The most DANGEROUS city in ALL THE WORLD

Did you know that Detroit is the most dangerous city in all the world? Did you know that there are more murders there than anywhere else? ...hmmm, and yet I survived. (I cant count the number of people that have asked / told me that in the past 2 days!) I had an absolute blast in Detroit. Mozart is always a welcomed friend. I got to sing the Count in Le nozze di Figaro with a great cast, a wonderful conductor and THE BEST damn wig/makeup designer that I have ever worked with. Seriously, this chick is for reals. Plus, I met the most amazing people...in various different situations.

Lets take for example dinner out with 2 of my oldest friends after my Saturday night performance. It was late, so we decided to hit the IHOP that was nearest our hotel in "Dangerous Detroit". It was a mere 1.5 miles away. I have to say that from outside things seemed normal. We saw the familiar sign out front and there were plenty of late night customers. It was upon entry that things got weird! As soon as we entered the first set of doors we were greeted by a 6'4" 350+ black man that was working security detail at the IHOP! (how do you even get that job?) - anyway, he looked at us like we were from mars and said, "Ok, hands up, I gotta pat you down..." - Yes, I was FRISKED at the IHOP!? Where ARE we?? In Detroit my friends, the most dangerous city in all the universe.

So, other than blood on the sidewalk and being patted down at the IHOP there were pretty great times. This cast and group of people working on this production for the most part were the best peeps ever. You know who you are, and you know how much I love and miss you all! Thats what sucks about this business - learning to say goodbye to people. Dont get me wrong, sometimes its MUCH easier than others. But when you really make a connection with someone and know that it could be months or years before randomly seeing them again, its hard. I'm still learning how to deal with that.

One idea was to bring back the entourage! Everywhere I go I'd have my own costumer, my own makeup/wig designer, my own PR rep...you get the idea. That would rock. I say that we bring back the day of the singer. I'm very tired of being the bottom rung on the ol' totem pole. Its funny, I mean, we more than not get respect - but we are mere monkeys that are painted up and dressed up to sing for a paying audience. (or at least sometimes it feels like that)

Ok, enough singer-crap talk.