Ironman Augusta 70.3 2016 Race Recap

Ironman Augusta 70.3 2016 Race Recap

September 25 was going to be my day.  The Ironman  Augusta 70.3 triathlon was finally here.  The race I had been training so hard for on one of my favorite courses.  It was four-and-a-half months...

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Letter to the Triathlon Coach

Letter to the Triathlon Coach

I have been an endurance coach for some time now.  Once in a while, I receive an email from a client which chokes me up with pride.  Today, I received one of those letters, so instead of sharing it...

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FD3 Triathlon: Goof Recap

FD3 Triathlon: Goof Recap

The previous post was a review of the FD3 Triathlon Series as if it was a product.  Below you will find a more detailed account of my personal experiences during the race.  Let me know in the...

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STOMP – The Goof Review

STOMP – The Goof Review

Special effects seem to be at a the crux of human entertainment these days, doesn’t it?  Every episode of almost every studio made episodic drama, situation comedy and major motion picture is loaded with some flavor of special effects.  Even shows like, “Big Bang Theory” or “How I Met Your Mother” have increased their effects budget with effects of dream sequences, stunts or layered images to help draw in the audience.

Pop-culture does not seem to have room for TV shows, movies or even plays that have to completely depend on the integrity and talent of the performers.

This was evident as I walked into the Carol Marsoni Hall of the Straz Center for the opening night performance of STOMP last night.

The house was littered with empty seats.  The mezzanine and balcony were completely empty.

All I can say is to the lovers of music and theatre that decided to skip out on this performance, it is your loss.  The simplistic cohesiveness of this ensemble show is something that does not come around all that often.

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STOMP is a percussive music, comedy and movement performance that is matched by nothing I have ever seen.  This group of seven performers make music without the use of musical instruments as we would define them.  They basically use junk you may find in a dumpster in New York City.  Garbage can lids, plastic tubs, match boxes, zippo lighters, are just a few of the items these talented performers use to make a beat come alive in a way that I was not only riveted, but I couldn’t help but want to move my feet with the beat.

The use of the artifacts along with their feet and the movement was visually stimulating as well.  Within the first few numbers, all I could think of, was this group is making music with everything except the kitchen sink, and of course in the very next number four of the performers came out with kitchen sinks strapped to their torsos.  Water in the sinks plus, cups and utensils seemed to come alive as the ensemble mixed their sounds together in one cohesive unit.

There is no special effects, no extra special lighting, no words, no special costumes just the performers and their props.  Simple entertainment at it’s finest and extremely riveting.

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Percussion was not the only thing used for entertainment.  There was many parts of each number where comedy was used to infiltrate the performance with the laughter of the audience.  Comedy alone is not easy, but comedy without one audible word for the entire show is extremely difficult and this group pulled it off with precision and ease.

This was one of the most entertaining ninety minutes I have had in a long time.  What made it even more fun was the ensemble incorporated the audience within the show.  Patterns of clapping, foot stomping, and finger snapping made for an interactive experience that just compounded on the immense fun this show had to offer.

In simple terms, STOMP was outstanding and I highly recommend everyone take the opportunity to go see it.

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STOMP is playing at the Straz Center of the Performing Arts April 30 – May 3.  Please visit the Straz Center website for more information.

stomp

Ghost the Musical in Tampa FL – The Goof Review

Ghost The Musical Tampa FL – A Goof Review

The supernatural seems to be all the rage nowadays.  The silver and big screens are filled with zombies, vampires, demons, spirits, you name it.  Prior to the latest trends, the 1990 movie Ghost starring the late Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore was a blockbuster hit.  Not only was it the top-grossing movie of 1990 but it took home Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg).

The theatre trend started with musicals becoming movies like Mama Mia and Rent, but lately, the trend has moved in the opposite direction to include Ghost.  Can movies be turned into musicals and still retain the original vision of the screenwriter?

As I anxiously awaited the opening number in the orchestra section (main floor) of the Straz Center for Performing Arts‘ Carol Marsoni Hall, I pondered this in my head.  I happened to notice in the program that Brian Joel Rubin wrote the script for the musical as well as the movie which increased my optimism and my excitement.

Now, as I have previously written in prior reviews, I love the theatre and especially musicals.  I have experience on stage as a performer and behind the scenes as a designer and director, which is why my reviews tend to get a little in-depth.  This one will be no different.

