crushed it.

Hey everyone!

So clearly, I'm failing at blogging daily.  But it's been a constant rush of work, interviews, auditions, a cabaret performance (#NAILEDIT!) and moving into my new sublet!

So, here's the update:

I had my first day at Jekyll & Hyde's Chamber of Horrors attraction in Times Square.  It was EPIC zombie prom queen realness:

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody!  #zombie

It was a LOT of hard work (I was sore for DAYS after...I now understand the bruises and aches from HHN scareactors) but I made friends with my coworkers and we had a BLAST scaring the crap out of people.

Then came the audition from HELL.  My friend Cameron and I were literally there from 9AM and didn't get seen to sing until 3:45pm.  Then we both didn't get called back, after ALL that waiting.  (And this group was casting a VERY dance-heavy season...I was PISSED I didn't get the chance to dance)

Holding Room + 6.5 hour wait = DELUSIONAL

After that we both had to RUSH over for tech rehearsals for the showcase we were singing at that night.  We made it - albeit slightly late - and had a rough first run at rehearsal.  This didn't help my mood.  But working through it, we patched the rough spots... and did much better in our second run.

Then when show time arrived, we TOTALLY CRUSHED IT!  It was SUCH a fun experience, and I even had a few friends show up just in the nick of time to watch us sing!  Here's the video from my solo - it's called "Screw Loose" from Cry Baby, the musical:

Feel free to visit my YouTube page to check out my two duets with Cameron! 

The next morning, I went in to interview for Mastro's Steakhouse - they're opening their first East Coast location this November - and I applied for Hostess.... only to be hired on the spot and stay for training!

SO PSYCHED!!  And although I'm nervous, I feel like this is my first step to really being able to stay out here.  It'll be enough to at least get me on my feet - and with the added income from the Jekyll & Hyde job, I should be able to make some good cash over this month.  I'm hoping it'll be enough for me to stay here in NYC, and be financially independent.

So now the hunt begins for a more permanent location.  Or another sublet.

AND THEN... (you didn't think I was done, did you??)  I got a phone call this morning asking me to join ANOTHER Cabaret later this October!!  WOO!!  That's right, yours truly will be performing with the Cranky Cabaret in Midtown on October 25th & 26th.  This performance should be a BLAST - I hope my New Yorker friends can come out and support.  It'll be $20 TOTAL at the door.... and get this, IT'S AN OPEN BAR.  

Yes, you read that right.  OPEN BAR.  So get excited, people.  If you want tickets, lemme know.  Underage friends are allowed as well!  You just don't get to drink... and it's still just $20 at the door.  :)

So that's what's going on with me... I hope you all are having a FABULOUS week!  Cali friends, I hope you survive that heat wave!  It's 68 and cloudy here.  ;)

xoxo, Jennifer.

bound for broadway.

Tonight I got to sing in front of an audience at a cabaret. And I didn't suck!!

I flubbed lyrics, but when I owned up to it/jokes about it during, the audience laughed. I got complimented. I was told I had a good voice. I was told I made someone feel the emotions I was singing with.

Dude. This is powerful stuff. How did I not do this until now??

I was terrified before, and now I can't wait for my next cabaret at Don't Tell Mama on Tuesday night!! If you want your $12 ticket, let me know!! There's also a two-drink minimum.

I can only hope Tuesday is as magical as tonight was. Thank you to all of my friends from California who donated to my GoFundMe account. It helped SO much!! And thank you to Cameron, Cooper & Grace for coming to support tonight!! It meant so much to have you guys in the audience. :)

Can't wait for next week's adventures!!

xoxo, Jennifer. 

little black raincloud.

Today I've just been in a funk. I can only describe it as having "woke[n] up on the wrong side of the bed" - because I've just had this little black rain cloud over my head the entire day so far. I can't really seem to shake it.

Perhaps this is the "third week letdown" of NYC. I had all these nice successes, and now I feel slightly stagnant. I haven't booked the job I thought I did (yet? So far it seems like they haven't made any calls) and although there have been many amazing fun moments... I feel like today I can't quite grasp the joyous feeling I had been having lately.

