But this concept (not a new one), has always made sense to me:

“Ambition is the last refuge of failure.“  – Oscar Wilde

One of the most amazing lessons of this adventure of producing my own show,  is how to not only accept but enjoy every moment that comes my way.  The Bahagavad Gita gently reminds us: read more »

Review of “BURST” in Phoenix NewTimes music & culture blog: “Up on the Sun” by Arty Girl Lilia Menconi

Phoenix/Tempe opening tomorrow night at 7:30pm! There is good news in the air, considering I actually found a lighting tech (…yesterday) — which is helpful, if you’re trying to put on a show where the audience can actually see you.

Doing the show for one weekend only, then back home to California on the 28th. I’ll be happy to be back in my native Bay Area, but I have to admit: I was just getting used to the weather. It’s finally cooling off. Only 94 degrees out!

For more info on “BURST” playing in the Phoenix area: click here, and for tickets: click here

I want the right to complain when I have a bad customer service/brand/product experience, so I have to uphold my end of the bargain by giving a shout-out when I encounter the opposite.

So, in that interest, I’m pasting  feedback I gave to AT&T in a recent survey. No, I don’t have time to be filling out online surveys, but when has practicality ever stopped me from engaging in meaningless action? read more »

Phew! We’re back in business — with NKS and  shannondejong.com, sites have been cleaned and free of malicious maliciousness.

And hey: it only took me 9 hours to fix! A word of advice: update your software & security stuffs. OFTEN. And unless you know what you’re doing, don’t mess with your 404 files. Hell, I don’t even know what 404 files are. (Probably shouldn’t have deleted them)…

My Phoenix/Tempe show for BURST is this Friday & Saturday. The good news is, I have a website up. The bad news is, I still don’t have a lighting tech… or lights for that matter.

I’m wingin’ it on faith, baby.

I’ve been hacked.

My performance site (www.shannondejong.com) and NKS (this site) were hacked into and I’m still recovering the integrity of the former. In the meantime, all BURST inquiries are referred to: MADCAP Theaters and for tickets click here.

Thanks for the patience.

Dear Gigi,

Thank you for sending me an email at 6:53am to remind me that I should probably be posting on my blog right about now. Between walking for hours in the Phoenix heat to hang posters, selling my soul to get some publicity, and struggling to make some money with freelancing gigs so that I can once again lose it all on a production of BURST, I had neglected my most important responsibility: entertaining you with my words. So here is a post just for you:

read more »

Making efforts to coordinate a PHX production of “BURST” before heading back home to my beloved California. In the meantime, you can enjoy a snippet of the show with some new footage from my opening show in Santa Fe, NM.

For all you long-term readers who were around from the beginning and remember the Craiglist “20 Dates in 20 Days in 20 Words” Project, you can rejoice because I finally was able to use the material, and incorporated it into my show:

“20/20/20″ scene from Act I:

For more video and photos from “BURST,” click here.

My sentiments exactly.

Back to the old theme for a bit; hold tight — design will be addressed soon.

I couldn’t have asked for a better opening of my solo performance “BURST” — double standing ovations both night, full house on Saturday, and some amazing feedback & thank yous. I truly am humbled and honored to have had such a great reception. A huge thanks to everyone who came out and helped make the opening of BURST a success!

Plans are in the works to take the show to Arizona and California, perhaps beyond? …

In the meantime, I’m leaving the magic of New Mexico to see what kind of adventures I can watch (ar)rise in Phoenix. Stay tuned.