Star of the West End's 'Rat Pack' and cabaret stalwart, Gary Williams, shares the secrets of his success in Cabaret Secrets - a practical guide with everything you need to create your own show, travel the world and get paid to do what you love. Written for singers who want to create their own cabaret show, or improve the one they already have, Cabaret Secrets covers everything from finding a theme, scripting a show and running a rehearsal. There's lots of practical advice on how to find an agent, promoting your show and ordering musical arrangements. Gary enlisted the help of cabaret stars like Steve Ross, Barbara Dickson and Jeff Harnar who agreed to share their own secrets in the book. He spoke to booking agents, cruise lines, West End musical directors, Hollywood makeup artistes, Broadway singers, lighting designers, sound engineers and celebrity vocal coaches. The book's received high praise from industry insiders, including cabaret doyen Michael Feinstein who said, "The wisdom and knowledge contained in Gary's book is so valuable that I wish I'd had it when I was starting out as an entertainer! It's a marvellous achievement and could be your secret weapon." Author, David Ackert, said the book is a "career GPS for cabaret performers," and Ruth Leons, Artistic Director for London's Crazy Coqs described it as, "The best guide ever written for the aspiring cabaret singer. Gary Williams' generous sharing of his own secrets provides so much valuable information that it deserves to be read by anyone wanting a career in cabaret." Seven Ways Cabaret Secrets Will Benefit You: Amazing advice from the best in the business. Learn from cabaret stars like Michael Feinstein, Steve Ross, Marta Sanders and Marlena Shaw. They spill the beans on inside information like how they decide which songs to sing, how they script their shows and the lessons they've learned. Practical advice you can use. Cabaret Secrets is packed with sensible, practical advice. You'll learn what you need to know about writing a lighting cue sheet, making a PA specification and how to choose a recording studio. There are even tips on what to pack for a cruise ship gig! Get the applause you deserve. Cabaret Secrets takes you through every step of creating a show that people will want to see. Don't waste hours going around in circles. Just follow this guide and learn everything you need to know. It's like your own cabaret toolbox. It's your direct line to the decision makers. It can almost impossible to get a booker for a major venue on the phone but Cabaret Secrets includes answers from bookers to important questions like, "Exactly what does an artiste need to do to get work with you?," "How can I make sure you'll watch my showreel," "What kind of acts are cruise lines lining up to book?" Make a special connection. The key to cabaret is making a special personal connection with every member of your audience. Cabaret Secrets explains how. Save years of effort. We never stop learning but there are shortcuts. There's days there are few no cabaret schools and few places to go to for help. Don't learn from years of expensive mistakes. Cabaret Secrets gives you a fast track to success. Save money. In Cabaret Secrets you're getting advice worth 1000s. That's a fact. These tips could help you save 1000s on bad musical arrangements, 1000s on wasted publicity and 1000s recording CDs that sounded terrible. It is truly amazing value for money."

"Cosmic Chronicles: Journeys Beyond the Stars" unveils a tapestry of interconnected science fiction and fantasy stories, each a gateway to the infinite stories of the universe and the elusive boundaries of reality. This collection embarks on a fantastical journey into space, inviting readers to explore the cosmic wonders and embark on a space exploration fantasy like no other. Through a series of captivating narratives, this anthology traverses the vastness of the cosmos, unveiling the marvels and mysteries that dwell in the furthest reaches of space and beyond. At the core of these tales lies the Astral Gateway, a beacon of cosmic wonder, guiding readers through a cosmic odyssey that defies imagination. It stands as a testament to the boundless curiosity and ambition that propel humanity-and other beings-across the uncharted territories of the galaxy. Each story in "Cosmic Chronicles: Journeys Beyond the Stars" weaves a unique thread in the grand tapestry of the cosmos, exploring the interconnectedness of the universe, the wonders that lie in the void, and the fantastical realms that exist just beyond the limits of our understanding. As adventurers of the mind and spirit, readers are invited to step through this portal of imagination, embarking on an odyssey that spans the spectrum of the human experience within the cosmic theatre. From ancient civilizations that whisper secrets of the universe, to enigmatic forces that shape the fabric of reality, each narrative unfurls the mysteries of the cosmos, inviting a deeper contemplation of what lies beyond. This collection is not just an assemblage of stories; it is an odyssey-a cosmic odyssey-that challenges the very notion of what is possible. Through the eyes of astronomers, explorers, and dreamers, we set sail on a fantastical journey into space, navigating the cosmic wonders that stretch across the celestial canvas of the universe. "Cosmic Chronicles: Journeys Beyond the Stars" is an ode to the spirit of discovery, a celebration of the interconnected science fiction and fantasy stories that dare to explore the final frontier and the infinite possibilities that await.

