Categories: uncategorized
Date: 05 February 2007 13:48:28
((meant to add this last week didn't get around to it so bringing it up now for the purposes of completion :p ))
4% battery, what can I get down?
OK first week back with the Rok Yaks. Every Tuesday it's music night at the arts centre. Actually every Monday and Weds it is too, we're supposed to have a wider remit but it's hard to get the alternates up and running when there's so much to do and only (hah) 15 hours to fit it in...I say ha because this week I've clocked up 17 + and there's a four hour doo dah to do tomorrow as well... Anyhow music is a success story for us and I look forward to other things being as well received and acknowledged.... Some ideas I want us to do as a centre would be fantata to be a part of and see what the kids do with.
So Tuesdays is JAM. 25 kids, 13 - 16 split into 6 bands + three leaders. Loud. Seriously loud.
Now my job is to look at teens and find the positives, to big them up when they need it, to help when required. These guys and gals... Well there's a certain amount of bigging up but in each and every case there's no doubt in my mind that each band could be the next big thing. There is some serious talent at the WYAC. First week back since the awesomeness that was the Christmas gig at the bandstand at Woking (and Re:Gig the internal gig that followed it up) and how good was it to see everyone? Four bands have changed (new bassists/guitarists/whole bands in one case so five new faces in to shake things up), either adding to the lineup or whatever and how well did the new and old yaks gel? Oh yes, very well indeed.
And therein lies the plan: my lowly youthwork wages won't do the big pension thing so basically I'm going to have to give up Sushi from the age of... whatever the pensionable age is in the future (75?) or one or all of these bands is going to make it and they'll remember me in my lack of delicious foodstuffs. I haven't signed them down to 10% of future earnings yet but it's on my mind to do so, and being honest here, they are amazingly good. I wouldn't be at all surprised if any of them or, hopefully, all of them, make it to some sort of professional level of musicability... So how good was it to be back with them tonight? Very cool indeed. I'd missed them. Good to see you Yaksters, here's to next week and the week after and the inevitable sadness (for me anyhow, I'm always really miserable when a group swaps or old faces leave a group) when you go off into the wild blue yonder in 16 weeks time or so. Let's make this two terms to remember.
Different subject, fresh battery, Thursday now (as it was for the last half paragraph which changed timezones while we all slept). In at centre bright and early following a full day of teaching at college. Loads to do, sidetracked (pleasantly so, always good to chat to mates and hopefully do a little bit of encouraging where it's deserved), so ended up with a fair bit still on the list and left at the latest possible opportunity.
Anyhow. So far, this week, it's been pretty good. Sylver 3 is back in production following a hiatus when work was just way too much in the past couple of months and, if I am allowed to be a little immodest here, I think it's building up to be a pretty good finale to the Everything saga. A couple of characters are going to surprise with their actions and a new scene that sprung to mind the other day... Hmmm... well, I'm still mulling over it, it's pretty raw, but would certainly have a few gasps from the back of the audience I think. I say that, but there are a few roads we'll tread in 3 that'll divide opinion and get a few shocked stares so I'm eager to finish to see where people reading it stand during the final battle.
Work wise just finished the photoshop stream with one class and, tbh, I'll miss them. They were loads of work, occasionally frustratingly chatty and late and crude and lax but just loads of fun despite all of that. New class in next week and we'll see if they're as entertaining for me to teach. One of the students (cue Dangermouse theme) occasionally asked if they were my favourite class... Well, yeah, just maybe they were in ways. Other lessons are going OK, have passed on my plan to lose some hours (I'm doing 15 hours at college and 15 at the arts centre but both come to a fair bit more with planning added on so I want to come to a stop on two streams that I'm doing although one lesson I teach is going to get a little more complex soon as it's changing from enrichment - which I just have to teach relevant skills - to a module as the students are doing so well in it and may as well get an added grade, More work but I look forward to seeing the end results).
Just also picked up the Penquin 70th anniversary set which is a lovely collection of mini-paperbacks from a vastly diverse range of authors, Each looks like it should give me an entertaining bus journeys worth of thought and, once I've finished reading the book I'm on at the moment (Will Ferguson' Hokaidu Highway Blues which is EXCELLENT) I'll be working my way through them. It's good to be looking forward to it, haven't looked forward to reading or writing for a while as both have been associated with lists for too long.
Anyhow: gig tonight at the Ypod, gig next week at Bishop David Brown School, gig the week after at H G Wells centre, busy little bumble bee, me, and more so for the bands from the centre who I'm stupidly proud of. Yay the Yaks.
Bus journey over so time to post, two more work emails, then sleep. Night