May 4, 2006

• Travelin’ Man – Part I 
  

  Here’s the highlight reel that was my April:

  
  

  April 8th – UMASS.  I spoke in front of a crowd of about 600 students.  And all I have to say is that no one would’ve listened to a word I had to say if I followed after the musical stylings of Natalise while I was there.  A very sweet gal whose album drops this summer.

  
  

  In Oct ’04, I spoke at Amherst University, (nearby UMASS), and wrote that someone drew this really awesome poster (3 feet x 6 feet) of me to promote my appearance.  But when I tried to take a photo of it after the gig, it was gone.  And due to the fanfare caused by the ladies of Smith College (a nearby all women’s college) in attendance, I was led to believe someone from there might have swiped it. 

  
  

  Well my apologies to the ladies of Smith, for during my stay at UMASS it was revealed that the real culprit was from UMASS.  By A Guy.   And he snatched it to make up for my misspelling his name on the autograph I gave him.  

  
  

  So after almost 2 years, I made an exchange: A new, correctly made out autograph, allowed for the release of this:

  
  

  Aw, yeah. 

  
  

  Although I have no idea what to do with this thing without looking like a raging egomaniac. 

  
  

  April 12-University of Pittsburgh – it was a quick trip to speak here but I wound up eating one of the best CheeseSteak Sandwiches ever from Uncle Sam’s.  Thanks Eric and Kim!  But due to an overbooking situation, it took me 13 hours to get back home.  But dang it, if that sandwich didn’t tide me over for the entire trip.  

  
  

  April 21 - Columbia, Missouri – It was a whirlwind day in this quaint little town that began on 1 hour’s worth of sleep.  (I think, thinking about getting a good night’s sleep the night before, wound up keeping me awake all night.).   I started off the day at 10am speaking to the Honor Drama students of Oakland Jr. High.  And this is how my appearance was prepped to them a week before by my contact, Tom, in Missouri:

  
  

  Hi, Parry!
  Well, this morning you made what I would call a “phantom appearance” in one of the classes you’ll be visiting soon in Missouri– I introduced you to a group of Jr. High students who, at first glance, seemed to be interested in being anywhere but that classroom on a sunny Friday morning.

  
  

  Sensing their “I dare you to interest me in anything” ‘tude, I launched wholeheartedly into my spiel about your approaches to acting and some of the experiences you’ve mentioned in your journal– they shifted a bit forward in their seats. 

  
  

  Then I showed three scenes from THE NEW GUY (which they had all seen), and they actually laughed and then started bouncing about during “Play That Funky Music.”  I had them hooked. We sauntered through FIRST DAUGHTER, TRU CALLING, and THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, and by this time they were asking me to rewind, and some were shouting out comments (“He’s so different this time”), and others questions (“Where’d he learn to run radar?”).  And then, WITHOUT A TRACE– there was a little tittering when I mentioned you were playing a gay character, then flashes of understanding when I explained how the characters were trying to fulfill the expectations of parents– that hit them hard. 

  
  

  During the scene at the station, when you were responding to the detective’s suspicions, they were riveted to the screen, and, for some, tears– you had that group of belligerent adolescents under a spell.  And then I let the other shoe drop– On April 21st,  he’s going to be standing right here in front of you.  Well, Parry, you would have thought I’d just announced the second coming– looks of shocked disbelief and demands of “how is that possible?”  So, while you are most likely on your way to your next campus this morning, you are also affecting youngsters in Missouri!  Hope your travels are safe and rewarding — Tom

  
  

  Now, how’s that for an introduction? 

  
  

  After Oakland Jr. High, I went across town to The University of Missouri (Mizzou) to speak to the Asian American Student Union on campus.  On the way there, I learned a bunch of interesting Mizzou trivia from Tom (pictured below).  For example:  During the Civil War, Abe Lincoln had Missouri (a Confederate State) and the University under Martial Law.  When the Yankee Soldiers occupying the University discovered the room where the blank diplomas were being stored, they filled them out and “graduated” themselves from the University!  They wound up using the self-filled sheepskins to get jobs years after the war was over.  Man, I’m so ready for “Jeopardy!”

  
  

  Then it was off to RockBridge H.S.‘s cultural day - which was open to the general public.  And for some reason, the attendance wound up being comprised of 3rd and 4th graders with their parents!  So needless to say, there was a lot of fast forwarding through the “BLT“ segments of my demo tape and quickly gearing the talk towards young careers in show business. 

  
  

  The marathon day ended keynoting for AASU’s Banquet.  But let it be known that this little town has some grubbin’ pizza – I’m talkin’ NYC caliber stuff.  Thanks Mike! 

  
  

  Next week, PART II of my April journeys.

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