Can't Wait

I know where I'll be January 10th!

The Holidays have come and gone, we've had not one but two major snowstorms and we're officially into the New Year.  Something I always love doing in January is checking out the new movies coming out.  Personally I have been waiting (a little bit like a kid on Christmas morning waiting to open presents) for one film in particular.  Can you guess what it is?  Drum Roll...

Lone Survivor.  Gee bet ya didn't see that one coming.  Yes it's true Greek girl loves movies about boxing and our military.  Especially when they are based on a true story. Super especially when they star one of my favorite actors.  So of course it should come as no surprise that I have been waiting like a kid on Christmas morning for this film to open, so I can be first in line with a BYOB cup of Dunkin's hidden in my purse (hey they don't sell my favorite coffee at the movies what can I say) and a popcorn.  Popcorn and coffee?… YES that's how I roll.

The Mr. is an Air Force Veteran and my mom works for the Military Order of the Purple Heart which has partly influenced my love and appreciation for our men and women in uniform.  However anyone using their noggin should appreciate them really.  I mean since the beginning of our nation it has been our men and women in uniform who have stood up and kept us free.  They go to places and endure things that most of us would not be able to stomach for a day let a lone months if not years on end.  It is my opinion that they are not thanked often enough and above anything that they should not have to wait for anything.  Especially for medical care for ailments that were sustained while standing up and serving our nation.  The VA Hospital System is well lets just say less than efficient and thousands of our finest end up getting lost in the system, wait for months and years for appointments, and in many cases end up worse off than the original reason they sought treatment in the first place.  If any "healthcare" system needed fixing in this country it was the VA, yet they say that is what The Affordable Care Act was modeled off of… Lord help us!

OK so back to the movie…  Lone Survivor is Based on the failed June 28, 2005 mission "Operation Red Wings".  Four members of SEAL Team 10 were tasked with the mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd.  It stars Mark Wahlberg and when I saw the preview a few months ago the waiting began.  Not only does it look like a great film, but I really respect the comments Mark Wahlberg made after hearing Tom Cruise's idiotic remarks about being an actor can be compared to the job of a solider.  With good reason at a press event Mark went off, as anyone with even half of a brain in their coconut knows an actor and a solider hello, no comparison.  Saying so is beyond insulting.

The other thing I like about Mark Wahlberg besides his acting is he seems to be very down to earth.  So many media figures let success go to their heads, they end up living in excess, partying, leave their spouses and children yada yada… Mark Wahlberg works very hard physically to train for various roles, stays in excellent shape and has had so much success yet seems to stay grounded as a family man, married with children and even going into business with his family in a restaurant called "Wahlburgers".  In fact he will be starring along with his mom and brothers in a new reality series on A&E about the Restaurant.  Which I most definitely will be tuning into.  

So on January 10th your happy friendly Greek Girl next door will have her butt parked in the theatre with Dunkin's and popcorn in hand watching Lone survivor.  In the meantime say "Thank You" to a Veteran today.  There are so many ways we can help people, and yes even the little things matter.

Blessings, Love & Music,
Ava :D
www.avaaston.com

You Can't Handle the Truth!

Who hasn't seen the movie "A Few Good men" where LTJG Daniel Kaffee (played by Tom Cruise) is questioning Col. Nathan R. Jessep (played by Jack Nicholson) on the witness stand in court and Jack Nicholson delivers one of the most famous movie quotes of all time, "You Can't handle The Truth."

In 2005, Nicholson's reading of the line "You can't handle the truth!" was voted the twenty-ninth greatest American movie quote of all time by The American Film Institute. However, as popular as the movie quote is, I think in reality many people can not handle hearing the truth.

Some people realize that there is a difference between absolute honesty and total honesty. Sometimes total honesty will get you no where with someone so you must resort to absolute honesty in order to get things  done. I spoke about that in a previous blog titled Bad Day when I first met Mr. Bricks and he slopped marinara sauce all over his white shirt.

I know I am just as guilty as others in not always being able to handle the truth. An example is recently when my manager Mr. Bricks called with a last-minute audition and I was running late to get out the door. I asked my sweetie, "Does this outfit look good for the audition?" he knew that because I was running late "total honesty" would have only delayed me further, so he resorted to "absolute honesty" and said, "I look absolutely fine." Did he personally think I should have worn something else? Yes. But, he knew that I couldn't handle the truth in a situation like that without creating total muckery. I would have most likely been very late or missed the audition completely by wanting to change my clothes.  Note: In the grand scheme of things I still rocked the audition with what I wore!  Score one for the Greek blonde girl's fashion sense - just sayin'.

I am not advocating anyone telling lies because that just goes against everything I believe in. I also think sometimes when it is just expressing an opinion, telling someone the total truth does more harm than good. In total honesty the truth could sound so blunt or so cold that some people won't be able to handle the truth. So in my Greek little noggin absolute honesty is also better in a situation like that. It happens to me in the music industry all of the time.

I think the reason that Simon Cowell's new singing reality show The Xfactor is going to be so successful is because he has no problem telling the truth. Of all the American Idol judges, past and present it was only Simon who always told the contestants the honest truth. Cowell often got booed for his comments because the contestants and the audience couldn't handle the truth.

