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0:00/3:25
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STEADY CLIMB_M1468 2:460:00/2:46
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WENTWORTH BLUES 2:250:00/2:25
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0:00/3:58
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0:00/7:59
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0:00/3:00
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SHOW
TIME
Below - snippets of some of the shows
I've been involved in.
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WORDS
Well - i am a writer
I hope you're ready for a read. Once I get going - my... I love to write. Then I change my mind, and file what is made. So it's a bit of a breakthrough to have mini stories starting to say hello here. They make me smile. I hope they do that for you too?
I'm thinking I need to record these snippets in audio - throughout this site.... Another job. Another - in order to...? Distraction? Avoidance? My loop... Break it...
But... and... today... I am enjoying writing into each box below. It provokes memories of 'Chapters of Life.' Refections, smiles - faces, stories... And I'm inspired by watching Aaron Sorkin on Masterclass. A Master writer if ever there was one. The West Wing my favourite.
So - if you'd like - get a coffee, tea, water, whiskey, wine or hot chocolate... Sit in your favourite chair with the reading light on and...
I'll share with you snippets of some of my Show Heritage and background below.
I love Show Business... and this reminds me of my journey in that - so far. As I put this together I realise I have been very blessed.
Or return to Ω...
NICKSTIR
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NICK NAMES
PASSPORT NAME
Nicholas Mark Slater
STAGE NAME
Nicky Slater
DAILY NAME
Nicky Slater
But Nicky…?
Never quite did it so…
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NICK NAMES?
MR COMPLICATED
In the gym yesterday doing LYFT CLUB with the amazing J-Me Hannay coaching us Morgan came up me.
Now I am - as in any good setup for a comedy plot character - transposed to Canada from England. An Alien in Kelowna - to part borrow from STING.
Or at least I was an allien. Now I'm a Canadian Citizen as well as British too.
Back in the gym... Morgan - (female) - asked me. What did I think of Nicky (as a name). I explained that it had never quite fitted for me. But when my friend Kurt (6 feet 5 and a sonorous voice) bellows NICKY SLATER - as a concert announcer might - it sounds OK. OK. I guess I'm used to it. It's always been this pebble in my shoe though...
And it's ridiculous of course to be bothered about your name. Since coming to Canada I have tried on different NICK names. Gord calls me Nicholas, some call me Nick or Nicky. Nicky apparently is what you might be called by friends in the hockey dressing room. Some called me NICKSTIR - which is fun and then sometimes - The NICKSTIR, and some are simply confused! That would be me signing my NICK names on various parts of this website!
And two specific Canadians in a band I was in here called me Sir Nick (which worked very well thank you) :) My Yes M Lord brand being stroked at that point.
So I try on NICKSTIR. There's a story to it you can read on NICKSTIR'S artist page, link below.
That real complication for me is in how I sign different parts of this website right now. I think NICKSTIR kind of works for me... And Dr ick, in breakthroughs (I am a DR - Honourary one). We will see. You see NICKSTIR is a character, but my character has always been my name - so having two separate names is confusing. You confused? You should be in my brain!
ON the positive side - where I always try to land - this angst and searching is the fuel that has fired up the different personas my brain holds that see light of day here!!! Different characters to act. But then, don't we all act different roles in parts and times of our lives? And is this search a Silver Lining fuelling song and writing? Ahhh - now there's a thought...
Love NICKSTIR
PS And I just signed a help request for this website as Nicky! Get a grip...
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SACKED!
As I wrote these snippets below I realised I'd been sacked 4 four times so far. And two of those in the recent times. Oh and my contract ‘unexpectedly’ wasn't renewed once (be aware when a new producer comes in and seeks to make an impact!) - is that 5 five?
And I don't want to give the wrong impression here!
Ha… Maybe that's why I'm working alone and Frank and co are turning up to help?
Oh oh wait… I was sacked from that petrol station - I was filler upper and cashier. Well I did leave early and say the conditions weren't approved by the Union. The place was being renovated. What Union? Seventeen year old! I had a party to go to and it was 9pm. Supposed to stay open until 10! So that's 6 six…
And then there have been times when I was sacked from love. Or I just left… Stories in songs to come...
And yet? One of my traits is to see Silver Linings in disasters. And the fact is there is ‘nearly’ always, a comedic story to be mined from the truth and pain... Discuss.
PS - Oh yes and there was that time I was banned by a CIA/FBI Officer (he had a mic in his ear) from a US Arena when in vision and doing commentary for ITV. Is that seven? Phil King (our Producer) had to negotiate to get me back in.
My English humour didn't land well well on that occasion with our American Cousins. I waved to him as I came back in. I got a look like a movie moment just before the baddy takes out the gun! I guess they train them for that?