Ghost’s plot centers around Molly(Katie Postonik), who is in danger after her lover Sam Wheat(Steven Grant Douglas) is murdered.  Sam, now a ghost, using a reluctant psychic, Oda Mae Brown(Carla R. Stewart) tries to save her.Ghost the Musical

This musical was a multimedia extravaganza, with video being used as an introduction and as background, and foreground for a good amount of the duration of the show.  For example, video of stock tickers, traffic and crowded sidewalks as a background for a dance number to symbolize the hustle and bustle of New York City.

Most of the time, the ocular stimulus was way too much.  It pulled from the actors’ performances as well as the dancers.  There was so much going on that my eyes didn’t know where to focus.  I literally had to decide what of the action going on-stage was supposed to be the central focal point.

My eyes didn’t feel that way all the time.  The scenes underground with the Subway Ghost(Brandon Curry) were incredibly vivid and they worked really well.  Unfortunately, most of the other moments where the talented dancers of the ensemble were visually drowning in the fast-moving video that played around them.  There was a point that any audience member, focusing stage right, would miss some amazing movements going on stage left, due to the multimedia being shot in the foreground.

When I am asked to review shows at the Straz, it usually opening night in order to turn around the article so it can be used for marketing purposes.  In my experiences as an actor and director, sometimes tweaks are taken care during opening night.  There are the different sound, lighting, and technical obstacles that appear when the house is full of warm bodies which then lend to acting struggles as well.

With that being said, I was disappointed with the performances of both Katie Postotnik(Molly) and Steven Grant Douglas(Sam).  Not only were their singing voices falling flat more times than not, but the chemistry and the heat needed between them was just slightly more than a flicker.  There were small moments here and there, but they were few and far between.

The singing was flat overall without prejudice of the performer, which lead me to believe that maybe the monitors that feed the music on stage may not have been fully functional.  If the performer does not hear the same pitches as the audience there will be perceptual differences which could sound like their singing is falling flat or sharp.

Robby Haltiwanger, who portrayed Carl Bruner, had more chemistry with Molly in the few scenes they shared than the entirety of scenes with Sam.  There was a fleeting moment between them, but it had enough heat that it seemed to linger on stage for the rest of the show.  Regardless, of the fact that he too fell flat during most of his singing numbers, his acting skills seemed far superior to those of Molly and Sam.

The best performances came from Carla Stewart(Oda Mae) and those performers playing her sisters, Lydia Warr(Louise) and Evette Marie White(Clara).  Their pitches were spot on, and they seemed to have more fun on stage than a lot of the other performers.  The characters of Oda Mae and her sisters are what I would consider the comic relief to what should have been a very emotional story.   They brought much-needed hilarity at a point where the rest of the show was failing.  My opinion must have shared with a number of the other audience members because it was only when these talented women came out for the curtain call that the ovation became standing.

One aspect that did disappoint me was that Carla tried to mimic Whoopi Goldberg’s performance from the movie.  Of course, this could have been a directorial choice.  It is evident that Carla is a phenomenally competent actor whom given the creativity might have made different choices that would have played to her strengths.

When a new musical is first presented on Broadway and then sent on tour, it usually takes five years for the rights to the show become available.  During those five years there are minimal changes that a director can make from the original Broadway version, so a lot of the issues I mentioned may have fallen into that category.

In summary, while there were some great moments, the multimedia, inferior acting and pitchy voices tended to distract from what was an award-winning script.

Ghost is playing at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts through Sunday, April 27th.  For more info please see the Straz Center website.

Jersey Boys – The Goof Review

Jersey Boys – The Goof Review

It seems that I cannot turn on a radio, browse the internet or watch the news without hearing a story about a celebrity scandal.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a movie star, pop star, hotel heiress or a political figure, for some reason when a person gains that much fame, they feel invincible.

It seems like these situations have been occurring forever, doesn’t it?

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Jersey Boys, at the Straz Center in Tampa, Florida, told the history of the famous Four Seasons pop group and all of the so-called “situations” they were in.  Frankie Valli, Nick DeVito and the founder, Tommy DeVito.  were four stereotypical New Jersey kids that wanted a way out.  As juveniles and young adults Tommy and Nick were in and out of trouble with the law, until Tommy decided to start a group that took different

Mar14---e-My-Eyes-Adored-Younames until they finally arrived with the Four Seasons in 1960 with the help of writer/producer/singer Bob Guido.

