Cooters A1 Toewing: Stardom is not out of the reach for those that truly want it

While stardom is not for everybody those who really , and I mean really want it, are willing to brave the risks, pay their dues and do whatever menial tasks to get a foot in the door.

I remember at age 12, I heard radio. I played music, I wanted my music on the radio, so I got into being an on air personality. Back then we were called Disc Jockeys, simply because we spun records vinyl, to be exact. But being in a studio would not come immediately. I had to clean the rest room, yes the toilet, take out the trash and go out to that freezing little building to take transmitter readings. Soon I started doing stats at high school sports events, basketball, football. That was a gas since cheerleaders and drill team girls were more apt to come closer to a radio jock than to some of the other nerds sitting on the crappy benches.

Soon after I began doing other unimportant I thought tasks like making the morning java for the wake up man, but soon, I was gave an overnight shift, on weekends. I liked it and have been there ever since.

I’d drive 300 miles one way to do music artist interviews, like I did for Barbra Mandrell when she came to the UofU Events center. I got to meet her dad, and her band.

Sometimes you just have to take a risk. Not everyone in media or the business of entertainment lives in mansions, drives limos and is in an office. There are times no matter gender, you go to the house, and brave the situation. Most people can judge if there’s a real security safety risk, or if its just a meeting at a home/office/studio. I know all too many artists who do work at their homes. Either for convenience or lack of something better or both. Or needing a reason to be in something better.

Granted this is not the 1970’s or 80’s. Strange things happen, between guy and gals in lone homes. One or the other can get grabby, or other stranger situations can occur.

But if its understood that everybody keeps their clothes on, and its in the front room, where the control board is at, it’s a sign of trust when a talent will step in and be willing to get on air, or work through a scene or write scripts. After all if there is a point of travel say going to an event say NAB, SEMA, or preytell Sturgis, although your staying in your own room at the event, if you can’t trust each other and can’t get along in transit, your going to have problems.

Not everything is purrfect at all times. But if you can work together and get comfortable with each other, its much easier later on.

The simple fact is while it looks to be all glitter and glamour, there’s a lot of sweaty work to be done long before the spotlight goes on.

Dancers know this. Just because the real production number or show is all illuminated with colors and all, there’s weeks of rehearsal, sweaty, dirty, dusty practice work that goes into the final production.

Examples are all over the place. Singers, have weeks if not months in the studio, working with producers, not always in a big place downtown, but in small studios in private homes. A lot of soda drinking, running down lyrics, moves, and mixing. It is a matter of trust, so newer talent just wanting to step into the business, need to understand that just because there’s little glitter, does not mean there isn’t gold. You have to step in , try it out if it works it works. If not you settle up, and cast someone else.

There is a shrinking amount of talent in Hollywood , those who do become stars are the ones who tasted it, want it, and are willing to do most anything to get it. The days, thankfully of of the casting couch are gone, but aside from that there are people who want to see themselves on that stage, on that magazine cover, on that TV ad, and on that TV show. They want to play the Oprey, they want to see themselves there, and as I just said are willing to take the risks, take out the trash, clean the toilet, and do what it takes to get there.

I did, and I would not trade any of it for anything.

Stardom is not out of reach , you just have to really want it.

TTYL