7…
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LEAD
SACKED
I was given the lead in a Theatre Production - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - here in Kelowna, Canada where I currently reside. It's a brilliant production. But/and... I was being DIRECTED for the first time...! Do as you are told... exactly. Learn script and repeat. I find that very difficult. It was a load of words!!! A brilliant script and huge... So I was later told by a leading cast member.
I improvise and have always created, choeographed and directed myself and my own productions... Although I did do same steps in free dance and dances routines. It's funny my brain. Once I know the whole I can re make it in my head. I once re-choreographed a Free Dance routine on a plane coming back from a Championship.
My mistake here - I did not give myself enough time to learn the whole of this - two hours is more than four minutes. And - I need a deadline to prompt action. So how to force those deadlines in the future? How to find a partner to work alongside?
This time, you must do exactly what is on the script, in time, so everyone can work to prompts... No music prompt and hit with a branch a real challenge. No count in. Impossible...
Wow... a rich experience Every rehearsal was 'learning on steroids.' Everyone else seemed to know how it worked! I think I needed someone teaching me the 'THEATRE' ropes. Hindsight...
Probably, rightly, for what was needed, I was sacked a week before we opened as Director worried I wouldn't remember the lines when stage was turning. He was right. I would have improvised, created my own links: choreographer would have had heart attack, third wall broken and audience involved as I asked for next line! Light cue director having apoplexy. It would have been funny though... Picture is of rehearsal. Thank you for all who let me be involved and for offer of going back for smaller roles. Cassidy - we were awesome. Goodness - I was suave! Bond - James... For a moment! - In my mind...
My audition tape below.
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KILLING BIRDS
Twittergate - Sacked - libelled?
Experiencing our woke world, news cycles, the impact of war, and corporate killing first hand.
Infamous via Reuters, BBC, CNN et al (with no redress) and yet - experiencing 'love, care and forgiveness' - in the maelstrom. Paris was a respite before home - thank you guys.
The learning is... 'Be more honest on air' - and get sacked anyway. Or not. And - don't hide the mic light so your see it to turn the mic off after seven hours commentary live... ? ? ? -
And don't take a sleeping pill and then address Twitter going barmy attacking you and out of context laugh sounding awful.
Process... process... Forgive? Bend like a reed... (A Reed.) Or stand against libel. A Criminal offence in Switzerland Mr President. But, what about seeing Corporate Leaders as being fearful of our woke society? Rainbows on their letterheading. Killing dinosaurs - applauded by their target market... And News Cycle moves on. Dead men left behind. DIscuss. Short story to come...
__________________
And have sought to create a life that is not defined by what I was given. And after twenty five years of commentary on Ice Skating - I am done now. So maybe Twittergate was a Godsend?
My brother simply said - "Move on," he has a good way with words....
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STEIN - AWAY
PICTURES
Kelowna - Canada. A man offered to record my tracks in an amazing music studio he had built. Studio donated - thank you... I paid him upfront. We recorded and... he dissappeared. But/and...
I hope the man who took my money is alright as he was up against it. I understand that feeling. I'm getting used to it these days. "My father taught me. Fear is always constant but accepting it makes you stronger." King Leonides father's advice, Film: The 300.
We had a great time in that world class studio. Steinway afore me...
Tracks never to be heard from there. Should have filmed. No regrets, no condemnation. We are all on the journey. Hope he's alright... Christiane got some fabulous pictures.
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IPSWICH
10 YEARS - 2 SHOWS
I wanted a studio. Christiane found one in Ipswich under tiny living accommodation with a view, over a car park, to the Marina. We went for a year, stayed for ten. I spent more than Bentley on kit. Output? One video, two live 'house concert' shows, two songs recorded. And... A lot of writing.
Biggest reflec screen in Europe (I think). Doing it all, as has been my way. Ineffective. Should have invested one third of money and gone to school.
But then, the songs wouldn't be the same, the friendships and the monthly Guinness and pork scratchings along with sitting drinking coffee overlooking posh boats in a Marina wouldn't have happened. And Benjamin's school, was fantastic. Can you see him in the picture?
And my fiend Pete - who came on a Wednesday - volunteering his time to encourage and guide me would not have been met. Beautiful man. And Adrian and Mike - the studio... And an Honourary Doctorate from Essex and Sussex Universities. David and Rosie. Friendships. Great parks. Stories. Jon Freddy, Clive and Bertie., David, Adrian, Mike, Pat... BootCamps. Gentle Love Songs. The glorious Parks of Ipswich. Ahhh... rich (stress filled) times. Renting out our Brighton sea front apartment - 10 years...