I enjoy taking pictures. I kinda have a knack for it.
It's probably the only artistic thing that I have a knack for...
I've been asked to take head and pirouette shots for one of the ballerinas at the studio. She is going to audition for some real stuff and needs them.
It's cool. Someone wants little old me to take these very important pictures. I am kind of excited about this. First band kids, then Nutcracker kids, now real ballerinas... the next thing you know, I'll be taking senior pictures!
Maybe eventually I'll have a little business where I can make some pin money. If I need a name for my little venture, I can call myself something like "Just a mom with a camera".
Showing posts with label ballet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ballet. Show all posts
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Monday, December 15, 2008
Clearly, I was NOT Thinking Clearly
There are days that I worry about myself.
I take pictures for the high school band - we do a formal photo fundraiser. I take pix of the kids, have them processed, pass them out, and give the proceeds to the band. It's simple. It's easy.
I thought that since the ballet lady is having such a tough time of it, that I would do the same thing for her. This past weekend was Nutcracker and the costumes are wonderful.
Some of the parents thought it was a great idea to do the photos. They also didn't tell me who their kids are - like I know these 5 year olds?? Some of the parents didn't want to purchase a package - they wanted a few 4x6s and nothing else... umm, I don't have time for this! And... umm... it's $20 with shipping directly to your house... You get 1 8x10, 2 5x7, 4 4x6 and 8 wallets. Hello?? It's Christmas! It's a FUNDRAISER!!!
So... I took the photos. I think I got all the kids whose parents wanted pictures, but I'm really not sure.
Currently, I'm in the process of attempting to upload the photos. They have failed twice now. Why? I DON'T have ANY idea... grrr. Some of the parents want these pix for Christmas. I'm trying but I'm at the mercy of the internet gods...
Why DO I DO this to myself?
Don't answer that.
Just wish me luck and if you have a T-1 and you live close, can I borrow some band width?
I take pictures for the high school band - we do a formal photo fundraiser. I take pix of the kids, have them processed, pass them out, and give the proceeds to the band. It's simple. It's easy.
I thought that since the ballet lady is having such a tough time of it, that I would do the same thing for her. This past weekend was Nutcracker and the costumes are wonderful.
Some of the parents thought it was a great idea to do the photos. They also didn't tell me who their kids are - like I know these 5 year olds?? Some of the parents didn't want to purchase a package - they wanted a few 4x6s and nothing else... umm, I don't have time for this! And... umm... it's $20 with shipping directly to your house... You get 1 8x10, 2 5x7, 4 4x6 and 8 wallets. Hello?? It's Christmas! It's a FUNDRAISER!!!
So... I took the photos. I think I got all the kids whose parents wanted pictures, but I'm really not sure.
Currently, I'm in the process of attempting to upload the photos. They have failed twice now. Why? I DON'T have ANY idea... grrr. Some of the parents want these pix for Christmas. I'm trying but I'm at the mercy of the internet gods...
Why DO I DO this to myself?
Don't answer that.
Just wish me luck and if you have a T-1 and you live close, can I borrow some band width?
Monday, January 28, 2008
Ballet Lady VS Mercedes Woman
You all know that I volunteer to do the Ballet Lady's billing. Why did I volunteer to do that? I don't remember... I think don't think I had quite turned my brain to the on position when I agreed to do it.
We have a tuition fee scale that is lower than any around. We have a costume rental fee of $30 per performance regardless of the number of dances the child does. Basically, it is a very reasonably priced extra-curricular activity for the children.
That said, there are people who don't pay. I have a few favorite anectdotes, but this one is my all time favorite:
A lady (who drives a Mercedes and whose older kid drives a BMW) showed up one day with the teen-aged daughter who takes ballet, jazz, and musical theater. We never see this woman, as someone else usually does the pickup and drop off. MW is dressed to the 9's, wears expensive perfume, and carries a very expensive purse. She proceeds to tell Ballet Lady that she cannot pay for lessons and that her daughter needs a scholarship.
(I almost fell off my chair. I'm sure my chin hit the desk. Somehow I managed to keep my butt firmly planted and my mouth shut. I focused my eyes on the screen in front of me and turned my ears to the conversation... Hey, I'm nosy!)
