So, with 1995 rolling in, I was still engaged in casting director workshops, regular (or semi-regular) auditions and in January, I began looking for a job. My brother had become the GM at Broadway Deli and told me that one of the owners' (Michel Richard, famous chef) brother-in-law, Jean-Jacques had taken over as a GM at a big club on the other side of the Promenade. JJ (Jean-Jacques is just too long to write every time) took me in as a server and I immediately loved it. The club was jumping for both dining and as a late night popular west-side night club. It was a place to be seen and many celebrities came there. One of the owners, Philip, allowed me to stage my showcase there and about 200 people attended, including managers, producers and reps from some of the biggest agencies. As the producer, director and the person who wrote most of the material we performed, one would think it would go well for me. It certainly was a successful showcase. Of the 8 actors involved, 7 received roles directly due to their performance that night. Only one performer received no offers, me.
That was really the beginning of the end for me as an actor. I had gained some success regionally as an actor and did fairly well in auditions, but it just wasn't in the cards as they say. Being unsuccessful as I headed rapidly toward my 30's seemed like a recipe for bitterness. Though I received a great many kudos for my performances over the years, in the end, I just did not have the stamina to continue trying to be a working actor. If I am honest, and I like to think I am, I have to admit that my desire was never to be a working actor. My desire was to be a star. I am very average in appearance and there are not many Hollywood roles for that guy who looks like every other man on the street. Though I was a good actor, I don't think I was great, and good is not enough.
JJ left the company by the time of my showcase in late March, and the club closed for a few weeks to renovate and re-brand. During that time, my friend Paul and his wife moved to Westwood and both my car and Cathy's broke down. Cathy's Mom gave us her old car and we bought a Saturn. In Late May, the club re-opened and was kicking once again. Some of the staff had moved on and I was picked to be a floor supervisor by the new GM, Jerry. Jerry lasted about 5 weeks and instead of getting a new GM, the company hired a consulting group and I was promoted to dining room manager (paid a weekly rate). I had a great summer, hanging out with a bunch of friends I had met through the club, many of whom were very talented people from Florida including my buddy Damon Jones (Now a regular performing member of the Groundlings and recently seen on an episode of Top Chef as a guest judge). It was really nice to be in a group of artists, and I really began to show who I was there. Things were once again looking up!
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