Good evening, peeps - I don't know about you, but Gay Pride is always like running a marathon - lots of events get thrown into the blender and there's never enough money or time to go to all of them. If you're on the verge of becoming a curmudgeon like I am (yay, I made it to old age!), you do a lot of things like just wanting to sit on the couch and watch TV and wait for the week to pass so that you can get back to work. I mean, if you're trying to do anything for basically the month of June that involves any gay people at all, you're more or less screwed until about July 1 and then you run the risk of getting lost in the vacuum of the holiday weekend. Grumble. You see? I am curmudgeony!
But this year is different. It has to be. Circumstances are different. Our lives are different.
You see, just when we thought our lives were normalizing (getting Marriage Equality, lots of trans visibility), Orlando happened. It was really our 9/11. Not to take anything away from 9/11 of course.. but that was a wake up call to Americans that no, not everyone in the world loved us. And so, with us, it was a wake up call, that no, not everyone thinks that 'the gays' are AOK.
We had inklings. Being out has never been easy and certainly hate crimes (esp against transgendered people) have been on the rise in the last year, so it's not a super duper surprise or anything, but I think that we all had it in our heads that some idiot Presidential candidates notwithstanding, we had made it through the worst.
So, you can stay at home and watch TV and probably be safe. Or you can put on your rainbow clothes and funny gay t shirts and get out of your literal comfort zone and get involved. That can look like joining the Guns for Gays group or marching with your favorite club, bar, or group, or simply standing on the sidelines watching and being a part of history - in that this is the year that we got FUCKING ANGRY again. I, personally, would be thrilled if the Gay Pride Parade had continued to devolve into endless corporate floats. That would have been really nice. That would mean that we were finally FINALLY to a point where we were AOK.
But we are not at a point where we are AOK. We are pretty far from AOK, I'd say.
So now it's time to shake off the shit that you've let grow over the course of the last twenty years - you know - the shit where you decided that because of protease inhibitors or PReP you didn't need to give a shit about the AIDS anymore and spent Pride day smoking crystal meth with your Manhunt/Grindr/Scruff buddies. That was ok, I'm not judging, but now it's time to put that away because we are at fucking war. Again. (Maybe "still")
We need you at the March. We need you to give a damn. We need YOU and all of your friends.
In 2000 there was a March on Washington. A friend of mine from LA who worked at a university and was a pretty smart cookie called me up and we talked about going to DC. He was all excited about the DJs and the circuit parties. I was too and said, 'oh and what group are you marching with?" He was dumbfounded. He didn't know that there was an actual protest connected to the circuit party. And you know what? He didn't CARE.
So, we need you to care now. We need for you to get involved. As I said in a previous blog post - we can't and won't carry you anymore. We have to get all of us united to get the guns off of our streets and we need to shut down the NRA. They messed with the wrong queens and that will be their fatal mistake.
Yeah, I know. You're a pussy and you don't think that you have to do shit. You're wrong. Well, you're right in that if you think that way, then well, sorry to say, but yeah, then you are a pussy... but you're wrong that you don't have to do anything. Get up, get out, and do something. Anything. NOW. The Pride Parade in New York is on Sunday. I recommend you start there.
And if you can't think of a way to get involved, jesus christ on a cracker, write to me and I'll give you suggestions. Because it's literally a matter of life and death.
Years from now, when I look back to March 2016 I'll remember a few things - I'll think of my friend Joe who died a couple weeks ago after bouncing back and forth for three years between nursing homes and hospitals with everything under the sun (cancer, diabetes, heart condition, etc); I'll remember spending a week living with a guy I've been seeing since the beginning of the year as his roommate was on a trip out of the country; I'll remember coming to a career turning point(which I alluded to in yesterday's blog post). And I'll remember Mapplethorpe.
In the past three weeks, I've a kind of Mapplethorpe explosion in my life. Similar to other explosions this year - multiple unrelated mentions of both Electra Woman and Dyna Girl as well as the 90s group, The Cocteau Twins - but more intentional, as a publicist friend of mine offered me a bright and shiny copy of the new Mapplethorpe book if I'd do some press on it. Since I can be had for the price of a salted peanut, I of course said yes. And only for this friend (and Mapplethorpe) would I agree to schlep my UWS butt all the way out to the middle of "where in Brooklyn am I?" to see a screening of the new HBO documentary at Pratt.
