Ryan Shea

Glitz, Glam & Pizzazz Shine Through The Row NYC Hotel

As someone who resides in the New York City area, there is one location I tend to avoid like the plague or a new Justin Bieber song- Times Square. Overcrowded with tourists who don’t know how to walk properly and stop in the middle of the road to take a selfie, horrible quality chain restaurants and just the gentrification of everything really makes this part of NYC a turn off (sorry/not sorry). However, there are some great gems throughout this small part of Manhattan, most notably in the vast array of hotels you can stay in. One of them is The Row NYC Hotel, located on 8th Avenue between 44th and 45th Street. Here is a little more about The Row Hotel from their official website–

Row NYC hotel has pioneered a new era of individuality among Time Square hotels by meeting NYC’s signature urban grit with grandeur. Row NYC transforms your stay into a completely contemporary experience- with a front row view to Times Square that’s truly incomparable. Our NYC hotel’s guests undeniably reside in the middle of it all, with exciting access to everything and anything – 24/7.

Located in the heart of Times Square, the Row NYC hotel was originally designed in 1928 by Herbert J. Knapp— theatre architect extraordinaire— and has remained its own dramatic New York icon…

Row Hotel NYC, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Fox Greenberg PR

In reviewing The Row NYC Hotel I noticed a huge flare in modern and classic architecture when it comes to the overall visual of the hotel itself. The look of the lobby read old school 1950’s and 60’s with a modern take that was quite visibly stunning. The usage of the color brown, normally not the most eye appealing color in any palate, really shines through and was quite welcoming upon my entrance inside.

Although there was a bit of a scuffle at check in due to a busy weekend, the majority of my stay was quite nice. The suite itself read three things- Glamour, Glitz, and Pizzazz. The portraits of stars from our yester-years like Mick Jagger, Jeri Hall amongst others with the endless pops of color the room really was phenomenally put together. I was in awe the minute I walked into the room as there was so much to look at, not to mention the amazing views of Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen right outside the window. The suite itself actually had such an amazing entrance that read like graffiti (see below) and acted as if this could be a place where you could truly live year round and have fabulous parties with your friends and family.

Manhattan Digest, Row Hotel NYC — Credit to: Fox Greenberg PR

They also have a fantastic eatery located right in the lobby called District M, which bills itself as a ” European express cafe by day, a Neapolitan pizza bar and cocktail lounge by night” . I stopped by their for breakfast this morning and the supply they provide food and drink wise for their clientele was quite impressive, including hot steel cut oats, granola, fresh fruits and berries, Greek yogurt, boiled farm eggs, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, as well as a full European coffee program. Be on the lookout for their new initiative called City Kitchen, which you can also find on their website.

Overall I would give my experience an 8 out of 10, as the majority of what made it great was the suite itself. I would recommend staying there for anyone visiting the New York City area as for the looks and quality of the room I stayed in, it’s a no brainer.

Healthy Snacking & Ideas for 2015 And Beyond

by Ryan Shea

Who doesn’t love snacking? Especially when you are in a 3 o’clock slump at work, watching a movie with friends or at your friend’s party, chances are you will be making a beeline for the cookies, chips and relatively unhealthy items regardless of how delicious they are. Cue in the guilt when you overindulge and those pesky couple of pounds you are trying to lose were just made that much harder to do with all the snack consumption you had the night before. Well fear not, because we have found a bunch of really great options for all of our readers to try out to fulfill their urge to snack yet stay healthy in doing so. Check out these delicious and satisfying treats below!

Kind Bars, Manhattan Digest, Healthy Snacking — Credit to: Kind Snacks

Kind Nuts & Spices Bars

I discovered Kind Bars a couple of years ago and was delighted by so many aspects of what this company does! Something I tend to hate when it comes to healthy eating is that a lot of nutritional bars have a very mealy type taste to them that becomes very hard to digest, on top of not having a ton of flavor. Kind Bars do the exact opposite! The Kind Nuts & Spices Bars are my favorite line that they produce because it has the following-Made from whole ingredients you can see & pronounce®, 5g of sugar or less, high in fiber, good source of protein, and of course, seemingly indulgent. I would highly recommend trying their line of dark chocolate bars, especially the one pictured above as it combines the sweet and salty elements really well. To learn more about Kind Bars, visit their official website.