Ballet Lady - who has yet to get a paycheck in the 3 years she's been in business - tells Mercedes Woman that this is not possible. She explains that we are a non-profit venture and any scholarship applications must be brought to the Board of Directors in June for the following school year. Then if the Board determines we have some spare money, an audition with an impartial ballet teacher (from another studio or the Cecchetti Council) is necessary and there are still no guarantees. The Mercedes Woman is furious!
(Excuse me? Lady, tuition is less than $100 a month for all those classes! Besides, your kid is not the next Gelsey Kirkland! Sell your purse on ebay and you can pay the tuition for the year.)
Mercedes Woman decides to take a different tack. She tells Ballet Lady that she wants her kid to work in the office so she can get a discount.
(LOL!! Silly woman! I don't let any kid who is not at least a senior in high school sit at my desk. Your daughter is the most irresponsible twit I have ever met. She will NEVER be sitting at my desk, Honey!)
Ballet Lady tells her that she has all the staff she needs.
(thankyouverymuch! Neener neener neeener!! Thhhhpt!!)
Mercedes Woman is in a snit and a half!! She's huffing and puffing and trying to bully her way into free dance lessons. Ballet Lady calmly tells MW that she needs to pay the tuition or the girl cannot dance. MW huffs her way out the door. If she huffed any more, she would have sucked all the oxygen out of the room!!
(Take that you big bully!)
The ballet lady flopped into a chair and heaved a sigh. This stuff takes a lot out of her. Needless to say, the girl walked in with a check at the next lesson.
We have a tuition fee scale that is lower than any around. We have a costume rental fee of $30 per performance regardless of the number of dances the child does. Basically, it is a very reasonably priced extra-curricular activity for the children.
That said, there are people who don't pay. I have a few favorite anectdotes, but this one is my all time favorite:
A lady (who drives a Mercedes and whose older kid drives a BMW) showed up one day with the teen-aged daughter who takes ballet, jazz, and musical theater. We never see this woman, as someone else usually does the pickup and drop off. MW is dressed to the 9's, wears expensive perfume, and carries a very expensive purse. She proceeds to tell Ballet Lady that she cannot pay for lessons and that her daughter needs a scholarship.
(I almost fell off my chair. I'm sure my chin hit the desk. Somehow I managed to keep my butt firmly planted and my mouth shut. I focused my eyes on the screen in front of me and turned my ears to the conversation... Hey, I'm nosy!)
Ballet Lady - who has yet to get a paycheck in the 3 years she's been in business - tells Mercedes Woman that this is not possible. She explains that we are a non-profit venture and any scholarship applications must be brought to the Board of Directors in June for the following school year. Then if the Board determines we have some spare money, an audition with an impartial ballet teacher (from another studio or the Cecchetti Council) is necessary and there are still no guarantees. The Mercedes Woman is furious!
(Excuse me? Lady, tuition is less than $100 a month for all those classes! Besides, your kid is not the next Gelsey Kirkland! Sell your purse on ebay and you can pay the tuition for the year.)
Mercedes Woman decides to take a different tack. She tells Ballet Lady that she wants her kid to work in the office so she can get a discount.
(LOL!! Silly woman! I don't let any kid who is not at least a senior in high school sit at my desk. Your daughter is the most irresponsible twit I have ever met. She will NEVER be sitting at my desk, Honey!)
Ballet Lady tells her that she has all the staff she needs.
(thankyouverymuch! Neener neener neeener!! Thhhhpt!!)
Mercedes Woman is in a snit and a half!! She's huffing and puffing and trying to bully her way into free dance lessons. Ballet Lady calmly tells MW that she needs to pay the tuition or the girl cannot dance. MW huffs her way out the door. If she huffed any more, she would have sucked all the oxygen out of the room!!
(Take that you big bully!)
The ballet lady flopped into a chair and heaved a sigh. This stuff takes a lot out of her. Needless to say, the girl walked in with a check at the next lesson.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Phew... I'm glad that's over!!
What a weekend!
The Nutcracker went off without a hitch - all 4 performances this weekend. The kids did great and I took almost 300 pictures. Yup. I'm glad I have that digital camera!! Now all I have to do is upload them... That ought to take me about a week.