Le Prix d’Amour, a vibrant Paris cabaret, is caught in the crossfire of the occupation. Everyone is being watched, and some of Le Prix’s colourful performers are hiding dangerous secrets. Monsieur Maurice manages Le Prix d’Amour, a successful Parisian cabaret, which boasts glitzy performers and sassy showgirls. But with the German occupation in June 1940, Maurice treads a fine line between his German patrons, the French police and the Gestapo as he hides the dark secrets of his performers. Two of his lively showgirls, Lily and Poppy, soon join Maurice in the hunt for an informer who threatens to betray them. With the Allied landings, the tension builds and Maurice is pushed to his limits as his performers finally take the fight to the invader in their own flamboyant way. Secrets and Showgirls portrays an occupied Paris in which exotic cabarets existed uneasily under the heel of the invader. It follows the antics of Maurice, Lily and a glittering array of characters, but never loses sight of the battle to survive that characterised the life of the everyday Parisian.

Step below the pavements of Soho's Beak Street, and discover the untold tale of the exotic - and scandalous - Murray's Cabaret Club

Cabaret performances are often known for bringing alive the Great American Songbook from the 1920s through the 1950s for contemporary audiences. But modern-day cabaret does much more than preserve the past—it also promotes and fosters the new generation of American composers and creates a uniquely vibrant musical and theatrical experience for its audiences. So You Want to Sing Cabaret is the first book of its kind to examine in detail the unique vocal and nonvocal requirements for professional performance within the exciting genre of cabaret. With a foreword by cabaret legend Lorna Luft, So You Want to Sing Cabaret includes interviews from the top professionals in the cabaret industry, including Michael Feinstein, Ann Hampton Callaway, Roy Sander, Sidney Myer, Jeff Harner and many others. There are also chapters devoted to crafting your show, lyric connection, “do-it-yourself” production and promotion, and working with your musical team. David Sabella and Sue Matsuki have crafted the perfect one-volume resource for both the aspiring cabaret singer and the singing teacher who seeks to learn more about this unique art form. The So You Want to Sing series is produced in partnership with the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Like all books in the series, So You Want to Sing Cabaret features online supplemental material on the NATS website. Please visit www.nats.org to access style-specific exercises, audio and video files, and additional resources.

“Karlen offers a colorful and impressively researched account of the Minneapolis underworld and his fascinating relative that feels right out of Damon Runyon’s Guys and Dolls.” Star Tribune “Deliciously snappy.” American Jewish World “Karlen brings back the days when Peggy Lee walked into Augie’s straight off the bus from North Dakota, when mid-century celebrities like Frank Sinatra visited Hennepin Avenue, and when the most powerful crime lords in the land checked their guns at the door when they visited Augie’s.” MinnPost “Augie’s Secrets is filled with stunning, stylish prose that captures the flavor of the Jewish underworld of downtown Minneapolis down to its last rubout and pastrami sandwich.” Paul Maccabee, author of John Dillinger Slept Here: A Crooks’ Tour of Crime and Corruption in St. Paul, 1920–1936

Making Automata is hard. Making other sorts of three dimensional objects can also be hard, but he extra dimension of movement seems to add a disproportionate amount of difficulty. For most people, especially those untrained in engineering skills, getting to the point where making making mechanical devices is easy, can be a long and frustrating task. Then again, there are many people who have a sound understanding of engineering but can't even draw a horse. These things can be learnt. This book does not teach you to draw a horse, but it removes the mystery that surrounds the world of mechanisms and the business of making things move. Cabaret Mechanical Movement contains a lot of theory but it is also packed with practical tips and ideas for making your own automata, moving toys, or mechanical sculpture.