Conrad Askland

April 1, 2007April 1, 2007

Pit Band Musician Photos – High School Musical

Exceedingly rare and vintage pit band photos of the musicians for Disney’s High School Musical presentation at McIntyre Hall 2007. These musicians were VERY fun and intense to work with. When we get a tight groove going on it feels more like we’re cruising down the street with the subs cranking.

UPDATE – MORE BAND PHOTOS HERE!

Most of the musicians I’ve worked with before on other productions and they are all my first choice players to work with right now. They consistently rise to the occasion and raise the bar where most others would have folded and settled for “just ok”.

These photos are courtesy of Gary Brown at Stage Images – he’s doing a lot of photography for live shows now and prints are available online. Gary is kind enough to spend a little time taking pictures of the musicians which they REALLY appreciate. Pit orchestras are usually overlooked when it comes to photo opportunities, so players rarely have pictures of themselves playing their instruments.

But Gary, I think I should point out that all of these musicians are devlishly handsome except for me. I think you accidentally hit the “ugly” button when you took my photos. Does anyone know a good photoshop airbrush artist?

UPDATE 04/07 – Gary took some new pics of me and I really like them. Check out the KEYTAR PHOTOS – Thank you Gary!

HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC BY DISNEY – PIT BAND PHOTOS

Oscar De La Rosa – Percussion
Oscar is the “mojo” of our group

Luke Hansen – Guitar
Luke grows guitar amps in his backyard

Kyle McInnis – Guitar and Saxophone
Plays the best “Mario Brothers Theme”
this side of the Mississippi

In the Orchestra Pit
Throw a flank steak into the pit – we’ll keep playing

David Bridgman – Drums

with Peter Bridgman – Bass

Conrad Askland – Conductor and Keyboards
Five keyboard rig for fast changes

Conrad warms up the crowd for Act II
with his “Keytar” – a keyboard that wishes
it was a guitar

View from the Drums looking up at the Balcony
in McIntyre Hall – Skagit College Campus

The Band is Focused and Intense

Brianne Weaver – Keyboards

April 1, 2007

PHPBB Mysql Error Fix

If you get error notices on mysql using phpbb – view the database structure in PHPMYADMIN and see if all tables are listed. If you only get a partial listing with an error message for a particular table, here’s how to fix it.

In PHPMYADMIN with your specific database called up click “SQL” – this will open up an SQL query window where you can insert a repair command for the particular table malfunction. If the table error is “phpbb_search_wordmatch” then you can enter this in the MYSQL Query window:
REPAIR TABLE phpbb_search_wordmatch

Then click “go” – on larger databases the process may take a while. My experience has been that usually only one table will be corrupted in a database at a time – and usually occurs after a server reboot.

***************

Sample error message for above fix:

Error in deleting post

DEBUG MODE

SQL Error : 1034 Incorrect key file for table: ‘phpbb_search_wordmatch’. Try to repair it

DELETE FROM phpbb_search_wordmatch WHERE post_id IN (172970)

Line : 419
File : functions_search.php

March 29, 2007

On Hope

Hope, like the gleaming taper’s light, adorns and cheers our way; and still, as darker grows the night, emits a brighter ray.

– Oliver Goldsmith

March 29, 2007

The Hubble Deep Field: The Most Important Image Ever Taken

March 29, 2007

Ray Cham – HSM Song Composer – Dies

Our condolences to the family of Ray Cham. Ray was one of the songwriters for Disney’s High School Musical.

Ray Cham, 2006 Emmy-nominated Songwriter/Producer, passed away in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 4, 2007. Cham passed away from injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident. Cham was 35.

Ray Cham was described as …a great musical talent & genius, who hadn’t even begun to tap his full potential yet.
– Ron Fair, Chairman, Geffen Records

Ray Cham was co-writer with his brother for music and lyrics to “Get Your Head In the Game” – arguably the most well known song from High School Musical. He was also a 2006 Emmy Nominee for Outstanding Original Music with Getcha Head in the Game.

We are currently running High School Musical and I can tell you that the “Getcha Head in the Game” song is one that really binds the cast together. It’s a great positive message for everyone, not just kids. I think it’s every composer’s desire to create music that outlives themselves, and in that respect the Cham’s have hit a bullseye with this song. Kudos on that.

RAY CHAM is survived by his wife Alexandria Cham, two children Raymond Jr. and Romijn of Los Angeles; and his brother, Emmy-nominated co-writer Greg Cham of Los Angeles.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Ray Cham started his career in 1998 working as a musician and arranger for TLC, Aaron Hall, Morris Day, Tracy Spencer and Brandy. He was a producer, arranger, musician and songwriter, having written for Christina Aguilera, Sting, Mya , Sounds of Blackness, Miami Sound Machine, and Hoku. He developed and arranged the live shows for many artists including Toni Braxton, Kenny Loggins, Monica, Earth, Wind & Fire, Aguilera and Destiny’s Child.

