The Continuing Adventure

The days last forever here.

Not because there’s more sunlight, but simply because they’re packed. I can’t believe that yesterday was not only the day where I woke up at 9:00am and went out to the Esprit European head office to try on suits for the advertising photo shoot Friday, but also ’twas the day where I took a train to De Haag and had a corporate show for 1000 people in the largest auditorium I’ve ever performed in.

Yesterday — the day when I played “Murder” until 2 in the morning and took a walk with Brendan and Suzi in Vondel Park with glasses of cheap rose wine. Yesterday I started learning the rules of Skat, the german card game. Yesterday saw my first snow in Amsterdam. Yesterday, I rode my “bike” to work. Yesterday I ate Chicken Pesto and 12 Midget Potatoes for 2 Euro, courtesy of the Boom Kitchen. Yesterday, I was paid 70 dollars to play Emotional Option.

And of course, yesterday, I missed great conversations with my friends. There was an hour or two at 4 in the morning when all I wanted was to be home and hanging out with the LA crew. It’s just such a waste to be having all these experiences and not sharing them with someone that I can look in the eyes, and draw on all the shared exformation that comes with knowing someone.

It sucks that I can’t be in Vondel Park and turn and say, “See? It’s amazing.”

Superbowl!

So yesterday was Superbowl sunday, and Boom celebrated by playing football at the Museum Plein in 40 degree rain. I scored a touchdown and some pretty significant defensive plays against my highly skilled improvisor opponents. It’s really a badge of honor to sack someone who’s been training for football for years, and I’ll wear my medal with great pride. I earned that ring. What a memory! Yes! This is how I will always remember Superbowl Sunday! The great memory of my incredible touchdown and impressive defensive capacities!!

Or I’ll remember it as that day that dog pissed on my backpack while we all watched.

On one end of the field: An entire troop of English-speaking, mud-covered, wet comediannes screaming “NO” at the top of their lungs. At the other end of the field: a tiny dog evacuating its bowels on my backpack. Ugh.

Oh well. Last night, we all headed up to Jan’s apartment and watched the Superbowl until 6am. I’ve got 5 shows this week, and everything is going well. I need some gloves and a raincoat. It’s always raining.

Check out Bjork!

http://www.boomchicago.nl/Section/Photos-and-Video/01222003?page=2

Alright, there’s a fine photo for ya. 2nd Row, last photo. Me as Bjork, bluescreened with Colton on Top of the Pops.

What a strange couple of weeks this has been.

I’ve got another show tonight … that’s 3 in a row this week. Getting into the swing of things. And I get my Bike tomorrow! I’ll update more after the show tonight.

First Rockstars Show!!

Tonight was my first Rockstars show. I played Bjork in an improv game where you choose an impression first and then get at “get” from the audience and make up a song for the audience in the style of that performer.

It sounds very CLINICAL when I describe it as such, but it was so much fun.

Check out the website under “Photos and Video” (I think) for a shot of me and Colton as Bjork and Top of the Pops.

What a crazy job.

In other news, I make less money than I thought I would make. Oh well. It can’t rain all the time.

Toodle-Pip

Another day at the office.

Today was more of the same-old-same-old. Damn I hate the office.

I rolled into work around … oh … god, it was so early … like 12:00 noon, and then played these *draining* improv games for 4 hours before going shopping for a coat. Oh! And my boss gave me all these memos about how I don’t sell my guesses in 5 Things (Two Things for West-siiiide) — and how I need to do more research on Television Shows so I get some references.

I didn’t know who John Ritter was.

Seriously, though, I do need a coat. I’m freezing. And everything here is leather and fur and smells like a wild animal. I need some West Siiiide fashion. Damn!

I miss everyone a lot today. Gonna give a shout out to my peeps. I’d make a list, but I don’t want to forget anyone, and *TRUST ME* I think about each of you all the time. Just not right now. The only person I’m thinking about right now is John Ritter. I *have* to remember who he is.

Toodle-Pip.

Amazing.

Last night, we had a kick ass show. For 4 hours, I was the luckiest improvisor on earth. We are paid to play, and paid to drink Heineken. Really. We have to have at least one beer.

What the hell kind of life is this? After Randall’s going away party/show (it was his last Best of Boom show), I played in the Heineken Late Night. Fog Machine. Freestyle rapping. A goddamned DJ spinning tunes in the Boombar. Next week I’m up. I’m going to be MC P.O.W., a rapper who’s been in a war camp for 13 years and has flashbacks once in a while.

I’m turning into a donkey.

Today I got to sleep in (finally) and then I walked the city all day again. Found a great cafe called “Panorama” that looks out on some historic district that has been there for all time. And another restaurant that has performance art comedy overlooking the canal. Good lord.

Come visit.

First Boom Show Tonight

After a week of rehearsals, it is finally time to take on the Boom stage. And by first show, I mean my first Sketch Show: Best of Boom.

Out of the last 90 hours I’ve spent awake, 65 of them have been spent at the Leidseplein Theater.

