Empty Orchestra
[11.08.06]

You're sitting in a smoke infested cathedral of lights, sounds, and alcohol. It is karaoke night and the depressed looking women sits in the corner, next to the machines, awaiting those, with alcoholic induced confidence, who may at one point dreamed of being a singer or at least played with the idea. Some sit and cheer, some sit annoyed with the song choice, and some sit and sip their drink. On the rare occasion, someone actually has talent. I remember one night this particular female kept belting out female oriented lyrics with some vocal precision. Not particularly enjoying that genre of music, I waited patently eating my California rolls hoping she'd pass out or come down with instant laryngitis. Nevertheless, she was good or at least sounded as the original vocalist.

At some point, depending on the ratio of how introverted you are to the number of drinks you've had, your inhibitions shed somewhat and you begin to fancy the idea of entering the stage of musical shame yourself. As you watch your friends one by one go before the drunk crowd testing their skills at 5 minute fame, it gets easier and easier to see yourself doing the same. The voice that holds you back gets weak and the temptation grows. For me, I tested the waters and went up on stage as a back up clapper with another for one of my friends of rather one of my many acquaintances. The group I was traveling with became antsy to leave so it was now or never. I had to do this. Not ever understanding my fear of rejection but always trying to break through it, I must do this. However, I didn't. Maybe I couldn't think of that perfect song to sing or maybe I just pussed out. If a seconded chance rolls around I'll do it for sure. This is at least what I say now safe in my hotel room writing this.

Inhibitions are funny and for me at least go away with liberal doses of booze. If only I could be buzzed 24/7, I'd probably have a better life or more than likely have more fun living it. So many times have a I wanted to do something but that ever crippling fear grows tighter and tighter. Part not wanting to look like a fool and part no self confidence, it is a cocktail for losing out. How this turned from an article about Karaoke to my shyness I don't know. Maybe I need to write it to lessen it. Being a Gemini, there are definitely two parts to me, personality wise. Some could say it's bipolar, I'd like to think of it as David and Dave. David the conservative introvert and Dave the confident suave extrovert. They take over at different times when each is needed. Call me crazy but I believe all of us have this some what or another; I just happen to admit it. Thinking back, the ones who did enter the arena of tones and vocals, were more popular for it. They stood out and were noticed. Something I nay all of us crave like ice cream in hell.

Karaoke in my view is another form of expression and a chance at local minute fame if only for an instant. The worse you are the more you stand out. Some, or rather, most who suck get notoriety for it and become more liked than those who actually sound decent as if the crowd favors the underdog or those who make them look good or normal. Some turn Karaoke into a comedy routine by intentionally sounding like an animal in pain from being run over. It gets increasingly funnier as the person or crowd gets more intoxicated. Well anything gets funnier as you drink more. I'm not sure why the Japanese think of it as an empty orchestra. Oh I'm sure there is a reason out there but who cares really. I find it more interesting that we use the Japanese word over the English translation. Karaoke sounds better than empty orchestra possibly. In any case, it is a popular bar past time either here in the states or out in the Pacific ocean.

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In Da Club
[07.06.06]

The giant light has set upon the land giving way to clubbers who go bump in the night. With your best do me clothes on equipped with generous amounts of Tag Body Shots spray (make check out to...) you proceed through the dreaded gates of ID check and one cover later, you make way to the run way strip of booze climbing your way through countless lonely males too embarrassed to talk to the females congregating around the dance floor. If you're lucky, they may have a dink special going on otherwise get ready to dislocate the jaws of your wallet as you desperately struggle to drink enough to dance like the village idiot. Music thumping and chatter fill the air while you gaze into the sea of people looking for that one lonely bored women waiting to be hit on and bought a drink. Yet in a last minute grab for the gold you spot two females gossiping, waiting for the night to heat up as they sip their cocktails. Slowly you inch your way through the crowded valleys and hills of couples as you make your way ever closer. Small talk ensues while one of them is eager to chit chat while the other acts as defense pulling her counter part away to begin the nightly chase. As you stand alone looking at the empty dance floor due to lack of drunkards with no self pride left, you devise a strategy to separate the line backer from the quarter back star. Most good plans faze out as you get increasingly more intoxicated until you decide to annoy them beyond all tolerance. Five vodka sours, three tequila sunrises, and that ten dollar shot of top self spirits later you like most others begin the dance of the dry hump. At all times you make it seem as your dancing with another female as to not accidentally be mistaken for a team member of the other side. Pounding harder and harder, the music flows through your body like the booze you drank an hour before does into the porcelain bus. Confidence builds and you start dancing with whatever female you choose as her boy friend watches near still too shy to look like a fool. A cage dance here, there and a few sandwich grinds progress the night into day. You spot the two from earlier and head for another touch and go. The guard is weaker now, more slutty, as she can't keep it together while the offense makes for good feelings below the cow hide securing apparatus. Sweat pours into your eyes and the temperature rises. You go for more drinks if only to quench your thirst. Three hours of solid fake, clothes on, sex winds the evening down until the hideous event of turning the lights on. The DJ can't believe the night is over and apathetically gives a warning to drive home safe. Miraculously, you notice females changing male hands while the other guys scrounge for the scraps. Your realize the mass quantities of couples that was your despair were only an illusion. You spot the few contacts you made through out the night but they're so gone it doesn't seem worth it. Thus you climb back into your chariot of death scoping out any last tidbit of helpless girl with no ride. Yet, alas there is none, and so you attempt to make like a criminal back to the after party you over heard about during the night. At long last you make it home and reach for the last coke (P.O. Box 55...) in the fridge. This may be the winning cap you think to yourself, wondering how you're even still awake. Sorry, try again they say, a motto for the evening. Yes, yes I shall.

-30-

Working for the Weekend
[06.13.06]

Money may make the world go round but entertainment keeps it from grinding to a boring halt. With out a good fix of fun, human beings begin to develop the shakes of boredom. Stemming from tales around the fire, court jesters and traveling bards, to fragolicous Cheeto stained pop rock cola buzz rush at midnight Halo 2 excitement, the need of enjoyment has encompassed the human history. Billions upon billions are spent by consumers (in the US alone) for pleasure and excitement. Ranging from a movie ticket to a round of miniature golf, we need to be entertained. More and more is entertainment important with huge family budgets portioned for it, the largest industries dealing with it, and many hours in one's week devoted to obtaining it and enjoying it. Without promise of entertainment, very little motivation would exist to acquire the mighty dollar except for the need for a hot meal and shower occasionally. Think of your first job and why you sought out to obtain it. Minus entertainment, most would not live beyond their means with credit cards and second mortgages. And as more and more industry leaves the shores, America serves to progress to a service entertainment economy even further. However, as a desire of mine to enter the entertainment industry in the video game sector, I early on discovered to not work for entertainment but to make entertainment work which is a refreshing angle on the subject of work to play or rather play to work.

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