Mapplethorpe - Look at the Pictures is a new documentary produced by the World of Wonder guys which will debut on HBO on Monday, April 4. This is an amazing piece of work that traces, in detail, Mapplethorpe's background from the burbs, to the NYC downtown art crowd of the late 60s/70s, and his incredible success and legacy into the 80s and after his death from AIDS in 1989.
Like with many of WOW productions, everyone is shown with their warts hanging out so this isn't really a puff piece. I think my favorite bit are interviews with Drummer magazine's Jack Fritscher who had a relationship with the artist. I won't spoil it for you but there's a spectacular little bit at the tail end of one of the interviews that made everyone in the audience erupt with a knowing laughter. Quite charming (and btw I am sitting here writing this after communicating with Jack about how much I enjoyed his bits and it turns out that he's familiar with my work, too. How awesome is THAT?). And, while the audience was clearly aware and appreciative of the art, I have to admit I was a little amused when there were a few audible gasps at a couple of the more ... extreme pieces - I believe that it was the fisting photo that got people out of their comfort zone. Fisting ALWAYS gets people out of their comfort zone - whether it's talking about it, seeing it, or doing it... but I digress.
The companion book is so incredibly beautiful that I would say nice things about Ted Cruz to have gotten it (ok not really, that's just a joke, who do I think I am? The owner of the OUT Hotel in NYC and bars on Fire Island?). It's a big book filled with Mapplethorpe's work as well as essays and a little history, and it's a kind of coffee table book but I would never actually put it out on the coffee table- it already resides in my fine art library - next to Mel Roberts, Michael Alago, Kent Taylor, Robert Richards and books from COLT and Kristen Bjorn. Mapplethorpe is the king of course but these are all worthy companions.
I think, perhaps, the strangest piece of this Mapplethorpe odyssey this past month was going to the little park just across the street from the Flatiron Building on a warmish Friday night two weeks ago to visit the pop up Mapplethorpe exhibit. HBO had set up a couple of custom built shipping containers stacked to create a small gallery with a half dozen screens showing various Mapplethorpe pieces in a slide show format accompanied with clips of Mapplethorpe's own words from the documentary.
How far we have come, right? It was just 25 years ago that Jesse Helms protested the use of NEA funds to mount an exhibition of Mapplethorpe's work - and now, in 2016, it's so mainstream that it's being viewed for free by the public - and projected to the side of the containers in full view of the world (OK so none of the "X" shots were included, but the progress is still startling).
Seeing his work again, for me, personally, was difficult. I was, of course, way too young to have ever been able to experience him and his work as it happened - he actually died on March 9, 1989, which was my 25th birthday and I had just come out two years before and far and away from the New York art scene. But, still, there's something in his work that speaks to me - that touches me in a way that many other artists' works don't. Maybe it was because I was introduced to his work through a friend, John, who died of AIDS in 1993, and so I connect in some way/somehow through him. Maybe it's because the leather scene that he shot and was so notorious for is one that I feel most part of. It was also so decimated by the plague that to have some sort (any sort) of record of those years now long gone, is a amazing. To have a record of the inherent beauty of SM, and see it captured so perfectly, is nothing short of a miracle. Leather/SM IS an art form of it's own - one that typically can't be captured by a photo, and yet Mapplethorpe was the first - and possibly the best.
Check out the trailer and see it on HBO starting Monday, April 4, 2016.
Good evening, peeps - thanks for taking a minute out of your busy day to check out the latest update to info for the upcoming Fire Island Bear Weekend - we're only three months away and if you haven't made your reservations, time to get crackin!
But before I get into all of that - a couple weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure of joining FIB weekend producer Shane Tate at a photoshoot with our first Mr. Fire Island Bear, Chris Pagano. Chris is a hot 230 lb muscle bear who exudes masculinity and fun - there's something about him that makes me want to dive in face/tongue first. Here's a butt shot - don't you agree? (and I'm not even an ass man).
