Comments for Act Too Studio http://acttoostudio.com private lessons, coachings, and workshops for singers and actors in the Pioneer Valley Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:23:54 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on A Dream Unrealized, But Not Forgotten by Vinnie Saulters http://acttoostudio.com/?p=102&cpage=1#comment-707 Vinnie Saulters Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:23:54 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=102#comment-707 Made a video about this, would you and anyone else here consider looking at it real quick and let me know your opinion? I left the URL in the website field, hopefully you can get to it. I'd appreciate it greatly, thank you Made a video about this, would you and anyone else here consider looking at it real quick and let me know your opinion? I left the URL in the website field, hopefully you can get to it. I’d appreciate it greatly, thank you

]]> Comment on A Dream Unrealized, But Not Forgotten by Jan http://acttoostudio.com/?p=102&cpage=1#comment-53 Jan Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:45:25 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=102#comment-53 A couple of questions - How much are the present mortgage payments (that would be if you were paying them on time?) How many people would the "mansion" house for living? A couple of questions -
How much are the present mortgage payments (that would be if you were paying them on time?)
How many people would the “mansion” house for living?

]]> Comment on A Dream Unrealized, But Not Forgotten by Maya Apfelbaum http://acttoostudio.com/?p=102&cpage=1#comment-52 Maya Apfelbaum Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:25:12 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=102#comment-52 Hi Bob (and all with the DREAM) Cori Hanrahan, whom I work with at the Y, suggested I connect with you and your wife and vice versa. I do not think she realized what an interesting and timely idea that was ---I think she simply had in mind our shared arts-making and theatre interests and may not have even known about your blog on the Unrealized Dream.... but things work in strange (and magical) ways. Essentially: We have The Mansion. I am not kidding. I love that you are still dreaming the dream. I do not know you, but I have held a vision of an arts or arts-integrated community since I was little and its always included the establishing of a nurturing creative environment and the wise sharing of resources. My partner, John Bailey, is the owner of a beautiful old estate in Greenfield that overlooks the Ct. River Valley. The views are stupendous and the indoors spaces gorgeous, but need love and work and a new group of ownners or co-owners ASAP. We have lived here for almost 5 years and done lots of preliminary efforts to turn parts or all of this 23 acre estate and its 4 existing buildings into more of a community and less a private residence. John has had to stop paying the mortgages as they jumped up way too high, so --like many others in the Nation -- we are dealing with the property being in "pre-foreclosure" and any day could bring the "foreclosure" notice from the banks. But we are tring to steward it through and beyond this stressful scenario. And as Crisis = Opportunity; we have also found that there are numerous silver linings to this potential cloud burst (and boy has it been raining and cloudy). One would be to sell this property (or just parts of it) off as part of a "Short Sale." This "Short Sale" process would prevent foreclosure and allow the interested buying party (or parties) to negotiate a purchase price well below the normal market value (and below what is owed to the banks)...We are already discussing this option with a few interested parties, but have not found anyone who seems to share out larger vision that much. We do not mean to scare you by being overly eager or naive. We know all too well the Starving Artist experience and also that people need time to think over big ideas and life changes, but despite that we wanted to reach out to you. We would love to have you up and show you the place. This would give us a chance to discuss your and our ideas and for you to see how beautiful this place is and how full of potential it is for the kind of ideas you seem to have that may well compliment ours. We would be able to, time and intertest allowing, also show you the various lots, parcels and buildings that are available and share more about our creative ways to deal with financial and other challenges. So, please call us to visit this "Mansion on the Hill". Maya Apfelbaum (413) 774-7322, or (978) 339-3101 John Bailey ((413) 210-0197 P.S. Sorry I can not refine this writing more right now as I have to get to work on a huge arts project I'm doing for the large Performance Parade in Burlington, Vt. next Sat., July 11, which is a signature event in a 2 wk. Quadricentenniel Waterfront Festival; http://www.CelebrateChamplain.org Take good care. Please do not be scared away by the strength of this response...and do give us a call --- just even to explore this all by phone a little. Thanks, Maya Apfelbaum Hi Bob (and all with the DREAM)

Cori Hanrahan, whom I work with at the Y, suggested I connect with you and your wife and vice versa. I do not think she realized what an interesting and timely idea that was —I think she simply had in mind our shared arts-making and theatre interests and may not have even known about your blog on the Unrealized Dream…. but things work in strange (and magical) ways. Essentially: We have The Mansion. I am not kidding. I love that you are still dreaming the dream. I do not know you, but I have held a vision of an arts or arts-integrated community since I was little and its always included the establishing of a nurturing creative environment and the wise sharing of resources.

