STING (photos)

STING
with the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

at

St Lawrence Neighborhood

We have been here a week now in our poky little apartment and we are both certainly getting used to it and enjoying feeling settled. The good news is that Canada Post has found our suitcase and for our troubles are reimbursing all monetary costs we have paid in sending all three suitcases to Montreal in the first place.

So Jazz is very big here in Canada and there are a lot of Jazz festivals at the moment. I guess during the summer they squeeze as much in because come Winter not too many people venture out. There is something like 30 festivals on at the moment here and 50% of them are Jazz and the best thing is that they are all free!

Tim and I went to this Jazz and Blues bar on Sunday for a spot of lunch and there were these 'more mature' men playing and they were so groovy. It was a small, dingy, claustrophobic little joint that had only these ceiling fans to cool down the whole place in 35 degree heat. The band members had sweat dripping of them, the lead guy who was playing the blues harp had his sweat dripping into the harp but nobody cared. If you looked around people were sitting in their booths drinking their beer grooving to the beat of the Jazz. It felt like a scene from a movie. This more youthful band were up next and had a very modern style of Jazz where the drums had a lot of the solo's, no singing and you could barely hear the double bass. The crowd were really into this group. I would say judging by the amount of people that started flocking in, that this group were well known to Toronto. However Tim and I were not feeling the Jazz from this group so we left.

One of the astounding things here is that Canadians have never heard of a Lemon, Lime and Bitters. The thing is they would actually love it if they knew how to make it, but you cannot buy bitters here anywhere. I guess their traditional refresher drink here is called a Caesar and I am very glad I asked what was in it before ordering it. It is made out of clam juice, pepper and tomato juice and you can have it with or without alcohol. I'm not quite sure what is so refreshing about it, but everybody drinks it.

Tim and I created a game the second day we were here. The game is called Squirrel. Now to play this game you have to be the first one to say squirrel (but you have to say it the way the dog in the Disney movie 'Up' says it) when you see one, no matter where you are. Now the squirrels here are as common as Magpies are in Oz, so you end up saying Squirrel at least 5 or 6 times a day. I have been trying to take a photo of one but they are so fast. So far Roxy keeps winning the game as she can always smell them before seeing them. Her ears go up, her nose starts twitching and her body freezes with one foot poised in the air like a good hunting dog, then it is up to Tim and I to be able to spot it first to see who wins the round. I will get a photo one day and I will post it on here.

Today we went to the well known St Lawrence Market. We both fell in love with the little township of St Lawrence. Tim so much so that he wants to work in this part of Toronto. It is a really old place with beautiful old and very abstract buildings. The big market is mainly food and has so many different types of cheeses, and they give you tastes of everything that by the time you leave you are so full that you cannot possibly eat whatever it is you have just bought. But I am certain that any Dutch person will absolutely love this market, by the amount of cheese any dutch person eats. The meat was very lean and fresh as I cannot normally stand the smell of meat, hence why I struggle to eat it much ( Jules I just have to tell you that I have tried Elk sausages, hope your proud of me), Tim was in awe of all the seafood stalls, especially the scallops. They were as big as an apple. I think I am going to have to learn how to cook scallops. They had many other stalls but we left not long after we arrived as Roxy started drooling from all the meat stalls.

Across the road were little street stalls that had more of your art and craft type products. There was this one stall that had these very funny items. The owner (and creator of the items) of the stall thought his items were so funny that every time he showed his items he would crack himself up so much he could barely breathe or talk and he would get even more excited with each item he showed us. Look out Hayden and Kristen, it was only fitting that Harvey should be the receiver to one of these amusing items!

The weather was starting to get very humid and stormy so we decided to go to the movies. We found this little cinema that looked so old fashioned on the outside. It had the white panel on the front roof part that tells you what is playing and when, with the flashing light bulbs all around it. Once inside they had all these retro posters on the walls from decades ago...but they had in a glass cabinet a replica of the white one shoulder dress with the big flower on the top bodice that Carrie Bradshaw wore from the latest Sex and the City movie, that you could win. I wanted to take a photo of it and send it to all my girlfriends who went with me to see the movie but I wasn't allowed. The theatre was very cheap as it only cost us $7.oo for the both of us to get in and the cinema itself was very old and had that musty smell just like the Lorne cinema. It was so delightful. Even the pre movie advertisements were very 70's and looked like the opening credits to 'that 70's show'. I think we will be going there for our movie fixes from now on!

Life in Toronto

We arrived back in Toronto and Tim booked us into a placed called University Club of Toronto. It is a funny story as to how he was able to get this reservation. One that I will let him tell.

