My Top Five National Parks (USA)

I recently loaded the National Park Service’s app (look for “NPS App” at the Google Play Store or Apple Store) which has several nifty features. Including the ability to keep lists of parks and units that you’ve visited. I was a little surprised that I’ve been to nearly half of the National Parks in the United States so far. I doubt I’ll ever get to them all, but it won’t be for lack of trying!

To be honest, I don’t think that there is a park I’ve visited that I haven’t liked. With that in mind, below are my top 5 parks that I would like to visit again if I can make the opportunity along with a few thoughts on what makes each park special.

As the National Parks have gotten more popular in the past couple of years, especially since the pandemic, reservation systems have been put into place at several of the most visited parks. Not only for camping and other accommodations but sometimes even just to get into the park. So before heading out be sure to do some research. The National Park Service website is a good place to start (nps.gov).

In recent months I’ve discovered that podcasts can be a great source of information for travel. For National Parks I like the Dear Bob and Sue podcast. It’s hosted by Matt and Karen Smith who have visited every national park in the USA and territories. They offer loads of hints and ideas in each episode and they are entertaining to listen to as well (this is not a paid endorsement)!

Yellowstone

The first National Park is arguably still the most impressive. If you want it chances are that Yellowstone has got it. Love to view wildlife? Yellowstone has more than you can imagine just don’t pet the fluffy cows (aka bison)! Love mountains and wilderness hiking? Check. Geysers and hot springs? Uh, hello, Old Faithful is just the beginning of the greatest collection of geysers and thermal features on the planet!

A steaming mountain

Mammoth Hot Springs

Lower Yellowstone Falls

Denali

I only had a couple days in Denali during my recent trip to Alaska (August 2023) so I know that I’ve only scratched the surface of what this vast wilderness has to offer.

We splurged and took an airplane tour of Denali itself. Well worth the extra $500 (again, in 2023) to see the tallest and largest mountain in North America up close. The blue of the glacial lakes and the sheer size and majesty of the glaciers, snow fields, and peaks can really be appreciated from just a few thousand feet away. The plane was small but our pilot was confident and well skilled so despite a few pre-take off jitters the ride was comfortable and almost relaxing.

The second day we boarded a packed tour bus and took the road into the park’s interior. As of this writing the road is still partially closed due to a landslide and isn’t expected to re-open until 2025 or possibly later. However, we saw plenty of wildlife even on this somewhat shortened tour: caribou, moose, grizzly, Dall sheep, and more. The bus is equipped with cameras and screens to help you spot the wildlife and see it when you are on the wrong side of the bus.

I didn’t have the opportunity to hike very far into the park but there are several short hikes around the visitor’s center and my brother and I made it part way up a relatively small mountain where we saw a variety of plant life and another moose. Though she was in the parking lot just yards away from the visitor center!

Me in front of the plane we flew in. I was in the co-pilot’s seat!

Denali Park from the air

Rocky Mountain

I debated between Rocky Mountain and Glacier National Park for this list (I like mountains) and chose Rocky Mountain because I’ve been to it several times and I think that it is overall more accessible than Glacier – at least as of my last visit a few years ago. Stunning vistas are just the beginning of what Rocky Mountain has to offer. On a relatively secluded hike on the way down from Trail Ridge Road on the west side of the park starting at the Coyote Valley Trailhead I ran across a female moose – fortunately without a calf – and saw plenty of mountain goats and other wildlife along Trail Ridge Road (the highest paved highway in the USA).

Okay, the views are spectacular from the mountains, too. Even if I never actually hiked to the top of Long’s Peak there’s plenty of climbing for both the experienced and novice hiker.

Moose along the trail

Longs Peak

At the Keyhole of Longs Peak (I’m in maroon)

Grand Canyon

Not a mountain park, strictly speaking, more like a mountain that’s been inverted. One of the natural wonders of the world the Grand Canyon is one of the few things in this world that is more impressive in person than on a screen. At least that’s my thinking. Like most parks, hiking to spectacular views is the main activity but I believe that you can still ride a mule to the bottom- though not necessarily to the Colorado River which is further away than it looks.

I have only visited the North Rim which I believe is still the more “relaxed” side of the park. Certainly the least developed rim. There’s a hotel, cabins, and a campground. When I visited about 40 years ago with a friend we ended up staying in a cabin because the campground was full. I’m sure it’s even harder now to get a reservation!

