing ads and doing any PR for their own space? I just don't get it. NO ONE benefits from this. Do you want to make money or not is my question to the club owners?
- Surly wait staff and the "get out of the room" announcement the minute the act gets off the stage. Give it 10 minutes before you announce this please.
NOTE: I have spoken to some Tech Directors about this and the two main reasons this happens are: 1) It's their job and they are told to do this & 2) Some acts go over their allotted time slots and then there is a mad rush to turn over the room for the next person's Sound Check and Show. How to fix it? 1) Ask the Tech to wait a few minutes and get yourself off the stage on time to allow them the few extra minutes to wait to announce. 2) Complain to the club or Booking Agent. & 3) Ask what time the next show goes up and do not book your show too close to that show so that you know there is enough time to ask them to wait a few minutes.
- Constantly being bombarded by fliers and ads to see someone's show while they have NEVER attended one of mine. (NOTE: Politely ask them to take you off of their list and tell them why!)
- Reviews that only give a laundry list of the show with NO useable quotes in them.
NOTE: Here are a few more personal peeves from readers some of which I have actually gone over in previous columns.
- Musical Directors that take up my time by going to the bathroom or jumping up every 5 minutes or taking a phone call or allowing the previous student to write a check on my time. AND, while I'm at it, people in the session before me NOT being prepared to leave right on time with their business with the Musical Director completed.
NOTE: The protocol as a singer is to have your cash/check ready upon entering your session. Talk to the MD about stuff then and be packed up and ready to exit one minute BEFORE the next session begins. Ask yourself how you would feel is someone did this to you. MD's YOU need to manage this too and make your students understand how this works OR build in 5-10 minutes between sessions to allow for the turn-over and/or for you to go to the bathroom.
- Self-indulgent singers who only sing for themselves and could care less that you're sitting right in front of them!
- Overstaying one's welcome. Ask yourself when is enough, enough? You DO NOT have to do every single song you know in one show!
- Songwriters who bombard you with songs you think suck. How can you let them down without hurting their feelings?
NOTE: Well, as a new songwriter myself, I'd say start by NOT saying that their song "sucked"! LOL! Here's what I do, maybe it will help. When I'm submitted a song, the first thing I do is tell the person that I got it and that I'll listen to it when I have time to really focus on it (this buys you time to actually listen). Tell them they may not hear from you for a while but that you will get back to them. Remember one thing here ... this is someone's "baby". To them, they are complimenting you by giving you this "gift" from them so ... keep that in mind no matter how bad the song is ... ok? We CAN be kind to each other.
Upon hearing the song, if it's not for you, just say so. OR, if it's a friend and you want to let them down more gently just say that you have so many songs in your repertoire that already speak to this similar feel/topic that you are not inclined to use a new one of a similar ilk. Whatever your reason, just let them down gently with a polite, "No thank you but thanks for thinking of me." You never know when that person might right a gem that you DO want to do so keep the relationship open.
MY VIEWS ON REVIEWERS ...
I was not able to make it to the seminar at the Metropolitan Room in October on "What Makes a Good Reviewer" but I heard A LOT about it ... mostly great things.
Moderator Sherry Eaker did make a point to tell me that the majority of the panel and the people that she spoke with did not feel that there was any conflict of interest having a singer doing reviews BUT that the condition of this was that the singer/reviewer had to have the skill as a performer and some kind of history in the business to justify their right to review. I was relieved to hear this and I do hope you all feel that I "qualify" in this regard. I have to say that I do think that a "qualified" singer has a little advantage in reviewing in that they know exactly what it's like to step on a stage and all that comes with it so perhaps we write from a slightly different perspective. However, some of the best reviewers that we have in the business right now are not performers or singers so I also do not believe one has to sing or performer to do reviewer. Can they write is the question for me. Where I have a little bit of a problem is with someone doing reviews who we all know can't sing criticizing a really good singer's technique.
For the record and not to sound defensive here, I stopped doing any solo shows when I started to write for Stu so that I could not be accused of "using my notoriety" for my own benefit. Is my name all over and do I still sing ... of course. However, if you look at this past year, all my performances have been as a host or a guest or for a benefit or an out of town gig or for the "People You Should Know" series (which is part of HotLine's Mission Statement to present the talents I have found to the community). By the way, neither Stu nor I have taken a single dollar from those shows and, in fact, we've been in the red on a few of them. All the performers have been paid.
Upon hearing that you, the community, and the established publications do not have an issue with a reviewer being a singer, I feel better about singing again. Thank you too to MAC and to Miss Eaker for presenting this lecture.
REVIEWS
I saw three shows on Sunday, November 6th, only the first one has another show scheduled, so let me start with that one.
FRANK TORREN in FIRST TIMES - DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 ) - $15 cover plus a 2-drink minimum. With Musical Director: Rick Unterberg. NEXT SHOW: Tuesday, November 15th at 7:00 pm
With over 28 songs listed in his set list, Frank can be accused (somewhat) of the reader's comment above in VIEWS on when enough is enough. It was A LOT to take in as an audience member. Frank was all that everyone says he is, which is charming, stylish, polished and lovely on stage AND he did not overstay his welcome because the show came in at just over 1 hour. But he evidently had a lot of "first times" (the show theme) that he wanted to share with us.