I did a photo fund raiser for the ballet studio and the pictures came in. They are so cute! I am pretty proud of myself... I told the parents that I would try to get them in for Christmas - some cared... some did not.
Anyway, I called the parents who wanted their pictures for Christmas. Most people were gracious and kind and accomodating. But, as you know there is always one... This lady returned my call yesterday and yelled at me for not using her new phone number. I told her that I used the number in the phone book and that I was calling her from my home and not the ballet studio. (Geez, excuuuuse me for trying!)
I told her that I was going into town later that day and that I could meet her at the studio to give her the pictures.
"No, I don't want to do that. I was already out today." (Like I wasn't...)
"Hmmm... okay. I teach at the school over there, I can tape the envelope to the back door of the studio and you can pick it up at your leisure."
"No... I don't go there unless I have to. Can you bring them to my house?"
"Ummm... no."
"Why don't you just mail them to me. That's better for me."
"I'm concerned that they will get bent. I don't have the right kind of cardboard." (I would have used the envelope in which they were shipped to me, but I need to send something back.)
"Just mail them. I'll pay your postage."
"Fine. I'll do that."
Then she told me her address and hung up. No thank you. No nothing.
Bah humbug to her!
People like that ruin it for the rest of them...
The Nutcracker went off without a hitch - all 4 performances this weekend. The kids did great and I took almost 300 pictures. Yup. I'm glad I have that digital camera!! Now all I have to do is upload them... That ought to take me about a week.
I did a photo fund raiser for the ballet studio and the pictures came in. They are so cute! I am pretty proud of myself... I told the parents that I would try to get them in for Christmas - some cared... some did not.
Anyway, I called the parents who wanted their pictures for Christmas. Most people were gracious and kind and accomodating. But, as you know there is always one... This lady returned my call yesterday and yelled at me for not using her new phone number. I told her that I used the number in the phone book and that I was calling her from my home and not the ballet studio. (Geez, excuuuuse me for trying!)
I told her that I was going into town later that day and that I could meet her at the studio to give her the pictures.
"No, I don't want to do that. I was already out today." (Like I wasn't...)
"Hmmm... okay. I teach at the school over there, I can tape the envelope to the back door of the studio and you can pick it up at your leisure."
"No... I don't go there unless I have to. Can you bring them to my house?"
"Ummm... no."
"Why don't you just mail them to me. That's better for me."
"I'm concerned that they will get bent. I don't have the right kind of cardboard." (I would have used the envelope in which they were shipped to me, but I need to send something back.)
"Just mail them. I'll pay your postage."
"Fine. I'll do that."
Then she told me her address and hung up. No thank you. No nothing.
Bah humbug to her!
People like that ruin it for the rest of them...
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Nutcracker H*ll
This is it!
Today is the last day of Nutcracker.
The children have 3 performances today.
They had one performance last night.
They did great -- but we weren't there to see it. We are bad parents who dropped their children off and went to see a handbell concert.
Today we will sit through 3 performances.
And we will like it.
Catch you all tomorrow. You know where I'll be - ummm yup, back row center.
Today is the last day of Nutcracker.
The children have 3 performances today.
They had one performance last night.
They did great -- but we weren't there to see it. We are bad parents who dropped their children off and went to see a handbell concert.
Today we will sit through 3 performances.
And we will like it.
Catch you all tomorrow. You know where I'll be - ummm yup, back row center.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Eighteen
That's how many years we've been married, my Mr. and I.
Today.
I would do it all over again.
This weekend was a whirlwind but I just have to tell you all about it.
I'll start with Friday afternoon.
3:15 - retrieve #1 from school bus. Bus is late. Arrives at 3:24
3:25 - get LLB from school. School is 15 min. away at 65 miles per hour. The roads are icy. Do you see a problem here?
3:35 - I arrived at school behind my friend K who had Dancing Princess whom I needed to put into my car along with LLB. Oh - did I mention I was driving the civic? 1 six foot boy, 1 LLB and an 1 DP along with all their school bags, dancing bags, instruments, and general junk. It was quite a sight in that back seat. My trunk was full - it had a small chair for the ballet lady, #1's swim bag, LLB and #1's rehearsal clothes and #1's costume...