We took a mule ride to the bottom which ended up being more exciting than planned. On the way back up a strap on my friend’s saddle snapped off with a loud “crack” which startled his mule. The mule then jumped toward the edge of the cliff! Fortunately, the mule’s survival instinct was strong and it got back to the center of the trail. Later my friend told me that the only thought which flashed through his mind was “how am I going to keep this mule between me and the bottom?”

Sadly, there have been fatalities at the park from falling over the side. Almost all were because someone didn’t pay attention to the signs and fences warning them about the edge.

Young Dave at the Grand Canyon

Scenic Views

Awe inspiring!

Yosemite

Back to the mountains and valleys, too. Thousands flock to Yosemite to admire the postcard perfect views of waterfalls, cliffs, and meadows of the valley at Yosemite. However, I suggest getting above the crowds to the mountains. Glacier Point is the best place to see the iconic Half Dome and there is hiking galore in the mountains surrounding the valley. Which is also where you will find the groves of Sequoia trees. I haven’t made it to the Hetch Hetchy area but I understand that it is beautiful even though its valley is now flooded and used as a reservoir serving the San Francisco area.

I once stayed at the Wawona Hotel, specifically in the White Cottage, which to this day still retains it’s Victorian era charms. Including a shared bath house – bring a robe!

Among the most crowded of parks in the summer you’ll need reservations just to enter. So like every other park check the nps.gov website to start planning your trip.

Is there a more iconic spot in America than the view of Half-Dome from Glacier Point?

What do you think of my top 5 parks and what are your favorite parks? I’d love to know!

All photos by David P. Wahr unless otherwise noted in which case the original artist retains all rights. Otherwise photos and words @copyright by David P. Wahr

Fitness Quest 2024: Week 1

First week of my fat loss project is finished with mixed results:

No flex, pump cover on. January 6,2024.

Weight: up a couple pounds as of Sunday 1/6/24
Bodyfat %: steady

Nothing to get discouraged about at this point since I spent most of the week better understanding my current eating habits and figuring out where to make adjustments. The biggest adjustment is my old nemesis: Ronald McDonald. I have to find a healthier way to eat breakfast, which involves waking up earlier or staying up later to prep breakfast for the next day. Neither is impossible. Lunch isn’t a problem as I pack my own most days when I go into the office. Dinner, well, I’m in another play so I need to pack a dinner as well for the days I go into the office. Fortunately, my office has a shared refrigerator and microwave so I can at a minimum heat something up before heading to rehearsal.

I’m doing better on the activity front. I worked out twice last week and moved more during the week according to my Amazfit watch (think Apple Watch but less expensive). This coming week I start my dance classes again (once a week. Both tap and ballet barre – which is mostly stretching).

I also made a discovery with my weekly progress or accountability picture. I look a lot better, IMHO, with a sweatshirt or pump cover, as the cool kids say, on. I have to watch the camera angle though as it can make my shoulders wider and hips narrower. Next week if I work up the nerve I might take a side picture, too.

Onward to week two!

Fitness Quest 2024: Burn the Fat

Anyone who has read this blog knows that I’ve had my share of health challenges, but despite that I’ve continued to exercise. Primarily with weights and an emphasis on building muscle. Well, after some thought, I’m changing tactics for the coming year. My number one goal is fat loss.

You’ll notice that I didn’t say “weight loss.” In my mind I don’t care if I weigh 150 pounds or 300 pounds as long as I have a low bodyfat percentage as compared to my muscle weight. Okay, truth be told, I don’t think I’d like to weigh 150 pounds. My skinny days are behind me and I’d still like to be able to bench 225 pounds!

2024 Goals

So today is the first of a series of weekly “accountability” posts. Here are my current stats:

Height: 5’10.5″ (179 cm)
Weight: 236 (107 kg)
Bodyfat %: 36% (too darn fat)

The last stat is the only one I’ll be focusing on lowering. The weight will come down along with the bodyfat, but I’m tracking out of curiosity. My goal is to get down to about 20% bodyfat which is just a little more of my all time low of 18%. I’m guessing that I’ll lose about 20 pounds (9 kg) to get there.

I’m not giving up on strength training. My cardiologist says I should continue that as we all need functional strength as we get older – and getting off the floor is tough enough as it is without getting weaker!

The plan for this week is simple. I’m not looking to make sudden changes that I can’t maintain so I’m easing into things:

1. Track everything I eat. You can’t change what you don’t know. My meal tracker of choice is MyFitnessPal (though I’m open to something else if you have a recommendation just comment below).
2. Avoid the drive-through and eating out for lunch. Homemade food, even a sandwich, almost always has fewer calories and fat than anything from McDonald’s or even Subway.

