If you know me (you know, from the actual world) then you know there’s more to me than building, surfing and our painfully photogenic two boys.
In fact, I’ve had a whole “real career” for more than two decades as a touring monitor engineer. (I mix sound for the people on stage. Everything your favorite performer hears during a show comes from someone like me.)
Me in my natural habitat
And while I’ve gotten to mix a huge variety of people over the past 20+ years, my first big opportunity came at the side of the stage for Josh Groban. For nearly a decade we did more concerts, benefits, chat shows and live albums than I can remember. And it’s safe to say that if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. (You know, pursuing a second vocation that is vastly unprofitable and eminently dusty 😉)
(Thank goodness for unpaid interns….)
So, when I heard he’d landed his dream roll on Broadway as the titular “Sweeney Todd,” I was both thrilled and proud. I knew how much that role meant to him and even though we don’t work together anymore I still consider him a dear friend. It took us nearly a year to finally see the show but I was floored by his performance. (And I’ve seen him sing a lot. Like…a LOT) And on the train ride home I couldn’t help but think that over a year one must develop a relationship with their SPOILER ALERT murderous straight razor. And, while he will go on to do many other things, his sharpened costar will not. And maybe it deserved a final resting place. And maybe his old monitor guy/furniture maker friend could provide that.
And so, here is a very macabre gift I sent a along. A final resting spot for a VERY awesome prop. The base and top are air dried black walnut from Edison, NJ. The base splines and sides are flamed maple. The interior barber pole veneer is made of holly and bloodwood. Bloodwood also forms the splines in the maple sides.
Gluing splines to add stability. I rarely bust out my holly stock, but when you need lumber that’s near bone white, it’s tough to beat. The bloodwood really was pretty on-the-nose for this project.
I re-sawed the 8/4 walnut to needed thickness. Air dried walnut always has better color than kiln-dried/steam and my hope was that by using a quartersawn stock I’d gain stability with the top being made from a single piece.
Layout lines on a quartersawn walnut top
Finally, a purpleheart and maple wedge holds an 1845 (the year the play theoretically occurs) British Half Crown (the theoretical cost of a haircut or shave.)
Purpleheart rarely disappoints
Yes, it’s kind of a weird gift. But after nine years of working together, I think he certainly knows that I’m kind of a weird guy. So, here’s to you and your sharp pal, Josh. Thanks!
If you know me (you know, from the actual world) then you know there’s more to me than building, surfing and our painfully photogenic two boys.
In fact, I’ve had a whole “real career” for more than two decades as a touring monitor engineer. (I mix sound for the people on stage. Everything your favorite performer hears during a show comes from someone like me.)
And while I’ve gotten to mix a huge variety of people over the past 20+ years, my first big opportunity came at the side of the stage for Josh Groban. For nearly a decade we did more concerts, benefits, chat shows and live albums than I can remember. And it’s safe to say that if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. (You know, pursuing a second vocation that is vastly unprofitable and eminently dusty 😉)
So, when I heard he’d landed his dream roll on Broadway as the titular “Sweeney Todd,” I was both thrilled and proud. I knew how much that role meant to him and even though we don’t work together anymore I still consider him a dear friend. It took us nearly a year to finally see the show but I was floored by his performance. (And I’ve seen him sing a lot. Like…a LOT) And on the train ride home I couldn’t help but think that over a year one must develop a relationship with their SPOILER ALERT murderous straight razor. And, while he will go on to do many other things, his sharpened costar will not. And maybe it deserved a final resting place. And maybe his old monitor guy/furniture maker friend could provide that.
And so, here is a very macabre gift I sent a along. A final resting spot for a VERY awesome prop. The base and top are air dried black walnut from Edison, NJ. The base splines and sides are flamed maple. The interior barber pole veneer is made of holly and bloodwood. Bloodwood also forms the splines in the maple sides.
I re-sawed the 8/4 walnut to needed thickness. Air dried walnut always has better color than kiln-dried/steam and my hope was that by using a quartersawn stock I’d gain stability with the top being made from a single piece.
Finally, a purpleheart and maple wedge holds an 1845 (the year the play theoretically occurs) British Half Crown (the theoretical cost of a haircut or shave.)
Yes, it’s kind of a weird gift. But after nine years of working together, I think he certainly knows that I’m kind of a weird guy. So, here’s to you and your sharp pal, Josh. Thanks!
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