richardbaskinjr

[richardbaskinjr]

It's been a few months since we released this song! Now, I'm looking for cool people to collaborate with! If that's YOU - submit a cover of this song to www.richardbaskinproductions.com! TAG YOUR SINGING FRIENDS!! Jump - Richard Baskin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwQKljqxMtc

[richardbaskinjr]

Kianee and I have prepared a killer show designed to keep you feelin' good throughout the night! The band is kickin' off the tunes with some holiday favorites - ahhh! The holidays are my favorite time of year! Bundle up and get on down here tonight! A shot of whiskey to keep warm to any person who brings two friends!

[richardbaskinjr]

Have you checked out my single, Jump? Cool things are happening, and YOU are a part of the fam! So...make sure you follow all the social platforms! TAG A FRIEND who might enjoy this! GO BUY IT ON iTunes! Jump - Richard Baskin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwQKljqxMtc

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[richardbaskinjr]

Have you purchased your ticket to this fun night? Because there's limited seating, and a little birdie told me there might not be very many seats left! So... get on it if you haven't! www.coffeewithcreamandthewitchdoctors.com

[richardbaskinjr]

Coffee With Cream & the Witchdoctors - a newly minted cabaret show focused on improvisation and collaboration with up and coming musicians and performers (who also happens to friends!) Come down to the West End Lounge on the Upper West Side and hang out with us! Tickets can be purchased at: www.coffeewithcreamandthewitchdoctors.com

[richardbaskinjr]

Richard Baskin Productions is proud to announce the first installment of our newly-minted monthly cabaret show, with special guest and friend, Anastasia Talley! Anastasia has been seen most recently in the show After Midnight! The show is gonna be a fun time of joy, laughter, and song! I'm inviting YOU to get your discounted EARLY BIRD tickets now, using our code {RBP-CCWD] at the link below! We will see you there!

[richardbaskinjr]

https://soundcloud.com/user-985000630/the-christmas-song

[richardbaskinjr]

no.day.but.today.

I cannot express how happy I am today. I have been waiting for the opportunity to see RENT on stage since I was introduced to this fantastic musical in high school. I took it in then, just skimming the surface of what RENT was about. But it became real when I got to college. I went through a period of time in undergrad where I was severely depressed. I stopped going to class, (except GC rehearsals - I was there for those) and began drinking excessively. There were quite a few things that I was battling alone. That’s a story for another day. 

But my routine became something like this: 

1. Wake up

2. Crack open a bottle of Smirnoff Orange, and mix with some OJ.

3. Watch RENT 5 times.

4. Play Grand Theft Auto, and take out all my aggression on the random people in the game. 

5. Watch RENT a few more times. By now, I’ve finished the bottle. 

6. Sleep. Repeat. 

It was a very hard time. My friend Gad Holland has probably seen RENT 333 times. He watched it with me as I worked through a lot of the pain and problems that I was facing. And he knew there was something in this musical that kept me from ending it all. Eventually, the messages of the show started to take root. There is only us. Only this. No day but today. 

Things started to look up. I made it out of that dark hole all those years ago,  never to return. 

Today I will see this musical on stage. I don’t know how I will process it. There will probably be tears. But I am encouraged and reminded that there is no day but today. I’m actually gonna post a few times this week. Just so you know. 

‘til next time,

Rich

xoxo

[richardbaskinjr]

conception.

Have you ever thought about how you were conceived? I have thought about it a lot. Most people are grossed out by it. (What?!?! My mom and dad had SEX?!?! *gasps*) I am not. It’s a part of life, silly rabbits. But the idea of a human life or the journey to becoming a human life not existing until a sperm and egg meet is fascinating. 

The millisecond before that happened: you did not exist.

The millisecond after that happened: you DID exist.

So, what happened? I don’t know all the scientific specifics, but the most important thing is that you started developing genetic codes, and that turned into arms/legs/lungs/ribs/feet/veins/intestines...etc. Then 40 weeks later, (give or take) pushed through a hole that seems a little too small (or cut out, in my case). 

Magic? I don’t think so. During that time inside the womb, you were fed nutrients to help you grow stronger, so that you can survive in the world that you’re coming to. 

We plant something every day, whether it be a good seed or a bad seed. And soon, we will bear fruit. What are you planting? I have a few things that I’m planting and watering/feeding every day. It would be a little premature to announce those things at the moment, but stay tuned - and you will see. In the words of one of my favorite musicals:

“There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait - just you wait.”

‘til next time, 

Rich

xoxo

[richardbaskinjr]

determination.drive.destiny

Man. I’ll tell ya. This last week has been hard! Fresh out of my second full week of teaching, scheduling private lessons, exploring my passions, (trying) to eat good food, having quiet reflection time/building positive moments, and living my best life - all the while be thankful that I’m alive and can sing and dance every day. 

This poem, written by Edgar Albert Guest, is one that I learned a few years ago, but presented itself in its magnificent and wonderful glory over the last few days. On days where I wasn’t completely sold on what I was pursuing. I mean, I’m a guy with two Jazz Studies degrees for piano and voice. And now this fool thinks he can sing and dance in productions alongside with people who have been doing this their whole lives? WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?! He’s absolutely crazy! 

But, this is my element. One of them. I mean, Misty Copeland didn’t start lessons until she was 14! She is proof that it can be done. I’m not going to feed the inner wolf that says, “You can’t do this...you’re too old” “You can’t learn this... you’ll never catch up to the others”. 