That’s all for now – more next week!

All photos by David P. Wahr unless otherwise noted in which case the original artist retains all rights. Otherwise photos and words @copyright by David P. Wahr

Top Three Biggest Risks I’ve Taken While Enjoying the Outdoors

So I’ve been listening to podcasts on the National Parks and wilderness type adventures lately, my favorite is Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast, and it has made me realize that over the years I’ve taken several unnecessary risks while enjoying the great outdoors. Surprisingly, none of them involve rock climbing, surfing, or even spelunking:

1. Not carrying bear spray in bear country. This is probably the biggest risk on my list. I’ve hiked in places like Glacier National Park, Yellowstone and others known to have not just bears but Grizzly Bears in them. Though I think I make enough noise to alert any animals that I’m around the reality is that there are some places you just want to be prepared for the absolute worst. If there are bear warnings in the parking lot (Sequoia National Park) it’s probably worth having some bear spray very handy. Especially on a back country trail!
2. Going into the woods alone without telling anyone where I am headed. Traveling alone gives you an amazing amount of freedom. You go where you want, when you want, and don’t have to negotiate anything with other people. However, it also means that if something happens – sprain, fall, bear attack, etc. – you are completely on your own as well remember you can’t rely on cell coverage in the deep woods or mountain tops. Especially if you are on a back country trail and no one knows you are there. In general I’m pretty good about giving people an idea of the area I’ll be in but rarely specifics. A quick text to a loved one at least before hitting the trailhead is always a good idea. If you don’t have cell service there may be a sign in or Ranger’s Station you can check with before venturing out. Don’t forget to let someone know that you’re back, too.
3. Not taking a back pack with some essentials. If something does happen in the woods it’s likely that you may have to hunker down for longer than expected before help arrives. Even if only a few hours having some food, water, rain gear, warm clothes (especially in the mountains) and a first aid kit could all be life savers.

And here’s a bonus risk I’ve taken that maybe should be number one: not knowing my exact route before hiking or, in the case that I’m thinking of, while cross country skiing. Let’s just say that my brother and I spent what felt like a couple hours after dark skiing around a state recreation area because we took a wrong turn and couldn’t find where we thought we parked our car!

That’s it – the three things I know that I’ve been guilty of and the top three things that I’ll try never to do again. The great outdoors is a wonderful place to go and explore, but let’s all be safe out there.

What are the biggest risks that you have taken while hiking?

All photos by David P. Wahr unless otherwise noted in which case the original artist retains all rights. Otherwise photos and words @copyright by David P. Wahr

The Munsters and the Problem with Reboots

SPOILER ALERT – the following review/rant includes minor spoilers for the new Rob Zombie film The Munsters now available on DVD and Netflix.

Okay, I haven’t really posted too many reviews of movies or television shows on this blog but one has come along that I feel I must comment on. Rob Zombie’s version of The Munsters.

High Hopes

I was really looking forward to this reboot. I so badly wanted it to succeed. I didn’t even give up hope after the trailer was released.

I am not familiar with Zombie’s other films or even his music but I understood he was a fan of the original series and that usually bodes well for a film as I suspected that the source material would be treated with some reverence and respect while adding a modern sensibility to a childhood (and adulthood frankly) favorite series.

I was wrong.

Hopes Dashed

After watching Zombie’s version of The Munsters I questioned if he had actually watched the original series. While there were some obvious nods to the first series, most notably Lily’s brother Lester and a cameo by Zombo, a lot of this movie just did not ring true. I will admit that he got the house right and the look of the characters was nearly spot on. Though I was surprised that The Count, aka Grandpa, had a mustache I finally realized that this may have been because in Bram Stocker’s novel Dracula had a mustache (or so I heard, I haven’t gone back to check).

I was not thrown off by Zombie’s directing style or the look of the movie. The acting was solid and fit the nature of the style that Zombie was using. Though truth be told, I wasn’t terribly impressed with Jeff Daniel Phillips (Herman) or Sherry Moon Zombie (Lily). Both seemed to be trying to do an impersonation of the original cast (Fred Gwynne and Yvonne DeCarl0) and missing the mark. They would have been better off actually just making the characters their own.

I had a minor issue with make up and Lily’s hair – the stripe is supposed to be down the middle of the scalp not on the side and I thought Herman’s green was a little over the top. Otherwise the costuming was spot on.

