Show post-mortem

Playing the piano is truly the icing on the cake. Everything else that happens behind the scenes is why you get paid. From flying to getting your body adjusted to a new time zone, from promoting your show through all avenues possible (even if it means going clubbing to meet and greet and shotting Hennessy shots) to not knowing who will actually come to your show, from drawing up a VIP list to printing name cards to personally place on seats ... The list is endless. The stresses of putting your own show on in another country is something that I would not wish upon anyone. But it happened and I couldn't have done it without a handful of people. I say a handful because there are a lot (let me stress A LOT) of talkers. Then of course, there are the doers. 

Doing such a show definitely showed who were my true friends and had my best interest at heart. It exposed those who used my name in vain, it drew me closer to the right people and sent me running the other way to those who were complete shit-talkers and used my name only to get themselves further. 

I could ellaborate but there's no need to ponder in the past. The show itself went great and musically, I was happy with the versatility that our show had. 

Orange County, you will be missed. The 24 hour Pho joints, Trà Teahouse, the various local clubs that need not be named because the locals know what I'm talking about. 

I'm ready to go home. This last stint of touring has been taxing on the body. I sure have had fun but you know it's time. 

Til next Easter, thank you OC! 

Love and grace,

Van-Anh

And for the Right nows:

Wearing: pink converse chucks, Dotti crop navy sweater, Claude maid tee, Zara denims

Favorite food: Pho at 2am at Thanh long on westminster

Wish list: a new suitcase (how I managed to break a new IT hard case bought only 6 months ago!)

Reading: where chefs really eat 

Current city: San Diego

Next destination: Phoenix Arizona 

Missing: home, that is, Sydney

 

Denver Diaries

The last 48 hours was spent in Denver. Arriving to 80 degree weather, it was pleasant and as I got to downtown Denver, I soon found out it was a very arty city. I was to be playing at the Denver Performing arts Complex and littered around the city were larger-than-life sized sculptures! So cool!

Dining at fabulous places like Mizuna (French-Mediterranean cuisine), The Market (breakfast, fab coffee, pastries and gluten free friendly to my excitement), and Jing (Asian-Japanese cuisine - make sure you try the Buddha bud! A sechuan flower to spruce all senses) ... I was definitely taken care of beyond what I could have asked for. I can highly recommend all of those places. 

The performance itself was divine and received incredibly well which is always a nice feeling especially in a city debut. I met so many lovely people, full of wisdom and one of my favorite things is hearing what others have to say. Some had done their research and were curious as to what genre I was going to play that night. Of course, it was everything from my foundations of classical piano to what I'm developing now which is the classical crossover to bridge the disconnection between the youth and classical music. 

I wish I had more time to explore the city more and visit the incredible architecturally fascinating art museum. 

I did visit Idaho Springs, Georgetown and got to see snow today! Weather forecasts had said flurries and lows of -1 degrees Celsius which I was truly afraid of but mentally prepared ... It didn't snow downtown at 10:30am when I excited the Marriott but as we drove south, I started seeing white roofs ... They weren't white tiles... It was snow! As the day went by, flurries turned into full blown snow falling by the time I got to the Red Rock amphitheater. Unfortunately it was closed for a rehearsal as a band called Lotus was performing that night. It was truly snowing by then!!! 

Now at Denver International airport, I get ready to head to Sacramento, another new city for me! 

From the various conversations I had in the last 48 hours, one rang through loud and clear. You can make it happen, watch it happen or wonder what happened. I'm definitely down for making it happen. 

Living and speaking out my dreams everyday. I hope you are too!

With love and grace, 

Van-Anh

AND FOR THE RIGHT NOWS:

Fav food: salted caramel mocha

Reading: David & Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell

Wishlist: Kate Spade popcorn bag

Current city: Denver, Colorado

Listening to: David Phelps, Call You Mine

Fav clothing item: Kenneth Cole loafers

Next destination: Sacramento, California (yes, the capital of California apparently!)

Missing: boba tea .... yes, way to epitomise my asianess but the newyorker from tra teahouse is DELISH!!!