The Beginning

Hello, welcome! Come right on in and grab yourself a drink. Thanks for stopping by my brand new blog! So why start a blog? Well, my first thought is to tell you that it's because of the ample amount of free time I have! Unfortunately, that couldn't be further from the truth. I don't really have any good reason for starting a blog, and I don't really expect people to read it, but it's essentially a collection of my thoughts and ideas, and if we're really lucky, I may actually say something insightful or thought-provoking! But don't hold your breath.

Anyways, allow me to tell you a little about myself. The title of my blog is based on the two things which basically define my life: Lighting and singing Baritone. I'm currently a High School senior, or rather will be when September rolls around. I live and work in the Upstate New York area, in a small, redneck-ey town in the middle of nowhere. For those of you not from the area, Upstate New York basically means anything north of New York City. My town is famous for making glass products, and the town two over is famous for having the least teeth per person in America. I'm not joking. I'm planning to graduate next year and go off to study Technical Theatre, with a concentration in Lighting. Where, I'm not sure. I should probably start thinking about that soon.

I am a theatre nerd, no use denying it. I love watching shows and being around theatre people. However, I can almost always be found working backstage on some show or other. Specifically, I am a Lighting Designer and a Theatrical Electrician - although I have experience and knowledge in almost every area of technical theatre. Now, I can say with complete certainty that no one out there (with the possible exception of people who work in the industry) has any accurate idea what those mean. No matter. I shall explain them in detail in a later post. But for now, just know that I do pretty much anything and everything that has to do with running a show, except for the actual singing and acting. I work over a dozen shows every year, with 4+ local high schools, 3 community theatres, 2 professional theatres, and 1 outdoor concert stage, not counting the many occasions when I'm called at the last minute to fix something or save a show by providing backup equipment and support at the last moment.

My other hobby obsession is singing Barbershop music. I'll pause here to let you finish all the stereotypes that are running through your mind. "Barbershop? Isn't that those old guys in straw hats and suspenders who sing old annoying songs on street corners?" No, it actually isn't. Barbershop music is a style of a capella (don't know what that means? google it.) music which, unlike most styles, demands nothing but upmost perfection in every word sung. I sing Baritone in a Collegiate competition quartet, as well as with a number of highly-respected choruses. I will be devoting many future posts to all things barbershop, so that'll have to hold your unrelenting curiosity at bay for now.

My sincerest apologies for the long post, but I am a very complicated individual. If you've made it this far, then congratulations - you're the only one! Bye for now.

R