I also wish that the script had a better plot. After Herman and Lily finally got together the movie just kind of kept going aimlessly and moved the family to America in a forced and illogical way.

The Problem with Reboots

Lost forever?

But my biggest issue with the movie was that Zombie, who is also credited as the writer, chose to re-write Herman’s origin and to a lesser degree Grandpa’s as well.

In the original series it was very clear, at least to me, that Herman (and his twin brother Charlie) was one of Frankenstein’s monsters. Not THE Frankenstein monster, but the culmination of Victor Frankenstein’s experiments. The success as it were. Maybe it has something to do with rights as a previous reboot (Mockingbird Lane) also changed Herman’s origin so that Grandpa had built him as a mate for Lily. Zombie chose to introduce a random mad scientist along with a sidekick instead and have Herman built in the present day instead of back in the early 1800s.

Similarly, Grandpa’s origin was tweaked and I had the impression that he was supposed to be the original Count Dracula (aka Vlad the Impaler) instead of A Dracula as was hinted in the original series where Grandpa was known as Sam Dracula.

The difference in the origins to me is significant to the characters. In Herman’s case instead of being Frankenstein’s success he becomes Dr. Wolfgang’s (Richard Brake) failure in a gag taken directly from Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. In The Counts case it means that the kindly Grandpa we grew up with was now a predatory, ruthless creature of the night.

Which brings me to what I think is too often a problem with reboots of so many movies and television shows. The desire to make something new out of something old often leads to changes in the character that are so drastic that they change the dynamic which made the characters successful in the first place.

Creative License or Re-Writing History?

Now, to be fair, I get it. As a playwright I’ve taken some old properties and told new stories with them. Most notably Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. However, I believe I was able to tell new stories without changing basic things that made the core characters who they were. In the comics “what if…” kinds of stories are told all the time but usually with more success. Regardless of the “universe” the stories are set in Superman is rocketed from the doomed planet Krypton, Bruce Wayne’s parents are killed in front of him, Wonder Woman is an Amazon, Peter Parker is bitten by a spider, the Fantastic Four…well, let’s not talk about the Fantastic Four.

And I think there was a very interesting and amusing story that could have been told about how Herman and Lily met by following the original series’ “canon.” Based on the original series and the movie that followed (the underrated Munster Go Home) after Herman was assembled he left Germany to go to the United Kingdom where he was “adopted” by a family named Munster – not just given the name by a lab assistant in an offhand comment- and then he moved to Transylvania where he eventually met Lily and they then emigrated to the United States. Plenty of room for, dare I say it, an epic quest and love story.

Instead we got a jumbled mess, set in an unknown time period (now? the 1960s? who knows…), with characters who don’t act like they should based on the origins they’ve been given.

Oh well, there is a reason that this film went directly to video and Netflix. If there is ever another reboot maybe we’ll get the story of why Herman wandered from country to country so much before finding his way to 1313 Mockingbird Lane. I guess I can take some solace in the fact that The Addams Family doesn’t seem to be faring much better these days.

Fortunately, Disney gave us the sequel to Hocus Pocus so the season isn’t entirely lost.

I’d love to know what you thought of The Munsters and think of reboots in general.

Onward!

Fitness Quest: Personal Health Update, August 2022

It’s been a while since I updated everyone on where my personal health stands. So, here goes…

The Good News

The good news is basically that I’m still here. I started taking Entresto for my heart “failure” over a year ago now and it seems to be doing what it’s supposed to do. While my ejection fraction is still low by most standards it is hire than it was without the medicine. So I’m in a range too close to normal to consider any kind of implant (i.e. an internal defibrillator) which is good news in my book.

The Better News

Since my surgery in 2018 and switching to Stelara my Crohn’s has remained in what the doctors are calling “deep remission.” I don’t think that anyone can ask for more than that.

The Bad News

Since my close call with Norovirus (see Wash Your Hands People for details) my kidneys have never fully bounced back. They do seem to be stable but I have now been officially diagnosed with Stage I Kidney disease. As long as it stays stable I’m good and at this point all I can do is stay hydrated to make sure that my kidneys don’t have to work too hard. Could be a lot worse.

What I’m Doing For My Health

Getting older doesn’t mean getting weaker!

I’m doing pretty much what anyone should be doing in my effort to stay healthy as possible. Exercise, eat right, and keep moving! My exercises of choice are still weight training/bodybuilding and my cardio is from walking.