Photographer Greg Salvatori clocked in a few great shots early on but we kept on going because, well, why not? Chris was there and semi naked and it was fun to see what we got. And I sort of played art director - I guess I learned a thing or two from all those years in front of the camera. :)
As a side note, if you haven't checked out Greg's newest book BEARDS OF NEW YORK, please give it a look by clicking here for Greg's site.
Anyway, this is the shot that Shane ultimately decided on and I'm sure you'll agree that it's drool worthy (and, fun fact, that cigar is mine - I "lent" it for the shoot - Chris doesn't smoke so I had to smoke it down for him - the sacrifices we make for our art!)
OK, now about the weekend itself that takes place Friday, June 10, Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12. You can catch the entire schedule by clicking here, but here are some of the highlights - Fire Island Bear Weekend is pleased to announce that they've secured two amazing DJs - Susan Morabito (one of my all time favorites) and the incomparable Jonny Mack (also one of my faves) for a couple different parties over the weekend. You won't want to miss either and, as Susan only plays very few gigs on the island every summer and in NYC every year, this is a definite treat.
Naturally, as you all remember, I've worked with Jonny many times, having hired him to DJ the last few Bad Boys on the Hudson Sea Teas.
I'm pleased to announce that my co-host this year will be the one and only, you luv her, you've partied with her, yes, Miss Tina Burner will join me to pick the new guy who'll be the face of Fire Island Bear 2017. All I have to say is "Gurrrrl". :) If you don't know Tina (well, Tina Burner anyway), and you live in New York, run don't walk over to Intermezzo for their Sunday brunch. It's loud, it's crazy, but it's worth it for the hilarity of the Burner (wait, does this mean that we feeling the Burn?? I'm OK with that as long as it's not an STD that's 'burning'). Anyway, most likely there'll be inappropriate humor and jokes that are told just way too soon, but it's nice not to be the only one on stage acting out for a change. :)
OK there's probably more to the weekend that I'm missing but it's not like I don't have three full months to flog this party with endless news about additions. Thanks in advance to our sponsors, the Scruff site and the Leatherman. More on the weekend, soon!
Thanks for following along with me last week while I presented pics from last summer's Bingo night - in real terms, it's really long ago - in internet terms, I might as well be writing about the Civil War (the historical event, not the Marvel comics series or the upcoming Captain America movie, of course). I laugh because otherwise I'd be drinking (which I cannot do right now because I am on antibiotics after the recent colonoscopy revealed that while I don't have any signs of colon cancer - whew- but the doctor did discover a couple small ulcers. S
o, yeah, not only did the corporate job drive me crazy, but I have a health problem as residue. Thankfully I'm still on their health insurance through the spring so there's that. But I can't drink on the antibiotics of course which is fine. While I've been recovering, recuperating, and reinvigorating, I may have been over doing it in the drinking department so giving my liver a rest may not be the worst thing in the world, right?)
Anyway, I've got three more Bingo nights to cover and comment on before I turn the blog over to more (or less) currentish events.
So, today, let me talk just a little bit about Cheer New York and performer Tym Moss from the July 22, 2015 show - back during the regular run of Bingo, Cheer was always a great supporter and I always loved having them on board. They brought fresh enthusiasm and lots of pretty people - and, for me, that's pretty much all I need. :) But part of the reason that the three nights of Bingo happened last March and then the ten we did last summer was because of Cheer - I'd had a couple of other orgs ask if I'd do a special "return" night for them but I just kind of went 'no no no'... but you know, when Felipe of Cheer asks, it's hard to say no no no... so I said yes yes yes and we did a night last spring and then another one in the summer. Both were fabulous, of course (because of all that enthusiasm and pretty-ness).
But it's more than that. I love the mission of Cheer - I love their hard work, the athleticism, the creativity, the joy. Joy seems so rare these days that when I am around it, I want to be around it more. Don't you?