There are situations when nothing except total honesty is the only acceptable policy:

Me: Who's your favorite and most talented client Mr. Bricks?

Mr. Bricks: You are Ava Aston

Me: That was the right answer!

Blessings,

Ava

xox

PS Don't forget there is  just a few a little time left to take advantage of the March Madness sale on my "Gone" CD

http://www.avaaston.com/store.html

Show Me The Money

Ok everyone, it seems my manager Mr. Bricks has finally flipped his lid.

For those who follow my daily blog know I love joking about my manager because my so-called life  is nothing but muckery and kind of boring. Soooo,  I goof on my manager, Mr. Bricks from time to time...ok, alright I goof on him everyday. Today he sent me the following text:

I Read your blog this morning. Should I add comedienne to your resume?

I think he was mad because I made a joke yesterday about his age. I can't help it if he is older than dirt! And any cracks I make about his expanding waist line is because I don't want him going out like "Mama" Cass Elliot by choking on a ham sandwich. He really needs to adapt to a healthier life style or I will get "The Biggest Loser's" Jilliann Michaels to throw him into lockdown until he changes his eating habits.

I am surprised at how many questions I get about Mr. Bricks from people reading my blog.  I was recently creeped out by some lady who asked if he was single. Apparently she wanted to go out with him. Yep, that made me vomit a little in my mouth just thinking of it. Look, I don't want to think of Mr. Bricks like that (you know, going on a date and junk like that) because well, he just seems like a guy who is best left in the salt mines managing my career.

Others have asked me, "So what EXACTLY does Mr. Bricks do for you? Does he walk your dogs and pick up your dry cleaning?" -- That's a great idea, I will have him get right on that! No, he is not a personal assistant. And I'm no diva, so I can walk my own dogs and pick up my own dry cleaning, thank you very much.

So what exactly does he do? Well that I can talk about!  Like most people who have chosen a career in entertainment, I quickly learned  I need the help of other people.  I am still the big Greek boss, but I  can not do everything by myself.  So, its not because I want to seem important, (because I know in God's eyes I am not more important than anyone else)  but I do have others to help me with my career, because I need the help.

I have talent agents that help me get commercials, TV shows and movie roles.  Each agent has several hundred clients. So with a personal manager like Mr. Bricks, he helps me oversee what the various agents are submitting me for by making suggestions and helping to set up meetings. He helps keeps me fresh in the mind of the agents because they are so busy and have so many clients.

I also have booking agents for singing at corporate gigs, fairs, rallies, concerts, etc. Again a booking agent has hundreds of clients and Mr. Bricks works in tandem with them to make sure I am a priority to them.

One thing Mr. Bricks is also helping me get is a record deal. That's the golden ring I am reaching for! Until then, you can see me selling my cd's out of the trunk of my car on the off ramps of the Palisades  Parkway. I'm kidding of course...but a record deal is a pivotal part of my career plan. Singing is my passion and it is hard as an independant recording artist without a label deal.

Mr. Bricks is planing things five plus years into the future for me. He  has the business mentality that many of us performers do not have. So as much as I joke about him -- it is very nice to finally have someone helping me with my career.

Some people are put off when they inquire about booking me and I tell them they need to speak to my manager. But the reality is, Mr. Bricks keeps my calendar and knows my availability much more than I do.  It is much easier to have all bookings and offers from all of the different agents go through one centralized office. And since I am not at home that often, it only makes sense that I enlisted the service of a manager to help me.

"Does Mr. Brick really only eat Big Macs and McRibs?"Sadly this is kinda true.  He says it is his jet set lifestyle, and that he doesn't have time to sit down and eat a healthy meal. So when you read my blog and I am bagging on him for eating unhealthy it's because I care about the little fat man, and I want him to get healthy! Hey Mr. Bricks, I have a busy life style and you don't see me wolfing down Micky D's (Carmel sundaes excluded - and only in moderation)  just sayin'

I guess for the best illustration of what Mr. Bricks does for me is to watch Tom Cruise in Jerry Maquire.

Although Jerry Maguire was a sports manager Mr. Bricks is a talent manager. What Jerry Maguire did for his clients is what Mr. Bricks does for me (with out dropping the F-Bomb every other word)  In the movie, Jerry Maguire started off as a typical agent. Most agents at the top of their game are willing to do or say about anything they can to get the biggest possible contracts for their clients, plus a nice commission for themself. But not Mr. Bricks.

He is more like the hard working true-to-himself at all costs type of manager Jerry McGuire became later in the movie.  I do not think I would want a cut throat agent as a part of my team.  That is what I really like about Mr. Bricks. He is agressive, yet firm, polite and fair. He doesn't get frazzled when I scream to him,"Show me the money Mr. Bricks!"

So I may act like I think he is a total over weight, buffoon with one wandering eye. But in my honest opinion he is a true genius with a very kind soul, with a wandering eye.

And that is why he had me at "hello!"

Blessings,

Ava

xox

visist my website: www.avaaston.com