I’ve slacked recently on the cardio – which is a mistake in my case as I need what’s left of my heart to be a strong as possible – but I’m catching back up. I did run in the Rose Run 5K again this year. I did not post my best time but it wasn’t my worst either. In fact, I actually got a medal for 3rd place in my age group! And yes, there were more than 3 runners in my age group. Looking ahead I think I can possibly take second or, dare I say it, first next year if I actually train for the race.

My weight training is still going pretty well. I’m focusing on getting leaner, again to keep my heart from working too hard, and as a result I am putting on more muscles. My arms look as good as they ever have in fact. I just need the rest of me to match. I want to be the jacked old man that the young guys can’t believe lifts that much.

Heck, I want to be that jacked old man that can’t believe he lifts that much himself! Barring that I want to be able to do 10 pull-ups…would you believe 5?

Summary

Barring a catastrophic health crisis (COVID, plague, whatever…) I plan to be able to be here next year reporting once again that all is well as can be.

I hope that you are reaching your fitness goals and are making sure to move every day. Keep pushing forward folks.

Onward!

All photos by David P. Wahr unless otherwise noted in which case the original artist retains all rights. Otherwise photos and words @copyright by David P. Wahr

When is a Man’s Chest Considered Big?

Size Matters…Right?

It’s no secret that men are obsessed with size. In fact, men are so obsessed that we are constantly comparing ourselves to other men that we meet on the street, bar, gym, locker room, even office. “Is this guy taller than me? Stronger? Could I take him if I had too?” and other thoughts enter our minds. To most of us bigger, taller, stronger, and even longer, is almost always better. Just listen to any sports cast for proof of this. At some point you’ll learn the basic physical stats of almost every player whether it’s basketball, football or even golf.

When that man is a bodybuilder the size that matters most to him, outside of the bedroom or locker room at least, is his arms. As is evident by the popularity of my earlier post When is a Man’s Arm Considered Big which has had literally thousands of views. I’ll go out on a limb and say that he next size he’s concerned with is his chest or more specifically the width/circumference of the upper torso (shoulders/back/pecs). After all, arms are often hidden by sleeves but a wide back and a thick chest is evident even in bulky clothing.

Average Chest Size?

Not an average sized chest.
You don’t need a chest shelf like Arnold in his prime to appear big. But it sure doesn’t hurt!

This may be the closest I ever got to having the “big chest” look.

Which leads us to the question – how big is the average man’s chest?

I thought this would be an easy question to answer by simply doing a little research and seeing what size shirts were the most popular. I was wrong. It turns out that there is some variation among clothing manufacturer’s as to how they determine shirt size. For example one company’s “large” may fit a 42″ (106.68 cm) – 44″ (111.76 cm) chest but another’s “large” is only 40″ (101.6cm) – 42″ (106.68 cm).

However, I did discover that almost everyone out there agrees that the most popular shirt sizes are large and medium. So I made an arbitrary decision based on the sizes that Hanes (the t-shirt and underwear people) use that a Large shirt fits up to a 44″ (111.76cm) chest. Using the approximate percentages of sales from several companies I determined that about 30% of all men (in the USA at least) wear a large shirt and, depending on whose sales you go by, between 65% and 80% of all men wear shirts that suggest a chest circumference of 44″ (111.76cm) or less.

So, the quick answer is that most men have a chest which does not exceed 44″ (111.76cm). You can consider your chest large if you exceed this measurement.

End of story, right? Not so fast bucko!

Does Size Matter?

While it’s true that your chest is big if you have more than 44″ (111.76cm) that may not matter if your waist is also close to the same size or worse is even larger than your chest. It should be obvious but, just in case, today – especially in the USA and other “western” nations – there is an obesity epidemic. So a lot of men have big chests because of bodyfat and a big chest with a big belly underneath it is just not impressive. You may be strong but you are not going to look like it (sadly, I fall into this category). People will see the gut and think “fat.” So if you want your chest to really stand out you need to keep the waist tight and bodyfat low.

So at what point does the chest start to look big? Well, again, the clothing industry gives us a clue. Most shirts and suits are designed for men who have what is known as a “drop” of less than 8″ (20.32cm). That is to say that their waist is between 0 and 8 inches smaller than their chest. A drop of anything over 8″ (20.32cm) is considered an athletic cut. So that’s our basic answer.

