Bleeding Perseverance - Episode 51

Autobiography

Over the years Color Me Badd’s popularity had started to fade away, but I was still a strong supporter. I had bought their third album, ‘Now and Forever’. back in Atlanta as soon as I heard about it, and now they had just released their fourth, ‘Awakenings’. The bottom line is they had not been marketed and supported right, and was now fighting to stay in the game due to that fact. And no one took advantage of pointing that out more than Chris Rock.

Every time I heard him talking about faded artists he’d love to bring up, “Color Me Badd.” Come on now, Chris'. If you would have only given them an honest listen. And besides, they helped you sell yuor movie, ‘New Jack City’.

A local radio station, The Party, was having its birthday party at a club downtown in Nashville, and among the guests would be CMB! So of course I just had to go. After calling one of the DJ’s ahead of time, Scotty, he was like, “Sure man. Just ask for me at the party and I’ll make sure you get backstage.”

So at the night of the bash I was there front and center. I met Scotty in person, and he assured me that I’d be able to have a word with the guys after the show. CMB was the main attraction, with a few other acts going on first.

A girl who was standing next to me asked me who I was there to see. As for her, she was there to see a classmate from high school who was now in a group that was starting to make a name for themselves. 98 degrees.

The guy she was speaking of noticed her, and as the group gave out roses at the end of their performance, he gave her one. Could I hope for the same thing from CMB? (Ha! Ha! Just kidding!) But yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t remember me since it had been over four years since we last spoke.

When they came out to perform I was surprised to see that Kevin was not with them. After the show Scotty had someone take me backstage, where I stood outside their dressing room for about ten minutes. This ass that was a member of security then started to clear the area, saying no one else would be seen. I tried explaining that I had been told to wait there by members of the radio station, but he was one of those types that didn’t like to listen, even if it was truth.

Luckily, the girl who had taken me backstage returned right in time and said, “Oh, he’s fine.” The dumb fuck then left me alone. He was lucky I thought about not wanting to get arrested, otherwise he was liable to get knocked on his ass, since I’m sure he would have tried to physically remove me.

I handed the girl a picture of me and Bryan just in case they didn’t want to let us in, and she flashed it to Bryan at the door. He then opened up. They actually remembered me.

After a couple of minutes of talking we were about to go our separate ways, but the girl had a camera and was nice enough to offer to take our picture first. That was the last time I saw the guys, and sadly they parted ways soon thereafter. The music business lost the most talented quartet on the scene.

~

With the coming of the Fall semester I took on a full-time schedule, so adding this to my already full-time work schedule made me quite busy. One of my new classes was Production, and even though the school gave access to basic equipment you’d end up having to spend some money out of your own pocket when it came to doing one’s projects. Always hearing about how servers were making good money, including Shannon, I started looking into changing jobs. Most places required experience, but O’Charley’s restaurant, located just kitty-corner from the BK, was willing to give me a shot. So in mid-October I quit the home of the Whopper to try my hand at serving.

I was doomed from the start! Yes you have to be a multi-tasker to perform such a job, but I was, having been a pro at drive-thru, where I had to juggle taking orders, bagging food, making change and drinks. So why wasn’t I as proficient at serving even after a week of training? I wish I knew.

Even though I’d write everything down I’d oftentimes forget to take out the salads and drinks if I put in the order first. And if I concentrated on the salads and drinks I’d forget to put in the order. Everyone kept telling me it would get easier in time, but I just had a feeling it wouldn’t. This was one thing I seemed to really suck at.

And even if it would get better in time, that’s something I didn’t have, as I was losing money by only making two dollars and ten cents an hour plus tips. What tips?!

Averaging ten bucks a day I’d soon be starving!

So a few weeks after hoping for better pay but getting a lot less I had to admit defeat and look for something I was better at. Fortunately, the Mapco gas station right down the street was hiring, and thanks to my experience with Amoco and Revco, along with my willingness to work graveyard shift, I was hired and put in my notice at the restaurant. We can’t be good at everything.

~

Because my classes started later in the afternoon I’d be able to work all night then sleep from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. I actually saw this as a great opportunity because I’d be able to get some studying done throughout the night. So after cleaning the store and making sure everything was in top shape I’d work on school assignments and memorize cinematic facts.

~

In November word was spreading around school, and town, that a new movie starring Tom Hanks, The Green Mile, would be shot in Nashville. Auditions for Extras and small roles would be held downtown, and so the actor in me just had to answer the call. I had done a little acting in a scene a couple of weeks earlier for this guy named Jeff that I knew from storyboarding class. Before that I hadn’t taken part in the craft since high school besides the little thing we did back at the dojo. And I found that I actually preferred performing for a camera more so than an audience.

Well, the process for applying for The Green Mile was relatively simple since it was just for Extra work. After waiting in a long line of hopefuls and filling out an application, they’d take a Polaroid of you and you’d be on your way. I didn’t expect to be called, but that’s exactly what happened a couple of weeks later.

Castle Rock, who had set up a temporary office, called me.