Most recently he was a songwriter, producer and music supervisor for many of the Disney musicals and television shows – including the CHEETAH GIRLS and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. He was a 2006 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the song GET’CHA HEAD IN THE GAME that he co-wrote with his brother Emmy-nominee Greg Cham, and recording artist/composer and Emmy nominee Drew Seeley. He was music supervisor and composer for the Disney Channel film GOTTA KICK IT UP, and most recently wrote, produced and did tour arrangement for the CHEETAH GIRLS CD and tour.

Through his company Last Man Standing Inc., he was developing talent as well as writing songs for the next HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL movie and CD, as well as developing Seeley as a solo artist. Ray Cham most recently worked with Seeley on the recent HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL live show where Seeley was the male lead vocalist.

Memorial services will be held on TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007 @ 11:00 a.m.

Pre-Service @ 10:30 a.m.

Westchester Christian Church

(site of Breath of Life Seventh-day Adventist

8740 LaTijera Blvd., Westchester, CA 90045

General viewing will be held on:

MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007 @ 4:00 p.m. â€“ 8:00 p.m.

Holy Cross Mortuary – located at:

5835 W. Slauson Ave., Culver City, CA. 90230

March 28, 2007

Con Anima Vocal Group – St. Petersburg, Russia

Con Anima is a small ensemble of operatic vocalists from St. Petersburg, Russia. Small in number, but by no means small in sound or passion. They performed recently at my church, Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church. I could not find reviews of them online so I wanted to let you know what they are like as you consider going to one of their concerts or having them perform at your church. (Short read: They are fantastic!)

I knew that they were from St. Petersburg, that they had all graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory and that they were Russian Orthodox. My guess was that this was going to be very heavy, intense music – very dark and compelling to Western US ears. And it was exactly that. Con Anima has a sound that takes you on a ride through the centuries, a timeless sound.

Visit their website at Con-Anima.spb.ru and you listen to a Con Anima Vocal Sample.Â Their sound is even more compelling when heard live. This is a group that I don’t think any recording will ever do it justice – It’s a visual and auditory combination that will lift your mind to new heights and inspire the depths of your sould.

For our performance we only used a mic for song introductions – no sound reinforcement is really needed for this group if you have a good acoustic environment. The bass vocalist alone has more vocal power than most entire church choirs. They are accustomed to filling opera stages with sound and when you get five of them toghther, well, It’s Big!

They gave a one hour concert with a combination of Russian sacred favorites, and also a mix of Russian “gospel” and classical music. The first half was a capella and the second half a refreshing mix of piano accompaniament, solos and duets.

Con Anima does well at presenting a faith-based concert that would be equally comfortable for any denomination to experience. The power of their delivery speaks for itself with obvious dedication to the spiritual drive behind their music.

If you like early music, chamber music, Russian music or music with conviction – you will love Con Anima. In all honesty, unless you were born under a rock you will absolutely love Con Anima.

March 28, 2007March 28, 2007

Disney HSM – Cast and Musician Photos

Disney’s High School Musical opened at McIntyre Hall on March 23, 2007 for a three week run. Here are some photos of the HSM cast and musicians in rehearsal. Full cast is almost sixty strong and the live pit band is seven musicians (and six keyboards!).

High School Musical Cast at McIntyre Hall – Warmups

HSM Cast in General Rehearsal

HSM Musicians Setting Up In Orchestra Pit

Rhythm Section Compares Notes

Conductor’s Keyboard Rig

Oscar De La Rosa – Percussion

Scott McDade – Director

Cathy Pfahl – Costume Design

Theater Arts Guild Gobo

Jann Barem and Harold Paige

March 28, 2007March 28, 2007

50 Ways to Appreciate Your Tech Crew

Technical crews in the arts are notorious for not being appreciated. They work so hard backstage to make everything work right. If they do their job well, they are almost invisible as everything flows with effortless ease to make the cast look good on stage.

So if you’re involved in musical theater, plays, drama, music bands or anything that uses a tech crew – take time out to let them know you appreciate what they do. Because truth is, things wouldn’t look very good without them!

The Crew is all those people backstage who work so hard to make you look good. They include the guys on the fly rail, the girls who move sets on and off, the prop ladies, the Stage Manager, the guys who mike you up, the lighting guy, the people in the dressing area who help with costumes and make-up and the backstage parent volunteers.

