Lay Of The Land

My Sort-of Book Club

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:05:00 +0000

I've been reading some amazing books lately, and decided to mention them here, in the hope of developing a dialogue about them. Previously, I mentioned ten lessons for being an authenic gay man, from The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs, truly a must-read for gay men.

Have you ever read something, or perhaps worked on learning a new language, and it literally made your head hurt from the new information you were gleaning, almost as though you could feel your new neural pathways forming? That's what's happening to me now, as I read this completely amazing analysis of how our worldview is (literally) mediated. The book is Mediated: How the Media Shapes Our World And The Way We Live In It, by Thomas De Zengotita. I heard it mentioned in passing by Adrein Grenier of "Entourage" when he was on "The View." He didn't even say much about it, beyond remarking how much it changed his view of the media.

I will never see the world the same way, thanks to this amazing book.

If any of you read these books and would like to offer your thoughts on them, I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Happy Fall-
Bill

EVERYTHING POSSIBLE Re-released!

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:51:00 +0000

At long last, after many years out-of-print, my debut recording, EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, is back and available for purchase!

As the updated liner notes attest: "I could have dreamt for days on end and never imagined the many blessings brought my way by this simple little album, recorded and mixed in only five days back in 1992: new friends, touching letters and stories shared, hearing "I listen to your cassette in my car" become "your CD is always on my disc changer" become "I have you on my iPod" (who knew from iPods in 1992?!)...

Although I have far fewer copies of my second CD, the winter-themed (not just holiday!) recording THE CLOSING OF THE YEAR is also available.

You may access my online store by clicking either album cover, or via this link:
http://shop.billmckinley.com

Facebook and Mad Men

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:21:00 +0000

Okay, I've belonged for a year, but just started in earnest yesterday, accepting all my accumulated friend requests. I love it! So much more cohesive and less-ADD than myspace. Whew!

Also, two words: Mad Men. Just amazing.

I'm off to do volunteer massage at an HIV clinic, and to watch the Rockettes do a number so I can write some promo info on them. What diversity :)

xo
Bill

Now On YouTube!

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:45:00 +0000

I've finally made the jump to YouTube! Below are links to two clips from my recent run at the Metropolitan Room in "Does A Bear Sing In The Woods?"

The first is of "Everything Possible," and the second is "My White Knight."

More to come!

Happy Summer-
Bill

Thank You!! Time to Hibernate...

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:31:00 +0000

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who came to see "Does A Bear Sing In The Woods?" during its run here in NYC.

The show grew and changed greatly during the four-week run, and I'm looking forward to taking it on the road, to bear events and pride events and anywhere else that'll have us.

It was exactly what I wanted it to be: a show that appealed to bears and non-bears, was fun, moving and entertaining for a wide audience (but not for everyone--how boring is *that*?), and a chance to develop a new show.

The reviews were largely positive, and my favorite one happens to be the worst one, from Backstage, which said "There's such a thing as good bad taste and such a thing as bad bad taste. McKinley's travesty of (blah, blah, blah...) is very bad bad taste."

I should point out that I featured that quote in my last promotional email for the show (here), and had the best response and best audience for the entire run. Thank you, Steve Flaherty, for affirming that "Bad, Bad Taste," is a money quote ;)

As I told my audience that last night, I'm so proud of myself...it takes a LOT these days to stand out as having bad taste...the bar has been set so low! Britney Spears, watch out!!

Clearly, I'm a Bad Bad Boy!!!

Fondly,

Bill

Ten Lessons on being an Authentic Gay Man

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:16:00 +0000

Hello, Friends :)

The following ten lessons are from a wonderful book I recently read, "The Velvet Rage," by Alan Downs. A dear college friend of mine, Joe Lupariello, loaned it to me when I saw in in LA this past May. I found the book to be extraordinarily powerful, and these lessons, from the last chapter were like icing on the cake; an unexpected bonus in an already-rich experience. Btw, these are each headings for much more in-depth writings on each ideal.

Happy Summer-

Bill

1. Don't let your sexual tastes be the filter for allowing people into your life.

2. Adopt a nonjudgemental stance as often as possible.

3. When you have a problem with someone, speak with them first (instead of everyone else).

4. It's never a bad idea to be completely honest about the facts.

5. Others are often put off by perfection.

6. Don't act on every emotion you feel.

7. Put off having sex until you feel comfortable that you really know him.

8. Actively practice accepting your body as it is right now.

9. Intentionally validate those you love, but never validate that which is not valid.

10. Whenever you encounter a relationship problem, first access your own responsibility before blaming someone else.

"Does A Bear..."

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:12:00 +0000

As you may know, my new show opened two weeks ago at The Metropolitan Room.

An interesting aspect of doing cabaret work is that one's opening night is often (usually) the first time an act benefits from the response of an audience. Such was the case with "Does A Bear...", and it was good to finally get it on its feet in front of people other than myself and Christopher Marlowe, my brilliant musical director.

