Six Word Essay on Talent Competitions

I'm convinced AquaNet makes everything better!

God Bless Texas...

Big hair,
Big hearts,
Designer divas,
Cowboy hats and tight blue jeans,
Delicious BBQ-
And intense competition!

Flying Off The Handle...

If working your way through the vile and evasive breach of personal space that (we pretend) is making us safer, known as the TSA, doesn't make your blood boil-
I trust the boarding process will!
By the time they finish boarding; First Class, handicap, those needing special assistance, Executive Platinum, Premium Platinum, Premiere Platinum, Platinum Plus and Elite Premiere Platinum Plus passengers- over half the plane and all overhead bins are full.
Then they start with Group 1?!?
Inevitably I'm in Group 4. Once I'm finally on board, I arrive to my seat which is a window- and three Premier Executive Douche bags have to get up to let me in my chair.
Naturally, the one I'm stuck sitting next to is 300 pounds over weight...
(And I wish I was exaggerating!)
More to the point, the hefty man treats me like it's my fault he's super sized, and refuses to share the armrest.
Flying has truly helped me reach new levels of RAGE!

Hustle

Hurry
Up!
Seriously
Try!
Lose
Excuses!

Stars... They're Just Like Me!

You know that section in US Weekly or Star or People or, well I'm not sure which one it is exactly, but they're all the same aren't they?

I love that section-  simply because they hire paparazzi to stake out dry cleaners, coffee shops and parks to catch "stars" acting like normal people.

Today for example, I was in line behind a famous star and his two adorable kids.

He ordered like me, paid like me, tipped the barista (like me on a good day) and waited for his coffee like me...  When his coffee came, he and his kids sat and enjoyed coffee and snacks.

It really made me think-

Wow, those trash magazines are right- He is exactly like me!

Then he and his kids left in a luxury car and it dawned on me...

He's nothing like me, I would never drive a red corvette!

Instinct Magazine Article

I'm so excited to share a fun interview that Jeff and I did for the April 2012 issue of Instinct Magazine.
I'm especially honored to be a part of this particular issue, because it features Jason Mraz on the cover.  It's the first time Instinct has featured a straight man on the cover... More importantly, it's an issue that focuses on Equality!  Please go out and buy a copy of the April Issue of Instinct Magazine and stand up for love!

A Moment Of Awareness

I love those moments in life when an important piece of your past reveals its true worth in your present.
Like a coded message you sent back from the future to experience as a child, so that you'd know exactly when and how to use it as an adult.
These life shaping discoveries are usually painfully embarrassing, sometimes even horrifying- but are followed with a new found strength.
As you continue along your journey through life, you forget these bookmarks, until one day the adult you, has a flash of recognition, and for one magnificent moment everything makes perfect sense.
The setbacks and realizations you fought so hard against as a kid, then suppressed as a teen, and ignored as a young adult slowly start leaking out-
The beauty is, at just the right point in time, you're finally able to comprehend the importance of those hurdles along the way. More importantly, you accept that all of those things that you rebelled against for so long, are precisely what made you who you are.
Once you can finally embrace them, you have the key to unlock who you're meant to be.
Life is so cool that way-

The Glamorous Life On Tour

You know you travel too much when you realize you're sitting in the same random airport bar in Salt Lake City as you did five years earlier, and the only thing that's changed is the amount of alcohol you consume.
It's not that spending your life getting paid to travel across the country can't be fun;
Late night trips to small town gas stations for more alcohol.
The rare craving for an awful chain restaurant like Applebee's.
Quick stops at national monuments, points of interest and mom and pop variety shops...
But on the whole life as an artist on the road is less glamorous and more TOURture!
Especially when you've been doing it since you were eighteen!
Of course I'm grateful that I've lived my life performing around the world-
What nineteen year old would turn down a six month trip performing across Europe on someone else's dime?
Still, at thirty-three, I'm ready to spend more time in the city I live, and less time on a brutal, oversold Southwest flight to (slight pause for dramatic effect) wow, I don't even know where I'm going!
...and I kinda like it that way.

Break-out!

Some days you wake up and cereal just won't do!
I love walking to a local restaurant for a delicious and hearty meal...
Eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, coffee and OJ!
It's an affordable guilty pleasure-
And the perfect way to start the weekend!

Patience Is A Virtue... It's Also A Must!