3:55 - Arrive at McDo in nearby town. Feed children.
4:30 - Arrive at high school for dress rehearsal for Nutcracker
5:30 - Mr. arrives from Honda dealer where my car had it's oil changed and we go to dinner.
7:30 - Mr. removes #1 from dress rehearsal and takes him to the high school swim meet (fortunately it was across the street). I stay and take dress rehearsal pictures.
9:30 - LLB is released from rehearsal. We head home.
10:00 - Take Zeb out. Feed Zeb. LLB runs off to bed.
10:30 - Zeb is under my bed. I'm falling asleep.
11:30 - Mr. arrives home with #1
Are you ready for Saturday?
6:30 - get up and get everyone else up. Dress in layers.
6:55 - go through McDo drive thru for breakfast
7:35 - arrive Manassas for District Band Auditions. Mr. and #1 head for high school line. LLB and I stand in Middle School line with R, HP, my friend G and her daughter A. Toes get cold. We are outside.
8:30 - door opens. We register. LLB, HP and A warm up in an auditorium with 200 other musicians in it. Parents become deaf rather quickly.
This is where the story gets hairy...
Mr. comes and tells me that none of the kids from our high school can register because their teacher isn't there. Their teacher isn't supposed to be there today another teacher (who is also the clarinet judge) is supposed to take care of them. She is not there. The check from the school is not there. I head out to fix this foolishness. I make some waves. Mr. makes some waves. They finally let the kids register. The teacher arrives at 10am. She was supposed to be there at 8am. Do you see a problem??? Hmmmm??????
LLB has #1 for trumpets - this means she auditions first. This could be good... or this could be bad. She sets the bar. She comes out confident. #1 should have had #4 or #5, but ends up with #18. This puts our schedule at risk for this afternoon.
He comes out confident, but knows he made a couple of mistakes. We shall see....
We run home. I get hair gel and brushes ready. #1 shaves and heads to shower. I put LLB's hair in a bun. #1 comes out of shower and gets his hair gelled. We head out. It is 12:45. Rehearsal starts at 12:30. I have been trying to reach the ballet lady since 11am to tell her we would be late. No luck.
12:59 - head through drive thru. Again. Yes, they know us by name now. We make relatively healthy choices.
1:30 - arrive at HS for Nutcracker performance at 2:30.
Set up tables for star grams, tickets and concessions. Mr. sets up his video camera to film for the ballet lady.
2:30 - The show starts. It is lovely!!!
#1 is Drosselmeyer. He does a fantastic job. LLB is everything from a soldier, to an angel, to a snow flake, to a flower. She is graceful. She is gorgeous!!!
4:30 - show is over and children are ready to go. We need to be back at 6:30 for a 7:30 show. #1 has homework. He stays at school to study. We head out in search of food. It will NOT be McDo. We decide on a small pizza for the girls and a crab sub for Mr. We bring back a meatball sub for #1.
7:10 - The kids' private instrumental teacher, Mr. H, arrives to see the show. He asks how the children did that morning. We chat. I tell him about the teacher who didn't show up until 10. He is not impressed with her. It seems she is trying for the same HS teaching job he is at the new HS in our county. I hope he gets it - even if it means the private lesson schedule becomes messier. I do not want that irresponsible woman to get a primo teaching spot in the new high school - even though my children will not be attending that school.
7:30 - curtain goes up. The performance isn't as smooth as the earlier one, but it is beautiful. #1 and LLB did great!!! Mr. H. is impressed with both of them. It is sweet.
10:15pm - arrive home.
10:30pm - children are asleep. They are pooped out!!!
It was a very very long day...
6:50 am this morning. I check my email. There is an email from LLB's band teacher.
LLB has made District Band!!
She will be so excited - when she wakes up...
We have another busy day today, but it is all fun.
We have Cotillion Holly Ball today.
LLB and HP are looking forward to "letting their hair down" and "boogieing the night away".
More on that later --- News at 11.
Today.
I would do it all over again.
This weekend was a whirlwind but I just have to tell you all about it.
I'll start with Friday afternoon.