Frank swings effortlessly from English to Spanish to Italian and he does help us along with one-liners about what we're going to hear, giving us a sense of what the song means and/or means to him. For me, with this many tunes, I would like a little more explanation as to why he needed to sing all of these songs in relation to his theme. He didn't connect us to the theme that much throughout the show, to the point where I actually had to look at the card to remind myself of it in the middle of the show.
I really liked his vocals on "You Make Me Feel So Young" and he killed me with is emotional connection to the Howard Dietz/Arthur Schwartz "I See Your Face before Me". I also got that it may have been a funny "first" for him in his life when he sang, "She Broke my Heart (in 3 places)". He's a pretty good interpreter of a lyric and was fabulous on Jacques Brel's "The Days of the Waltz" which I have heard people massacre many, many times. His articulate and well-acted rendition really impressed me. Each time he said, "Never trust in Time" it was with a different and more frantic delivery so that by the end, phew ... it was a ride that I would take again. I could actually hear all the words which, if you know this song, fly by at the speed of light. Great delivery and diction is a must on this tune.
I would go to see Frank's work again but I would ask him to take a look at his future programs with an eye to edit a bit so that the really good moments in his show can stand out more and so that the evening is not all about how many songs he can sing, but about how many moments like the ones above he can present within his chosen theme so that they all become special moments.
SHAYNEE RAINBOLT & TERESE GENECCO in A 95TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO RUSS GARCIA - Celebrating a Living Legend! - IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB (1650 Broadway, NYC - 212-582-2121 )
If you do not think you know Russell Garcia, you do. Google him. If you have ever heard the big band arrangements of Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, Frances Faye, Judy Garland, Anita O'Dea, Oscar Peterson Jr. and hundred of others ... you know this man. If you were at the Iridium last night, not only would you have gotten to know his music, incredibly presented by Shaynee and Terese with a band that can only be described as "from the heavens" led by the incomparable Billy Stritch, you would not have missed a show of a lifetime. (Not that there was much room left in the sold out club.)
You would also have gotten a chance to actually meet Mr. Garcia who, due to health issues could not be there to lead the band last night, but who was SKYPED in to watch the show with his lovely bride and songwriter/collaborator Gina Garcia from their home in New Zealand. What a lovely, funny man he is! We were also treated to some clips of an interview with Mr. Garcia what gave us even more insight to how he spent his live making a living doing what he loved, making music.
Ladies, what you pulled off here is a BIG DEAL. Amazing. What a show! What a concept which all started from Shaynee trying to research a song called "Go Slow" which was done by Julie London which led her to Julie's arrangement which led her to contact Mr. Garcia. A CD, a CD show tour and shows all around the world including in New Zealand, they landed at the Iridium Tuesday night to celebrate Mr. Garcia's 95th Birthday.
From the moment Shaynee sang the riff to "Flyin' Free" we were all hooked and I STILL have that line in my head because it's just do hep (as the cool cats say!) This combined with selections of Terese's previous award winning tribute show to Frances Faye, another person Mr. Garcia arranged for, and we were T-R-E-A-T-E-D to one of the best shows I have seen all year.
All the numbers presented were great and well sung, that goes without saying with these two singers, but two other real standouts for me were: Shaynee's beautiful rendition of the Garcia & Garcia tune, "Come Home Again" and Billy and Terese's duet on a chart arranged by bassist Tom Hubbard on their version of selections from "Porgy & Bess". This number needs to be recorded. It was simply fantastic.
The show ended appropriately with Shaynee closing with "Charmed Life" which Mr. Garcia claimed he had indeed lived and then Terese following up with her crazy big, swinging version of "Frankie & Johnny".
I'm still on a cloud from this show. I wish they were doing it again so that I can make you all go to see it. I cannot say how incredible this band was and, unfortunately, I did not receive the musician's names in time to list them in this review properly but know that they, along with the actual arrangements and the entire evening were equally as much a part - or co-stars if you will - of this event. This was definitely and "event" and a night I will not forget any time soon. Congratulations my dear sisters in song for a spectacular show!
CHRISTINE PEDI at IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB (1650 Broadway, NYC - 212-582-2121 ) with Musical Direction by Joel A Martin and special guest Gene Bertoncini on guitar and Elias Barry on bass.
In yet another great ScoBar Production show (they produced the Russ Garcia show above as well), I stayed to see Christine's show and was so glad that I did. She is just an amazing lady and performer. You would think that after just seeing a show like the one above that I would be "full" of talent (and I was) but in a beautifully crafted and sung show by Christine, last night was just an example of the complete wealth of riches that this amazing city that we live in has to offer us on any given night.
