Show Up and Show Out

by

David Eugene Andrews

The venue had to close, a nightmare began to unfold. Through no fault of their own, Urban Xtreme would not be allowed to perform at the talent showcase in downtown Los Angeles. After practicing and perfecting their vocal renditions and dance routines for weeks, the four young girls dreamed about their chance to perform. Contracts might be signed, stars might be born. Studio executives would be listening in the audience. This up-and-coming band would have finally have their chance, but on this night it would not happen.

With 17 acts, the show had run overtime. Already approaching 9:00 p.m., the competition had lasted four hours. Equipment malfunctions had to be corrected, some individual performances took longer than expected.

The talent was good, if not great. This was no high school production, but a first rate event. Haskell Jackson Entertainment, working with Rena Phillips, presented the New Stars of Hollywood, musicians striving for the big time.

If the stakes were high, the talent proved up to the task. Earlier, when the mic feed to an electric guitar did not sound, the performer simply set down his instrument and broke out into a series of energetic dance moves. He timed the routine perfectly, not missing a beat and returning seamlessly to his song, at the exact place where the unheard riff of his guitar interlude would have finished.

Throughout the evening, no performer (even the 12 year-old first timer) slipped. Whether with Host Eric ‘EZ’ Zuley or the young talent, wireless microphones were handed off, technical glitches overcome, the show moved on. At an unscripted moment, a two-year old ambled onto the stage, but the Texas singer kept performing, working the little boy into her country song.

Originally scheduled to perform early, Urban Xtreme had been rebooked to be the finale, the climactic act of the evening. The four girls were excited. Their mothers had cancelled other engagements and driven two hours so their daughters could attend. Their matching outfits with colorful boots reflected each girl’s personality, ready to shine.

Then it happened. At the bottom of the steps, just offstage, the girls got the word. No performance tonight, time had expired.

“We came all this way.”

“You can only go up for a moment.”

Allowed on stage, Urban Xtreme Crew sang one simple motif, before being rushed off. Their dance routine unseen. Behind them, the stage was already being dismantled.

Hopes turned to despair, tears flowed. How could they win the text voting? Unsigned artist #17 could not win.

Apologies not easily accepted, damage had been done. Hugs were exchanged, the girls sad, their mothers mad.

“Everyone out!”

Crews cleaned up plastic cups and Arrowhead water bottles, earlier sold for $4.00 each.

Guests from the next venue commitment had begun showing up, their upstairs V.I.P holding room already packed. Their contract signed, they had paid in advance. Performance guaranteed, they had reserved the place for the rest of the night and drinks needed to be sold.

~ ~ ~

On the sidewalk outside, Eric ‘EZ’ Zuley, the host for the talent showcase, waited for his father to bring the car to the curb. He conversed with his camera crew from WTV Networks. The extensive footage of unheralded talent needed to be transferred to hard drives, edited and posted, or archived for later use. EZ had not eaten all day, so he suggested a late dinner, but his camera crew had another engagement. EZ dismissed them. The transfer would take place later.

Further up the street, performers mingled by the afternoon’s Media Wall. Most had walked the Red Carpet nearly six hours earlier. Some performers, happy with their energetic and near flawless performance, waited for the tabulated results. Others, publicists and agents, networked and exchanged more business cards.

The mothers of Urban Xtreme brought their cars next to the curb. Unused mic stands and equipment needed to be loaded into trunks.

Inside the car EZ found out about the disappointment of Urban Xtreme. EZ’s dad related how he had told one of the moms, ‘When things do not seem to work out God has a plan’.

“Are they still here?” EZ asked.

The black Hyundai Elantra pulled slowly forward, the girls nowhere in sight.

“There they are!”

Anaya, Alisson, Regan, and Ryan clustered beneath overhanging trees.

“Stop the car!”

The car pulled up to the end of the dead end street.

“Girls, would you be willing to perform?” EZ asked.

“Where?”

“Right here, on the sidewalk.”

Their faces and countenances brightened.

“What about microphones? And music?”

A mother stepped forward. “You can sing a cappella.”.

“My camera crew left,” EZ said, “so I can’t guarantee about the quality. We don’t have lights.”

“How about the streetlights?” someone asked. “If we get out of the shadows?”

“Not bright enough,” EZ’s dad said, “And the batteries of the Flip Cam and the Canon are dead. The backup cameras have been used too much.”

“What about the Tablet?” EZ asked, “but we need more light.”

“We can use my LED pocket light.”

“Bright enough for an interview, but not a performance.”

“We can use the headlights.”

“I’ll have Mom pull up her car.”

“She can play our music, too.”

At the end of the dead end street, three cars shined their beams. With their music playing from the mom’s car stereo, Ryan, Regan, Alisson, and Anaya sang, danced, and performed two routines. The Urban Xtreme crew lived up to their motto: Show Up and Show Out. As they said in the video, they did it The EZ Way.

With smiles, the girls climbed into their cars for the two-hour drive home.

~ ~ ~

Follow the progress of Urban Xtreme on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and on Twitter @urbanxtremecrew.

David Eugene Andrews is a writer and author. His forthcoming novel The English Slave takes place in Europe around AD 1600. Follow him on Twitter @David_E_Andrews and follow EZ, The Hollywood It Guy, on Twitter @EricZuley.

