Category Archives: stories
Surviving as an Artist from Elizabeth Gilbert
Posted by Tora
If you’ve ever struggled as any kind of artist or maker of things, this video is for you. Dig the anecdote about Tom Waits.
And with that, back to writing.
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Classic moment
Posted by Tora
The camera cuts out at an abrupt 30 seconds, but you get the idea. I got to see one of the most amazing songwriters of, well — ever! How lucky was I??? Billy Steinberg wrote hits like “Alone”, “Like a Virgin”, “I Touch Myself”, “Eternal Flame” — most of which he performed on a lone guitar that day on the Expo stage. Just to give you an idea of his esteemedness, his songs are the stuff that songwriters drool and torture themselves over. Yes, we wanna write songs that sound like that. I got to sing along as he sang “Like a Virgin” and that really made me smile. Then this song. He closed the entire Expo with this one. Brought the house down. I only wish I got a better recording!
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MMSlam Reality Wrap Around Video
Posted by Tora
The outfit was highly relevant to the monologue, I swear! Then we decided the tool belt with the drill and stuffed teddy bear was a tad too much. When the Galinsky Brothers, Robert and Philip, the beneficent, wild and hiNRG hosts of the Manhattan Monologue Slam institution, asked me to perform a monologue at the upcoming Slam, I was honored. The Cynthia Smith monologue jumped out at me, and hand to heart I committed. Fully! It was a lot of fun rehearsing and finally performing the piece in front of real judges and an audience chock full of actors. Egad!!
That last bit definitely kept me on my toes. Made me wanna suck a bottle of Henessey, climb the Empire State Building and howl at the moon before stepping on stage. Plenty of Slam Alumni wandering around backstage and front of house that night. Usually I’m inclined to take a nap before a performance. Maybe I’m weird like that, but safe to say, that didn’t happen this time around!
It was awesome though, an experience I shall not soon forget. The atmosphere at MMSlam events are filled with such a gorgeous amount of love and energy you needn’t be an actor to feel included. You just come and give yourself over to the big wave of entertainment and enjoy the ride. Enjoy the Slammers! They only want to entertain you.
Next NYC Slam December 18.
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Posted in live show, stories, Television, videos
Tags: behind the scenes, manhattan monologue slam, reality tv, robert galinsky, tora brava
The suble view from Mars
Posted by Tora
When I hit the hay tonight, I shall dream that I am in my comfy, pimped-out air-locked pod on a spaceship hurtling through space heading straight for our green earth. Nothing but the hum of oxygen tides surrounds. When I wake up at the joyous hour of –, I will be 110% rested and rejuvenated, surrounded by the flora and fauna of beachside nirvana. Because every morning should be that, no matter how thick the schedule gets. No matter how many emails and announcements and rehearsals are on the menu du jour for the next 2 weeks. Always appreciate the world you live in, or the rest is shit. Or shit the rest. Whut? Am I making any sense here?
We’re still in studio-mode with some of the tracks, and this is good. Gonna sound soooo dang delicious good. I’ll post the new song for everybody soon… for now, time to hit the hay.
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Le Party
Posted by Tora
I woke up at 8am today and been going ever since. That’s strange because A LOT of tequila and macoli (traditional unfiltered soju) was imbibed last night. Most of it by me. Yeah, in addition to being weird like that, I do have gymming to thank for every one of my thank-the-lord, hangover-less mornings
Aside 1: (seriously, ever since I started gymming it, out went the hangovers, no matter how many bottles I imbibe. Unless there’s mixing or shitty wine. That’s not a good idea as the resulting hangover can be surrrrious. Then again, tequila is the only hard liquor I’ll ever mess with. Even before gymming, I couldn’t sell my soul to a tequila hangover. Is it because it’s the only amphetamine of all alcohols? The rest are depressants. I thank the gods of agave, partake on occasion and don’t drink on an empty stomach.)
My girl Samantha and I decided to celebrate our births at the W Hotel and in Seoultown! It all made for a wonderful evening. The booze was boozy, as were the lovely boys and girls aplenty. I could still hear the Korean BBQ sizzling on the grill. Everyone had a ball as far as I can tell.
Really, I’m not exactly party-girl, but yesterday I was. I got to exchange a few words with just about everybody, and not enough words with just about everybody. That’s usually the rule for this sort of thing. You set the mood and atmosphere and let the night take off into the ether. There was also the bit of multitasking involved. A scene for my upcoming music video was filmed in the middle of the party. If you were there, you just might be in the next Tora Brava music video.
Here be some photos, matey. Arrrr…
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Posted in feast, food, let's play, music, photos, stories, videos
Tags: birthday, drunk, hangovers, korean bbq, le club music video, le gold leggings, party, samantha chen, tequila, w hotel



