Transit Signs

Improv Class #1: Getting Out of My Own Way

What is it about scary that is so compelling?

Tonight I began improv class at BATS Theater. I thought taking a class like this would be a good idea because maybe:
a) it’d help me get more comfortable making a fool of myself.
b) I’d learn to trust my instincts more.
c) with any luck, I’d also experience a nice little confidence boost to top it all off.

And, if none of the above happened, well, at least I would have done something really scary and survived. I remember reading a quote by Madonna that went something like, “If it’s scary then I have to do it.” Signing up for improv class felt kind of like my Madonna moment.

And then I had to go to class.

I went braced with a bunch of embarrassing ideas in my head like:
a) I’d have to bark like a dog or some other animal or
b) I’d have to introduce myself by yelling my name as loud as I could while jumping up and down and scratching my armpit.

The list goes on, but the point is the feeling of utter humiliation with a captive audience. Over and over again.

But, you know, I was oddly surprised by this first class. There were forms of humiliation, yes, but here’s the kicker — they were totally self-induced. The exercises themselves were not, in and of themselves, that outrageous. And yet, I sure seemed to spend a lot of effort diminishing myself while I was acting.

My teacher, Barbara Scott, talked about how we feed, nurture and groom the negative voice in our heads – meanwhile hardly taking care of the positive one. I’m sure many of us know this on an intellectual level, but it’s a different thing to experience this dynamic in the form of an exercise designed to show you yourself. For example, in one exercise, I walk around the room pointing at objects and calling them something other than what they actually are:

ME (looking at a door): “Dog!”
NEGATIVE INNER VOICE: “That wasn’t very creative.”
ME (looking at a lock on the door): “Knob!”
NEGATIVE INNER VOICE: “That wasn’t much of a reach.”
ME: “Shut up. I’m trying to come up with ideas here.”

The more exercises we did, the more conscious I became of the negative talk — and how much it blocks me from accessing my own creativity and imagination. When we did exercises that not only made it safe to come up with an outrageous or silly idea, but actually encouraged this behavior (yes! and..!), I started to see the possibilities for imagination. What would it be like to get out of my own way and let my imagination flow, uncensored?!

I don’t have an answer yet, but I do have glimpses.

Stay tuned next week, and I’ll let you know what happens in class #2.

Noticing Little Things

I was at my favorite happy hour spot, Cafe Van Cleef, in Oakland, California and happened to notice this:

I’ve been to this bar many times, and I’ve never noticed this lone light bulb hanging over the bar. I’ve sat right in front of it and not seen it. And then, last night, I thought to myself, “Huh. Look at that light bulb. It changes colors.” Now it’s my new favorite thing in the bar…until my next visit, and my next new favorite thing.

I say this because Cafe Van Cleef is jam-packed with stuff. Weird, strange, where-did-they-find-that stuff. It’s an eye-feast inside and will keep you entertained for hours as you sip on their awesome, fresh-squeezed greyhounds.

Okay, so now I sound like a plug for Cafe Van Cleef, so let me get back to my real intention in this blog post: noticing things. I’m a super visual person who really pays attention to the surface of the world. Sight gives me pleasure. I make it a habit to notice little things as I move through my day. To me, that stuff is like candy. I can be in the midst of the most terrible afternoon, and then I notice a beautiful San Francisco sky or an odd combination of objects (like a giant stuffed animal horse left in a shopping cart or a cluster of mannequins through a window), and I’m reminded that there is always wonder around me. Things feel better for a moment. Or, if life was already feeling good that day, it amplifies. In a strange way, this habit of looking is kind of like my form of prayer or meditation. It’s a practice that keeps me sane and loving the world even when it beats me up.

I use my blog, photos, and Twitter to share some of those moments – in hopes that, maybe, hopefully, some of them reach inside a few of you, too.

I Want His Posture

and his ability to hum an entire song while barely moving his mouth. Now THAT’s talent. I’m suddenly compelled to make a song.