Ok, so I surfed the net & sat on the phone making calls for 2 solid days trying to find cheaper accommodation than the Westin in Montreal, when I came across The University Club of Toronto, thinking it was another Uni res type of place. It was cheap for the type of room I was looking at on the net. I had nearly finished making the booking over the phone when the reservation lady said "can you please tell me the name of your affiliate club?" I told her I didn't understand & she told me that in order to stay here you had to be a member of an affiliate cub & that the list was on the website. I did a quick scroll down of the list to Australian Affiliates & I saw RACA. Thinking that the RACV was a sub-branch I told her that I could get a letter of introduction from them & send it to her via email to confirm the booking. I rang the RACV & they promptly sent off a letter to the exclusive club & I felt organised. The day we arrived the lovely lady behind the desk informed me that for future reference the RACA & the RACV are two different cubs, but she would forego this little misshap & we were welcome to stay. So for 2 nights, Mel & I were university graduates by default. Woops....my mistake....hehe.

So things have really started to fall into place here in Toronto. As it seems finding long term accessible accommodation is like finding a needle in a haystack. But we were put on to this couple who are wanting to rent our their accessible house for 10 months. This couple is going to France for 10 months and they have a two story house with a lift. One of the owners is a paraplegic, therefore the house is fully accessible and comes with a car that is the fully accessible and is exactly the same as Tim's car. The location is great, it is 20 minutes out of the city, close to a shopping centre, church, hospital and vet, the essentials. We went to meet the couple and see the house and could very much see ourselves in this house for the 10 months. It also has a guest room so we can have people stay if they want to visit! What sold it for us us though was as we were walking to our bus stop we passed these two little girls and a little boy with a lemonade and book stand. It was so cute to see that this neighborhood was still safe enough for these kids to be able to do this. It was so adorable and I think we might have some visitors this halloween.

The only draw card to this place is that it is not available to rent until September, so we have booked accommodation at an arts university. It is not great but it is cheap and typical of student residences. It brings back all the memories, good and bad of when I first moved to Geelong and lived in a student res for two years. The crazy cooking smells of every ethnic group, the rooms with little windows making you feel like a prisoner somewhat, worn down carpet and the thin suspicious looking bed linen. I have to keep reminding myself that it is only for a while and it is cheap, where as Tim thinks it is exciting to live like this for a while. He says it's like school camp again, except you don't know anyone. Our biggest challenge will be working out what to cook as we only have an electric frypan and a small toaster oven. No stove and no big oven unless we want to cook in the unclean student kitchen. This is a challenge we both find quite funny and stimulating so if you have any ideas of meals that you can only cook in a frypan and toaster oven make sure you post them. Stay tuned for our post with photos of our house.

Cirque - the audition

I'm writing this blog a few hours after I have just been to Cirque Headquarters for my audition, so this could be could be clouded with all the emotions from finally being at Cirque & then the audition that followed.

The main thing I had to remember today, no matter what the end result was, was that I had dreamt this for so long, put so much effort into even getting to this point, made concessions, asked Mel to make concessions, prepared as much as I could, but the main thing was to enjoy myself.

Auditions can sometimes be the most stressful, nerve-racking, self doubting experiences a performer goes through. Mel will testify that I was very nervous from the moment the day & time was set that I had verbal diarrhea for the two days trying to take my mind off it even for a minuit small chat conversation. But in my mind I was playing out every scenario for 76 hrs. I spent the couple of days rehearsing in my hotel room entertaining the room service cleaners. I didn't sleep very well the night before because I was going over song after song, word after word. Lucky I had a mainly French speaking carer that morning because I couldn't chat much.

The taxi came at 9:30am, we were off to Cirque Headquarters, I was ready.

The little kid smile came across my face as we pulled up out the front. It was an enormous place. Very modern & artistically stylish complex. Exactly what I had pictured for so many years. We played with Rox out the front for a bit while I mi mi mi'd & la ti do rey'd before we went in.

Through the front doors, signed in at security and waited in the main foyer for Estelle & Charles. We wanted to take photos of everything but unfortunately you sign a declaration not to record anything within Cirque walls. We sat there watching people go back & forth, in & out of rooms & the cafeteria, mainly business looking people, but the odd obvious performer, athlete or coach. In the background you could hear a rehearsal of some sort with the classic Cirque music echoing through the halls and a commotion of people yelling instructions & direction.

You have to remember that this was a very unique situation. I had been able to secure this audition outside of their normal vocal audition time & they told me they never have them at Cirque HQ. They are usually in halls or studios in other parts of the world, but here I was, at their creative hub getting a sneak peak experience that not many other applicants get the opportunity to do. What a privilege.

A gentlemen popped his head over the balcony and shouted "Look up, Bonjour! I will be with you shortly". Said in such a friendly, happy to see you kind of way. It's little things like this that make you feel less nervous about an audition. I said to Mel, this is going to be fun.