Now I don't know if you all know this, but back in March 2014, I married a lesbian couple at the Gay/Lesbian Business Expo's Key West booth. One of their friends came over and was a little annoyed - seems he'd seen the cheerleaders and asked them to come by for the wedding (we kept this from the couple of course) but they said no. Well, leave it to me to take it upon myself to make it happen and so I went up to Felipe and turned on my Big Brown Eyes ... you know, like the cat in the Shrek movies. :) It worked and as soon as I said "I now pronounce you", the entire team flooded every available space around us and created a SCENE! There were already about 50 people gathered and this just sort of pushed the whole thing over the edge. On top of that, drag queen Ron B dressed as Tina Turner showed up, inserted herself into pictures and I realized that the whole thing had suddenly gone out of control.... but the ladies loved it and you know, so did I (because I kind of love when you turn everyone on and all hell breaks loose... fun for the whole family!). :)
So, later in 2014 when I ran into Felipe at a walk for Alzheimer's research, I... well, I could hardly say no to another night (or two, as it turns out) of Bingo. :)
My guest that evening in July was internet personality Tym Moss who is always just a hilarious breath of fresh air in the world - he's easy going, has a checkered history (so he's no prude), and fucking funny as hell. He told a rather embarrassing story of having made a joke about "little people" at a Pride celebration only to be confronted by a little person in full leather gear, silently challenging him at the base of the stage to make another joke. LOL
Tym is best known of his "Artists Exposed" series online - he's interviewed people like Bianca del Rio and covers the nightlife award shows - You can go to You Tube and type in "Tym Moss" and find all of his vids.
As we say back in Wisconsin, a good time was had by all - we raised a bit of cash and had a blast - how awesome, right? You can see a few pics by clicking here. (Photos by AB)
Good afternoon, peeps - hope all is well on your end - as promised yesterday, I'm going over the last few weeks of Bingo from last summer - because my OCD is flaring up and I have to get closer on this and the only way to do that is to finish posting pics. So, thanks for indulging me.
Did you know that I very nearly became a minister? After high school, I went to a Lutheran college and spent several summers working as a camp counselor and director at a Lutheran camp where kids stayed over night for a week. I was so taken with being a minister that I seriously considered it as a life's profession. But, realizing that I am gay kind of put the kibosh on that - at least at that time (the mid 80s) it was tough to be openly gay and work in the church and it wasn't like I had the support of my bio family for me to lean in when things would get tough through seminary and then beyond.
I might have toughed it out anyway if it hadn't been for the wise counsel of a gay friendly minister whose church I went to when I studied in London in autumn 1986 - he was very kind and suggested that figuring myself out was the priority and the ministry would come when I was ready. I think that he was correct in recommending this. And as it turns out, I ended up not only doing a lot of ministerial things (fundraising and performing weddings -- and if you're being snarky - playing bingo) but doing them because I am gay. But, even at this late part of my life, I could see pursuing the ministry again. Not sure what form that would take going forward but it's been something to think about certainly in this time of transition.
So it was with great joy that on July 1, 2015 we were able to raise funds for the Naming Project, a Christian group that hosts an annual week-long camp experience for LGBT and questioning youth in the wilds of upstate Minnesota. "My Gay Roommate" star Noam Ash joined us as the featured guest and we were able to get him in his underwear and do an auction to raise a bit of extra cash. And, if you think Noam is a delight on his show, meet him in person and try not to fall head over heels for this sexy, sweet young man, go ahead, try, I dare you.
Throughout the evening, we raised a few hundred for the camp thanks, in part, due to a very generous matching donation by one of our regular supporters (thank you Erica!).
And yes, I get tremendous satisfaction knowing that we've been able to send the producers of the camp back with a fistful of cash, but what came in the mail later on in the summer was even more satisfying - it was a handwritten note, addressed to me from one of the campers following the week:
"My name is Juliet and I'm a camper at the Naming Project. I'd like to thank you for your donation because camp has been one of the happiest places in my life. This is my second year, and both times I have been blessed to grow in my faith and self acceptance. Whether I'm doing morning yoga or singing around the campfire, I have felt the enlightening presence of the Holy Spirit working through me to live my life with open and generous arms. Your own generosity is what has made this happen, and I am so very grateful. In peace Juliet""
Raising funds is extremely important, but raising spirits is even better. And providing a safe space for LGBT youth to find each other... priceless. The work that the Naming Project is doing is exactly the kind of work that I would love to be doing myself - making a real difference in the lives of young souls making their way out into the world. It is especially important in these troubled times when it feels like at any moment, the gains we've all fought for for decades could be reversed with a simply GOP majority in government (I can't tell how much of the gay baiting in the Presidential run is actual intention of policy and how much of it is trolling for votes... either way, we should all take it seriously).