Belvita, Healthy Snacks, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Belvita

Belvita Breakfast Bites

I would highly recommend having these as a delicious add on to your morning breakfast routine as it comes packaged with great bonuses to keep your diet in check! Each 50g serving of belVita Bites Breakfast Biscuits contains 230 calories, 20g of whole grain and 4g fiber and is a good way to pair with a serving of fruit and low-fat or non-fat dairy for a complete breakfast. Seeing as this product just launched recently,BelVita will be rewarding individuals’ small morning victories with their own, personalized, mini website. From now until January 23^rd, I encourage everyone to tweet your#MorningWin to @belVita using both #MorningWin and #Entry for a chance to win your own customized site! More information on Belvita’s official website.

Tropical Smoothie, Healthy Snacking, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Konnect PR

Tropical Smoothie’s Detox Island Green Smoothie

Smoothie’s have been the rage for quite some time now. Sometimes we think what we are drinking is 100 percent healthy but a lot of these smoothies are chock full of sugars which can then translate into fats, something that of course is no good. Tropical Smoothie, my all time favorite smoothie chain, has just the solution to enjoy all the flavors of yummy smoothies without the guilt of the added sugars. Upon your next visit, you should try their Detox Island Green Smoothie. Made with Spinach, Kale, Mango, Pineapple, Banana & Fresh Ginger (naturally sweetened), this smoothie only has 181 calories and 32 grams of sugar, as well as 100 percent of Vitamin A & C. I highly recommend it the next time you visit. For more information, please visit their official site.

Tag Me A Date Keeps On Trucking Into 2015

by Ryan Shea

Niche dating has been all the rage in the past couple of years. No matter what your interest is you will find a particular site that works for what you like (there is even sites for Vegans and Boat Captains. Ahoy!) One of those particular niche’s is pro wrestling, and the one site worth visiting if that is your forte is Tag Me A Date.

If you didn’t read my fantastic interview with CEO Steven Glenwick last month, Tag Me A Date, which is now available in the United States, Canada and the UK, bills itself as “Wresting Night is Date Night”. When you create a profile on the site, it skips the redundant questions that other sites ask and focuses strictly on the love you have for pro-wrestling. You can find matches based on who your favorite wrestler, manager or tag team is which in turn can create great conversation and be a fantastic icebreaker.

Steven believes this is a concept that he’s glad he started but is long overdue. “Professional wrestling is a multi-billion dollar industry with millions upon millions of fans. We feel this is something wrestling fans have been waiting for, for a long time. One of the most featured questions concerning this idea is; “How come this has not been done before?” That is music to my ears as I contemplated that very question and came to the very notion of doing a dating site for wrestling fans. Wrestling fans are people at the end of the day and many people want to find their significant other.”

Since our interview, there have been a ton of great advancements that Tag Me A Date has made in order to attract more people to their site, sign up and ultimately find their one true love. On top of their great search functionality you also have the ability to create a promo video about yourself as opposed to the generic picture. Seeing as the WWE is so interactive anyways, especially with the pro wrestlers and their fans, this is a great idea in my opinion and will get the other person who is watching to know you that much better, both inside the ring and out.

tag me a date, manhattan digest — Credit to: Tag Me A Date

There is also a huge bonus incentive for the ladies out there that want to try out Tag Me A Date! Seeing as the biggest day of love is coming up a month from today, Valentine’s Day, Tag Me A Date is offering one free year if they sign up next month. Tag Me A Date is also taking their initiative on the road in 2015, by sponsoring The Masters Of The Ring event in March and May as well as the first ever Hammerlock Awards with Northeast Wrestling that was held on January 10^thin Connecticut (pics above). They also held a contest for that event- any women that signed up for the site now were entered for a chance to win a date to that event with either the“Thrillride” Jimmy Preston or the “Sure Thing” Mark Shurman. Another great event they are working with is pictured below.

