F#ck this Recession!

The other day, I got to go check out Michael Moore's new film, Capitalism: A Love Story at the Angelika on West Houston Street. He went over the fact that 1% of the population has more wealth than the bottom 95% of people combined. Holy shit.
This is a movie that everyone with or without a job should see. These kind of numbers make me a bit queasy, and I'm not helped by the fact that ABC now has a television show called "Shark Tank," which is only trying to justify the fact that such arrogant douchebags make money off of other peoples hard work. The show lends itself to the collection of already insufferable shows produced by Mark Burnett (Are you smarter than a fifth grader, Survivor, etc.) It's mildly entertaining in the same way that it's fascinating to watch the Discovery Health channel when someone is getting heart surgery--but give me a break. These 4 judges, all multi-millionaires, sit and argue about taking control over some poor schlub's idea on how to make the world a slightly better (if not more cluttered) world.

To quote t.s. eliot
"This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper."


Kinda like watching a car accident--you want to, but can't--look away.

Anyways, having said that greed has gotten rampantly out-of-control and is about to throw us all into a global meltdown/revolution, let's get drunk. And let's do it on Broke Ass Stuart's tab. He's putting together a "F#CK THIS RECESSION party" Thursday, October 8th at REBEL and the details can be found here. Great bands, $3 cover with RSVP, $5 at the door. Did I mention free beer? See You there!

Starving Artist Podcast Ep 27

Starving Artist Podcast Ep. 27
Space--The Final Frontier. What does it mean to be a 21st century artist? In this episode, Johnny looks at new media in what might be the most helpful podcast he's done. Featuring music by Alex Yacovelli, Laura Meyer, Alan Semerdjian and Johnny Sanford. Check it out!

The Big Lebowski--Some People Just don't Get it.

That's just, like, your opinion, man.



I am one of those guys, you know the ones, that say "dude" a lot. I think I did this a long time before I actually saw "The Big Lebowski,"( which I hated the first time) but now that I've seen the movie over 10 times, I say it a lot. A lot. I've even come to calling the kids that I work with in my after-school "dudes" and "dudettes." Unprofessional? Hardly. It's such a great name for someone who's name you can't remember. I work at four schools with over 50 kids at each school, so it's really kinda hard not to call them all "dude." But it got me thinking--aside from the word "dude," Lebowski is one of the movies I quote the most. And over the years, he's become a sort-of personal hero for this dude. But why? So many people don't get the movie, or any of the quotes, and refuse to see it as funny. I thought it sucked when I first saw it in 12th grade. But like that rash the dude has, this movie gets under your skin. The second time you watch it, it starts to make sense. The third time, and you're kinda wishing you had a white russian. And the fourth time, you're throwing a Lebowski-themed party, white-russian in hand. And it doesn't get old. The next time you throw your Lebowski Party, you're at a bowling lane. And then--you're dress as the dude's rug for the next one. So you suddenly become one of the people that know the inside jokes, and you pity those poor souls on the outside. For those of you haters that think it's just a garbage movie, or for all those lovers that can't get enough of the movie, check out this philosophical arguments for the tenants of the movie. Trust me, dude. There's a lot of ins and outs to this movie.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

The analysis comes from a dude named Rob Ager, and you can read some more of his stuff on the web at www.collativelearning.com

It's Official, I'm leaving it up to the Masses!

Hi there, Do you want to preorder a copy of the Starving Artist's Guide to New York City? If you do, check out this link and help a brotha out. I've been working on this project for 2 1/2 years if not more, and it's finally ready to hit the masses. Since you've watched it develop since the beginning, I want to give you an autographed copy. I am accepting donations for building a substantial website that will accompany the release of the book. For donating, there are a ton of great gifts that you will also recieve in return. I couldn't get this project off the ground with out the people who support me. If you're a fan of the free podcast or you just stumbled upon this website by chance, have a look at the kickstarter project. Thank you all for giving whatever you can in an effort to bring back good music, great comedy, and a lot of amazing art to the mainstream!

Much love!

Johnny S.

Official Starving Artist Contest Press Release

Press Release: September 2009
Brooklyn's Own “Starving Artist's Guide” to combined Safe Sex with Art
BAYRIDGE—Brooklyn