3:15 - retrieve #1 from school bus. Bus is late. Arrives at 3:24
3:25 - get LLB from school. School is 15 min. away at 65 miles per hour. The roads are icy. Do you see a problem here?
3:35 - I arrived at school behind my friend K who had Dancing Princess whom I needed to put into my car along with LLB. Oh - did I mention I was driving the civic? 1 six foot boy, 1 LLB and an 1 DP along with all their school bags, dancing bags, instruments, and general junk. It was quite a sight in that back seat. My trunk was full - it had a small chair for the ballet lady, #1's swim bag, LLB and #1's rehearsal clothes and #1's costume...
3:55 - Arrive at McDo in nearby town. Feed children.
4:30 - Arrive at high school for dress rehearsal for Nutcracker
5:30 - Mr. arrives from Honda dealer where my car had it's oil changed and we go to dinner.
7:30 - Mr. removes #1 from dress rehearsal and takes him to the high school swim meet (fortunately it was across the street). I stay and take dress rehearsal pictures.
9:30 - LLB is released from rehearsal. We head home.
10:00 - Take Zeb out. Feed Zeb. LLB runs off to bed.
10:30 - Zeb is under my bed. I'm falling asleep.
11:30 - Mr. arrives home with #1
Are you ready for Saturday?
6:30 - get up and get everyone else up. Dress in layers.
6:55 - go through McDo drive thru for breakfast
7:35 - arrive Manassas for District Band Auditions. Mr. and #1 head for high school line. LLB and I stand in Middle School line with R, HP, my friend G and her daughter A. Toes get cold. We are outside.
8:30 - door opens. We register. LLB, HP and A warm up in an auditorium with 200 other musicians in it. Parents become deaf rather quickly.
This is where the story gets hairy...
Mr. comes and tells me that none of the kids from our high school can register because their teacher isn't there. Their teacher isn't supposed to be there today another teacher (who is also the clarinet judge) is supposed to take care of them. She is not there. The check from the school is not there. I head out to fix this foolishness. I make some waves. Mr. makes some waves. They finally let the kids register. The teacher arrives at 10am. She was supposed to be there at 8am. Do you see a problem??? Hmmmm??????
LLB has #1 for trumpets - this means she auditions first. This could be good... or this could be bad. She sets the bar. She comes out confident. #1 should have had #4 or #5, but ends up with #18. This puts our schedule at risk for this afternoon.
He comes out confident, but knows he made a couple of mistakes. We shall see....
We run home. I get hair gel and brushes ready. #1 shaves and heads to shower. I put LLB's hair in a bun. #1 comes out of shower and gets his hair gelled. We head out. It is 12:45. Rehearsal starts at 12:30. I have been trying to reach the ballet lady since 11am to tell her we would be late. No luck.
12:59 - head through drive thru. Again. Yes, they know us by name now. We make relatively healthy choices.
1:30 - arrive at HS for Nutcracker performance at 2:30.
Set up tables for star grams, tickets and concessions. Mr. sets up his video camera to film for the ballet lady.
2:30 - The show starts. It is lovely!!!
#1 is Drosselmeyer. He does a fantastic job. LLB is everything from a soldier, to an angel, to a snow flake, to a flower. She is graceful. She is gorgeous!!!
4:30 - show is over and children are ready to go. We need to be back at 6:30 for a 7:30 show. #1 has homework. He stays at school to study. We head out in search of food. It will NOT be McDo. We decide on a small pizza for the girls and a crab sub for Mr. We bring back a meatball sub for #1.
7:10 - The kids' private instrumental teacher, Mr. H, arrives to see the show. He asks how the children did that morning. We chat. I tell him about the teacher who didn't show up until 10. He is not impressed with her. It seems she is trying for the same HS teaching job he is at the new HS in our county. I hope he gets it - even if it means the private lesson schedule becomes messier. I do not want that irresponsible woman to get a primo teaching spot in the new high school - even though my children will not be attending that school.
7:30 - curtain goes up. The performance isn't as smooth as the earlier one, but it is beautiful. #1 and LLB did great!!! Mr. H. is impressed with both of them. It is sweet.
10:15pm - arrive home.
10:30pm - children are asleep. They are pooped out!!!