Here are some ways to show your appreciation:

50 WAYS TO APPRECIATE YOUR TECH CREW
1. Learn their names.
2. Say “Thank you!”
3. Smile at them.
4. Bring them a cookie.
5. Clap when they enter the building.
6. Buy them a flower
7. Leave anonymous “Thank You” notes for them backstage.
8. Compose a poem extolling their contribution.
9. Give them a Starbuck’s gift certificate.
10. Slap them on the back and say “Atta boy/girl!”
11. Post a “Thank you” ad in the Personals section of the Want Ads.
12. Make them feel welcome in the Green Room.
13. Wear deodorant.
14. Decorate a personal water bottle for them.
15. Ask for their autographs.
16. Dedicate a performance to them.
17. Be respectful.
18. Bake them a cake.
19. Tell your friends and family how important the crew is to the
production.
20. Polish an apple and give it to them.
21. Tell them they’re doing a good job.
22. Share a joke with them.
23. Bring a tub of red licorice sticks to share with them.
24. Chat with them.
25. Stay out of their way when they are trying to do their job.
26. Put up a big “Thank You!” poster backstage with all their names
on it.
27. Pick up after yourself.
28. Take their picture.
29. Send them a greeting card.
30. Tell them they look good in black.
31. To the fly rail guys say “Oooo, you’re strong!”
32. Wave at them in the parking lot.
33. Give them a complimentary nickname.
34. Tell them they’re cool.
35. Offer them an Altoid.
36. Take an interest in what they do.
37. Say hi to them when you see them away from the theater.
38. Wear an “I love the Stage Crew” tee shirt.
39. Give them a McDonalds gift certificate.
40. Remember to thank them when you receive your Oscar.
41. Tell them you’ve named a goldfish after them.
42. Knit them a black sweater.
43. Ask them about their favorite backstage story.
44. Be cheerful.
45. Let them read your newspaper.
46. “Groove” with them.
47. Tell them they’re your hero.
48. Respect their “space”.
49. Tell other people nice things about them.
50. Write “Thank You” messages on a banana (peel) with a Sharpie
and give it to them.

March 27, 2007March 28, 2007

If We Evolved From Apes – Why Do Apes Still Exist?

“If we evolved from apes, why do apes still exist?”

Recently a devout “creationist” joined one of my creation discussion forums with the proclaimed intention of finally unravelling the lie of “evolutionists”. After a full week of factless drivel I encouraged him to begin discussions on specific topics. I was very surprised that his first pick was “If we evolved from apes, why do apes still exist?”

The reasons were laid out – and here’s a simplified nutshell for you: First of all species still living are referred to as “extant”, which means still living. Second, the question is similiar to “If my cousins and I have the same great great great great great grandparents, why do I still have cousins?” or “If Americans descended from Europeans, why are there still Europeans?” Thirdly, evolution does not say we evolved from apes – Evolution states that apes and humans have a common ancestor.

The widely accepted website for evolution information is TalkOrigins.org – they have extensive archives, answers to all creationist debate points I have ever heard brought up, and the answer to this specific statement can be found here: Why Are Apes Still Alive?

Now I can understand a creationist not trusting information from talkorigins.org – after all it is essentially the “enemy” website with nothing but scientific answers to creationist debate points. I would say that to my knowledge if you are a creationist, spend a good chunk of time reading talkorigins.org and do not come away with some ideas changed – it would be fairly apparent there was no intended interest in learning.

But the problem lies here: Not only has this argument been long answered by “evolutionists” – it has now even been deprecated by the holy grail of creationist websites – AnswersInGenesis.org – Just as talkorigins.org is the widely accepted reference point for evolution information, answersingenesis.org is the widely accepted reference point for creationist information and debate points.

I have spent many hours on both websites and have come to my own conclusions based on the information presented.

Please go to the Answers In Genesis Creation Arguments Not To Use list to read it for yourself. Many of the arguments on this list I have had to suffer through in the past, with the ones stating the arguments saying I was blind to the truth and sometimes “blinded by Satan”. If your OWN TEAM says not to use an argument, then that should be pause for thought.

But the bigger point is, I have seen time and time again where the argument is not dropped until shown that the premiere creationist website says specifically the argument is flawed. The second biggest argument on the list of what NOT to use by creationists in debate is that Darwin recanted evolution on his deathbed. Again, I hear this time and time again – and when I bring up that the argument is deprecated and people can view it for themselves on their own creationist website; it seems few do.

The hesitation to look at the information clearly for what it is, and instead creating camps of “enemies” to be refuted – is a major red flag that should be examined. If you make claims that the scientific community as a whole is a coup bent on some mastermind plot – it is most likely you have adopted this belief as blanket protection for something you don’t want to look at openly.

Certainly that’s a choice individuals can make. But don’t think for a second that it is science.