‘Swinging Blues’ meets’ Gypsy Violin’ meets ‘English Eccentric’ Two extraordinary acts meet for the first time in double bill at the Fisher Theatre for one night only. Elephant Shelf performing songs from their new album ‘In trouble Again’ and Rupert Herries performing songs from his Show ‘Tales of Horror Mystery & Suspense’ which was recently performed in Halesworth & Woodbridge.
Well fans (ironic) it could be going a little better right now I have to admit, but you can’t blame me for trying. I was on the radio in St Albans with the 3 5ths of Elephant Shelf and we managed to get 3 tracks played from the album which can’t be bad, and that was fun. We also got 3 plugs for our gig on Saturday at the Mermaid too. There is a guy that wants to represent the Shelf in Holland which might be useful and lots of radio stations playing the album out Sur la Manch so that’s got to be good.
Personal circumstances are looking very risky now though. I have applied for about 30 jobs and not a sniff so far so one is getting in to a bit of a panic and its grinding me down just a tad. I have seriously considered bankruptcy but that could be a bit difficult under the circumstances, but it might come to that. Its not quite where I though I would be when I left the Civil Service about 2 years ago.
My brilliant career has not quite materialized. Something has to happen soon.
I have just played a guest spot at the Portbello Gold with Vicky in our Delta Ladies incarnation, and it went quite well I think.
The usual mixture some Bluegrass a comedy song and a bit of folk rock. It took my mind off the other problems of impending doom for a while which helped.
I went to Bungay yesterday to visit the Fisher Theatre where Elephant Shelf is playing a double header with Rupert Herries on October the 3rd. It’s quite a trek as its up near Norwich and its a lovely place even though its a 220 mile round trip. Ralph and Vicky came with me and we checked out the theater for all the techie stuff ,arranging the get ins and so forth.
BungayElephant Shelf PosterBungay Theatre DoorsVicky & Ralph
It’s rain Jim but not as we know it. I quite like rain in the right place, and this is no doubt something genetic about being British and wet and proud of it. Drip Dry hair helps too of course.
It’s been a long time since I was in an office (2 years now) and 14 years since I had a job interview so if I do actually get as far as attending one its going to be a pretty weird experience. My real problem is I am rubbish at phone calls, I much prefer emailing because it gives me time to think about what I am saying as I suspect that there are times when I don’t make as much sense verbally as I should. I am going for everything from admin to IT work and of course including government temping too. Being 52 now is not going to help either I suspect. Having a long term depressive illness is a bit of a drag too, as at the moment I am feeling reasonably well, but it tends to creep up on me when I least expect it. My finances are pretty dire now too. To give a rough analogy I am 2000 miles out over the Atlantic but but I only have 500 miles worth of fuel left so I am not going to reach NY… even with a very fair wind
What skills have I got ?
IT consultant/Developer:
Web and programming skills including the following:
php asp VB 6 Java SQL Perl C# and Html XML JavaScript Ajax. UNIX LINUX Vba for MS Office
Photo-shop & Flash ActionScript Ecommerce sites >
Click >>Here for an example using php and Smarty with full paypal integration
Web hosting
Prince11 project management.
10 years commercial experience, central government projects, including managing ITC for 300 users at the Parole Board for England and Wales.
Office admin:Case working, minute taking, HR , reporting, diary organising, file management, scanning photocopying, photocopier mantainance, prepairing reports for audit & bla.
Musician Composer
PRS member ,Published composer
Radio play for solo material and for Band & Duo National and local
Cabaret Performer Music & Comedy
Previously performances at:
Kings head Theatre Islington, The Bull and Gate, Purple Turtle Camden Jazz after Dark Soho The Celler Door Covent Garden The Joogleberry Theatre Brighton Dingwalls The Bull Barnes O’Neils Chain of music venues. The Abbey & After Office Hours Bullet at Kentish town Oliver’s Jazz Bar Greenwich The Crown & The Cock Tavern Kilburn & the Music Palace.
My Solo Album is available as to buy as download on Amazon E Music Rhapsody ITunes & Napster Selling but very slowly.
I have a CD ready and mastered but I can’t afford to press it at the moment, partly due to my car blowing up.
I am a performing composer and musician playing Piano Violin & Guitar and Bass and some vocals though my voice is somewhat unusual. I regularly gig with the Rock/Roots band Elephant Shelf and also the Delta Ladies duo which mix roots acoustic music and electronica and comedy.
I have a solo project band called Glass Cage.I read, but my sight reading is not that fast.
Musical styles rang from Rock to Blues Jazz Folk and world Music also electronica.
I compose in a variety of styles from pop to rock to jazz and classical oeuvres. I am also expert in multi-media recording and music production. I have a full studio setup which allows me to produce from demo to master recordings.
Maybe I should teach Music?
I could do that at a beginners level for adults I think. OK that sounds like a plan.
Well maybe.That’s what Napoleon Hill said anyway. So why don’t I believe in the power of positive thinking.
OK my problem is I have done quite a bit of positive thinking over the years and I have manged to get by but I have never really been able to get comfortable, perhaps this is just the human condition.
A mood disorder and a form of bipolar disorder. It is defined in the bipolar spectrum. Specifically, this disorder is a milder form of bipolar II disorder consisting of recurrent mood disturbances between hypomania and dysthymic mood. A single episode of hypomania is sufficient to diagnose cyclothymic disorder; however, most individuals also have dysthymic periods. The diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder is never made when there is a history of mania or major depressive episode or mixed episode. The lifetime prevalence of cyclothymic disorder is 0.4-1%. The rate appears equal in men or women, though women more often seek treatment.
Cyclothymia is also a pain in the arse and severely screws up your life…
Dysthymic phase
Difficulty making decisions; problems concentrating; poor memory recall; guilt; self-criticism; low self-esteem; pessimism; self-destructive thinking; continuously feeling sad; apathy; hopelessness; helplessness; irritable, quick temper; lack motivation; social withdrawal; appetite change; lack of sexual desire; self-neglect; fatigue or insomnia
Euphoric phase
Unusually good mood or cheerfulness (euphoria); Extreme optimism; Inflated self-esteem; Poor judgment; Rapid speech; Racing thoughts; Aggressive or hostile behavior; Being inconsiderate of others; Agitation; Increased physical activity; Risky behavior; Spending sprees; Increased drive to perform or achieve goals; Increased sexual drive; Decreased need for sleep; Tendency to be easily distracted; Inability to concentrate
Gor blimey gov, its a fair cop, strike a light. Things ain’t what they used to be thats true enough. The Elephant Shelf CD continues to be played on some specialist stations in the EU and also on local radio in the UK too. 20 or so at the moment.
Having been involved in the production of the said item one is fairly pleased. Where this will all lead ultimately is up for debate really I suppose. Its rumored that there will be some festivals to be played in 2010 and we can but hope that it works out.
The long awaited solo CD Glass Cage solo CD is shelved for the moment due my just having to spend money on car repairs so thats that for the foreseeable future. I seem to be as mad as ever, and I badly need a job of some sort sooner or later. I have no idea what I am going to be doing in 2010, buts its getting to be quite a major concern.basically my money will run out around my 53 birthday. Eek.
I do feel OK apart from the usual feeling of impending doom which is quite rational of course considering the situation. I spent today between the Piano and the PC as usual. I am working on a basic but easy to use e commerce product, a sort of shop in a box with a reasonable cost including hosting that I may be able to market to boost my meager existence with. Its almost ready to roll out and it needs the right price tag. Too cheap just won’t do it I am afraid and the wrong price means no clients at all.
http://www.fishertheatre.org/programme/October.htm