The play brilliantly portrays the history of The Four Seasons in four parts, with each part
narrated by a different member of the band and supposedly reflecting that band member’s perspective on the band’s history.  Most of the big hits of the group are sung either in episodic situations or portraying the band on stage either in concert or on television.

Jersey BoysForrest Theatre

A huge surprise to me, was when I opened the program and found the roll of Frankie Valli is portrayed by Hayden Milanes.  Hayden and I performed together in a couple of different shows in another life.  Without any bias, Hayden’s performance was nothing short of amazing.  The song “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, made Frankie Valli’s extraordinary range famous and Hayden seemed to recreate it with ease.  Personally, I think the amazing richness in his vocal quality followed with his research of the character honored Mr. Valli to the extreme.

What was even more amazing is Hayden’s talent was only matched by the other members of the ensemble.  Nicolas Dromard portrayed Tommy DeVito with the crassness and overpowering attitude of a bully, and sang the harmonies with excellence.

Adam Zelasko portrayed Nick with the quiet determination of the performer that took the back seat a lot of the time, but always tried to help his brother keep it together.  Adam’s voice was powerful and played homage to Nick and the rest of the group with perfection.

Mar14---c-HandshakeThe biggest corner was turned when the group was joined by Bob Guido, played by Quinn VanAntwerp.  I am not a fan of giving extra praise to one actor or another, especially in a show that is ensemble driven, but as amazing as the other members of the group were, Quinn’s acting ability gave him a stage presence that just could not be matched.  His singing had this subtle quality, that foreshadowed his actions in the coming scenes.  Quinn was nothing short of brilliant which is saying something because all of the actors on stage were amazing.

Another character worth noting was Bob Crewe, the producer that put and kept the Four Seasons working and famous.  Barry Anderson’s gifted portrayal of Bob was nothing short of fantastic.  Even as a featured actor, he had a command of the stage that allowed him to stand out in the scenes that he was in.

The rest of the actors completed the ensemble with perfection.  A few of the actors had multiple roles, and were played with such finesse that it was not apparent unless you read the program.

Mar14---b-Recording-Studio

With all the well deserved accolades I have given Jersey Boys, I did notice a few problems from my orchestra seat.  The balance of the microphones seem to be off when transitioning from singing to dialogue as there were several points where it was hard to hear.

The direction while good, had some unusual placement of the actors.  There were times when I really needed to see what the actor was feeling, but their back was to the audience.  Every novice director is taught to position the actors to face front as much as possible, but in the professional arena, those rules are thrown out the window in order to make room for new visions, art and realism.  Unfortunately, there were a few moments where if this rule would have been applied it would have made for even stronger moments within the show.

Lastly, one of the designs I absolutely loved about the show were the sets.  They were simple, and clean which allowed for the acting and singing to take center stage without focus going to some special effects.  The sets were so simple the actors were even tasked with bringing furniture and props on and off the stage.  I haven’t such simplicity since “Spring Awakening”.  It added to the charm of the show.

All-in-all, this show is worth seeing.  So many times national tours come through Tampa and just look tired.  This show is incredibly energized and fun to watch.

A MUST SEE!

Mar14---a-Finale

Freedom for Passion: Network Marketing Scam or not?

Freedom for Passion: Network Marketing Scam or not?

Time is such at a premium nowadays, don’t you think?

If I am not working, I am training.  If I am not training, I’m coaching.

If I am not coaching, I am trying to find a way to leave my job, so I can spend time coaching and training because those are my passions.

Crazy right?  Shouldn’t the title of this post be the definition of life?

I believe I was put on this earth to help people succeed.  Obviously, I would more dedicate that success to health and fitness, but if I can help people find a way to spend more time training, and with their families then I would be extremely proud of that as well.

In my quest to find a vehicle to allow myself and others a way to drop the 9-5 routine and replace income, I have been involved with a couple of Network Marketing companies.   I know, I know maybe your thinking, what a scam.  While I have not been successful with Network Marketing, I have seen far too many people who believed and succeeded to write it off as a scam.

I have profiled two in my blog already.  Jessica Crate and Rich O’Dea.  Both of these amazing people are making dollars with Network Marketing and are spending more time on the things they love instead of spending time in cubical city.

Even better is because of the model of Network Marketing, people involved are not scratching for their next paycheck.  Their business can grow without them lifting a finger.  How much they get paid is directly related to the quality of the time they spend.

