“Write From Where You Are” Years ago I was talking to - TopicsExpress



          

“Write From Where You Are” Years ago I was talking to Dennis Locorriere, lead singer of the band Dr. Hook, about his one-man Broadway show in New York City. It was a big jump for him, going from singing on arena stages to a playhouse in the Big Apple. Now, he was performing solo, acting, and on stage every day doing a world class monologue! I wanted to know what was the biggest thing he’d learned from his new job. He didnt hesitate. You have to show up each night and act from where you are…from the emotions you are feeling in the moment. I wanted to know exactly what he meant. If Im feeling angry when I get to the theater, I interpret the same script from that point of view. If Im happy went the curtain goes up, I approach the words happily, but I always start from the place I am feeling. I thought it was curious and totally went against what I imagined acting to be. It was acting after all. Yet, he approached it in a way that made it real. Years later, I was asked to go on tour with Country superstar Darius Rucker to try to write a follow-up to the first big hit single we’d written together called Dont Think I Dont Think About It.” I climbed onto the tour bus in Chicago and sat down that first morning to brainstorm ideas while Darius did his morning interviews at a local radio station. I’d just pulled out my guitar when Dariuss eight-year-old son Jack ran onto the bus and fired up a video game on the big screen. He was jumping up and down and laughing. “Hmmm,” I thought, “this is going to be impossible.” It was a small bus and I couldnt think or create with all of the commotion. “Darius is going be back in a couple hours and I got nothin!” I decided to take a walk and hoped his lovely son would be finished with his game soon. By the time I returned an hour hour later, the band members were challenging Jack to more games. So, I grabbed my guitar to go outside and find a tree to sit against. When I opened the bus door, rain was pouring down. I have to admit, I was starting to get desperate. Darius was due back in 45 minutes and I had nothing! By the time Darius showed up and chased everyone off the bus, I was panicked. I’d come all the way to Chicago, Darius had taken time out of his busy schedule, and my publisher was already texting me asking if wed written a good song. At that moment, Dennis Locorrieres advice pops in my head. Act from where you are. Go with that emotion you are feeling. Darius smiled as he sat down and asked, What have you got today?” I replied without thinking, “I got nothing. No words, no music. I got… As soon as the words left my mouth, the first few lines of a chorus melody and words poured out: I got nothin No magic words To stop your leavin To end this hurt “Take what you are feeling and see where it leads.” Just as my acting friend had suggested, I took the frustration and desperation of having no words, and with Darius, created a song about desperately needing the right words to say to your lover, but having nothing. It turned out to be our third hit song together. So, Id like to thank my old friend Dennis Locorriere for his words of acting wisdom, “Act from where you are.” He saved my butt that day! Write On! Write from where you are! ~Clay Mills If youd like to hear the song I Got Nothing then go to the SongTown website and click on todays blog at the bottom of the homepage.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 14:00:01 +0000

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