My partner, John Bailey, is the owner of a beautiful old estate in Greenfield that overlooks the Ct. River Valley. The views are stupendous and the indoors spaces gorgeous, but need love and work and a new group of ownners or co-owners ASAP.

We have lived here for almost 5 years and done lots of preliminary efforts to turn parts or all of this 23 acre estate and its 4 existing buildings into more of a community and less a private residence. John has had to stop paying the mortgages as they jumped up way too high, so –like many others in the Nation — we are dealing with the property being in “pre-foreclosure” and any day could bring the “foreclosure” notice from the banks. But we are tring to steward it through and beyond this stressful scenario.

And as Crisis = Opportunity; we have also found that there are numerous silver linings to this potential cloud burst (and boy has it been raining and cloudy). One would be to sell this property (or just parts of it) off as part of a “Short Sale.” This “Short Sale” process would prevent foreclosure and allow the interested buying party (or parties) to negotiate a purchase price well below the normal market value (and below what is owed to the banks)…We are already discussing this option with a few interested parties, but have not found anyone who seems to share out larger vision that much.

We do not mean to scare you by being overly eager or naive. We know all too well the Starving Artist experience and also that people need time to think over big ideas and life changes, but despite that we wanted to reach out to you.

We would love to have you up and show you the place. This would give us a chance to discuss your and our ideas and for you to see how beautiful this place is and how full of potential it is for the kind of ideas you seem to have that may well compliment ours. We would be able to, time and intertest allowing, also show you the various lots, parcels and buildings that are available and share more about our creative ways to deal with financial and other challenges.

So, please call us to visit this “Mansion on the Hill”.
Maya Apfelbaum (413) 774-7322, or (978) 339-3101
John Bailey ((413) 210-0197

P.S. Sorry I can not refine this writing more right now as I have to get to work on a huge arts project I’m doing for the large Performance Parade in Burlington, Vt. next Sat., July 11, which is a signature event in a 2 wk. Quadricentenniel Waterfront Festival; http://www.CelebrateChamplain.org

Take good care. Please do not be scared away by the strength of this response…and do give us a call — just even to explore this all by phone a little. Thanks, Maya Apfelbaum

]]> Comment on The Rush by donna poli http://acttoostudio.com/?p=113&cpage=1#comment-38 donna poli Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:20:06 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=113#comment-38 Melinda, I can relate to the "high". There is nothing like it in the world. If I am working on a performance, I want it to be PERFECT! Not just "OK" . It is so satisfying to know when you get to that place. You know you are at your best when you see how the audience re-acts to your performance. We have to bring them in! And when you are extremely comfortable with yourself and your lines, etc, the audience knows that, whether they are professionals watching you or non-professionals. To let yourself go is the hardest part of all though. We are all afraid of just "letting go". Once that detail is conquered, I feel you are half way there. Melinda,
I can relate to the “high”. There is nothing like it in the world. If I am working on a performance, I want it to be PERFECT! Not just “OK” . It is so satisfying to know when you get to that place. You know you are at your best when you see how the audience re-acts to your performance. We have to bring them in! And when you are extremely comfortable with yourself and your lines, etc, the audience knows that, whether they are professionals watching you or non-professionals. To let yourself go is the hardest part of all though. We are all afraid of just “letting go”. Once that detail is conquered, I feel you are half way there.

]]> Comment on The Rush by eccentrici http://acttoostudio.com/?p=113&cpage=1#comment-31 eccentrici Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:49:46 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=113#comment-31 Excellent post. When I am more coherent, I will share my story of how I fell in love with theatre and opera but tonight I must sleep. I spent all day taming teenage actors. Oye, the enthusiasm. I must say that I think exposing people (young and old) to live theatre and performance is key to creating that spark. Video is great but you can't beat the electricity of a live show. Excellent post. When I am more coherent, I will share my story of how I fell in love with theatre and opera but tonight I must sleep. I spent all day taming teenage actors. Oye, the enthusiasm.