A power couple I have had the privilege of meeting, Anglike and David Norrie, spend their days with their little girl, traveling all over the world and making an income where money, bills, and retirement are just not an issue for them.  Within a year of focusing on their goals, Angelike had left her six-figure career and was home creating the same income with just a couple of hours a day.

What is even more exciting is there are thousands of people out there just like them.  As a matter of fact, according to Entrepreneur Magazine, Warren Buffett called Network Marketing, “the best investment he ever made.”

I am not sure about the rest of you, but that is pretty much all the convincing I need.

If you have ever been approached by a friend asking you to get involved in Network Marketing, or Multilevel marketing(MLM), the alarms probably went off in your head in big red letters.  SCAM ALERT SCAM ALERT

Why? Because maybe you heard a story about someone who tried and failed, or maybe even one of the 830 out there was actually a scam.  Do we write off the whole industry?

What is Network Marketing?

Simply put, it’s word-of-mouth marketing.  In the 1800s how did everyone find about the general store in-town?  They were told, right?  Same deal.

You are passionate about the products of a company you are involved in.  You tell me about it, I become passionate and then I start telling people the same story.

You get paid when I order and everyone below me orders.  I get paid whenever anyone I have shared with orders and anyone they share it with orders.

At a high-level that is it.

You may already have heard of these companies.

Amway by far is the largest network marketing company out there.  Ladies and Gentlemen, after 40 years it is still around and there are people still successful.  Herbalife is probably the fastest growing company.

The next question is usually, well in order to be a member don’t I have to order products myself?

The answer is YES.  Most of the time you are required a monthly order to stay an active distributor.

Is it a disadvantage?  It depends on how you look at it.  If you are really passionate about the product you would probably order it anyway.

Second, if you are telling the story, very quickly, you would probably be making enough where those costs are covered.

Finally, if you do have to order more than you need, it provides you with samples in order to enroll more people or you can retail those products for even more money.

Let me break it down.  (Remember, this is coming from someone who has not yet been successful in Network Marketing.)

How do you start?  Below is the high-level version of points I have received from successful people in Network Marketing.

First: Find a company with products you absolutely love and adore.  Products you can be passionate about.

Second:  Learn everything you can about the company, the products, the mission and the compensation plan.

Third: Become a product of the product.  Use the products and review them for yourself.  If you still feel passionate about them continue, or otherwise go back to step 1.

Fourth: Meet with your sponsor or upline and find out what makes them successful.

Fifth: Tell the story to everyone that will listen

Sixth: Enroll those that become as passionate as you, and then teach them what you did.

Seven: Watch the money come in.

Okay so that sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it?

The next objection is usually, I really do not want to engage my friends and family.

There are plenty of other ways to engage people without having to go to your friends and family.

It does make it a little more difficult, but once you have a running list of interested people it can actually be faster and more lucrative.

It entails marketing online using a blog, landing pages, video, social media or all of them.

This I will get into on a much later date as I am now in the process of learning all of it.

Why am I telling you this?

I am looking at a network marketing company that falls in the realm of what I am passionate about.  Health and quality foods that have very little processing.

The company is called Purium and their flag ship product is called the 10-Day Celebrity Transformation Program.  A catchy title for a 10-day cleanse, that is certified non-GMO, vegan, organic and is actually manufactured by Purium, not outsourced out like many of the other companies.

I am currently on the program of which I have been documenting via video on my channel.  

As my readers, I am not asking you to get involved….yet.  I am on day 3 of the cleanse and after I have completed it I will present my results and give you a full review.

Until then, check out my YouTube channel and follow along over the next week and see the differences.

Have you ever been asked to take part in a network marketing company?  Did you get involved?  How did it go?

Carpe Vitam!

~ Coach Brad

Goof Review: Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Goof Review: Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Can you feel the magic of Christmas in the air?  With all the urgency of completing our shopping before that December 25th deadline sometimes we don’t slow down enough to enjoy just the simplicity of the holidays.  I spent a majority of my life in the Midwest, so living here, in this snowless climate, I usually find myself missing the aura of the holiday season.  Not this year, Baby.   I was lucky enough to be an audience member for the opening of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes at the David A. Straz Center here in Tampa.IMAG0030

Out of all the time I spent in New York City, I never had the privilege of seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.  I’ve been missing out.  Even this former performer was amazed with the synchronicity and precision of not only the dancing of the Rockettes themselves, but the remarkable coexistence with several different types of media.