It was a rough morning, to begin with. I finished my catering gig late last night, felt really stupid when I forgot the R train stops running at midnight during the week... So I wasted a half hour waiting for a train that was never coming. Then had to walk (on my already achey feet) to another station at 1:30am... To then wait another 15 minutes for an E train. Luckily, that one made all local stops - so I walked in my door at 2:20am.

Of course, that doesn't bode well for a 9am sign in call for an audition later that morning. When 7am came, I could barely move. I don't even remember hitting snooze. But I got up at 7:30 finally. Only to find that our one bathroom was occupied. For the next hour and some change. So I had to brush my teeth in the sink, so my hair blind, change blind, do my makeup blind.

I made it onto the subway for my first time during morning rush. It was DISGUSTING. I was constantly bumped and rubbed up against by strange men (and women) and subject to body odor. (Ashley, you weren't kidding about smelly subway goers)

Finally made it to Pearl at 9:20... To sign in as number 148. By the time they got to 90, they cut us down to singing 8 bars only.

I felt like I never had a chance. I wasn't even nervous when I went in. That's never a good sign.

But I did well. I sang well, emoted well. Now I'm enjoying some French Onion soup while I do some work (I really couldn't stomach another meal of PB&J, ramen or Mac and cheese after today)

It seems a bit brighter after having seen all of the auditions I might be good for over the next few weeks. But still, a part of me only wants to go home and curl into a ball in front of some chick flicks.  The other part misses my California BFFs - you'd all know how to cheer me up.

Miss you guys... Check in with you tomorrow when the skies clear up again after I get out of Cranky Rain Cloud Town.

xoxo, Jennifer. 

whoops?

Sooooo... I did the thing where I forgot to write for a few days.

I'm SORRY!!!

So let me catch you up - I ran into one of my former dancers/students (yeah, Cooper!) at a jazz club/bar in the West Village.  It was hilarious, magical and awesome.  After a long night of awesome music - came back home to Astoria and slept for what felt like forever.

That leads us to yesterday!

Yesterday was my first "cater waiter" gig - the venue was Lincoln Center's David Koch Theater.  You may recognize it from Center Stage... I sure did!

The event was gorgeous!  The night for me was a little interesting... at first it was nerve-wrecking because I couldn't find where to go to check in.  Once that was over it was just slightly awkward not knowing anyone - being brand new and shiny, with NO service industry experience to show for. 

Folding napkins and menial tasks were the start of the evening, which was easy enough.  Some of these people like to assert themselves into tasks they don't need to just so they look useful, and it in turn makes getting the job done harder.  Luckily, our captains recognized this and put them in their place.  ;)

Then there was the ice bucket debacle... 

We were asked to fill up 500+ water glasses with ice before we were allowed our dinner break.  Some GENIUS decided using the glass to dig into the ice bucket was a good idea.  Whoever that rocket scientist was broke a glass and proceeded to NOT tell anyone it happened.  So we're all digging in with our hands (with gloves on, but still) to fill up these glasses... and someone finds a huge shard of glass in the bucket.  So we had to dump out ALL of the glasses we'd filled... and start again.

Needless to say, we weren't given our dinner break. And we were rushing to get it all completed before dinner service began.

Once service began, I started freaking out again because this was the part I knew NOTHING about.  I started watching people and mimicking their movements, gestures and form.  That helped... but nothing would prepare me for the sheer terror of trying to clear plates quickly without dropping anything.

But I survived!  No dropping forks or what have you... just a little slower than most people, but that's alright.

And some of the kitchen bussers shared a plate of appetizers and the steak they were serving, so that helped me get through the end of the night... where we were FINALLY given food.  (More leftovers from the fancy evening's menu!  YAY!)

All in all, it was a good night.  And to exit Lincoln Center and see that fountain all lit up?  Picturesque.  Glorious.

All in all, I'd say that yesterday was pretty darn good.  No auditions today - I'm thinking of exploring some more of Central Park or something.  Maybe the WTC memorial?  I have another catering gig tomorrow evening... and I may be the driver for it!  (I guess having a driver's license out here is a commodity)

xoxo, Jennifer.

feast your eyes!

Hello readers!

I promised an extra juicy entry for today - so here it is!  (feast your eyes!)