As I've written about previously, this summer, I decided to make good on my earlier word about doing some Bingo nights here and there by booking ten nights at Uncle Charlies here in NYC. Overall, I'm glad that I took the time to make this happen - it was great to see old friends, work with AB and Manny (and "Rufus"), and raise a few bucks for some of my favorite charities.
But, without being too much of a bummer or telling tales on my peeps, much of the summer was spent chasing people to show up and there were lots of last minute cancels from people that I would never in a million years have dreamt would flake out on me, notably drag queen Gusty Winds on the first week and the Anti Violence Project on the last week. In both cases (and others) I got mad at first, then had to scramble to fix it, and then just kind of got sad that people I love and trust could treat me and my show with such little regard. But, admittedly, being out of the nightlife/fund raising sandbox for a year and a half is sure recipe for "out of sight, out of mind".
So, for our first week on June 3, I was grateful to Beardonna who made a point to drive in to the city from Jersey for a last minute gig and, as usual, put together a kick ass performance. But more than a kick ass performance, Beardonna proved that he is a true professional and a pal. Thanks, Beardonna! :)
Also joining us for that first night was Shane, the producer of the first Fire Island Bear Weekend and the co-producer (with me!) of the First Fire Island Bear Contest. The Bear weekend was to happen the first weekend in June so it was good timing - and as a side note, it was a huge success (particularly the contest, which I emceed and Beardonna performed at... and as a side side note, Gusty showed up at the contest in boy drag and helped sell some raffle tickets when we found ourselves short handed due to the sheer size of the audience. So, all is forgiven more or less).
The whole first night back of Bingo benefited AIDS Ride South Africa, an organization that is really doing great work. They are on their ride right now and you can go right to the source if you go to Facebook and friend Bryan Mark Urbsaitis
Good afternoon, peeps - apologies for the long time in between posts - seems we never really have the time to do the things we want to, is there?
Anyway, thought I'd jot down a few updates so you know what's been going on in the world o Will the past few weeks -
My boss is still a dick but I've now gotten to the point where I call him out on his dickishness. He actually takes it like a champ although it's exhausting. I wish I didn't have to go through such gymnastics to get through a work day but I suppose that's what many of my peers have been doing since they entered the corporate workforce in their 20s. How you all manage to do this for 40 years is beyond me. It's been 2 and a half and I'm fried. As I stated in a recent post, everything about this job has validated my earlier decisions to pursue an artistic/sex worker life.
I'm back to the gym on a regular basis and feel pretty great for the first time in a long time. I'm only doing 30 - 40 minute work outs but it's enough and I'm determined to go when I want, stay for as long as I am into it, and then leave. It's working out just fine.
Special Summer Edition P*rno Bingo has been going pretty well but I do think that scheduling 10 weeks was probably biting off more than I could reasonably handle. But, I've made it through and I don't want to give the impression that I've had a bad experience - it's been a blast but I'm not sure that I'll do it again given how intense the job continues to be. I never really say "never'... so after our final night on August 5, it's a 'to be continued?' situation.
For those keeping track of my apartment updates - I've finally found a competent, reliable, reasonably priced contractor who has already worked a couple of miracles on my place. Eventually, I'll post pictures when I get to the end of this long term renovation. At this rate, that might not be until 2020. I know there's been progress but it feels glacial.
And that's about all I've got at the moment. I'm in Boston on Monday and in Minneapolis Thursday and Friday and part of Saturday for work (and play) so I'm happy to travel a little bit for work even if it means that I have to go into work today (yes I sometimes go into the office on a Sunday - did I mention that part about wondering how you all do this schedule all your lives?)