Be sure to check out Tag Me A Date’s official site if pro wrestling and love are your thing, or if you happen to know someone that would find this suitable for the person they are really trying to find.

Del Frisco’s Grille Flavors Up Rockefeller Center

by Ryan Shea

With how cold the weather has gotten in New York City this Winter, many Manhattanites are spending their weekends inside cozying up and avoiding the impending doom of cold that will hit them upon leaving their apartment. However there are many that are willing to face the freezing weather and enjoy their time out with friends and loved ones, especially at a really good restaurant. One that I would highly recommend going to is Del Frisco’s Grille, located right in the heart of Rockefeller Center on 51st Street between 6th and 5th Avenue. This couldn’t be in a more savvy and convenient location for in and out of towners as it is by the theater district as well as being right next to the world famous Radio City Music Hall. I had heard about Del Frisco’s from many of my friends who came back with rave reviews about the beautiful location and food that was prepared, so last night I took a friend of mine to see what all the fuss was about.

Del Frisco’s itself is quite a beautiful sight to see. It is dimly lit which is perfect for this time of year and incredibly spacious unlike other restaurants near the area that seem to get claustrophobic and tight from the moment of arrival. The wait staff and management was incredibly friendly and took care of us very well throughout the night. Known for taking the classic bar and grill to new heights, Del Frisco’s Grille draws inspiration from bold flavors and market-fresh ingredients with shareable plates that encourage guests to “meet up, drink up.” Having that information handy made the selections for what we were eating that much easier for us, and the overall experience with food was pretty much perfect in my opinion.

For the food choices, should you ever be in the area and want to have a great culinary experience, might I suggest the following to you for a delicious meal that will leave you satisfied and happy upon your exit-

Manhattan Digest, Del Frisco's — Credit to: Quinn PR

Cheesesteak Eggrolls with a Sweet & Spicy Chili Sauce & Honey Mustard (Pictured Above)- I was told over and over again last night that this was what people raved about when they went to Del Frisco’s and boy were they right. The taste of the eggroll itself was quite delicious however when you add the chili sauce and honey mustard it really elevates the flavor of the eggroll itself. Perfect way to start your meal off.

Lollipop Chicken Wings with an Avacado Ranch Dressing- These are served buffalo style and pack quite a flavor in such a small bite. The buffalo flavor was not too spicy and it paired very well with the avacado ranch dressing.

Jumbo Crabcake with Cajun Lobster Sauce- Was able to cut into the cake very easily and just like the chicken wings and eggrolls the sauce that came along with it really took the cake to a whole other level. The sauces in all three of these dishes were great compliments to the appetizers themselves.

Del Frisco's, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Quinn PR

Pepperoni & Sausage Flatbread & Roasted Tomato Flatbread- Not being the biggest fan of flatbreads I was a bit apprehensive, however the quality of the meat and the fresh mozzarella was spot on and really rounded out the starting dishes for me and my friend at Del Frisco’s.

Filet Mignon 8 OZ with Truffle Mac N Cheese- This is a dish that we both tried and really enjoyed. The charred aspect on it was a bit much to be honest, however the Filet was cooked to perfection (medium rare) and came with a really tasty Port-Foie Gras Butter. The Truffle Mac N Cheese had some great taste elements as well.

Nutella Bread Pudding- The name speaks for itself. Topped with Coffee Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce this dessert hits home for the season and the taste really explodes in your mouth when you pair all three of it together.

Overall I would rate this experience a 9 out of 10. I would highly recommend anyone stopping by and trying out the vast options that Del Frisco’s has. I had a great time and I am looking forward to my next visit.

For more information about Del Frisco’s, check out their official site.