I smell like a dead mouse.

So, wish me luck. In a couple hours, I kick ass. My first appearance will be in a piece where I get to say the words, “Titties” and “Dick Sap.” I do another show afterwards. Then I get paid. Life is good.

Last night I spent three hours shopping for footwear. I’ve been told that Amsterdam is fashion central; there’s no better place to shop, save Paris. But if this is the future of clothing, get ready to spend the better half of 03 dressed like a cheese farmer — in mid-shin pants and pointy boots. The clothes here look like they’re made out of sod. Maybe I’m just in the wrong district, but Jesus Christ it seems the Dutch are retarded. And none of them wash their goddamned hands.

Another day of rehearsals …

I’ve been at Boom since 10.

I got a break after rehearsal and went to look for show shoes.

The Diesel store is 3 stories high.

Rehearsal and Script Panic

It’s been a couple of days since I’ve seen a computer. I really, *really* miss my PC. It looks like it’s pretty difficult to get internet in my apartment on Rombout Hogerbeets Straat … although I’m still researching what my options are.

So what’s happened since last I lay my fingers upon these keys?

On Sunday, Brendan (dyed blond hair) gave a bike tour for Jim, Suzi and I. I can’t get over how incredible the city is. Every few minutes I have to stand my ground and remind myself that its where I live.

Right. Bike tour. We shot through the main park and had tea in a place straight out of the Shire. Then, it was off to Centraal Station (The dutch have a strange habit of putting two vowels together when the word only needs one) and the Red Light district for a 5 hour brunch at this historic former ancient hospital place where Rembrandt painted something once. Again, I have fantastic pictures of all this, but NO WAY TO FUCKING UPLOAD THEM TO ANYTHING.

Yesterday was the first rehearsal. The show is very, very tight; there’s not really any time right now to ~own~ any of the lines. There’s a specific way to deliver them, with specific timing. Which is fine, of course. They’ve said that we’ll be able to change things once we’re familiar with the current show — and then in February, we start writing the next one. Rehearsal goes 4.5 hours each day, from noon, and then the evenings are free to do whatever the hell you want, unless you’re in the show.

So rehearsal: We played Questions, did some improv, ran a few sketches …

THIS IS MY JOB. Wow.

Everyone knows it was a difficult thing for me to leave LA. I miss my friends so much. There’s a language that we all shared, a vocabulary of references and experiences that I feel severed from now … but, regardless, I had to come. The professional experience is really irreplaceable. There are 90 people working at Boom — that’s 9 people per actor. There’s a team of street guys who hand out flyers and poster the city. There’s a photographer and 3 floors of offices. We *create,* and the company takes care of the rest. I couldn’t imagine it before I came; what a unique environment it is being a part of a professional, paid show. And although it’s aimed at tourists in the summer, during the winter the show is for the Dutch. It’s a local show in a tourist area, like Second City or Groundlings. I perform in Amsterdam’s Times Square. I’m really lucky. This may be the most incredible opportunity I’ve ever received.

I’ve learned about 30 names. I’m working on the other 60. For anyone who knows me, you can guess what a process this has been. And I have 7 more sketches to learn before my first real show on Friday. And some of these sketches are actually very funny. The ones I got before weren’t the most accuarate cross-section of what the show does.

COME VISIT, GODDAMNIT.

Last night I took a 3 hour walk, ate dinner and drank a two bottles of wine at a live jazz club. As soon as I get my phone card straightened out, I’ll start making some phone calls to the states.

Oh! Oh! Also! There’s a ~TORTURE~ museum! Ya hoo!

364

Day two began at 3:00pm (1500) when I woke up recovering from my first night in A’dam. Some party! Check out Boomchicago.nl for pictures from my first night and first show.

No hangover, probably thanks to the incredible French Fries that I had before I hit the sack — who knew that Peanut Paste and mayonaise would taste so good together? Congrats, Holland. You’ve changed the way I eat potatoes.

Spent the day unpacking, making a list of everything that I’ll have to buy at Ikea, and talking to Dani, my roomate. She created for me a fantastic salad, and then I watched her show. After, Suzi and I wandered to the Rembrandt Pleine and found an internet cafe from which I am updating.

Everything here is so spectacular. The underside of every bridge is accented with an arch of tiny gold lights that coruscate above and below the waterline. The streets are a museum of old cars (vespas, minis) that augment the divine set design — and even the doors to each basic apartment are mossed with carved lattice.

I want more MayoPeanut fries.

I think I’m coming down with a cold, which is to be expected given the change of weather, germs and sleep. I’ve got a fever that makes me dizzy and my cheeks are burning. Soon, I will head home and sleep in my tiny closet-room (which, I’ve been told, is not as bad as they come).

363 days left. Not that I’m counting. It’s a really lucky thing to be here, and I can see immediately why people get sucked in and never come back. There are no electric bills in Holland. None. Fuck. I used to pay something like 76 dollars a month!

Now if only I had a stove …

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