I must say that I think exposing people (young and old) to live theatre and performance is key to creating that spark. Video is great but you can’t beat the electricity of a live show.

]]> Comment on The Rush by Jan http://acttoostudio.com/?p=113&cpage=1#comment-30 Jan Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:31:17 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=113#comment-30 Good post. I'll share. Good post. I’ll share.

]]> Comment on A Dream Unrealized, But Not Forgotten by Melinda http://acttoostudio.com/?p=102&cpage=1#comment-25 Melinda Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:55:27 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=102#comment-25 I still dream of this too, sometimes, as you know. Those were wonderful days, and I felt it even though I was just a child. It's been a long time since I've been in such a nurturing artistic environment as we had back then. There are a few days from the NYC years that remind me of that--up on the sixth floor at Dongan Place. The "try and fail" years. :) I still dream of this too, sometimes, as you know. Those were wonderful days, and I felt it even though I was just a child. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in such a nurturing artistic environment as we had back then. There are a few days from the NYC years that remind me of that–up on the sixth floor at Dongan Place. The “try and fail” years. :)

]]> Comment on The Authentic You by Jan http://acttoostudio.com/?p=87&cpage=1#comment-19 Jan Thu, 28 May 2009 22:25:59 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=87#comment-19 The universality of this topic is good, Deb. I guess balance is always the trick. See the good in ourselves and still work on striving for excellence - striving to be the best that we can be. While no one will excel at everything, do most of us wish to excel in something? We need to remember that we can be "good enough" at some things. Many famous people - who excel in their field - often have unhappy lives. To me that is sad. Still I've often wondered if it is a price people are willing to pay to be "at the top." Am I straying too much from the topic at hand? I think it is connected. The universality of this topic is good, Deb. I guess balance is always the trick. See the good in ourselves and still work on striving for excellence – striving to be the best that we can be. While no one will excel at everything, do most of us wish to excel in something? We need to remember that we can be “good enough” at some things. Many famous people – who excel in their field – often have unhappy lives. To me that is sad. Still I’ve often wondered if it is a price people are willing to pay to be “at the top.” Am I straying too much from the topic at hand? I think it is connected.

]]> Comment on The Authentic You by Deb http://acttoostudio.com/?p=87&cpage=1#comment-14 Deb Wed, 20 May 2009 14:53:45 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=87#comment-14 I think this is one of the most important lessons for life period. Whether you are an preformer in the sense you are speaking about or just living your life. Being your self and not trying to create some image of what you think you should be is crucial. I am sure my success as an occasional preacher and lecturer has more to do with trying to be authenticly enthusiastic about my topic far more than any great insight about my topic. It was also the most important lesson my son ever learned about dealing with his disability as well. I will never forget the day he typed the message. "Seeking to talk I prayed. My God told me it is ok to type. I am good the way I am." I am certainly not saying striving for excellence isn't of extreme value, but imagine our world if we could all see ourselves as good the we are. Be yourself. Outstanding advise!! I think this is one of the most important lessons for life period. Whether you are an preformer in the sense you are speaking about or just living your life. Being your self and not trying to create some image of what you think you should be is crucial.

I am sure my success as an occasional preacher and lecturer has more to do with trying to be authenticly enthusiastic about my topic far more than any great insight about my topic.

It was also the most important lesson my son ever learned about dealing with his disability as well. I will never forget the day he typed the message. “Seeking to talk I prayed. My God told me it is ok to type. I am good the way I am.”

I am certainly not saying striving for excellence isn’t of extreme value, but imagine our world if we could all see ourselves as good the we are.

Be yourself. Outstanding advise!!

]]> Comment on The Authentic You by Julie http://acttoostudio.com/?p=87&cpage=1#comment-13 Julie Wed, 20 May 2009 14:06:28 +0000 http://acttoostudio.com/?p=87#comment-13 I use Bob Dylan as an example for students who say, "But I can't sing." Personally, I think Bob Dylan doesn't match pitch very well, but that hasn't stopped him from going on stage and giving his message. I use Bob Dylan as an example for students who say, “But I can’t sing.” Personally, I think Bob Dylan doesn’t match pitch very well, but that hasn’t stopped him from going on stage and giving his message.

]]>