Muscle Bears At The Gym: Gym-timidation or Insecurity?

by Ryan Shea Leave a Comment

As the New Year has begun, the inevitable list of Resolutions are made by millions of people to start their year off right and change something that they are currently doing for the better. The most common resolution people make is of course to lose weight, and that couldn’t be further from the truth when you go to your local gym for the first couple of months in the year and notice the overcrowding of said “Resolution-ers”. Many of them happen to break those resolutions and eventually the gym becomes the regulars that you see on a daily basis. So what happens when you are one of the people who stick to your resolution, have weight to lose, and are surrounded by men who from your own point of view have met their goals and then some? We are talking about the muscle bears, gym bunnies and general men who are in great shape that to the average Joe’s out there are looking to in some way resemble them whether it is for muscle mass or a lean physique. When it comes from someone who is looking to achieve their workout goals but aren’t there yet, do we view these men as intimidating because of their physique or is it merely insecurity that each of us experience on our own end?

Muscle Bear, Manhattan Digest — Heaviest at the left, lightest at the right.

I myself am someone who resides both in New York City for work and Long Island where I live. For years I used to go to a local gym on Long Island where for the most part it is a wide gamut of people, both men and women, of all ages, shapes and sizes. The “gym-timidation” wasn’t necessarily there as it seemed to be more regular people going and just enjoying their time. I weighed at my heaviest 280 and when I went to these local gyms my main focus was in fact just losing the weight and that was it. It was very easy for me to drop after a while and at my lightest I was 215. I felt amazing and the constant affirmations I would get from friends and family helped that cause out. Due to my work schedule in New York City, going to the gym back at home became a bit of an exhaustive type of thing due to my long commute back home and I figured going to one in the city would be beneficial for me as I would still have a ton of energy that I can burn off after I left work. So I decided to join one in the city, a primarily gay one. That is when the focus for me shifted a bit.

I joined the brand new Crunch Fitness on 19th and 8th, and was able to get a pretty sweet deal due to knowing a guy who at that point worked there as a trainer. This was where the shift for me really occurred. It became a situation where the majority of the men in there were Adonis like, ranging from my age to above and they were everywhere in a much smaller space than my last gym. Whether doing cardio, arms, legs or whatever floats your boat there they would be right in front of you, lifting more than your entire body plus 200 pounds or doing some insane leg workout you thought was reserved for freak show acts at the circus. On top of that, you have the locker room. As amazing as they would look, the comparisons would become that much greater as it became increasingly awkward to walk around in a towel (designed for washing dishes, not bodies FYI) and seeing where they are aceing and you are not quite there yet. Now this is just my common experience, and it does read insecurity of course as it has been an epic battle to get where my body needs to be, but do these quote unquote “Muscle Bears” make us feel this way due to how they look and interact at the gym, or really is it that unique individual whose insecurity breeds in these types of situations?

I took off five months off recently from the gym for whatever stupid reasons I did, and now that I am back and have put on quite a bit of weight. I am back at at 4-5 times a week and am determined to get back on track and get myself to the goals that I want. Yet I did feel that insecurity come back a bit after a long time off, and decided to ask a bunch of my friends if they have had similar experiences with other guys at the gym.

“I’m intimidated by EVERYBODY fit or fat alike.” #SocialAnxiety

“It’s probably insecurity. I’ve never spoken to a guy who I thought was jacked at the gym who ended up being a douche. But I also go to serous bodybuilder gyms with less social nonsense.”

“When I was really fat and when I was really skinny, the really jacked guys were actually nice to me. They were encouraging and glad to see me in the gym making a difference. Now, the kinda-fit gym bunnies are assholes a lot of the time. They’ll be judgmental about fat people or skinny people because that’s what they do. Serious lifters love the gym and love to share that with others.”

“As someone who started at 150 and is now 170, I always feel it helps to realize that *everyone* is there for the same root goal. To be as healthy as they can be. Even the stacked ones, the thin ones, etc… “Everyone starts somewhere.” And just like anyone else in life, if they don’t care to know you, screw em. You’re there for *you.*”

“I’ve been lifting for 17 years now with every type of person possible and the facts is that you are intimidated by what and who you don’t know. People in the gym really are not paying attention to you unless you are making an absolute spectacle of yourself. Those people don’t last long.”

