Recently I've been doing less teaching and more commercials, which is exactly the ratio I've wanted for a while now. Some are yet to be aired so I can't share. It means I work almost every day, although I can't plan which days they may be. So I could get a surprise Wednesday off one week, or it could coincide with a day at the weekend. I just never know.
Rehearsals for my showcase had been going so well, and I'm happy that we finally got to be part of the 10th annual showcase for schools. My jive got a live audience and a rapturous applause from 250 parents and their guests. Although the scheme was set up to increase the confidence of primary pupils, it's lovely that we got such Performance with a capital P from the children. Loud clear voices for the introduction and exuberant flinging of arms and crisp steps for the partner work. I invited Mother and my daughter to the show so they can finally see what I teach these children week after week. To see parents standing up and dancing and clapping was an added bonus.
I did my bit for diversity, too. Two boys in the group decided that they did not want to partner girls, for reasons undisclosed. I decided to respect their choices and choreographed them partnered together. This helped them to appreciate that dance is meant to be fun and they wholeheartedly twirled each other and balanced the hand grips. "All boy partnering! There's something you don't see outside London." someone remarked.
I've also been booked for work for a couple of music videos. One for Zara Larsson, and one for north London rapper Stormzy. Imagine my joy when I found out that one two day shoot was within five minutes of one of my cousins' homes. I'm quite close to the lads as we were all born within months of each other. I'm the eldest. Three of us within a six month period. So guess where I crashed after a late finish and early start! Saved me a ton of travel and missed sleep.
I met a guy who said he was offering printing at reduced prices to performers so decided to take advantage and get some new comp cards. Arranged for a rush job so I had some to leave with model casting agents for an upcoming casting. Approved the artwork and eagerly awaited the courier. Oh dear, the guy didn't know what comp cards were, so had just condensed my portfolio photos to a BUSINESS card. Luckily Mother knew a local print firm and managed to design a comp card and get it printed and delivered the next day in time to leave them with the agent. Note to self: Don't meet people on a shoot and take their word for what they can produce. He assumed I was using a 'modern buzzword' for a business card. An expensive mistake... Not sure I can use the business cards at all. I'll keep them to remind me not to waste money next time.
More and more, people are asking for short films as a casting tool, so I'm often sitting in front of a camera taking about my love for a potential product and then pressing send. Sometimes, only a Skype call will do, and my daughter and I sat talking with production about an upcoming job, only to have one of my cats leap in front of the screen and chirrup a greeting. I suppose I should put the cats to work, if only I could work out what really motivates them.
It's not all work of course, we've had a trip to the movies and shopping at Westfield plus me getting all rural and cutting rhubarb from Mother's allotment to give away. I don't like rhubarb, but others do, and it's fun getting to collect veg that has been grown in our own patch. I've drawn the line at digging, though. There's a photo of me in existence crouching in the allotment in vintage Adidas and combats which WON'T be shared on here, or anywhere. I did bring some urban cred to the planting of course.
I've just heard I got another casting that I went for, which I wasn't 100% expecting, so I'm gearing up for more work this month. Should be able to share images in the next blog. So for now, I'll leave you with me sitting in front of a desk of make up for a throwback shoot I did. Did people ever really wear all that much?
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