The Glamorous Life...

The filtered light and steam billowing from the gap below the bathroom door nudged me up twenty minutes before the soft rippling waves of my alarm were set to wake me;
Still in a Netflix haze––binge watching Glow––had me body slamming pillows all night long.
My roommate finishes getting ready in the bathroom, while I check my Instagram account, trying to commit to getting up.
If I want to avoid another ten minute Starbucks line, I’ve got to get my ass in the shower...
Sleeping in is not an option on tour.

Pass The Bar on Tour

One drink at a higher altitude is like two drinks at sea level––or so they say––so two drinks in, I’m really four.  I always forget that hanging out with twenty year olds on tour, can really be torture.
Twenty-year-old me is rolling his eyes, but truthfully, booze on the road are brutal.

Truth on Tour:

Waking up at 5AM is never easy;
No matter how much sleep you get the night before,
Or how much caffeine you drink at 5:05AM.

Travel Sniffles

What do you get when you fly to a different city every weekend?
A lot of frequent flyer miles... Yes.
The opportunity to connect and immerse yourself in different cultures and traditions... Yes.
Ten pounds heavier from eating too much junk food and not enough gym time...Yes.
But the worst... the constant dripping nose that can only come from spending your life in hotel rooms where people share their nasty germs.

Truth on Tour® (Again) 3.6

Now it's time to play, "Which Line Will Be Longer: TSA or Starbucks?"

The art of airport traveling; you have to make it enjoyable—or you'll turn into an evil monster. 

Truth on Tour® (Again) 3.5

I woke up this morning overwhelmed and humbled by the passion, honesty, and energy I felt during my residency with the concert dancers at Slippery Rock University.
We don’t always get to do what we love;
Some people never––and I make my living following my dreams.
I have been blessed with a lifetime of creative adventures;
I don’t take that for granted.
As much as I despises traveling––no matter how turbulent the journey can be sometimes––I am always grateful.

Truth on Tour® (Again) 3.3

Six hours of rehearsal yesterday;
Lends itself to an unwillingness to get out of bed today!
On the count of three I have to get up!
1. 2. Hits snooze––twenty minutes pass––3.
I’m up and in the shower.
Time to make the donuts!

Truth on Tour® (Again) 3.2

I woke up with that feeling of excitement and nervous energy––my stomach feels like I’m on a roller coaster at a Six Flags amusement park.
Working with new dancers is always a joy; the balance of trust, creativity, and enthusiasm––hard work, sweat, and hopefully NO tears.
I love sharing stories in which ever form I have the means;
Today I will channel that bright-eyed young man who moved to New York full of idealism and showmanship and work through twenty-years of insecurities and breakthroughs!

Truth On Tour® (Again) 3.1

The wake up call always comes too early;

My mind is up—my body will be after Advil.

Truth On Tour® (Again) 3.0

The fluorescent lighting of TSA reminded me that I'm back after a short reprieve; my life on tour continues.

Leaving my family in LA—I will miss the laughter and love.

Instead I'll find comfort in collaborating with creative dancers.

This trip will mark my first full-length concert dance piece; both exciting and overwhelming, but I'm ready for this journey! 

It's the packed airplane that has me sweating.

Truth on Tour: 2.7

Goodbye's are always rough;

Working with so many talented people in such a short amount of time—you develope a unique artistic bond.

Emotions are high; our paths have crossed for a special reason, and I'm sure we'll cross again.

Until then, I hold fond memories.

Now, back to my family!

Truth on Tour: 2.5

When more than three choreographers gather by a pool two things happen:
A dialogue about transitions, technique vs. performance, and a terminology exchange;
And a choreographed water show in the pool.
I thoroughly enjoyed another fabulous evening with artists from around the world.

Truth on Tour: 2.4

The days are filled with dance;
The nights are loaded with food, friends, and more dance...
In my mind I feel eighteen;
Physically I feel like a grandpa––but I push through.
My soul feels alive, grateful, and at peace.

Truth on Tour: 2.3

The only disadvantage to working with talented choreographers and dancers from around the world is that once you’ve gathered for creative conversation and laughter––with plenty of wine involved––no one wants to go to bed.
I may not be getting enough sleep, but I’m having a marvelous time bonding with talented, intelligent, thoughtful people; and with all of that creative energy, who needs sleep?

Truth on Tour: 2.2

Waking up in your friends house instead of a hotel room, is a much more peaceful way to start in a new city.
A home cooked meal,
Soak in the hot tub,
Wine and lively conversation,
And crash in a comfortable bed, while watching Netflix.
It’s going to be a brilliant week.

Truth on Tour: 2.0

Standing in front of the gate agent desk for United;

First in line—but aware of the shady businessmen who congregate in the vicinity waiting to pounce, "I just have a quick question" they say.

Patiently I wait as they beg for their First Class upgrade.

Shameless—it's what I loath about society; entitlement.

I'm Home!

Waking up in my own bed;
Puppies on either side––cuddling me with unconditional love.
After three weeks on the tour I feel recharged, but not yet ready for more;
Thankfully, I have three days in Los Angeles, before I go back out on the road.
The life of an artist is often lonely and always grueling.
On the one hand, we get to express ourselves through writing, dancing, painting, or performing––hopefully inspiring an emotion or thought provoking reaction in others; what we forget is how taxing that energy is to cultivate and distribute.
I’m always elated to share my journey;
And even more delighted when my journey brings me home.

Truth on Tour: Day 24

I slept through three alarms and a back-up wake up call;

After receiving a friendly (and slightly panicked) Facebook messenger call at 3:05AM—I shoved my toiletries in my suitcase, threw on my clothes   (which were preset—of course) and I was in the lobby by 3:15AM.

Arrived at the airport with plenty of time, and even in a rush the only thing I left behind was my Apple headphones.

A small price to pay—considering my emergence escape from my hotel room happened in total darkness.

I have three days at home, before I'm back on a plane; the glamorous life is truly insane. 

Truth on Tour: Day 23

Four cities in three weeks;
Hotel rooms have become my new home––thankfully tomorrow I return to my family and life in LA.
The pause button is pressed on the road;
Friends, family, and projects continue without you.
I set resolutions in an effort to stay focused on the positive aspects of my time away from loved ones––no distraction or goal is great enough to completely soothe the hardship that distance creates.
Still I found time to create, laugh, meditate, develop new friendships, perform, and collect a paycheck.
Life is full of tradeoffs;
Some are harder than others.
When I left Los Angeles I was overwhelmed at the daunting schedule that I had committed to; but I reminded myself to stay present and focus on one day at a time––in doing so, I found balance every day and the opportunity to evolve as a person and artist.
There is nothing more liberating than the power of awareness and the freedom of making a choice: stay present and make the best of every circumstance.

Truth on Tour: Day 22

Today is my last day of work on tour;
I get paid to sit at a table with industry professionals and share fun stories while watching the next generation of talented performers take stage.
It’s been a whirlwind journey full of laughter, creativity, backstage drama, egos, attitudes, adventures, and love.
Life on the road is not for everyone––I’m thankful that as I’ve grown older, I’ve learned how to us my time thoughtfully and continue to evolve as a person and an artist.
I’m not sure if I’m eager to sign up for another creative project that takes me away from my family and our home for more than a week; but like every true gypsy, I’ll decide that in the moment,