With an emphasis on Frank Loesser songs, Christine sang a program of show tunes. As companied by her amazing band, they all had a jazzier delivery. Many of us know Christine from "Forbidden Broadway" and as that funny lady that can impersonate anyone but she is also just a darn good singer over and above all these other talents. It was nice to see her shine last night as herself. I loved her charts. I loved her stories and set ups and I just loved this show. Her renditions of "Love isn't Born, It's Made" and "I Believe in You" and "You Fascinate Me So" were all just so good. She's an incredible actress too in that you see her connection but you also FEEL it. She's got her annual Christmas show coming up at the LAURIE BEECHMAN which is always a MUST SEE show and she is also currently starring in the Off-Broadway show "Newsical the Musical".
NEWS
I once reviewed Vicki Burns when she sang at Dana Lorge's Iguana shw, and she knocked my socks off with her lovely jazz stylings so I wanted to give her a shout out as a MUST SEE this week Tuesday, November 8th from 7:00 - 11:00 pm - PIGALLE (790 Eighth Avenue, NYC - 212-489-2233 - ) - NO COVER / NO MINIMUM (Great French Cuisine!) - This is a weekly jazz vocal series every Tuesday starting tomorrow featuring: Roz Corral this week with Vicki Burns on November 15th, Jenny Arrigo on November 22nd and Vicki Burns back on November 29th.
This week I am also looking forward to seeing:
RICHARD SKIPPER's "An Afternoon Celebrating The Legacy of Jerry Herman" at the THE NEW YORK SHEET MUSIC SOCIETY (http://www.nysms.org/ ) - LOCAL 802 MUSICIANS' HALL (322 West 48th Street, NYC) - Saturday, November 12th at 1:45 pm. Richard Skipper hosts along with Klea Blackhurst, Ken Bloom, Marge Champion, Amber Edwards (Words and Music, the award winning documentary on Jerry Herman), Sondra Lee (Hello Dolly!'s original Minnie Faye), Miles Phillips, Donald Pippin, Lee Roy Reams with John Fischer on piano. Members: FREE - $10 for non-members.
PARKER SCOTT in SELECTING SOUVENIRS: An Intimate Journey through the Great American Songbook (Welcome back buddy!) - THE DUPLEX CABARET THEATRE (61 Christopher Street, NYC - 212-255-5438 - ) - Sunday, November 13th at 7:00 pm - With Wells Hanley on piano and Directed by Gerry Geddes
SUE'S NEWS
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I am one busy puppy in November! Also hold the date for my Christmas show at DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - ) on Sunday, December 11th at 3:00 pm and Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00 pm!
WEDNESDAY, November 9th - 8:00 - 10:30 pm
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE IGUANA - IGUANA'S VIP LOUNGE (240 West 54th Street, NYC - 212-765-5454 - ) - Hosted By Dana Lorge But I'm Co-Hosting that night along with
Daryl Glenn! - With Barry Levitt on piano & Saadi Zain on bass & Howie Gordon on drums - $13 Cover - No Minimum - Featuring: Edd Clark, Bruch Clough, Gary Crawford, Joan Crowe, Rich Flanders, Alexandra Frederick, Helena Grenot, Janice Hall, Julie Reyburn, Sarah Rice, Jordan Siwek and more!
WEDNESDAY, November 15th - 7:00 pm
CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE's CDs FOR THE HOLIDAYS SHOW - DON'T TELL MAMA (343 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-757-0788 - ) - $10 cover for members (limit 2 per member) and $15 non-members - 2 drink minimum. Reservations: stuhamstra@svhamstra.com - Featuring: Lucille Carr Kaffashan, Paul & Rochelle Chamlin, Kathleen France, Joan Jaffe, Sue Matsuki, Sidney Myer, Miles Phillips, Ricky Ritzel, Harold Sanditen, Jim Speak & Kim Grogg, Gabrielle Stravelli, Jim Van Slyke and more!
SATURDAY, November 26th - 7:00 pm
Broadway Concert Direct presents LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO 'ROUND - A Benefit for Zani's Furry Friends - THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909 - ) - $25 & $50 cover plus a $15 food/drink minimum. - I have just been asked to Co-Host this lovely event with the wonderful Mr. Eric Michael Gillett. FEATURING: Emily Buttner, Sean Harkness, Amy Ralske, Len Cariou, Phil Geoffrey Bond, Mark Janas, Eve Weiss, Tanya Moberly, Bill Zeffiro, Elena Bennett, Jonathan Russell, Peter Napolitano, John O'Hurley, David Vernon and Deb Berman and more!
MONDAY, November 28th - 8:00 pm
RICHARD SKIPPER CELEBRATES...JERRY HERMAN - A Benefit for the Carol Channing Foundation of the Arts - THE TRIAD (158 West 72nd Street, NYC - 212-362-2590 - ) - $25 & $50 Cover ($50 includes champagne reception) Reservations: 845-365-0720 - FEATURING: Anna Bergman, Diane Findlay, Peggy Herman, Sue Matsuki, Robert Mattern, Lee Roy Reams, Sarah Rice, Jana Robbins, Alex Rybeck, John Patrick Schutz, Richard Skipper, Walter Willison with the John Fischer Trio.
Sue Matsuki
Dream it, Believe it, DO IT!
e-mail me at SueMatsuki@aol.com
For more information on me or to read my resumes/reviews please visit my personal website at http://www.SueMatsuki.com/