Charles came down and greeted us, he was so friendly & asked every kind of question about our trip. He showed us around a little, over to the rehearsal room that we could earlier hear. He explained how this room was the largest of it's kind as while they were creating a show they could set up the Grand Chapiteau (big top) inside it. It was like an airport hanger but bigger. Then a smaller gym that had every apparatus set up for the acrobats. High wire, trapeze, Russian swing, foam pit & tramp, balance beam, a playground for the athletic elite.

We were then taken upstairs through a maze of offices into an area that had a few sound studios & dance rooms. Estelle then joined us inside one of the suites that had a camera set up, piano in the corner, sound system in the other and an X taped in the middle of the floor with a music stand. That was my 'firing squad post' spot.

Initially I had asked Mel if she wouldn't mind staying out of the audition (didn't want her to see me cry when my top C's cracked with nerves .. hehe). I assumed it would be closed anyway, but no, they offered her a seat to the side & they "oohed & aahed" as Roxy slumped beside her sighing as if she knew I was going to again belt out those songs she had heard for 2 days straight!
I was comforting that they were there. Their little comforting winks & nods of support were a great comfort. Thanks babe.

The next hour and a half was amazing. At times intense, others hilarious. Estelle was one of the vocal casting team members & Charles was a choreographer there to help with the filming.

They told me prior to the audition to prepare a song of my own choice & then 3 of theirs. I started with the prayer as I thought it should off my ability to sing different languages, belt out some classical wonder notes & seranade through the ballad english sweet stuff. Again, I was so nervous that I didn't hear Estelle say "we'll just have a sound check to getthe levels right" and I started singing so intently I thought we were on, this was the real thing, belting out my Italian, until I saw she was waving her arms suggesting to stop, I thought something was wrong. But she laughed saying "that was great, but save it, are the levels ok?" We all laughed & that further broke the ice.

Without going into further details about each song & note the following hour and a half was a singing masterclass. Estelle & Chares put me through my paces & gave me great feedback about every aspect of my presentation. She was a wonderful vocal technician and unlike most auditions where you sing your bit then you're on your way, they workshopped each song and broke it down to the smallest thing.

Estelle really challenged me to get out of my comfot zone & try some different techniques. It was great receiving this type of citicism & the positive reinforcements were a welcome comfort in between. I learnt so much, I felt like I should have paid her for the lesson.

We spoke about Cirque & what they were looking for, the expectations & probabilties of being cast, my dreams and goals. They were both so honest & open about everything. By the end of the audition both parties knew where each other stood & felt like everything had been explored & showcased.

The report card - Estelle was honest in saying at the very moment there was nothing they could offer me & she gave me some extremely valuable advice on how to improve to suit their requirements. She was very impressed with my passion, feeling, delivery & performance of each song. She couldn't fault it she said. Technically though, there were a few things that I needed to work on & offered hints, excercises & advice which was very generous & helpful & told me to continue to work on these to be ready in case there was a call up. She certainly didn't shut the door on any involvement with Cirque but hinted there could be future opportunities. Estelle & Charles shrugged the shoulders & said "you never know what the directors are looking for. All we can do is offer up suggestions to them & see what they like".

To me this was a great outcome. Alright they didn't cast me there and then & whisk me off to Vegas into a show at the MGM liked I'd dreamt. But I've been, planted the seed, showed them my all, and come away with some wonderful words of wisdom from the industries top casting & vocal tutors. Not a kick out the door, but a 'let's just see'.

The interested thing about this whole thing too is that not once have I mentioned the disability prior til now. Interesting isn't it. To my family, friends, Geelong directors, performing peers & colleagues, my disabilty isn't there to you when it comes to my art. You know me, my personality & my abilities. But over the many years there have been, to many to count, situations where the disability is the first & deciding factor as to whether I am cast & how I am treated at auditions.It wasn't until I brought it up about 15 minutes before the end of this audition that we eventually discussed it. I was reassured that they didn't know anthing about it so it doesn't even matter.

I explaned to them that they had no idea how nice it was to walk out of an audition knowing that the things they thought I should work on and improve was something I coud control. My voice. It's too hard coming out of an audition knowing that it was the one thing I can't control that decided my fate, my disabilty.

I wish all auditions could be like this. (well, maybe with a contract to Vegas would be nice as well).

Mel & I left knowing we left nothing at the door and feel very confident it's not the last time i'll be visisting the HQ of the Circus of the Sun - Cirque du Soleil.

Cirque - the prologue

This blog is a 'back track' to explain how I came to wanting this dream (I know that some you you already know the story, but I'd like to write this all down so that it is a lasting account of the journey that I'll be abe to look back on, read, and remember - my memory is only going to get worse from here).

