I have just completed a wonderful trip to Omaha. It is wonderful to come home to be amongst friends, feeling their love and getting warm hugs, enjoying time with my family and sharing an amazing dinner and game-night. I could be depressingly sad thinking about life going on, that their lives have gone on without me. But here is the lowdown: I can feel that for a great deal of friends, there is a sense of happiness and success in life adventures for alot of my friends. They are moving on with great fervor. I LOVE THAT!!!! I love that goals are being set. I love that kids are entering the picture for a number of my friends. I love that friends are moving on to new jobs, new adventures, new avenues of employment.
So many changes...
What was wonderful was also being back among my Max family. The Mr. Max contest falls every first weekend of August. I actually ran for the title of Mr. Max 13 on a whim. I was not seeing anything in the Omaha theatre community that I wanted to audition for. I had a mentor of mine once tell me, "If something scares the piss outta you, you have to at least try it once." So I decided to run...but I never realized how much the role required...nor how much it would give back to me being six years away.
When you win the title "Mr. Max", it is not only a bar promoter role, but also you serve as a role model. You are out and about and are the face of the amazing bar that is THE MAX. You are the "Welcome Wagon". You are the support, not only for each other, but also your Misses. It all seemed like a daunting task. They are the poster boys.
To be home and to hear that folks on Facebook talk smack about my brothers being this, or my brothers being that...or something that they are not, really hurt. To call them "talentless unapproachable little twinks who do not support their community" really got my dander up. Being Mr. Max, or even Miss Max, or Mister Max MI, is a huge time commitment and a high pressure position at times. You have requirements that require you to be "on" all the time, looking out for talent, exuding energy and maintaining an approachability when you are out and about. And to have fun!!
We are also helping with fundraising for so many amazing charities...I think that is the most rewarding thing I found during my tenure as Mr. Max. Using the title to raise money for deserving charities and to be supportive of such an amazing community. I can honestly say that I was able to do things I would never ever be able to do if I were not a Mr Max. Jello wrestling for charity anyone??
To say that we "do not support our community" and are "unapproachable" is obviously written by someone who just does not "get it". They need to step aside until they do.
We just sashed our 19th on Sunday eve. Sean has a daunting task ahead, although he has an amazing brotherhood of support surrounding him. The opportunities and adventures ahead of him abound. And after meeting him and all the others who aspired to this brotherhood, I have great confidence in his abilities to unite, to creatively step forward and be a positive role model. I am very excited to hear about them all.
I miss my Max family so much. I miss the camaraderie, the laughter, the electricity of being in the moment of the show, and hearing the stories of their adventures. I look forward to visiting home again soon! Thank you, my brothers, for making my stay so great and for making me feel welcome! I love you all!!!