It was a very very long day...
6:50 am this morning. I check my email. There is an email from LLB's band teacher.
LLB has made District Band!!
She will be so excited - when she wakes up...
We have another busy day today, but it is all fun.
We have Cotillion Holly Ball today.
LLB and HP are looking forward to "letting their hair down" and "boogieing the night away".
More on that later --- News at 11.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Dealing with the Dickster...
Our ballet performances were this weekend...
We had the stage manager from h*ll whose name fits her personality - Ms. Dick. Go ahead... giggle... get it out of your system... I'll wait.
She had my LLB in tears and my #1 so angry I thought he'd burst. It seems she treated the girls with boobs like they had some brains and talent and treated those without boobs like babies who could do nothing. I was cool on the outside, but on the inside... well, that's another story. Excuse me... My LLB may be flat chested, but she knows what she's doing, where to be when, has passed her grade 2 ballet exam with honors, and probably knows more discrete mathematics than Ms. Dick can shake a stick at. #1 was ready to punch Ms. Dick's lights out for making his sister cry. (It was NOT a pretty sight.)
I spoke with the ballet lady. She went to talk to LLB and calm her down. As I was leaving, one of the other adult ballet people asked me if I had reserved space for the videographer. I said, "I can do that" and smiled. This woman knows me and knows I'll save the spots. Ms. Dick butted right in and said, "That means you need to save the seats." I answered, "It's all taken care of... (insert pause and grit teeth) Honey."
The next day, Mr. gave Ms. Dick a piece of his mind. He doesn't take to well to people who make his daughter cry. He basically told Ms. Dick to cool it - this production is supposed to be fun for the kids. This is NOT supposed to make them miserable and hate ballet. In School Suspension - that's supposed to make them miserable... She tried to defend her stupidity. Silly girl... She knows not with whom she verbally spars...
Later in the weekend, the kids were supposed to arrive at 4:30 for warm-ups. Who was there on time? LLB and #1. Shocked aren't you? Ms. Dick says to the ballet lady, "Who is that little blond one? She's always on time and doing what she is supposed to." The ballet lady says, "Oh, that's LLB. She's one of my best students." (The one you picked at the other night for no reason... MORON!!!)
Ms. Dick says very softly, "oh."
Yup... she has realized the error of her ways... karma... I love karma...
We had the stage manager from h*ll whose name fits her personality - Ms. Dick. Go ahead... giggle... get it out of your system... I'll wait.
She had my LLB in tears and my #1 so angry I thought he'd burst. It seems she treated the girls with boobs like they had some brains and talent and treated those without boobs like babies who could do nothing. I was cool on the outside, but on the inside... well, that's another story. Excuse me... My LLB may be flat chested, but she knows what she's doing, where to be when, has passed her grade 2 ballet exam with honors, and probably knows more discrete mathematics than Ms. Dick can shake a stick at. #1 was ready to punch Ms. Dick's lights out for making his sister cry. (It was NOT a pretty sight.)
I spoke with the ballet lady. She went to talk to LLB and calm her down. As I was leaving, one of the other adult ballet people asked me if I had reserved space for the videographer. I said, "I can do that" and smiled. This woman knows me and knows I'll save the spots. Ms. Dick butted right in and said, "That means you need to save the seats." I answered, "It's all taken care of... (insert pause and grit teeth) Honey."
The next day, Mr. gave Ms. Dick a piece of his mind. He doesn't take to well to people who make his daughter cry. He basically told Ms. Dick to cool it - this production is supposed to be fun for the kids. This is NOT supposed to make them miserable and hate ballet. In School Suspension - that's supposed to make them miserable... She tried to defend her stupidity. Silly girl... She knows not with whom she verbally spars...
Later in the weekend, the kids were supposed to arrive at 4:30 for warm-ups. Who was there on time? LLB and #1. Shocked aren't you? Ms. Dick says to the ballet lady, "Who is that little blond one? She's always on time and doing what she is supposed to." The ballet lady says, "Oh, that's LLB. She's one of my best students." (The one you picked at the other night for no reason... MORON!!!)
Ms. Dick says very softly, "oh."
Yup... she has realized the error of her ways... karma... I love karma...
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