Got a call from a Production Company who want me to go for an interview for Popstar The Musical as the Company Manager is leaving to go onto either Dinnerladies or Keeping up Appearances. Gave him a ring (Adele has known him for about 20 years on and off) to get the low down on the show and management, as they are only a couple of hours drive away  popped up to see the show. Not a bad little slow – two good ‘turns’ (sorry in- name for actors) four not too bad and one I couldn’t possibly comment on.

Turns out the Producer was also in that night – they had only just opened a couple of nights ago so he was in giving notes. Anyway met him and got the low-down on the show, producers and cast – saving for another blog.

Went for the interview- thankfully only 80 miles away, just south of Burton – traffic was horrendous - and was late. Thankfully so were they so it didn’t matter that much. One of the few things I am really anal on is punctuality- hate it in others and more so myself.

They rang me up the next day and offered me the job but we were about $150/£100 a week away from what I had in mind and told them I could not do it for that – a gamble I know when you aren’t working but you have to believe you are worth it.

They made me sweat over the weekend (or maybe I did them as they may have thought I would ring back and accept their offer) and rang again on Monday to agree to the amount I wanted. So going to Newcastle on Saturday to do a recce and then start in a couple of weeks. In the meantime I am doing some casual crewing on a show at the Oldham Coliseum- Up on the Roof.

I t will be a hard tour – two and three nighters with  some long distance overnight travelling, (Grimsby finish at 12.30 in the morning, drive to Inverness and start at 9am that same day- killer) but should be good fun. Looks good on the resume as well as some decent names in it- Sam Kane, John Altman and Anthony Costa having been directed by Lisa Riley.

So going to wave goodbye to my life for a few months – still have been at home long enough now and pretty sure that Adele probably wants to stab me for getting on her nerves – I’m not the best when not working.

What a busy few days…even for me…

Been for another interview and got another on Wednesday sadly I have to schlep ( is that a real word and if so is that the spelling – who knows, who cares) down to Oxford for a one hour interview. That is however the nature of my business. However if I get the Halifax job (fingers crossed as I should hear today) it will be permanent and only about 35 mins. drive away so no more  touring and looking for freelance work all the time.

Had a meeting with the police a few days ago re Beerwalk and they dropped the bomb shell that as the local council have taken over road closures they were going to either make us reverse the route (which in itself is not a bad thing but felt it was the slippery slope- and may still be- to them taking more and more control) or charge an extortionate fee per road closure. This was also going to effect the band contests (and possibly shut 4 of them). We have been going for 37 years now but the first band contests started in the 1880’s so a lot of history and tradition could have been lost.

Anyway we and the band contests kicked up a fuss (most of the Councillors knew nothing about it-seems to be have the officers that set this in motion) and at last common sense has prevailed. However I do see, as stated earlier, this being the slippery slope to more red tape and problems next year.

We’ll see…

Held my final business meeting as Chairman (AGM will actually be my last – the new Chairman takes over halfway through), there was a lot of banter as expected but all in all a good meeting. We seem to be getting a lot of potential new members coming to our meetings which is always good as a couple of RT’s have had to shut lately due to lack of numbers.

On Friday (this time next week) we are holding our Charter Night (first time we have had one for many years) – which is 10 mins. of formal speeches followed by many hours of drunken debauchery and entertainment.

Went to another Beerwalk meeting last night and it is starting to come together…we are only 9 weeks away so it needs to. This year the theme is Lord of the Ring Pulls.

Back from sunny (and yes it actually was) Bracknell although if you’ve ever been to Bracknell you’ll know that’s all it had going for it. Although to be fair the South Hill Park (which is actually an arts centre as well as a park)  was a little gem and well worth checking out if you are ever around Bracknell.

I had a week in a Travelodge – I hear the groans already but to be fair the rooms were OK it’s just the communal areas of these places that are just soul destroying. They are full of single business people not talking to anyone and eating microwaved food that they are being charged way too much for.

There were four of us staying there – me, two flatland riders and a street-dancer. I think we all got on quite well and should a tour come about from this research & development week then I think it will be good fun and interesting work.

We worked at the South Hill Park centre all week preparing to film on the final Saturday a promotional DVD for the new tour of Rotations. It involved two flatland riders and two street dancers, a director and me. I was mainly involved with the logistics within the centre, the set, floor lay out, lighting and storage thereafter.

It will be worth looking out for on you tube or similar once edited.

On a more social note the four of us went to Weatherspoons (I know I should have known better) and two of the three nights we were there there was a fight – it seemed as if the people of Bracknell came out to Weatherspoons just to have a fight. And this was only mid-week. We didn’t risk it at the weekend and found a Hungry Horse chain – ‘cos obviously being away we had to eat as well as drink (although very little of the letter was done) and as previously mentioned I would proabably have had to slit my wrists if I had stayed in the hotel communal areas any more than absolutely necessary.

Friday I am going for an interview with Peel Cruises – hopefully second time lucky as I have already been rejected by them for another position as I was too qualified!!!

Wish me luck – although as this job (unlike the previous job interview) is land based it won’t exactly be as you wave me goodbye…but you get my meaning.

Well off on Sunday to that there London for a week (well Bracknell actually but no one knows where that is) doing a Research & Development week on a new dance piece called Rotations by Kompany Malaki. We will then have a three week rehearsal period before the UK summer festivals and maybe Europe and further afield!!

Went to our Round Table E.G.M. to elect the new officers for next year, this is about the time when you know your tenure is at an end when the new Chairman  picks his team. Nevertheless it’s been a good year – we raised over £30,000 for charity and had fun doing it.

One of the members has organised a Charter Night- men only  (we haven’t had one of these for quite a few years) as opposed to a formal Ball we have had in the past – think it may involve ladies who take their cloths off – it’s all in a good cause off course.

Interviews and applications are coming in thick and fast so hopefully I will have more work to report later in the year – it is a strange existence when you work freelance and don’t know where your next pay packet is coming. You really have to learn to budget well and save in the good times to compensate for the bad times.

Seeing the police shortly re Beerwalk - we have obviously have to run it by them as it has turned into a major event over the past few years. Check it out.

Well I will let you know shortly how it went down South.