Today was BRILLIANT.  In SO many ways... Let me start from the beginning:

First of all, I got to sleep in slightly.  I was woken by the sounds of rain...(glorious!) And I FINALLY got to have tea with REAL MILK  (you have no idea... I tried to do it with coconut milk.  It was awful... NEVER TRY IT)

For those of you that don't know me super well - I'm a coffee snob, a wine snob... but when it comes to tea - I am the BIGGEST snob.  If I'm having a black tea it MUST be hot, with honey and milk.  REAL MILK.  English style.  Anything other than that, and it tastes like MUD to me.

SO many caps.... so you know I'm serious.  ;)

Anyway... that part of my routine got me ready to jet off to Central Casting. (in the rain... in my little kid audition gear and my new rainboots!) --  I registered there fairly quickly and made it with PLENTY of time for my callback for the Hershey Chocolate theme park Holiday gig.

I found the other "Cindy Lou Who"-looking girl and we bonded while we waited.  We finally found our holding room, and made it with time to spare... to go over our "popular" Christmas song that I have NEVER heard of in the history of ever.  Anyone ever heard of "Reindeer On the Roof"??  No?  Me either.

When I went in to sing, I was absolutely spastic.  SO nervous.  But I got the notes out...even if my body pulled a Mary Katherine Gallagher.  (Which I think they liked??)

  THIS was my look for today. 

By the way, did I tell you they were having me play a 6-10 year old child??  

THANK YOU MOM FOR MY GENETICS!!  

But after all that, I was asked to come back and read... but with this extra time I ran over to Don't Tell Mama in Hell's Kitchen to audition for another singing showcase.  And I booked it!!  With enough time to spare to grab a quick bite at Starbucks, I made it back to Pearl Studios for my second callback of the day.

I did a cold read (for those of you that don't know, that means I only received the script JUST before we audition) of the scene, and I think I nailed it.  It's down to 5 girls for this specific role... and I feel like it's mine to lose.  It's up to the casting gods now, and I feel VERY good about my performance today.  I've done all I can, and that's all you can do in this business!

Not only that, but I made several good friends at the audition today... one that I know will be a close friend through my time here, and for that I am SO grateful.

So today I can't stop smiling - because THIS moment is what I came here for.  The kismet of a good audition day, and a good day as a human being... I know this is where I belong.  I know I made the right decision in taking this risk.

the mantra.

I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings... two job interviews for the service industry, and maybe an attempt to get rush tickets for a Broadway show?  :)

xoxo, Jennifer.

bouquets of newly-sharpened pencils.

Don't you just love New York in the Fall?  ;)

Name that movie... and I'll give you a figurative cookie.

Well, I was right!  Today was another great day!  Made some new friends in the city, rocked a singing call, got a callback, got a secondary callback for tomorrow - and ran into my first friend on the streets of Manhattan!

I know this is a very short entry, but I'm exhausted.  I promise I'll write more details tomorrow. 

xoxo, Jennifer.

you've got possibilities.

Hey readers!

Today was another empty day - got to sleep in (yay!) and relax to gear up for another week of hustling.  Submitted for more legit job opportunities (teaching, fitness, retail, service industry, what have you) and looked up some more auditions.

The highlight was the CRAZY subway denizens I ran into today.  Specifically, this guy:

Yes, that is layer of tutus and skirts he is donning.  And a CD for an earring.  And a turban with feathers.  AND A FREAKING BIRD ON HIS HEAD.  Needless to say, it was hilarious.  Find my Twitter or Instagram account (@insanetty) to see video footage.

Tomorrow's going to be a wacky day: job interview in the morning and two auditions.  Lululemon is the interview.  The auditions are for Hershey's Theme Park Holiday Singer/Dancers (that's in the morning) and Hairspray - Ensemble (to be performed in Sarasota, FL).  I'm excited to get some more singing calls under my belt.

Also, if you haven't seen the Facebook/Twitter/IG/Email updates, I've launched a GoFundMe campaign to help me pay for my showcase at Bound for Broadway!  You can visit the site and donate like my 3 wonderful donors (so far!) at www.gofundme.com/egbytc - Only $80 to go!  If I do surpass my goal, the rest will go towards future showcases I plan on performing in.

If you happen to be in the NYC area - here's the low down on my debut performance!

BOUND FOR BROADWAY!!

featuring YOURS TRULY!