“The guy or girl who is just getting started out and can only bench press the bar, or less get respect. ALL of us were that guy at one time. They are trying to get ahead and should not feel as intimidated as they think. Lifters of all types just have more muscle. On the inside, they are still the same and get it. In fact, most would be happy to give a tip or two; just ask for help after they have completed their set. Respect begets respect. If the intimidation is too great however, then spend the extra money and get a trainer or join crossfit/bootcamp/etc to build your confidence level. There are so many ways to skin a cat, you just have to find the right one that fits your goals.”

“People often forget that bodybuilding often attracts an introverted personality… not always, of course.. but often. More extroverted men often do team sports with more social interaction. Therefore, huge guys can be somewhat introverted, but very kind and generous with information (if you catch them at the proper time). Being introverted is often mistaken for “arrogant”, “shallow”, or “narcissistic”.”

Question is here- what do YOU think about this topic? Is it intimidation or pure insecurity?

Here is a good article related to this issue.

Get To Know Producer & Songwriter Paul Andrews

by Ryan Shea

In my many years of doing interviews with people in and out of the music community, one division that I never really focused on are the producers, songwriters and remixers that can bring certain songs to life. Historic people in the industry from Diane Warren (Unbreak My Heart, How Do I Live) to Ryan Tedder (Halo, Bleeding Love) have all shaped music in one way or another. There have also been times where remixing a song turns out to be better than the original, most recently with hits like “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line which was remixed to feature hip-hop icon Nelly and historically songs like “I’m Real” remixed with Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule and pretty much every Lana Del Rey Song.

Cue in Paul Andrews, who is a quadruple threat all wrapped in one cute and handsome frame! Paul has been in the industry for many years now, and has credits to his name from being a producer, songwriter, remixer & arranger. Even though Paul and I both reside on Long Island, I didn’t meet him until this past summer at Provincetown’s epic Bear Week with his equally as awesome partner Tom. I later saw Paul post a ton of songs he was remixing and I didn’t want to miss out on a chance to interview him and get to know him better. A walking Billboard Magazine of musical influence, Paul Andrews is the real deal when it comes to his knowledge and experience in the industry. Did I mention cute already? Just look at the pics. I sat down with Paul recently to discuss his history in the industry, some of his favorite songs he has worked on and remixed, and plans for the future. Take a look!

Hi Paul! So tell me what got you into producing, remixing & writing in the first place?

Hi Ryan! Without a doubt, I would have to credit my mom for getting me into music. She offered my brother and me piano lessons when we were very young and then kept on encouraging me in all my musical pursuits. She also played a lot of music while we were growing up, from classical to R&B to pop. My mom has great taste in music and I developed an ear for good songs and full musical arrangements because of her.

In school, I played in band, jazz band and orchestra and I sang in the choir. I ended up getting a degree in music theory and composition. It just seemed natural for me to write and produce music since music has always been a part of me.

Did you have any huge inspirations growing up that led you to doing this?

I wish I could list everyone since I was constantly being influenced and kept in awe by so many great musicians. There are different aspects of record making, so I drew different inspiration from each part. My biggest classical influence was and still is Claude Debussy. His use of harmony was ear-opening for me. It has stayed with me my entire life. I drew inspiration from incredible songwriters like Carly Simon, Brenda Russell, Burt Bacharach, Rod Temperton, John Farrar and Antonio Carlos Jobim who wrote great melodies with interesting harmonies.

Producers and arrangers like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Trevor Horn, Arif Mardin, David Foster, Narada Michael Walden and Walter Afanasieff got me into the production aspect of music. And artist like Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Basia, Swing Out Sister Out Sister, Sade, Tears For Fears, Oleta Adams, Everything But The Girl and ABBA knew how to deliver the entire package.

You have done a ton of great remixes, one of my favorites being Mary J. Blige’s song “Just Fine”. What is your process when remixing a song that is already exceptional at the level it is at?