My very 1st encounter with Cirque was when I was in rehabilitation in '99 & a friend gave me a CD of the show Saltimbanco that she saw 2 years earlier. I really loved the music & played it a lot, blaring it out down the halls of the hospital all the while trying to sing to the then unkown made-up language. I thought it was French & that it was great I was learning another language. Until I read on the sleeve insert a long time after, that the Cirque language in their music is made up.

As a birthday present another good friend bought us both tickets to the touring show Alegria which had pitched it's Grand Chapiteau out the front Rod Laver Arena. It was incredible. Those who have been to a Cirque show will understand the feeling when you experience it for the first time.

It wasn't until 2 years later in 2001 when I saw Quidam that I knew that this was an arena that I had to perform in. In that particular show there was a performer who was weaving in and out of each act narrating through song, almost sernading each artist as they balanced on highwire, flew through the air on ribbons, juggled every possible object. He seemed to be the vocal link that binded & entwined the Quidam story. A particular song that caught my attention was sung while an acrobat was soaring through the air on two red silk ribbons that came down from the roof. Surprisingly it was the only cirque song I had heard to date that was in english. It was called 'Let Me Fall'. It was beautiful. An amazing accompianment to the flying pheonix. I went home and immediately found it on the internet, bought the music and a backing track & it soon became a regular feature in any of my sets.

In 2004 I decided to look into how to work with Cirque found out you could apply & then you go through many stages & if you're succesfull at each one, you could be a performer in one of their shows.

Bang! The spark had started. I wanted in.

First was the online application. Sent, recieved, accepted. Next I had to send a package including resume, photos, recordings & videos. Sent, recieved and they replied back saying that my application had been accepted and that they would like to audition me soon, next time they where in my nearest capital city. I kept track of where Cirque was auditioning for singers and nothing was on the Australian side of the equator. Every couple of months for the last 6 years I'd call & ask if they'd have a vocal scout out OZ way in the near future & everytime they would say "not yet but we'd still like to see you when we do".

Last year, 2009, Mel & I talked about travelling. I made a call to Richard, top dog at Assistance Dogs Australia, & asked what was the deal with travelling with Roxy. He asked when & where we wanted to go, which we hadn't really discussed to that detail, so off the cuff I said "well Canada sounds nice, but probably in their summer". Taken back he proceeded to tell me that there was an International Assistance Dog Conference being held in Toronto June 2010 and if he could organise it, would I be a guest speaker and entertainer? I don't need to write what my answer and reaction was.

I happen to be doing some research on the net about Canada & possible things to do and places to go & remembered that Cirque Headquarters was in Montreal, Quebec. Checked the website & there it was, vocal auditions in Toronto June 2010. Sometimes you have many paths in life to choose from, other times the road signs all point to the one destination. Canada here we come.

I contacted Cirque to let them know I would be in Toronto the same time as the audition & they agreed it would be a perfect opportunity and my invitation would be mailed soon. I upgraded my profile application for them - recorded some of their songs, produced a video presentation & even created & designed my own Cirque-like character Quadvox. Their responses to this material was very positive. Things were coming along well.

Alas I then ran into my first snag. I hadn't heard from Cirque for a few months & Mel and I were heavy into plans & not far off leaving. Unfortunately they cancelled the vocal auditions in Toronto. So I saw this as a challenge to see how much I really wanted it. With Mel's encouragement we decided to still go to Montreal at the end of a bit of a 4 week sightseeing holiday through Canada, knock down their door & demand to be seen. Afterall, it's been 6 years since I first applied. Time to go out and get it.

Before we left Jamie McGuane & Daryn Grayson gave me a very special Cirque book that has travelled with me for good luck. Thanks guys.

As you can see, we've had an amazing 4 weeks so far travelling, but in the back of my mind has always been the Cirque goal. The previous blog has detailed our arrival in Montreal, but I will now explain what happened when I contacted Cirque now that we were here.

I emailed my contact at Cirque to inform her I was here and would it be possible to visit HQ and possibly have an audition. Unfortunately the response wasn't favourable. Cirque is an extremely professional outfit as you could imagine, so to just rock up and expect to be seen and have an audition that's not advertised is not the usual thing. My contact informed me that she reviewed my file and application material and "unfortunately your candidicy as a singer cannot be selected". There were other things in the email but we thought this may have been a bit of a lost in translation moment. From the email we thought I wasn't going to ever be selected to even get an audition anymore. So, again with Mel's encouragement, I delved & pushed a little further to see exactly what she meant & whether this was going to be a waste of a trip.

Well after half a dozen emails backwards & forwards, I was finally offered an opportunity to meet her at Cirque HQ for a 30 minute audition.

Montreal (pictures)