Midwest Races

So, I’ve attended two of the big races of the middle of the country – and strangely had very similar seats for both.

The Kentucky Derby – where I accidentally said the wrong thing while placing my bet – which led to me having a giant payday - I still would have won if I had said what I meant to say – but luckily my mistake put me over the top. They actually take your ID into some kind of booth where the IRS confirms your SS# - really? They can do that at the Derby? So, I am now considered a professional gambler, and will have to file as such on my taxes. Best bit of advice I got all day was from Masterson, who after I won big told me to stick it in my pocket and not tell anyone. Wise.

Next up, The Indy 500 – which is Jim Neighbors plus Florence Henderson plus 500,000 people which equals = America. It’s pretty impressive – though I’m pretty sure that no one in Indiana wears shirts. We saw about 6 cars “touch” the wall – which at 215 miles and hour means that your car is now totaled. Best bit of advice I got all day there was from Callahan, who as my Ziploc bag of Bourbon broke, quickly suggested we all chug Gatorade so we could use the Gatorade bottle to hold the precious bourbon. Tech guys think of everything.

On the work front, I directed a reading of Steve Yockey’s BELLWEATHER at the Public Theater in New York – where Emily Ackerman and Oliver Wadsworth stole the show – we’re looking for the next theater to workshop it – so fingers crossed.

Off to Denver next week for the TCG Conference – there’s a “young person event” at a “trendy venue” with the added note “no ties” on Wednesday night. When will theater people learn to not use words like trendy, or hip unless you actually talk like that – think of the last legit person you know who said “do you guys wanna go to a trendy spot tonight” and seriously, every cool person I know under 35 seems to be wearing ties these days. Oh, theater, when will you learn.

Though it makes me laugh, as when I was bemoaning the state of younger audience marketing – I received this email from my wife who had gotten the same email:

“when oh when will people understand that if you want to attract the type of people you want to attract, you MUST stop saying things like “come hang out at a trendy venue” ??

ugh.”

We may just be old and crotchety. Then again next year I won’t be aloud to the 35 and under party, so perhaps I should just go quietly and eat as much appetizers as possible.