Celebrities: Larger Than Life And Larger Than Life Letdowns

First I have to preface this blog by putting in a couple of disclaimers:

One: I am a fulltime working actor in Hollywood, California. I make my living, pay my bills and support myself through acting, directing, stage managing, casting, dancing, singing, writing, doing publicity, whatever in entertainment. I am very lucky and honored that I don't have to work a "real job" and can do what I love and what I've always wanted for a living.

Two: I am not famous or a celebrity. While I do have a fanbase and am a little bit well known I can still walk down the street without being mobbed.

Three: I am not a huge Britney Spears fan. There are only a handful of songs I like.

Tonight I went and saw Britney Spears' Femme Fatale concert at The Stables Center in LA with two of my roommates. My one roommate is a huge Britney Spears fans. He has posters, CDS, apps, can tell you all about Britney, has seen her house in Beverly Hills and even tans where she does. He's been a fan of hers for 13 years and all he has ever wanted was to see her perform live. Tonight that dream came true and I saw his dreams, hopes and love get destroyed.

This was one of the worst concerts I have ever been too. It felt staged and too rehearsed. I felt like I was watching something from one of her music videos. In fact, I would have gotten greater satisfaction if I had just stayed home and watched her stuff on Youtube. There was no connection with the audience, she seemed awkward on stage, there was no enjoyment in her face, her eyes were empty and expressionless and it seemed like she didn't want to be there. I felt like I was watching someone at work; someone doing their job. The way she was going through the motions reminded me of watching someone go through the motions at a job they hate. We left after only 5 songs. By this time I felt a definately change in the audience. The energy of the audience seemed to go down like a sinking ship. Many people sat down, stopped dancing or crossed their arms. I became bored and was wondering how much longer it would be.

While we were leaving one of the workers said that most people walk out of her concerts and say "she's awful. I can't believe I just spent money to see this." He then said, "that's why she didn't sell out."

The highlight was Nicki Minaj. She had connection with the audience. She had energy. She had life. I felt like I was watching someone truly do what they love to do instead of a walking reanimated corpse. Nicki definately tore it up. She definately has the skills to have her own tour, I hope she breaks away from Britney soon.

The warm up act was horrendous too. Someone named Jesse and the Toy Boys??? I've never heard of her. She was a blonde, Britney wannabe who, like Britney, doesn't know how to sell a song and has zero stage presence. The lousy pre-show of Jesse and the Toy Boys and the horrendous DJs should have been a warning of what was to come.

I think the main reason I want to blog is because I just witnessed someone lose 13 years. I heard someone cry on the phone to their friend. I heard someone say they want to lose LA. I have seen someone become disillusioned with their hero. I never want anyone who may be a fan of my writing or acting to ever feel that way. Whenever I perform I always give my 110%. I never want someone who may see me as a hero to lose that. I never want to be known as average or below average as a performer or celebrity.

Britney, shame on you. Shame on you for taking people's hard earned money and not giving them the best damn show in the world. As my roommate just said, you are nothing but a crook.

Happy Father's Day; New Anthology Release

Happy Father's Day everyone.

And just in time for Father's Day, Ravenous Romance has released my latest erotic anthology, Even Hotter Dads: The DILF Anthology, featuring my short story The DILF Hunter. This is jammed pack with hot tales from some of the best erotica writers out there. You won't wanna miss it. Head on over to www.ravenousromance.com to order it.

XOXO

JOE

30 Years of Pride-Have We Really Come That Far?

So I know I'm about a week late but I wanted to share my thoughts on this year's LA Pride and just my overall feelings on the LGBT Community as a whole. I also want to propose the questions: Have we really come far? Are we continuing to move forward? Are we at a standstill? Are we moving backwards? Are the youth of the community ready/willing to continue the work that our elders have done?

First, how many of us really go to Pride to show the community that we are proud and to support the progress we have made? How many of us go just to drink, oogle half naked men and women and have tons of casual sex?

I went to Pride with a group of my friends. All good guys. All under the age of thirty. It seemed that they wanted to show their pride by bar hopping and getting drunk. Now, don't get my wrong, there's nothing wrong with having a good time and partying it up, I myself had a couple drinks and enjoyed dancing at the club after the parade, and I did enjoy the eye candy of both the men and women BUT that was not the only reason I went. One of the members of my party didn't even seem to understand why we really have Pride. Even my own boyfriend is not a Pride fan; he thinks it makes us look like a joke with all the people getting drunk and humping in the streets. While there's nothing wrong with having a good time don't let it be the only reason to go to Pride. Go because you are truly PROUD of who you are and all that we have accomplished. Go because we can be free to be who we are and don't have to live in fear or in the shadows like we are lepers or outcasts.

I am worried that the youth of our community are not ready to take the torch that the elders are passing onto us. Are we really ready for the commitment to continue moving forward and fighting for our rights? Are our youth ready to continue to fight for marriage equality and to find cures for AIDS? With so many young people into bareback and feeling that being positive is not such a big deal will AIDS really continue to decline in the community or will it rise again? Even though many people can live healthy lives with HIV and AIDS, we still have to remember that it can be deadly. We still need to be cautious. Use protection. Get tested. Know your status and your partner's status.

I don't want people reading this to think I'm bashing Pride. It was really enjoyable. I thought the parade was great and it was wonderful to see so many different groups of people marching and representing. I was especially proud to see the bisexuals marching in the parade, being one myself. I believe that we are often overlooked in the community and are looked at as the minority, much like Trans people. I hope that in next year's parade we have even more bi people marching; who knows maybe I'll be one of them. I also hope that we can gain some more respect within the community and that people come to realize that not all bisexuals are gay people who are afraid to come out or "pick a side."

In closing this blog, I really hope that we as a community will continue to rise and show everyone that we are just like everyone else. That we do deserve basic human rights and that we aren't evil or scary or against God. Just like every other group in the world, straight, black, white, Asian, Spanish, there are good LGBT people and bad LGBT people. I truly believe that if we want to continue moving forward and not be seen as a joke that our elders must embrace our youth. We must try to close the gap. Our elders should be preparing us to finish the job they started.

XOXO
JOE