Things went well, and we made some great adjustments for week two. Crowds have been light, and with two weeks remaining, we're hoping things pick up.

If you can make it, please come! And you don't have to be a bear to enjoy it--the show, like all good cabaret theme shows, has a universal appeal, I promise :)

Best,

Bill

Happy 5th of July

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Esalen, perhaps my favorite place on earth, is under threat from the wildfires in Big Sur. Curious to know what was going on there, I visited their web site and read the updates on their situation.

In yesterday's update, the head of Esalen ended by saying that they would still celebrate July 4th, albeit with a smaller group of people, and he described the significance of the holiday in a way that I thought was particularly enlightened:

"We know that this date marks an epochal moment in human history and evolution: the day when a group of privileged, flawed citizens of an elite male caste of property-owners, got together 232 years ago to reach beyond themselves and their narrow interest, to pledge their lives to something unique and new in human affairs. That new thing was a solemn Declaration that every one of us—each precious human individual spirit—has the individual and collective right to construct our own destiny, politically and personally, through the free exercise of our own human judgment, in dialogue with our fellow citizens.

We know how imperfect that document was, in reality at the time and still today. Where it spoke of liberty, there were several millions enslaved; where it spoke of “mankind,” women had no legal voice at all—nor was the ballot available to non property-owners at the time. Where one of the major grievances against the English monarch was the fomenting of war and strife between settlers and the Indian nations, the next century and more would see an extirpation of native rights, territory, and culture. And where the document referenced the world community—"a decent respect for the opinions of mankind"—that value of communal, mutual respect and dialogue among nations seems completely flaunted or forgotten by our government today.

And yet—and yet the power of intention, as our “third founder” George Leonard has always taught us—transcends the imperfection of the moment, the situation, or the maker. That intention was a new form, a new template in the world—and it has inspired literally scores of revolutions in aspiration toward human liberty, over nearly two and a half centuries and still today. We may have lost our way as a nation in some important ways in the years since. But we've also found the way, and continue to find the way, to the evolutionary unfolding of that human creative spark—the involution of spirit into manifestation—that Jefferson, our brilliant and flawed founder, caught sight of and conveyed in those words we still celebrate.

In the same way, each of us can be a vehicle for the evolution of spirit, the opening up of human potential which is what each of us is here on this earth for—and what Esalen is all about.

All of us here join all of you out there in renewed resolve, in challenging times, to make that spirit a reality in our shared world."

Happy Independence Day-

Bill

I'm Baaaaack...

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:29:00 +0000

Okay, clearly the Thanksgiving meal took a long time to digest...

Sometimes I feel TOO connected by all this technology that's supposed to make life simpler.

Like email. Why am I suddenly supposed to have/find time to respond to 15-20 letters every day, and why do people think I should subscribe to their urgency? Is it because I think they should subscribe to mine? Hmph!

And blogs. I guess I should just bite the bullet and accept that I need to make entries here more often.

Okay, bullet bitten. (That sounds German, doesn't it?)

So, if anyone is reading this, Hello Again!

Tah-Daaaahhhh!

I have a new show coming up! It's called DOES A BEAR SING IN THE WOODS? It's a fun romp into the world of big hairy gay men like me (known as bears for you novitiates) and the things that matter most to us: food, fun, frolic, and naps. It's quite fun, and will run for four Wednesdays, June 25, July 2, 9, and 16th @ 9:45 at the Metropolitan Room here in NYC.

The first two evenings will benefit the Gay Men's Chorus and Metrobears.

As usual, I will be joined onstage by the lovely and talented Christopher Marlowe, with whom I just spent two glorious weeks in Palm Springs. I've never been so tanned in my life.

I hope you can make it to the show, and for those of you not in NYC, please tell your friends. It'll be FUR-aciously fun evening of CaBearet!

Love & peace-
Bill

Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:05:00 +0000

I have so much for which to be thankful. I hope you are at least as aware, if not more so, of the blessings in your life.

I'm having Thanksgiving dinner with the Rockettes tomorrow...I promise to take lots of pictures. Talk about a singular NYC experience!!!

My sincere best wishes and heartfelt gratitude that for you and all you bring into this world-

Peace,

Bill

Website problems

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:45:00 +0000

I'm having some difficulties with my webpage--thank you to each of you who have written to tell me something's up.

Fingers crossed on getting it fixed asap :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Peace,

Bill

Me!

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:41:00 +0000

Just so you know, and lest you think I have some need to post and re-post this picture of me all over my blog, I hadda post this here, so it would also post in my sidebar.

Little by little, this is all coming together. I am truly enjoying learning how to re-write .html code to customize this blog. Yippee!

Peace,

Bill

Finally! A Working Blog!!

noreply@blogger.com (LayOfTheLand) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:18:00 +0000

Wow. I can't believe it took me so long to figure out how to get an external blog imbedded in my website, but it's finally here!

I still have considerable design adjustments to make, but regardless--Yippee!!

More soon-

Bill