And if you love Eduard Hill as much as I do, you can always become a fan on facebook.

A New Way of Seeing Things

TED speaker Derek Sivers offers a new way of seeing things in this very short, but compelling video. Prepare to have your assumptions rattled.

Do you have some sort of business woman special?

Remember: from this point on, we are sophisticated, educated, successful career women.

Scenes from last night

Last night, I went to an aerial dance show at an intimate little performance space in San Francisco called DanceGround Keriac. I’ve never been so close to aerial performers before, and there was something very sweet about sitting on pillows nestled so close to strangers, looking up at the show. Some of the dancers swung from suspended, swinging stripper poles – a really impressive sight if you’ve never had the opportunity (I hadn’t).

Afterward, as we wandered through the city back to my car, I snapped some quick shots of little eye candy moments. Cities at night intrigue me: discovering quiet in a place that is typically so full of noise is odd and awesome.

(Note the store sign below; if read without the colon, it’s much more profound than the store owners probably intended.)

Flex

An installation by Chris Cunningham. This guy is genius. The movement, sound, and light blow my mind. Music by Aphex Twins.

Chris Cunningham-Flex. video instalation
Uploaded by enkil_. – Independent web videos.

WRANGLER: Make him dance, roll, undress…

http://eu.wrangler.com/bluebell/#/collection/2

I cannot get over how rad this is. What a great concept…beautifully executed interaction. Click the link above; Do the whole thing.

STILL IMAGE:

Casting for Documentary Barbie Commercial: Looking for Powerful Career Women in the LA Area!

DSC Casting is shooting a really special commercial for Barbie that features successful women in the LA area, speaking about their career and why they love what they do. The message for little girls is that “You can do anything you want in the world.” The spot will be shot documentary style and will be a very beautiful, empowering, commercial. It will feature women in all kinds of careers from astronaut to teacher to artist to doctor to chef. There is great compensation and it would be a half day shoot over the period of March 12 – March 15th.

Below is a wish-list of careers. If you know of anyone in the LA area who fits one of these descriptions… please pass the word on! This is an awesome opportunity to reinvigorate the media’s image of a successful women and change the image that little girls will look up to.

Please feel free to forward along to as many people as you would like.

DSC Casting
attn: Juliana Patel
310.776.0678

CASTING WOMEN IN THE FOLLOWING CAREERS FROM WITHIN THE LA AREA:

1. FASHION EDITOR-COULD BE DESIGNER AS WELL

2. TEACHER

3. ASTRONAUT

4. ROCK STAR

5. BALLERINA
-this could be one of our younger girls-like age 6 or so. Or, adult.

6. DOCTOR

7. CHEF

8. ARTIST
-this can be any kind of artist. Let’s find someone with a stunning background. I’m thinking a massive loft with huge paintings/canvas’ as our background type thing. Or, if you find anything else that reads “artist” and will be beautiful to photograph.

9. FIRE FIGHTER

10. VET
-they need to feature an animal. If not a vet, then the equestrian.

11. PILOT
-commercial pilot, not millitary.

12. PHOTOGRAPHER
-could be landscape, studio, whatever.

13. SOCCER COACH

14. SNOW BOARDER/SKIIER
-there’s an Olympic snowboarder we discussed. May be tricky with endorsements, Olympics, etc..But, throwing it out there.

-could be a teenageer as well. Or adult.

15. RACE CAR DRIVER

16. ACTRESS

17. EQUESTRIAN-AN ENGLISH RIDER
-could be a teenager or young girl. Or, adult.

18. CONCERT PIANIST
-could be a a teen or even younger. But, be open to adults too.

19. BOUTIQUE OWNER-
-someone with a very cool looking store.

20. COMPUTER TECH/ENGINEER/SCIENTIST
-she needs to work around computers so we can “read” what she does easily

21. CEO/EXECUTIVE BIZ
-we’d need to film this woman in a high end office, windows all around-very executive, power looking.