This Much I Know - Part One
Someone once cautioned against the giving of advice, declaring that "the wise don't need it and fools won't heed it". Up until now, I've pretty much held back on giving any kind of advice to people starting out in my profession because I've always felt that to do so would imply that I think I'm some kind of big name in the entertainment business. It would also imply that I think I know what I'm talking about. That said, over the fifteen or so years that I'm been performing professionally - not to mention the ten or so years before that when I was a jobbing entertainer, dipping my size twelves into comedy, acting and music, relying on friends and family to get me to gigs and always having to use the in-house PA system (first piece of advice, kids: never use the in-house PA) - I've been approached by many a young Turk, wanting to know the best way to get stage work, should they start out with open-mic spots (second piece of advice: never do ope...