However, in my opinion and observation at least, this 8″ drop is just a starting point. To get that classic V shape (or X shape as it’s described now – don’t skip leg day) I think you need at least a 10″ (20.54cm) drop or larger. Sadly, this is easier said than done but certainly a goal to strive for.

The Final Verdict

Unfortunately, unlike arms or even legs, which can essentially hold their own in terms of size and visual impact, you really can’t consider the chest without looking at the entire torso. A big chest with weak shoulders just looks…odd. Big chest with big belly as I’ve already said just looks fat. Of course you can’t have a strong chest without a strong back. You really need to focus on developing all upper body parts to get that muscular well-built look that we all want.

The good news is that there really isn’t a magic number – even though you’ll find plenty of articles concerning the fabled “golden ratio” and “perfect proportions.” One I really like by John Romaniello on T-Nation is linked at the bottom of this blog by the way.

Clothes Make the Man

Since I’ve been talking about clothes so much I should also mention that they play an important part in displaying your work in the gym. Most men won’t admit that they really don’t need a large shirt or XL shirt and end up hiding their chests under a layer of cloth that flaps like a tent awning in the breeze. You’ll look much better and bigger with a shirt that actually fits. So put the ego size aside and maybe try a size smaller to see how it looks. Warning – this only works with a solid chest and a flat stomach. If you don’t have both you risk showing off bulges and sags that you’d rather have hidden. Trust me on this…I won’t say how I know, but I know.

To Sum it All Up

Even if you can’t manage a 10″ (20.54cm) drop just having a flat stomach a few inches smaller than your waist will really set your physique apart from most men today. So when they size you up they’ll realize who the bigger man is (unless alcohol is involved then all bets are off).

And isn’t that what we all want in the end?

How to Look Freakin’ Awesome

Here’s an article on T Nation that better explains the “golden” ratio.

Timo Eherer (@newteemo on Instagram) demonstrates the importance of a proper fitting shirt to show off the chest (and arm!) gains. A baggy shirt will make you look smaller and hide your hard work in the gym. Note how the width of his delts contributes to a classic pec “shelf” and the overall size of his chest.

Photo Credit: Timo Eherer – used with permisson.

Bryce Gambler demonstrates the dramatic effect of a relatively wide upper body (44 inches/111.76 cm) and a small waist (32 inches/81.28 cm). A 12 inch/30.5 cm “drop.” Note that Bryce is about 6’4″ (1.93m) but doesn’t have that “lanky” look many tall men have – because he paid attention to developing his complete torso.


Photo Credit: Bryce Gambler – used with permission.

All photos by David P. Wahr unless otherwise noted in which case the original artist retains all rights. Otherwise photos and words @copyright by David P. Wahr

How to Audition for a Show

One of the longest and most rewarding journeys I’ve taken in life is my journey through the world of theatre*. My first experience in theatre actually started by putting on plays in my backyard as a kid. I rounded up my sister, brother, and a couple of the neighbors and we enthralled our parents with a stirring rendition of The Three Billy Goats Gruff – written, directed, and produced by myself. I may have also given myself the lead role. Yes, it was a vanity piece.

Since then over the past half-century, and a little more, I’ve acted and directed many plays primarily for community theatre. Dramas, comedies, musicals, you name it and I’ve done it. Along the way I’ve learned a few things both as an actor auditioning for a role and as the director selecting actors for roles that I would like to share with you.

I have to stress that the tips and suggestions that follow are my ideas and they won’t apply in every case. For example, I don’t have enough experience in professional theatre to be knowledgeable in how most of them handle auditions. But I have auditioned for several amateur groups and I usually get cast. So I hope that you’ll find them helpful in preparing for your next audition.

First Things First

Before deciding to audition for a show check your calendar!

Most shows will rehearse between 6 – 8 weeks, sometimes more for a musical, and depending on the role you are cast in you may need to be at rehearsal 3 – 4 times a week for that period. Be realistic, can you put in the time necessary to be in the show? Most directors at the community theatre level will expect actors to have a few conflicts due to work and family but they will expect you to be available every night for the last week or two leading up to a show. Likewise, if you have a big vacation or business trip in the middle of the rehearsal period that will take you away for a week or more understand that this will likely mean that you won’t be cast for the lead – no matter how talented you and perfect for the part you are – if you are cast at all.

Typically, you will be asked about conflicts at the audition. Be honest, I have seen people cut from shows during the rehearsal period because they could not live up to their commitment in terms of availability. It isn’t pretty and it isn’t fair to your other cast members. Putting on a show is a team effort. If one or more people are consistently missing the entire production suffers.