-Friday, September 26th-

at The West End Lounge

955 West End Avenue

(@107th St.)

 

You can buy tickets DIRECTLY through me - $15 pre-sale 

which helps me out so I don't have to pay the difference (I need to sell 10 tickets!)

If you want 'em ... email me!  jsanett@yahoo.com

I'm super excited to perform my two songs (they're two of my favorites) and I can't wait for you to see it!  The videos get put onto YouTube, so don't fret my Californian friends!!

Anyway, I've gotta get some shuteye so I can be ready for tomorrow!  Wishing you all a wonderful week...

xoxo, Jennifer.

subway code of conduct.

So today on my blog, I would like to pose a question. I honestly need to know...

Where the HELL are you supposed to look while you're on the subway? Is there a Code of Conduct book? Or is it more like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel?  I feel like it's some  sick form of Russian Roulette if you look directly into people's eyes.

So... Could someone please tell me where I should be looking? I need a Subway Eyeball Guide for Dummies.

Thanks!

xoxo, Jennifer. 

proud mary.

Just as predicted, today was another wonderful day! Gorgeous blue skies and a slight. fall chill in the air - and a good audition to go along with it!

I auditioned for he Norwegian Cruise Line dancer call. At 9am. So I woke up super early and made it work! The combination was simple, but clean and SO MUCH FUN!!  I really enjoyed myself and such a great free dance class. :)

Alongside that I purchased my rainboots - there's a storm coming... And I got to see some Calabasas friends that are out here.

Everyone keeps asking me how I'm enjoying the city, and they're always surprised when I tell them that I love it so far.

I'm literally falling in love with this city every day.  I feel alive. I feel like me. I feel complete.  The hustle and bustle of this town inspires me. I feel like it's keeping me on track in a way that my work ethic in California never has.  I feel like I can actually do this. I feel like I'm MEANT to do this.

This weekend I get a chance to relax before I head into another week. I can't wait! Hopefully this weekend I can see a broadway show - I'm going to attempt winning lottery tickets and running Central Park.

Have a wonderful weekend, all!

xoxo, Jennifer. 

never forget.

New York, New York... It's a helluva town.

Although I didn't end up making it over to Ground Zero today, the city felt like it started off a little bit quieter today than its usually deafening tones.  As if the Big Apple itself were remembering 9/11.

I had flashes of all my memories of 9/11 on the day... And it was intense. So I decided going to Ground Zero might've really thrown me.

Instead, I got to have coffee with one of my old Disney friends who I haven't seen in at least a year and a half (maybe two) while he was on a layover for his AMAZING vacay to Greece! (I'm totes jealous, Nico. That's on my bucket list of travel spots.)

After that, I realized I was an idiot and left my I-9 documents at home. So I couldn't register with central casting today. *grumble grumble*

But I did check my headshot proofs (they're perfect!) and I pick them up tomorrow after my Norwegian Cruise Line dance call.

Here's the best part of my day though: I got a text from a friend who is a producer out here. He's currently working on "On the Town" and "An American in Paris". If you know me, you KNOW I'm freaking out about these dance musicals.  And my friend invited me to watch some of the rehearsal at the Lyric (formerly Foxwoods) Theater.

So OF COURSE I went!! And it was amazing. This huge theater, a huge production, all the crew and staff running around. But the best part was, I sat in the orchestra watching this rehearsal - and the dancers and cast seemed so normal. Real. Tangible. Someone like me.

This dream just got a lot more real to me. I feel like I could've been up there with them.

I was so happy to realize that this isn't as far out of reach as I thought it might be. So I'm going in tomorrow to this cruise line audition... And I'm going to try my damnedest to get it.

Big Apple, I'm ready to take a bite. Let's do this.

xoxo, Jennifer. 

blue skies.

Today was an EXCELLENT day.

What started off as hectic and stressful (I overslept) turned into a successful and wonderful day.

I pulled it together and was audition ready (and I made copies!) within 30 minutes of me waking up - and got a tea - and took the subway... STILL MAKING IT 10 MINUTES EARLY!!

Not only did that happen, but I aced the interview and booked the Jekyll & Hyde's club gig!

Then, I almost got lost on my way to my next audition location... When I managed to find it - 5 minutes early - I walked in too fast.  They laughed it off but thanked me for my confidence...