The festivities started an hour before the audience was even allowed into their seats, with the Rockettes marching from the stage door to the red carpet outside Carol Morsani Hall.  With pure elegance and grace each Rockette took an arm of an uniformed Tampa Police Officer and were escorted into the theater.  It was a pure showing of honor to our civil servants that was so simple yet so powerful.  I cannot begin to explain why.  I imagine that is the limitations of my writing ability.  The honor didn’t stop there.  The Tampa Police Chief took an opportunity to read “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, on stage, to a group of children at the opening of the show.  Again, it seemed like such an honor to the chief and our civil servants.

The night consisted of 12 different numbers lasting about 96 minutes including a 20 minute intermission, but it flew by so fast.  The night was narrated by Santa Claus, who also sang with a booming baritone voice that projected proudly throughout the arena.

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All of the numbers were not strictly performed by the Rockettes and Santa Clause.  A few numbers included short plays that not only included singing and dancing, but also small life lessons as well.Parade of the Wooden Soldiers -- Fall

One number had Santa and two young boys with a lesson on faith and believing, another was a brilliant combination of the Rockettes and the Radio City Singers about Christmas in New York City.New York at Christmas

My personal favorite had to be a scaled down performance of the Nutcracker with a little girl playing Clara, that was an absolute phenomenal dancer, not to mention other incredible dancers in oversized animal costumes.  I have no idea how the dance so gracefully with those huge heads.

This show was brilliant, funny, emotionally moving and just plain fun for the whole family.  The Rockettes give a performance worth seeing in this wonderful holiday show.

I give it Five out of Five Goofs.

12 Days compressed

Carpe Viam!

The Radio CIty Christmas Specatacular plays at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, December 12th through the 29th Tues thru Sunday.  See the Straz Center Website for details.  http://www.strazcenter.org/Rockettes.aspx

 

Goof Review – Jaybird Sportsband Bluetooth Headset

Goof Review – Jaybird Sportsband Bluetooth Headset

When I am not running in a group, or during a race when I know the course is not the most scenic, I do enjoy running with my iPod.  There is something pretty cool about zoning out and just letting the beat take over my feet.

The problem I face, is comfort in headphones.  I have tried just about every headphone out there and my personal preference is not ear buds that are placed inside he canal.  I keep going back to the earphones I received with my iPod, that just fit above the lobe where the speaker sits on the concha and faces the canal.  Of course, they do not last, and the sound quality has a little to be desired.  Not to mention, the inconvenience of those wires.

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Enter Jaybird with their Sportsband Bluetooth Headset.  Jaybird was nice enough to send me this model, which looks like the older headphones that fit over the head instead of around the back of the neck or just sitting in the ear.  They are extremely light, which does not cause any neck pain or strain and due to the fact they are Bluetooth they are wireless.  I ran the entire Sarasota Half Marathon without them sliding off my ears, or hear any hesitation or disconnect from my iPod.

 

The controls are located on the right ear and have nice size buttons that are easy to access and allow you to skip forward or back, pause and control the volume.

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The sound quality is probably the best I have heard in a Bluetooth headset.  The sound is rich, clear and responds well to the sound controls on my iPod.  Needless to say I really enjoyed wearing this headset during the race.  JB6-1

 

As, I was looking at the pics…well…the profile is pretty low, but they do look kinda goofy if your looking for them.  It figures, look who is wearing them.

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I did test them with two different phones as well.  The Droid Razor Maxx and the Samsung Galaxy Note II and they responded quick and as expected to Pandora, Spotify, the built-in music apps and the phone.

A friend of mine, that didn’t know she was a part of this review, stated she thought I was using my handset.  Most of the time she could tell, when I had a headset on, because the sound quality was usually pretty poor, but with the Jaybird Sportsband this was not the case at all.  The sound was clear without static or hesitation.

The Jaybird Sportsband comes in two models, the original the S2 which includes the uSport universal Bluetooth adapter.  Both models are compatible with any A2DP Bluetooth device to include iPhone, iPad, iPod(7th Gen), Android, windows devices, PC and Mac.  Options include the iSport and universal Bluetooth adapters on the original and S2 models.

The company just so happened to send me apple red, but there are also a wide range of colors available.JB5-1

I really enjoy running with this headset.  It fits over my ear and not inside, which is more comfortable for and it still allows me to hear ambient noise around me which makes my music motivating not distracting.

I give this device 5 out of 5 Goofs.

 

Carpe Viam!!