Know the Rules

Though auditions are similar from group to group there are often differences. The group putting on the show will usually have expectations listed on their website, Facebook page, etc. for the audition process listed. Read them and follow them to the letter.

Know the Show

If at all possible try to obtain a copy of the script and read it ahead of time. In some cases groups may have reading copies available to lend – but don’t count on this. At the very least go online and find a synopsis and list of characters.

Know Yourself

After reading the script, be honest with yourself, is there a character that you could see yourself playing in the script? If you are auditioning for a musical is the part you want in your vocal range? Do you have the special skills that may be required of the role (tap dancing for example)?

The good news is that most if not all community theatres have policies of inclusivity when casting so opportunities to be cast have never been greater. This used to be called “color-blind” casting in which race does not usually play into selection of the character unless race is a theme of the play (for example, you are not likely to see an all white cast for Raisin in the Sun). Gender blind casting has recently come to the forefront as well with some groups but not most. Do not assume that this is the case for any show you are auditioning to be in. Sometimes the playwright has put restrictions on who can be cast, most famously Edward Albee and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, or a director feels that “gender bending” would impact the message of the play. The norm still is that men should audition for male roles and women for female roles. However, in my opinion, it doesn’t hurt to ask about this.

Race and gender aside I believe you will still find that most directors will stick to other qualifications, such as age, when casting.

You are now ready to go to the audition!

At The Audition

Remember that the audition is essentially a job interview. So basic rules apply:

• Be on time if the audition is by appointment. If the audition is during a block of time – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for example – don’t arrive at 8:45 or later and expect to be given a try-out.
• Be polite.
• Dress appropriately. You don’t need to wear a business suit, but be sure to wear loose fitting clothing that doesn’t restrict you movements. I prefer to dress in neutral colors so that the director is focusing on my movement and face instead of my outfit. Some people recommend dressing as you think the character you are audition to be would. I do not. Your idea of how the character would dress most likely will not match the ideas that the directing staff have. Most directors are looking for actors who will be flexible during the rehearsal process, not actors who are already set on how to interpret the character.
• Be respectful of other actors who are auditioning. Many groups have open auditions in which everyone watches everyone else’s audition. Be quiet and attentive when you are not on stage.
• Be ready to take risks. Too often I will see people trying to copy another person’s performance during an audition. Try to give the directors something unique about your performance that no one else did. Especially if there is a large group auditioning for the same role. You want to stand out at an audition, not blend in!

Remember this is your time to shine. You need to put aside all fear of failure and go for it! If you can’t speak up and move in front of a relatively small group how can the director trust that you will before a sold out house on opening night?

After the Audition

I think that the hardest part of an audition is afterwards when you are waiting to see if you got cast. Hopefully, the group you auditioned for told you how you would be notified if you are cast and if you are not.

In Conclusion

If you are cast in the role you want, congratulations! If you are not cast in the role you wanted or worse yet not cast at all please don’t let this discourage you. Auditioning is a skill and most people do not get cast in a leading role their first time out. Keep auditioning and you will get better at it.

I hope that these tips help you get the role you want. There really is nothing quite like being in a show and I have found a lifetime’s worth of pleasure and satisfaction in community theatre. I’m sure that you will, too.

You can find other tips for auditioning on the web, of course, and I also recommend finding a copy of Audition by Michael Shurtleff (ISBN 9780553272956). It’s a great guide and many consider it the “bible” of auditioning.

Break a leg!

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

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When I named this blog it was with the intention of being a travel blog as much as anything. Then, you know, COVID hit and I’ve been slow to get back onto the travel train so to speak.

So though I’ll still blog about my fitness and other journeys I think it’s time to start talking and planning travel again. With that in mind here’s my list of places I’d like to see before I die.

The first two are in order of importance. The rest, not so much:

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• Alaska – my fiftieth state.
• Train trek from London to Paris to Rome (with a stop at Disneyland Paris, of course).
• Mt. Everest Base Camp (okay, at least close enough to see Mt. Everest).
• Germany
• Japan (can you say Disneyland Tokyo?)
• Sweden/Norway/Denmark/Netherlands
• Spain
• Greece
• Mexico – Yucatan peninsula in particular.
• Kenya or South Africa
• Ireland
• Manchu Picchu (health willing)
• Might as well go for Hong Kong and Shanghai Disney parks, too!