Brooklyn's own “Starving Artists Guide,” a website created by musician-writer Johnny Sanford, plans to create a bridge between free condoms and art this fall. His Condom-Catcher contest, which is open to anyone that considers themselves a starving artist, will be aimed at straphangers on the subway and buses alike. “The plan is to have artists from around New York City create cardboard cut-out condom dispensers,” Johnny said. “I like the idea of cardboard because it is so disposable, just like a condom. If police take them down, so what?” The condom-dispensers will be put up with zip ties around bus stop signs and in subway stations. The designs will be uncensored and limited only by the artists imagination. Johnny did make it clear that he would put them high enough so that children cannot get to them. One dispenser that recent transplant Laura Worrick designed is aptly titled the “Partysaurus Squid.” (see picture) The tentacles of the squid come up into a box-like holder that is perfect for placing a handful of condoms.
“I got the idea from a friend who had a bunch of condoms in a cardboard bowl on her coffee table,” Johnny recalls. “I liked the idea, and when I approached the city's AIDS prevention council, they were happy to give me 1000 condoms, no questions asked. I handed her a business card and she handed me a big bag of NYC condoms for free.”
Today marks the start of the contest, which isn't really a contest at all. “The aim is to get people who don't have condoms a free condom, and add a little bit of theater and creativity to it,” Artist and frequent collaborator with starvingartistsguide.com Sean Kenealy reported. Loyal fans and artists alike plan to put up the condom dispensers on Halloween night.
“I really hope people take to the idea. It's kinda subversive, but also pretty fun,” Johnny said, wryly adding, “If artists don't like the idea, I've got a lot of unused condoms to get rid of.”
So, get out a piece of cardboard and a box cutter, folks. Artists interested in participating in the contest can email starvingartistsguide@gmail.com in order to get a handful of condoms and a free gift for helping the initiative. “The Starving Artists Guide To New York City,” a book written by Johnny after 2 ½ years of experience in living on the edge of poverty and aimed at helping today's starving artists, comedians and musicians get gigs and a slew of other helpful resources as well is scheduled for a release with self-publisher lulu.com on Oct. 31st, 2009. More information about the book and contest can be found at www.starvingartistsguide.com.

The Magick Of Alchemy Music Series featuring Laura Meyer

Starving Artist Podcast Ep 26


This is a great live performance that I recorded with professional soothsayer Laura Meyer (No matter what you call her, don't call her a "singer-songwriter." She took out her congas and did her song and dance at an undisclosed paramilitary hanger in Manhattan for the Starving Artists Guide in preparation for her upcoming Album "Miles from Nowhere", available here. While cameras weren't allowed because of black-ops shit, we certainly managed to have a good time. Check it out, because she's going on tour and might play a show near you soon! The best way to describe her music is to compare it to a girly Conor Oberst mixed in with a hint of Lisa Hannigan and a dash of Robert Zimmerman. Check it out below by pushing the sideways triangle. Or subscribe in Itunes to the right!

The Good, the Bad, and the Most Definitely Ugggggly

It's been a watershed weekend for this guy.
The Good:
Friday night marked the opening night for the second annual Craft Beer Week of New York City. The situation is as follows: you get the "passport," which is a little book that has about 80 different bars in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Staten Island. You bring your little booky to all of the bars within the booky, and they check off 1 of 3 craft beers on their page and give you the pint for $2. It's awesome. We started at "Rattle and Hum," when to "Resto," "The Ginger Man", and the Waterfront Ale House. Then I met up with my friend Kev and his girlyfriend and we went to meet up with our other friend, Brandon, who was in town to see some peeps.
The Bad:
Since I was documenting the journey through Craft Beer Week, I brought along my trusty video camera to take pics and vids alike. Alas, after leaving another bar called "rebar," I got back to my place, the night before my Brooklyn Birthday Bash without said videocamera. A major blow to my psyche and wallet alike. And no pictures either! This day turned back to "good" when I had a great party that was flooded with the three homebrews that I created this past summer--the Cape Cod Cranberry, the Bill Hicks Wit Beir, and the Wild Thing Hefeweissen.

The weekend turned particularly "ugly" the next night, when I was suppooosed to cap my birthday weekend off with the biggest bang of my life--a free concert by one of the best rock bands in the world--MUSE. I got a sluggish start the next morning after my party, had incredible bagels at 5-star on 86th and 4th, and wished my friends a safe journey home at around 12. I came back to my apartment and promptly passed out. I woke up around 2, which was exactly when I had told myself that I would get in line to go see muse play for the VMAs that day. However, I decided that it was too early and I suddenly had the urge to record a podcast. I took out the equipment, set up a spontaneous interview and went to town...It was just like the Sundays I have always known and loved. It was around 5 when I got off my chair and decided to head in to NYC to wait in line. I thought this would be fine.
We got to the theater and a huge line had already formed that was a solid block long. We waited. And waited. And waited. At around 8, I was halfway to the door. They had overbooked guests to ensure a packed house. We got about 10 feet from the door when they stopped letting people in. It was almost 4 hours of waiting. For Nada. Zilch. Zero.

It was a despicable evening.
I came home and went to sleep.

Good.
Bad.
Ugly.

But, that being said, I still managed to have a good time. Sometimes, shit happens.

Starving Artist Podcast Ep 25

Starving Artists Podcast Ep. 25

Enjoy!

