TODAY'S INSPIRATIONS
The Ordinary Subway Artist. This dixieland jazz duo had be be-boppin' in the subway to the point where everyone was looking at me funny because I happened to be smiling and tapping my foot. How can you not tap your foot to a dixieland version of "Oh when the saint's go marchin' in." And let's face it, how many of we "serious actors" would do our "serious acting bits" on the subway platform??? These guys have guts and get little or no glory. They do it cuz they love it and they do it for the few bits of change that people throw them. It's phenomenal really. And the audience in HUGE. Now let's think about this for a minute. Millions of people ride the NY subway every day...let's say 2 million. The average Subway Artist performs about a two-hour set. That's an exposure of about 83,000 people an hour!!! Way better numbers than performing 8 shows a week on Broadway. Hats off to these musicians who fill our subways with something other than bitter faces and rats.
The Ordinary Ice Cream Store: Well, I guess it's tough to call Cold Stone Creamery 'ordinary' but the basics of ice cream haven't changed over the decades. Its always good. It always makes you smile and those extra pounds it adds to your waist are in the end very worth it. But here at Cold Stone Creamery they've got a clan of high energy, pearly white-smiled teenagers who make the whole ice cream experience even more fun. My concoction of mint ice cream with brownies and almonds was sheer perfection.
The Ordinary Playwright: Let's face it, everyone has a play inside of them. We've all got stories we want to tell. But the majority of us don't actually do it. Or we might actually write it down, but we never show it to anyone. Or, we might show it to someone, but nobody actually thinks its any good. And the chances of the very first play you write having any success whatsoever is really kind of well...unheard of, unless of course, you're Paul Slade Smith. Now this inspires me! An actor, loves to do farces, realizes there's a need for good contemporary farces, writes one, gets it produced and is now featured in Dramatists top 50 upcoming playwrights to look out for. An Unnecessary Farce is hilarious by the way (and I've only read it on paper). Clearly it reads AND plays well because it's booked in theatres across the country and booking more everyday. Inspiring beyond belief and clearly there is nothing ordinary about Paul Slade Smith.PLACES AND THINGS NOT TO BE MISSED
A ride on the Staten Island ferry at sunset. Just take the trip this summer and see the beauty of Manhattan at sunset one direction, and evening in the other. Just to look at the fabulous NYC skyline when you're at the front of the ferry is magical. Truly magical. NY, NY
The Oklahoma National Memorial. Lives changed forever on that fateful day when a 26-year old bombed a Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City killing 168 people. But I've never seen a finer, more "human" and profound memorial featuring "the field of chairs" for each of the souls who lost their lives all resting amidst the most serene expanse of water I've ever seen. The designer of the memorial must have been an extraordinary human being to have conceived this incredible tribute to the victims. Oklahoma City, OK
Facebook. Okay, yes. I've become a Facebook whore. Truly, I have. But let's face it, it's kind of brilliant! In fact a friend of mine who is a computer programmer is even blown away by the intricacies of the program. If you're not on Facebook, who are you??? Visit and get hooked. Global, Everywhere.
Until next time, be inspired!
Leslie
www.LeslieBecker.com
www.InspiredINK.blogspot.com
www.OrganizedActor.com
www.SendOutCards.com/lesliebecker
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