That’s my list as of today. So much world, so little time. My list doesn’t even take me to all 7 historical continents!

Where do you dream of traveling?

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All photos by David P. Wahr unless otherwise noted in which case the original artist retains all rights. Otherwise photos and words @copyright by David P. Wahr

How to Choose A Personal Trainer

Don’t worry – a good trainer won’t judge you for past mistakes. But not following his or her advice is fair game.

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At some point in your training life you are going to decide that maybe you could do better with a personal trainer. Perhaps it’s to help you get started on your fitness journey, to take you to the next level, or even, as in my current case, someone to check in with on a regular basis to review form and monitor progress.

So the question is two-fold: 1) do you need a trainer and 2) how do you choose a trainer?

Why Have a Trainer?

A good trainer can help you to feel super!

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I’m a proponent of personal trainers for the most part and have had a couple now. It took me a long time to put aside my ego and realize that maybe I wasn’t the best person to judge my own form when lifting and that learning from reading books and watching the big guys at the gym really wasn’t cutting it.

But once I made the decision to work with a trainer I really haven’t gone back. My preference is to find someone you can work with in person, but in a pinch an online trainer can be helpful. I’ve tried both ways and for me the in person experience is just more useful.

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The big question I think most people have is “how do I choose a personal trainer?” and this is an important one. Just because someone has a million followers on Tik Tok, Instagram, etc. and abs that could cut glass doesn’t mean that he or she knows how to train someone else. Especially if that someone else may be fighting years of poor diet and exercise.

Remember, choosing a personal trainer is not a decision to make lightly. This is someone that ideally you’ll be relying on for years to come and who will have a huge influence on the only thing of value that your really have (outside of personal relationships): your body and health!

Though I’ve been happy with the trainers I’ve worked with I have to admit that I could have been more methodical in my search. My experience in finding trainers has been haphazard at best – I found my first trainer at an amusement park of all places. Hey, you have to talk about something while waiting a couple hours in line for a roller coaster, right?

So, realizing my limitations I turned to my current trainer, Matt Elvey, who also happens to be an instructor in Exercise Science at Owens Community College and teaches future personal trainers.

Here’s the advice he shared with me about finding a trainer who you can work with.

What to Look for in a Personal Trainer

• Certification- NSCA/ACSM/ACE are examples of the big name certifications in the field.  
• Experience training the clientele you would classify yourself as. Example-if a trainer has almost exclusive experience training bodybuilders and you are looking for fat/weight loss.  This probably isn’t a good match.

Contrary to popular opinion, your trainer shouldn’t leave you like this after a workour!

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What Questions to Ask Before Working with a Trainer

• What is your training philosophy? Ex-my approach to training is to manage the minimums of every client, assessing left/right asymmetries and bulding a program off of that.  
• If you have injuries/health issues, do they have experience with these. Ex- chronic knee pain, diabetes, heart attack etc.  
• Price per session/availability 

What Qualities Make a Good Trainer

• Knowledge base, a trainer has to know muscles, different training techniques and when to implement them. 
• Having a “gauge”- knowing what your client can handle and when they are ready to progress etc. 
• Managing “downtime” in a workout. We do stretches for opposite muscles we are working in between sets of muscles we are working. Example-Pec fly machine/T-spine mobility with PVC pipe. 
• Probably just as important as any other factor-being personable and building rapport. 

My Two Cents

In addition to the good advice Matt gives above I’d like to add a couple items you need to consider before working with a trainer:

• Are you ready to commit to your goals? There’s no sense hiring an expert if you aren’t ready to make training a priority in your life.
• Be honest about your goals. Do you really just want to be healthier or do you want abs? Believe it or not these goals are not as similar as you might think.
• Be honest about your time and other commitments when discussing availability.
• Be honest about your previous exercise experience.

On-Line vs In-Person Training

I’ve done both and personally, I get a lot more out of in person training so that’s what I would recommend. But if you choose to go with an online program, which frankly can be less expensive, be aware that you will need a very high level of discipline to make it work. You won’t have that extra motivation which comes from knowing that someone is waiting for you to show up.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. Advice from an expert and from me. Ultimately the choice is yours of course and the important thing is that regardless of whether you have a trainer or not that you start today to get moving!

Do you have any hints and ideas on choosing a trainer? I’d love to read about them in the comments!

Just me showing off my latest gains – thanks Matt!

All photos by David P. Wahr unless otherwise noted in which case the original artist retains all rights. Otherwise photos and words @copyright by David P. Wahr