Incompetent People

I need to rant. Desperately!

Lecturers can be sooooo frustrating most of the time. I have this one subject called "Planning and Urban Policy Studio" which is a three hour class. For some one who loves to talk about how communication, time efficiency and participation is wonderful and how every planner should do so. She doesn't herself! I have just spent THREE hours "listening" to other groups' presentations which were met to be 15 minutes but went for about half an hour. Now if you do the math, if NINE presentations all went for 1/2 hour than that would take four and a half hours. TOO long!

And even if the presenation didn't go that much over time, she would extend it by talking and talking and talking about shit all. Why bother go into analysis in the week when ONLY presentations are supposed to be on? Also, this presentation isnt' marked, just a hurdle requirement. So that also makes it feel like a waste of time. GAH!! Sad for the last four presentations who just had to present their recomendations. So all that work for nothing. So frustrating.

Another incompetent person is my "mentor". What another waste of time! These are the strikes against her:
1. didn't show up to the inital function
2. wasn't in the office when i tried to call her
3. finally calls me and tells me that she will be AWAY for two months
4. find out that she is a Urban DESIGNER not an urban PLANNER
5. my friend who is also one of her mentees says she has no personality..and speaks really really slow.

I am thinking of emailing the coordinator of this program and say stuff it. this is a waste of time and i can't be bothered doing this if she isn't going to be even in the country. PLUS you picked probably the worst person for me.

Am I going to have to deal with people like this when I go into the workforce next year??

From the Land that is Sexy

Being 21 now, it is only just that I visit an adult shop. I ventured out into the super sexy suburb of Springvale to go to the SUPER Adult store: Sexyland. I went with the Princess and Miss M. One of these beautiful ladies was unbelievably excited about entering the store. Each one of us left with something.. Of course, I am not going to tell you what they are. You will just have to ask one of us at some point or other. Going into a place like this is very educational. And it is also interesting to see what other kinds of persons. Scarily most are over forty, and in couples. Nice to know that the three of us broke the mold. Though most things in this store were heavily over priced. Though, I guess that isn't too surprising but it would be nice if the products actually looked worth that amount of money.

Anyhoo, I am going to have to get cracking on my big presentation that needs to happen on Monday morning. AHHH!!! And you can imagine that I haven't even started yet :(

Jonas

WOW. More posts! I am on a rampage! All this procrastination is becoming too much. But I just can't help myself. One day this little white laptop will not be so cool anymore and I won't want to use it ALL the time. That said, I thought of some ways that I could make my blog more interesting. I think that I will use Jonas as a way to do that. Jonas Armstrong is my new favourite actor. I thought that I would put this video of him up on here for all you gals to watch :P It is from this show called "Teachers" he did before Robin Hood. So very cute and funny. Why is he so gorgeous? I need to figure this out. Why is he so appealing? I now open up the graffiti wall for tags

Jonas in Teachers part one of his first episode

Here you go Leah. sorry that the video didn't work. stupid youtube grr.


[Tim, if you are reading this, my new found obsession with Mr Jonas has had no effect on me not finding you appealing ;) - gawd, did that even make sense in any language??]

You boy like beef noodle?

Yay! I got into my friend's original musical that he is putting in MudFest10. I am the grandma. She is 92 years old and has a memory span of about 5 minutes. She has a song in the Second Act of the show. It will be on in August I think.

The audition went well. :) In the end I choice to sing "When you're good to mama" and "Summertime". The acoustics in the room were awesome and it was very easy to project. I am really going to have to work on my dancing though. I have been thinking of two dance schools. I think I'll learn jazz, as every place says that is what you need to do musical theatre. I got the call about an hour after I had auditioned. I wasn't needed for the callbacks, they just gave it to me. :D

The great thing is, is that I have the option of just doing the grandma role or being the grandma and doing chorus numbers. I think I'll just stick to the grandma and audition for Fame - the musical that UMMTA is doing mid way through October. If i get in, I don't think it would be too much of a problem to do both since the performance dates are far a part.

Happy and content at the moment. I can always rely on Musical theatre to keep me happy :D

Back to Square One

Trying to make something of yourself in the music or creative industry is really very hard. Everyone who is trying to make it or has made it in some way or other will tell you that it is very difficult. That it will take a lot of hard work and perseverance. The music industry, whether you are aiming for stardom and paparazzi or smaller time gigging and performing, will still require a lot of effort, dedication and time. I found at the end of last year that I wanted to perform, I felt like vocally I was ready to make a start at gigging and making a singing name for myself. However, I find now that I am not really ready OR that I do want the same things as I did before. (I was presented with an opportunity to try something different and it hasn't worked out).