But I did well with my song, nerves and all - and BOOKED IT!  Yours truly will be performing in Bound for Broadway: a showcase on September 26th at The West End Lounge in the Upper West Side! As soon as I receive ticket information, I'll post it.

AND I got to see an old friend (a veteran New Yorker) who I haven't seen in forever.

All in all, today was a good day. I can only hope tomorrow brings more wonderful adventures!

xoxo, Jennifer. 

moving too fast? or just too loud?

Today, while it wasn't necessarily jam-packed... (Other than my actual flight and getting into my September sublet in NYC) ...it felt like a whirlwind. I mean, I had heard from people that New York would be a culture shock for me...

But DAAAAAAYUM! You guys weren't messing around!!

The thing I noticed the most is that it's LOUD. Not that I mind it...terribly. But I found myself jumping at the honking, the screeching- the harsh, blaring noises all around me. I know I stuck out like a sore thumb - as someone who didn't belong.

But then something wonderful happened... In the midst of me pretending to blend and be a New Yorker - someone asked ME for directions to the correct Subway train. And I actually KNEW the answer. Woohoo!

So I think I can make it. Well, as long as I stop jumping at loud noises. ;)

The thing about this city that I've fallen in love with already is the walking. I LOVE that you're required on a daily basis to just get up and move! It's so refreshing from living in traffic in my Chiquita car.

Today I wandered through a bit of Central Park. And it felt (and looked) like a dream. Gorgeous and lovely. I can already tell it's going to be my safe haven. I can't wait to explore the rest of it when I have more time.

But tomorrow starts the grind!  Headshots printed, an interview and an audition for a singers showcase. My song is picked, it's one I like - "Come Out of the Dumpster" from The Wedding Singer musical.

For a showcase, I've heard it's important to focus more on your storytelling than on your vocal prowess. So while this song isn't super flashy, I'm hoping my acting chops will help me out. Also, the character is very me... So hopefully that will help me out of my comfort zone on this first shot.

The interview is for a restaurant/club that I actually visits with my family (and most of my dance competition team) when I first came to the city. (Yes, Mom. You win... Jekyll & Hyde's still exists!)  It's all about improvisation with the guests. I'm hoping my theme park experience will be a perk in their eyes. It's a "scareactor" job during this Halloween season. It'll be nice to think of my Universal  peeps as we terrify people coast to coast! ;)

So... We seem to be off and running! I feel pretty good about it, even if it's only been one day.

But I will say this: I think my arms are going to bulk up a bit from hoisting myself onto this GIANT'S bed I'm borrowing from Bill this month. (He has it on high risers... It's more than half my size.) I'll post a picture with tomorrow's entry. ;)

For now, goodnight!  I've gotta try to decide what to wear tomorrow, fill out paperwork for Central Casting and get some shut eye for tomorrow's busy day version 2.0!

xoxo, Jennifer. 

broadway, here i come.

After months of planning, dreaming, wishing and hoping - it's finally here. NYC. I'm comin for ya.

And as I sit here in the Virgin America Loft - so swanky (Thanks Elevate guest pass!) - there's a million thoughts rushing through my head as fast as a New York Minute:

"Will I fail?"
"Will I succeed?"
"Am I going to get lost?"
"Am I going to get mugged?"
"Can I really do this?"
"Is this really happening?"

I'm exhilarated, terrified, nervous, ecstatic, antsy... But above all, I know as soon as I walk onto that magnificent island named Manhattan I'm going to fall in love and never want to come back.

I just hope that I can do my friends and family (real and chosen) proud. I want to be able to prove that at 27 you can start over and finally pursue your initial dream. Everyone knows I've taken the world less traveled... One can only hope it was all in preparation for this trip.

Cross your fingers, legs, eyes- or whatever else! Broadway, here I come!!

xoxo, Jennifer. 

redux.

Hello readers!

In preparations for my trip to the Big Apple to pursue the Broadway lights, I've started a clean slate for this blog.  My goal is to create an entry every day to paint a picture of the journey I'm on... from Cali to NYC.

This Valley Girl is ready for the challenge of a lifetime... and I hope you'll come along with me.

xoxo, Jennifer.