Here’s what I have to say about that:

IT COULDN’T BE DONE - Edgar Albert Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done      But he with a chuckle replied That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one      Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin      On his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing      That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;      At least no one ever has done it;” But he took off his coat and he took off his hat      And the first thing we knew he’d begun it. With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,      Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing      That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,      There are thousands to prophesy failure, There are thousands to point out to you one by one,      The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,      Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing      That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

‘til next time, 

rich

xoxo

[richardbaskinjr]

☀️It's only just begun...☀️ #masterofmyfate

[richardbaskinjr]

humanness.

This journey so far has been a lot of self-awakening. That is the overall feeling that I have been experiencing lately. Each day, I have been waking up, wondering if this will be the day that everything comes crashing down, or if this is the day that the dream I have is over. I become more in touch with who I already am, and not necessarily what people want me to be.  

Have you ever heard the song, “Beautiful City” from the musical Godspell? (It’s from the mid-90′s revival - if I’m not mistaken.) Anyway, I’ve listened to it just about 525,600 times. Seriously. The words will definitely change your perspective on life. For me, it has called me to find the beautiful things in life, and build upon those things. 

What are these beautiful things? It’s the sun, shining bright in the sky. It’s the teller at the bank, who smiles genuinely when you walk in. It’s the Starbucks barista who remembers you from last week and puts a smiley face on your cup. The children innocently playing on the sidewalk downtown, or walking through campus. And the food you took time to cook for yourself. 

It’s the girl at the party who believes in your gift. 

______________________________________________________________________ 

In one hour, I will be standing in front of 50 elementary students.

They will walk in with whatever challenges they may have faced at home or in school so far. 

My job is to compel them to believe that they can build a beautiful city. 

‘til next time,

rich

xoxo

[richardbaskinjr]

moving.through.life.with.intention

August 15, 2016: the 226th day of the year. 226 days have passed since the year started. I sit here at the computer this morning, looking at a new week; full of promise and potential. We’re almost to the home stretch - new life is happening. Last night, I sat and folded clothes while watching the World Ballet Day special on YouTube, and reflected on the year. Isn’t it crazy how you just wake up and it’s August 15th? I feel like I just walked across the stage for graduation! Where is the time going? Why do I feel like it’s all a blur?

It’s easy to live life that way. And I’m not sure if I like that - I want to be fully vested in life. I don’t want it to pass me by, like I’m watching it happen. No way, José.

I took the opportunity to make some new plans and new goals. I won’t go into details about what the goals are specifically, but they will be materialized in due time.

This is a call to action: briefly examine what your life has been like for the last few months. Can you remember it? Has it been the kind of life you’ve wanted to live? When was the last time you took time for yourself? Or went on an adventure?

I want to live intentionally.

Live.

‘til next time,

rich

xoxo

[richardbaskinjr]

And that wraps up the first week of teaching showchoir to elementary students. I'm not gonna lie. I'm much more tired than I think I am... But I love it! (And naps) ☀️❤️☀️

[richardbaskinjr]

and on thursdays, we dance... ☀️❤️☀️

[richardbaskinjr]

darkness.vs.light

I have been playing with the camera lately, in my free time. (what a novel concept, right?)

This week, I had several conversations with some friends about photography. As a creative being, I’m interested in all forms of creative processes/mediums/projects. It’s fascinating! My friends have a nasty habit of taking or finding terrible pictures of me and posting them in our group messages, and on social media sites. I mean… these pictures are absolutely terrible. Most of the time, my eyes aren’t focused, my hair is a complete mess, it’s a bad angle, the lighting is shitty, etc… you get the point. My passport photo is hilarious - I look completely blind. The only people who have seen that picture are the woman that took it, and the TSA agents who kinda giggled when they saw it, and the Polish customs agents that had no expression on their faces at all. You’d be surprised at the number of bad photos I have taken. So, you see, I tend to stay away from taking pictures - unless absolutely necessary.

Every now and again, someone says, “You should get into modeling” or “you have a strong look” or “your look is unique”. And my reaction is weird EVERY TIME. When you’re used to people pointing out/joking about your huge lips, or the gap in your teeth, you become highly sensitive to your look and how people perceive you. Almost paranoid. Even when people are being ‘nice’ and giving you a compliment, it’s kind of weird. Maybe it’s just me. I’ll speak for me.

I started to disappear in the background to hide. I began to slip into the darkness to not be seen. I became good at hiding in plain sight (which is crazy and not easy to do because I’m 6’3” now). I rarely looked into a mirror.

So, I decided to pick up a camera, and simply take a picture of myself. I analyzed it. Scrutinized it. Looked at every imperfection. At first, it was extremely uncomfortable. My extremities shook as I forced myself to see myself in that picture. Thirty minutes of intense staring later, I couldn’t look away.

I took another picture. And another. And another. I became fascinated at how many different variations of a frown I could make. Of a smile. A silly face. I was finding my light - and not necessarily the physical light source in the room.

I was finding the light emanating from my soul through my eyes. And it was good. It was strong, and bright, and sustainable. The light reminded me to breathe. Reminded me to live. Create. Inspire. Take more pictures.  

Come out of the darkness and find your light.

‘Til next time,

rich xoxo

[richardbaskinjr]

My favorite place... ☀️❤️☀️