I hate losing my patience with a loved one-
She has been a constant source of unconditional love, wisdom, support and laughter;
Now, when she needs me, I feel I fall short.
I've lost compassion and understanding.
Anger and sadness are affecting my reactions.
I know I can do better.
I HAVE to do better!
She gives me the world-
When I look back, I don't want to remember how frustrated I was;
I want to celebrate how beautiful life was with her!
I have to do better.

Solid Gold!

There are days in life when everything falls into place...

In LA it happens less often!

Today was one of those magical days...

Celebrate the small victories when they come, and embrace the possibilities!

On Teaching Dance

The thing about teaching teenagers:
Sometimes you break through;
Sometimes they break you!

Make It Happen!

It's not enough to "want" something in life,

You really have to be prepared to fight for it-

You work hard night and day, 

Pouring your heart and soul into a dream;

You give everything you think you have to offer,

Only to discover a deeper hunger and drive than you thought possible.

Then the opportunity comes along to set the plan into action.

Today is the day...

I'm going to make it happen!

Six Word Essay on Airport Terminals

I never get board watching people.

The Green Mile...

Spent the day inside a theatre working;
We could hear the sound of bag pipes and festive cheer between numbers-
Walking back to the hotel in the rain after the show;
Weaving in and out of a sea of drunken green people-
It became blatantly clear that St. Patrick's Day had taken its toll;
I made it back to my room without getting hit or thrown up on-
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

An Actors Life...

Urgent phone call and six follow up emails.

Last minute audition to be a series regular in a huge new pilot!

Note from casting:

"Actors MUST have all ten pages of dialogue memorized.  MUST not be flamboyant. Make strong choices! Actor MUST be a strong singer. Just be you! Be unique. Just have fun!"

That's my favorite part of this industry...

My entire day gets completely postponed for an opportunity to be PEFECT!

...along with the forty-five other guys that are "perfect" for this role.

Well, one of us has to get the part, maybe this one will be me!

Accounting Error... Tax Season Is Here!

I loath tax season!

The numbers.

The math.

The files.

The forms.

The write-offs.

The reconciling accounts.

It's all so annoying.

Even with a CPA I cringe at the entire process.

It would be nice if I actually had a nice return to look forward to!

Sadly, it seems like I always owe more money than I even made each year.

Ugh.  I have a massive headache!

Coffee Talk

One might ask me, "Matthew, you're in Starbucks a lot! How much coffee can you consume."
Answer:
There will NEVER be a time when I turn down a trip to Starbucks.
I hate that I'm a cog in the corporate trend... But Starbucks hooked me in when I was a Senior in high school and I've been addicted ever since.
I've already been twice today, for a production meeting and a quick "refuel."
Now I'm off to meet up with a good friend from NYC.
It's the perfect place to hang out, people watch and get pumped full of over priced, hand crafted beverages!

Mercury's In Retrograde?!?

Ordinarily I get a good chuckle when my friends with stars in their eyes inform me that Mercury is in retro grade...
I'm sure that astrology, much like almost everything else on earth effects the way we behave.
Our mood swings, happiness and our livelihood are no doubt connected in someway to the universe.
Still, I've never altered my plans, rearrange my schedule or change my life because the "charts" told me to do so.
Today however, I actually felt the sting of Mercury in retro grade.  I didn't realize it this morning when the first of many mini-disasters occurred, but it was confirmed tonight when the final ball was dropped.
Mercury is in retrograde ...and I can feel it!

Do You Ever Wonder...

Why, no matter what brand you buy or how much money you spend, it's impossible to start a new roll of toilet paper without losing the first 40 squares because of the glue they use?

What a waste!
Literally.

Change Your Underwear!

I'm ashamed to admit it...

But today, I'm wearing the same pair of underwear that I had on yesterday.

An unexpected overnight stay away from home has forced me to go without a lot this morning.

A toothbrush.

Toothpaste.

Face cream.

Hair product.

Fresh underwear...

The thought occurred for me to "fly solo" without the undergarments...

But it just doesn't feel right in a Calvin Klein suit!

That old trick about turning the underwear inside out...

It doesn't fool me... my ass knows it's in the same pair as yesterday!

After A Long Day of Judging Talent Competitions...

This is how I feel.
As they say... A picture's worth a thousand words!