Quick Update

Hi folks,

It's been a hectic weekend but I thought a little post on the comings and goings would be a good thing to do. I had a great party last night and everyone had a ton of fun. A lot of cool things are headed this way and I will be announcing some cool plans for the direction of the site within the coming weeks.

Tonight I get to go see Muse play at the VMA's with a good friend for FREE thanks to 1iota.com. I'll do a full review of the show and hopefully some of you will catch their performance on that new fangled channel "Music Television".

I'm hard at work doing post production on the latest podcast. My apologies that I haven't been doing one every weekend, as I've been on vacation for a while. I'm getting back into the full swing of writing my Guide to NYC, and I only am just freeing up some time in my schedule to record the cast. This is a pretty sweet show, thus far, showcasing a lot of talented musicians from NYC. I did a little review of Megabus on the podcast, but will write something up soon enough.

Also, this week is New York Craft Beer Week, so I recommend downing a pint of your favorite brew in honor, or pick up the $35 passport and get $2 pints of great ale all around the city! Look for it at fine bars and restaurants near you. I will have a good amount of material for the bar section of the guide after this week is through.

Cheers!


J$

Yuppies.

As promised, here's another recording from an evening of transplants, 12 one-act plays performed by the International BTC. This is entitled "Yuppies," written by Sean Kenealy and directed by Matt Dunnam. With performances by Jordan Knol, Jeff Belanger, and Whitney Gardner

Finally Learned How to Read? Check this out!!

Alright folks,
I'm back in the bat cave I call home in Brooklyn, New Yawk. I've been resting and gaining strength for the upcoming release of The Starving Artist's Guide to New York City. I'm pumping in some incredible manhours to get this thing out to y'all with a Oct. 31st deadline. I'm a man of my word, and this should be about 120 pages of pure New York City Thrifty shizzzle. I'm gonna hit you with the places to go, the things to do, the places to shop, and the entertainment that is practically bursting from the seams of this damn place. It'll be helpful for anyone who is on a budget and likes good times, good folks, and good beers. There will be several sections exclusively for musicians, artists, comedians, and the like which will tell you exactly where to go, what to do, and how to do it in order to start getting your name out to people around this town. I've picked the brains of some great starving artists in order to get this information, interviewing dozens of artists, musicians, and comedians to let you all know exactly what's what here. My aim is to not only cure the illness that is commercial television, but also to enlighten the "would-be" artists that don't necessarily have the confidence or the know how to get their art to the world. Imagine if John Lennon just didn't know where to start playing open-mics, so he became a spot welder instead! So this is 2 1/2 years of solid research into the New York City scene. Come October 31st, you can have it shipped directly to your nest.
In other news, the Brooklyn Book Festival is scheduled to happen this Sunday, September 13th at Borrough Hall(Public Transportation: 2, 3, 4, 5 to Borough Hall; R to Court Street; A, C, F to Jay Street/Borough Hall). This is a must for any literate person in the know about the great writers that come out of Brooklyn, and it happens to be free. This year, the roster of speakers and moderators is incredible. Some of the big names include:
Jonathan Ames, Paul Auster, Russell Banks, David Cross(!),Edwidge Danticat, Amy Goodman, Lev Grossman(still gotta read The Magicians), Jonathan Lethem, Oliver Sacks, and about 100 other awesome but unrecognizable names. Anyone who's a literophile like me should be chomping at the bit to see such a great amalgam of writers in the same hall. For more information on this FREE festival, check out Brooklynbookfestival.com
If you're bored this Friday and want to check out some hot sh*t, check out friend of the site Alan Semerdjian play a free show in Washington Square Park @ 3:30pm. He's playing acoustic and he's got some great talent.
If you wanna check him out on Sunday, too, he's playing the Boog City Festival at Unnameable Books. Here's the doo-

Boog City Festival - 1:00pm
600 Vanderbilt Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11238-3803
USA 718-789-1534

Check back later for my full review of MegaBus, a company that runs buses all across the eastern seaboard for rediculously cheap fares.

J

Awesome Weekend and a Little Trick for NYCers

Happy Labor Day all,

hope all is well throughout the universe. I'm sitting in my upstate chateau with my two butlers(just kidding mom and dad) eating popcorn and watching "Into the Wild" on dvd. I've gotten a good amount of relaxation and wanted to tell everyone about a new website I recently found called 1iota.com. It's a free site that gets you free tickets to various shows and concerts. For instance, I snagged two tickets to see Muse play for the MTV VMA's on September 12th. Real cool. They also give tickets to those of you out in California, especially that show that Carson Daily does at 2am and the one Jimmy Kimmell does at Eleven. They're free tickets because corporations pay for attractive crowds to show up. It's pretty sweet. Check it out here. Just set up an account and check it every once in a while!