Have a fabulous Sunday everyone and more this week!
Hey there, peeps - on the eve of my 50th birthday, I wanted to take a few minutes to jot down a few thoughts about getting to this landmark age - and, of course about Final Bingo held at Uncle Charlies a couple weeks back.
So, those who know me, know that I'm uhhhh what others might consider a kind of control freak. I have an idea of what I want the events with my name on them to be and I'm not really too shy about speaking up. I guess if that's being a control freak, then I am one. LOL And for Final Bingo, I was trying to make sure that the final night had as much great stuff happening as is possible. I went a little overboard and asked a lot of friends to speak and well, Final Bingo went until the wee hours of the morning. But hey, who needs sleep?
There were some surprises along the way, but nothing could have prepared me for receiving a citation from the office of New York City council member Daniel Dromm for the work that I've done over the years in the LGBT community. I was moved beyond words and, partly because of that, partly due to the very generous speeches throughout the evening, and partly due to complete exhaustion (emotional, spiritual, physical) I spent much of the evening on the verge of tears and tongue tied. Not such a bad reason all in all to be a little mush mouthed. :) (see pic, right, with Tym Moss, Witti Repartee and Yolanda. Thanks to my bestie Matt for the magic wand!)
Growing up in Wisconsin, I dreamt of coming to the Big City and escaping a life that was sometimes wonderful (my parents were two of my best friends and I was in numerous plays both in school and in the community) but more often awful (years and years of beatings and humiliations by my older brother and being bullied at school for being different - artistic and nerdy).
Like many of you reading this, I was teased unmercilessly and there were times when I was not sure how I was going to make it. But I would not let the bullies win. And I was determined to find my way no matter how difficult it would be. And it sometimes has been really fucking hard.
But thank God for my parents, they supported my artistic endeavors and, when it came time, let me pursue them without too much fuss. I know that it wasn't easy for my mother to let me go especially after my father died. But she did and it was probably the most amazing thing that she ever did for me.
While maybe doing porn wasn't exactly what my parents had in mind, I'd like to hope that they would be proud of the things I've achieved because of having done it.
I'm not a saint or a poet, but I do think that I've been able to appreciate life as it's happened. And, as I've sought out opportunites and new adventures, I have not had to do it alone. There have been many who have been right there in the trenches with me - Dan, Andrew, Rob, Jodie, Eric, Matt, Ro, AB, Barbara, Evan, Frazer, Erica, Tony, Kylie, Terry ....... and oh God, so many more, too numerous to mention.
I was told by a wise man when I first started doing porn never to say "I am so lucky" because it sounds hideously arrogant. But I have to break that this time. I have been lucky. I have been lucky to have found so many awesome amazing wonderful people along the way - who were crazy enough to believe in me and my projects and who stuck around to see them through and didn't run for the hills when things got fucking hard.
As I turn 50 tomorrow, I am grateful for all of this and much more. I feel sorry for anyone of any age who doesn't or can't appreciate the beauty of age and experience. You are really missing a truly incredible part of what life has for you. I am not sure what will come next, but I am grateful for all the lessons that I have been taught over the past 50 years, and look forward to all the wonderful opportunities that lay ahead.
To the Anti Violence Project, I have been honored to be a part of your fundraising team and hope that I can continue to support your mission in the coming years in other ways. No one should be beaten or humiliated. I am glad that you all are there to help stem the tide of rising anti LGBTQA (A=AIDS) violence.
To my friends who got up and spoke so beautifully and eloquently at the 50th birthday party, I can only say to you, that each of you has made an impact in my life in ways that you may never know but I hope that I will always be a man that you can continue to be proud of.
To Doug from Big Gay Ice Cream who joined us with ice cream for all, you sir are amazing. And I wish you a lifetime of continued success. Thank you for being a part of this event and of my life.