At the beginning of this year, I was presented with an opportunity to be in a duo. This duo is not like others. Mostly because it only comprises with a drummer and singer. The rest of the music is provided by a midi track. Over the last couple of months, it has been difficult for us to really get going or feel like it is working. I was torn between thinking that it could work and missing what I used to do, being Musical Theatre and not singing African style songs. But I wanted to persevere with this duo because I felt like I had to. I needed to prove to myself that I needed to do this to show that I could. That I could take it seriously. I learn now that this doesn't work if your heart isn't truly in it.

Also, when I decided I wanted to concentrate on music more this year, I was going to take a year off uni. But with other things not going to plan like my HUGE out of proportion travel plans, saving up money for said trip, I wasn't looking at the bigger picture and working out what can I do now, at this moment. I decided to go back to uni and then the priorities change. Music isn't as important as handing in assignments and being able to turn up to classes. For me, music is my soul and urban planning is my intellect.

So back track to yesterday. I am on a boat for Naomi's 21st. I get an sms from my drummer saying:

"Hey Teagan (grr that he spelt my name wrong after so long.) as of now, this duo is over. Will."

My first thought was, "boy this sounds like a break up", which it is in a way. Mostly, I was pissed off at the way he broke this duo up. He didn't have the decency to call me, tell me in person even. The guy is over forty and he isn't mature enough to do it properly. I don't want to go into how difficult this guy is to work with because I know with all my life changes I have been difficult to work with too. But one minute he pressures me that we need to start gigging NOW and then says that he can't and just wants to rehearse and then pressures me again. It is just not worth that much.

Three weeks ago, I told him, reluctantly, that I didn't think I was the best person for what he wanted. I want to finish uni first. And it wasn't fair on him to continue etc. That day was supposed to be our last rehearsal. I turn up and he convinces me that since we are almost ready to gig I should stay. Then last night was the: you know what, fuck it. You don't respect me or what we are doing so it is over. GAH!! So frustrating.

I am relieved that I don't have to think about this anymore. But I do want to say that I have learn A LOT from this guy. He knows so much about music, sound, sound equipment. And most importantly, has made me aware of what it is to be professional, to ask the right questions when opportunities come along. These are invaluable things to know and I know that I will be more prepared for future endeavors.

The best thing is that I realised how much I miss performing in Musical Theatre. I reckon now that I would be more than content to performing in amateur or semi pro musicals for a long time. I have an audition for a Musical on Monday for a comedic role. And I could audition for Fame next semester, even though I don't really like the musical.

The question remains for the rest of this year and the rest of my life, is how am I going to incorporate my urban planning and more importantly my singing/performing in to my life that is manageable?

Retrospect is such a wonderful thing.

Closing one chapter and walking into a new one.

It is a strange feeling when you move from one place to another. Even if it is on the world wide web. To think that I have own a blog of some sorts since half way through year 12. I like the feeling of having a record of my life, especially since 2003. To read over what I have written in the past, remembering old stories and realising how far I have come and also how much further I have to go.

I am happy with where my life is heading at the moment. I am singing regularly. Not quite doing gigs yet but they are closer than they ever where before. I have one on the 16th of June for some private function. I think this gig will be the decider on how much I want to perform. Such I am such a sucker for leaving things to the last minute, will I do that again with this? Since singing is supposed to be the one thing that I want more than this world, why aren't I practicing and learning all the songs? That worries me a little. I have been pursuing finding bands, getting gigs with the belief that I want to be singing around Melbourne and earning money from it. And yet into my fourth year of this ambition and I still haven't achieved this goal. I can only keep on going for it right?

Being an urban planning student is coming to a close in some months time. At the end of the year (fingers crossed) I will be a graduate with a degree in Urban Planning and Development. Sounds exciting huh? I feel so ready to go out and work. I have a Job Market Function this coming Tuesday where I get to hob-nob with the potential employers. I am excited. I also got accepted into a mentorship program. But that is not going so well. Firstly, she didn't come to the meet and greet night that I took the night off work for. Secondly, she wasn't in the office when I rang. Then when she does get back to me she rings to tell me that she is going to Sri Lanka for TWO months and won't be contactable for that time. Then I find out from another urban planning friend that she is an urban DESIGNER not a planner, which is stupid because they are separate professions even if they share half the name. I am in a mind to email the coordinator and ask for someone else. So ridiculous. grr.

It is my best friend's birthday today. Her 21st will be on a boat. My idea for her present is really cool yet very time consuming to make. But when I finish it, I know it will be brilliant. :P I really must stop these very late nights that I am having. Mostly they are to do with the fact that I have a brand new macbook that I can't stop raving on about. It's probably because I paid for it myself. And the fact that I am actually using the neighbour's wireless internet connection. I am at odds about that. I wouldn't download anything major or anything. Who ever it is really should put a pass word on it and not call it "default" if they don't want other people to use it.

anyhoo, my entries never are really that interesting... and i am exhausted. must sleep.