Dance Moms The Parody

All I can say is that I had the most fun so far making this parody!
It's completely inappropriate and perfectly accurate!
Please enjoy Dance Moms The Parody:

I Need A Break!

Over worked.
Under paid.
Still loving life...
The complementary wine and cheese help!

A Sad State...

It's hard to believe that there are people in the United States of America who still condone discrimination in the Twenty-first Century
... let alone an entire state.
Sadly, the Utah Senate just passed legislation that forbids teachers to discuss anything related to sexuality or sexual orientation.  This includes a ban on anything that relates to the LGBT community.
Even if a student is being bullied, is curious or considering suicide.
Those parents who decide that they want their kids to participate in sex education classes have to opt in, and at that point their teenager will be taught an abstinence ONLY program.
I understand that there are people of many faiths in our country.  I also acknowledge that not everyone believes that you are born gay.
What I can't understand is why anyone would want to force a young man or woman struggling with their sexuality to suffer in silence.
Often times, the school is the only refuge for those kids to seek help, guidance and support.
It shocks me that there are so many people that still believe that you can "teach" a child to become gay.
If that were the case, why can't you "teach" a child not to be gay?
Don't even get me started on the (so called) Christian camps that convert your gay son or daughter.
I find it ironic that these faithful people that stand behind religion are the first to preach hate for EVERYONE that thinks or behaves different from them.
If they have faith, why are they concerned with others who have different beliefs?  Is their religion so weak that it will crumble if they don't convince everyone to drink the punch?
Clearly in Utah the do things by The Book!  ...of Moron.

Remember Mix Tapes?

What happened to the good old days?
Remember when you could pop a cassette tape into a tape deck and hit record?
Love mix tapes. Break-up mix tapes. Dance mix tapes. BFF mix tapes...
Even after CD's were introduced, we still found time to seek out our favorite songs from various CD's and record them onto one fabulous cassette tape that we would play over and over again on our lunch break to and from high school...
Then digital music swooped in and everything became so clean and "easy."
You can have all of your music in one place and share it with the world.
Too bad I spent six hours last night trying to cut two songs together in Garage Band.
A simple task, that SHOULD be painless. Considering the marvels of what a Mac can accomplish.
Unfortunately, with the onset of "convenient" music available at the click of a mouse, comes strict encrypting techniques that make some songs virtually impossible to cut, splice, mash or tweak.
Sometimes I really miss the days when you could steal music from the radio and no one cared!

Take A Hike!

When moments of chaos ensue-

I need to clear my mind.

I allow myself to get caught up in patterns;

Trying to accomplish too much in too short a time.

Stress, doubt and fear begin to rule.

The pressure will eventually build. 

I get lazy!

That won't help matters.

It's times like this when I need to step away from the iPhone Calendar...

And go take a hike!

Do What You Love!

For some, Sunday is a day of rest, brunch or football... I spent the day doing what I love with my talented friends. We shot a parody of (arguably) the worst and most fantastic Reality TV show every! Dance Moms! One might ask, "How do you parody a show that is already a spoof of itself?" Well- I think we nailed it! We should be doing with the editing by the end of this week... In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of what's to come!

Matthew as Abby Lee Miller Jeff Payton as Cathy of Candy Apples

The Cast of Dance Moms

Saturday Nights

When I was in grade school, I spent Saturday nights at the movies with my family.
When I was in middle school, I spent Saturday nights at the co-recreational dances perfecting the running man.
When I was in high school, I spent Saturday nights hanging at the beach with my drama geek friends around a bonfire.
When I was in my twenties, I spent Saturday nights out at the clubs in NYC!
And now, in my thirties... I (happily) spend Saturday nights making dinner with my friends...

Positive.

The battle to stay focused and positive is tough-

Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose.

Sometimes you decided to say fuck it, and go for a long hike.

Take in the beautiful California blue sky and let the sun soak up all the negative energy.

Then maybe you come home, buckle down and get shit done...

So that when 5 O'Clock rolls around, you don't feel guilty sipping on a cocktail!

Now That We Got That Over With...

February is a bogus month!
Even with a bonus day every four years, I still fill like I'm being cheated.
How am I supposed to accomplish all of my monthly goals in twenty-eight days?
I consider February a wash.
If I get to cross something off a list, I'm pleased...
But if I didn't have time to get to a task, I'm not so hard on myself.
After all, you can't expect to conquer anything in under thirty days...
Just ask Lindsay Lohan.