To Matt Knife who showered me with a sexy strip (and created an original piece of artwork (left) and to Yolanda who sang "We Are Angels" for me, I love you both as family. Matt's got the next Homo Erectus coming up at Stonewall on Thursday March 20th and Yolanda has an ALL NEW show at the Duplex on Sunday March 16th (click on this link for deets)
To Witti Repartee, who really is practically family, thank you for jumping in and emceeing the birthday party and singing not one, not two but three numbers (including, as I secretly hoped, Bette's "One More for the Road") - I love you very much. And thank you (and Farrah Moans) for the beautiful butterfly pin. It's something I'll treasure for the rest of my life. But I'll still beat your ass next Xmas when we're playing Cards Against Humanity, though! It's ON!! LOL <wink>
To Manny who organized cake and balloons and a cool big "50" card for people to sign, this past year was such a gift. To work with you again, was one of the best birthday presents that I could have ever gotten.
To AB, I meant it when I said to you in front of our Final Bingo crowd - you were never ever an Ed McMahon - you were always a partner in how P*rno Bingo evolved. Your pictures shaped the identity of this event and you are as much responsible for it's ongoing success as I am. And that's the truth. (And you've been an amazing friend, too). :)
I could go on but I think that I've said enough and been more sentimental and maudlin than I really ought to be. :)
Now, to final business - during the night, we raised a whopping $1500 for AVP. Adding to that an additional $250 in online donations, we are at $1750 for the night.
I'd like to ask those of you reading this - if you haven't taken a moment to drop a few dollars to AVP, please do me one last favor (at least for now! LOL) and help us raise that last $250 so that we can have a $2k night. Think of it as a dollar for everytime you've beat off watching me in a movie (or whereever). :)
Click here for the AVP donation page. PLEASE remember to put "Will Clark" in the little box that says "how did you hear of us?" That way, it will be counted towards our final tally. You have until Noon EST on Tuesday March 11th.
And please click here for 55 pics by AB of the night. Our pal photographer Matty Baker also shot the night for us and at some point I'll post those too. I've just run out of time before the big birthday day itself and before I go on a two week business trip.
While this is goodbye for now, it's not goodbye forever.
I will be judging at IML (Chicago, Memorial Day weekend) and if Folsom East happens, I have been offered a job emceeing.
And I'm sure at some point at some time in the future, I'll emcee something else.... or maybe even will get the itch to do something all fundraisy again.
And then we'll have another chance to play that all American game with the all adult twist where you'll get to win fabulous prizes, listen to me interview celebrity guests and, when you get five in a row, across, down or diagonal, shout out, 'PORRRRRRRRNO BINGO'.
Til then, my friends, I wish you well. :)
With great love and affection for making my life amazing for the past 19 years,
Two years ago, we came to the end of an era - we finished our three and a half year run at Pieces and closed up shop to move to the Ritz. It had been a beautiful, incredible run and I hated to leave, but, you know, sometimes you just know that you've gone as far as you can and you have to make a move. Sometimes that's figurative, sometimes that's literal.
And that's what we're doing tonight - knowing when it's time to fade to black.
My final guest was Rev. Yolanda, who I'd known for many years and whom had guided me through some difficult times, especially over those past few months. So it's fitting that tonight, Yolanda will be a part of Final Bingo.
For those of you who can't be there, here's one of my all time favorite songs by Yolanda. Catch you on the flip-side everyone!
Lots of great nights were had at the 9th Ave. Bistro raising funds for Visual AIDS.. and on this night, my old LA pal, Spike joined us along with the one and only Edie (before she moved to Vegas and became the fabulous superstar she is today). :) Spike is not only a porn superstar but an amazing artist so Visual AIDS was a natural fit.
Will Clark has been involved with the erotic entertainment industry for 25 years. He has appeared in 48 XXX films, produced 10 Bad Boys Pool Partys and 10 Bad Boys on the Hudson events, 144 nights of "Cocktails with the Stars", 470 editions of "The Will Clark Show feat. P*rno Bingo" (raising a quarter of a million dollars for NY/NJ non-profits), 40 "P*rn Idol" events, as well as hundreds of other events raising funds for LGBT charities. He still emcees, officiates at weddings and makes appearances at bris's and the openings of shopping malls. He is currently in semi-retirement, waiting/looking for the right project to come along.
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