Urban Xtreme Performance videos

Urban Xtreme performing with Bella and Zendea from “Shake it up”

BEHIND THE SCENES

Dale Raoul, Maxine Fortenberry on HBO’s hit vampire series ‘True Blood,’ is a veteran character actress who, for the past three decades, has worked in a myriad of stage, film, and television productions.

Dale began her professional acting career at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego appearing in ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Taming of the Shrew.’ She went on to perform in many regional theaters, including Indiana Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, and the New Mexico Repertory Theatre. A native of the great state of Montana, Dale is proud to have played Josie Hogan in ‘A Moon for the Misbegotten’ for the inaugural production of the Montana Repertory Theatre, the state’s first, and only, professional acting company. Shortly thereafter, she moved to California where she has cultivated her stage career at the Pasadena Playhouse, the Los Angeles Theatre Center, the Odyssey Theatre, and the Cast Theatre. Dale has received awards for various performances, including a Drama-Logue Award for her work in ‘Steaming’ at the Ivy Substation.

In 1986, Dale booked her first role on a television series, appearing in ‘Murder She Wrote.’ Earning a reputation as a formidable character actress, she has appeared on ‘The Middle,’ ‘The Office,’ ‘Six Feet Under,’ ‘Friends,’ ‘NYPD Blue,’ ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Mister Sterling,’ ‘The Drew Carey Show,’ ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch,’ ‘Unhappily Ever After,’ ‘Nash Bridges,’ ‘Party Of Five,’ ‘Knots Landing,’ ‘Valerie,’ ‘Who’s The Boss,’ and ‘L.A. Law,’ culminating in her recurring role as the town busybody and vampire hater, Mama Maxine Fortenberry on ‘True Blood.’

Dale has also starred in many made-for-television movies, including ‘Mending Fences,’ ‘Net Force,’ ‘A Match Made in Heaven,’ ‘Death Benefit,’ ‘Favorite Deadly Sins,’ and ‘Here To Remember.’

She can be seen in numerous feature films, favorites being ‘The Mexican,’ ‘Beautiful,’ ‘Seven Pounds,’ ‘Forfeit,’ ‘Save the Mavericks,’ ‘Love Stinks,’ and ‘Out To Sea’ (in which she got to dance with Jack Lemmon and Donald O’Connor on a cruise ship in the Caribbean).

In 1986, Dale married Ray Thompson, an Emmy® award-winning lighting designer for CBS Television. They are supporters of the Los Angeles Opera and various animal shelters and adoption charities. Dale was active in the nonprofit organization Artists Confronting AIDS and has appeared in numerous charity fundraising events, including performing in Truman Capote’s ‘A Christmas Memory’ to benefit Five Acres Orphanage and Caring for Babies with AIDS.

When not busy studying her lines, Dale and her husband happily relax with their two Bichon Frises (French for curly lap dog, which they are…) and Katie the Doggy of Unknown Lineage. They all live on a hill in Los Angeles.

Music by: Moe Ager Productions
Intro Music by: Young Mack

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The EZ Show gives you the Playboy Mansion with Hugh Hefner and the Playmate of the year girls. Take a look at all the hot playboy mansion go-ers and get a sneak peak of the Kandyland Party. If you have never been to the mansion. Well now you know what it is like.

[slideshow]

Playmate of the year Claire Sinclare

http://youtu.be/8T6KVtulPkM

Big Thanks to @Janklink for the introduction

Video of the Red Carpet

Also met and had a great conversation with Shelley Regner who was in Pitch Perfect a Universal film.

plus ran into many of my fans and supporters!

Here are some pics

Also met Mellina Gay from Young & The Restless

Once again we did it “The EZ Way”
For more fun crazy events, interviews and stories follow this blog or my twitter! @ericzuley

Wayne Gretzky, Metta World Peace, Lindsay Lohan, The Jackson Family, David Arquette and more..

This was a great event. Very well planned. Great live music. I introduced my friends Hector David Jr. Steven Skyler, Najee Detiege who play  the Green, Gold & Blue Power Rangers Super Samurai currently on Nickelodeon every Sat.

It was really nice of them to come out and sign toys for the kids of the Los Angeles children’s hospital. I also brought Sarah Winchester from Real Housewives of OC, The Page Twins.

The event had a nice red carpet, media and the location was at the Camden House in Beverly Hills Ca,

There were also two wonderful people that received certificate of achievements

Ron Whitaker & his wonderful other half.

I finally made it to my good friend actor, artist, host, male super model Sam Sarpong new clothing launch at Screaming Famous Clothing off Melrose Ave.

This was a pretty cool event. I had invited my friends Steven Skyler, Hector David Jr. actors that play the gold ranger and green ranger on the currently airing show on Nickelodeon, Power Rangers Super Samurai.

We all got some cool Jewelry and clothing.. thanks again to KD Luxe Jewelry.

Press was there Pr Photos, Partyby5.com, Actors Reporter and more.. Beautiful models and of course the stars of the night Sam Sarpong and Pussycat DollsVanessa Curry.

Stay tuned for my awesome interviews! I have a exclusive EZ Way only 8 min. interview with Sam And Vanessa that will blow your mind!

Oh year! We also stopped by Ryan Torres of Avenue Entertainment Managements client David Fernandez Jr. Actor in the new movie End of watch