Thanks! Part of the process is just finding the vocals to work with! Sometimes I am afraid of touching songs that are considered “classic”, but then I think that I’m offering something unique to the listener. I had to let go of the fact that some people just won’t like what I do, and that freed me up. Why give people what you think they want when the best you can offer is what you uniquely have to offer?!

The term “remix” might confuse some people in regards to my work since I’m not necessarily making a club version of a song. When I remix (or rearrange), I try to take the song in an entirely different direction. I challenge myself to see if I can capture the style or the sound of other periods. I tend to keep the tempo of the original song and not alter the speed of the vocals too much. Harmony is really important to me, so I usually start my ideas by getting a new chord progression down (and seeing how far out of the key I can go!) It can totally change the feel of the melody.

I like creating moments in songs where things just open up or quiet down. I know I’m onto something when I get that “chill” factor. Surprisingly, a lot of my arranging is done in my head when I’m away from the studio. I constantly have music going in my head. Sometimes I’ll start singing to myself and not even realize it. I have had sleep issues when I can’t turn off the music in my head.

Do you have a favorite remix that you have done so far and why is it that one?

One?! But they’re all like children to me! I can’t say that I have a favorite, but I do have some favorite aspect of certain mixes:

Seal “Crazy” – I felt like I got a classic sound of it. I wanted it to have that grand sound and feeling.

Kylie “Slow” – This was the first mix where I just let go of expectation and did what I wanted to do. I love samba and apparently, a lot of other people do to.

Donna Summer “I’m A Fire” – Right after her passing, I did this mix out of my love for her (I was devastated). I really felt my sincerity came through.

Adele “Rumor Has it” – Pure orgasm when I got that bridge to work!

Adele “Set Fire To The Rain” – First mix where I didn’t go for a club tempo or feel and where I went to an older 80’s style.

Adele “Someone Like You” – I really like how I completely changed this song and got that 60’s orchestral feel.

Madonna “Lucky Star” – I imagined what this song would have sounded like had Madonna recorded it a few years prior with the same producer.

Hall & Oates “I Can’t Go For That” – I like that I created a funky thumper, changing up a lot of the chords while making it feel familiar.

Pet Shop Boys w/ Dusty Springfield “What Have I Done To Deserve This” – This was pure 60’s fun!

You get some pretty big artists retweeting the remixes you do, Kylie Minogue was recent. Have you ever had the ability to meet any of these people and work with them?

Yes, Kylie liked my mix and tweeted it out. I got a bunch of plays from that tweet! She actually called our house once, but that’s another story…

I love the internet and social media because I’ve been able to connect with people who I’ve admired for so long. I feel very fortunate and humbled to have received compliments from some of my idols like Brenda Russell, Jimmy Jam, Steve Anderson, Nile Rodgers, Danny White (Basia), Mike Stock (S.A.W.), Andy Connell (Swing Out Sister), Lisa Coleman (Wendy & Lisa), Jody Watley… And then I felt beyond ecstatic when some of them actually posted my work. I was lucky to have met some of them, but haven’t worked with any of them… yet!

One of the most memorable compliments came from Sebastian Morton who cowrote and produced “I’m A Fire” with Donna Summer. He heard my mix and wrote to me saying that the way I arranged it captured the essence of what they were going for when they wrote the song. He also said that he knew Donna would have loved it.

When I first moved to New York, I was fortunate enough to become friends with Toni C. (Whitney Houston, Deborah Harry). We wrote and produced a few things together. We had such a blast!

Do you have a dream artist that you are dying to work with on a remix?

I really felt that I connected with Adele’s voice on the 4 mixes I did. Or maybe it’s just that her voice has so much character, it sounds great on anything! I would definitely love to work with her. I wish that could have worked with Donna Summer. I guess the next best thing would have been to work on her posthumous remix album. I’d still love to get my hands on some vocals to give it a try. I definitely have this thing for female voices.

You have been in the industry for quite some time now. What are your thoughts on how the industry is today compared to how it was when you got into it?

It’s changed a lot. But it’s not just a change in the industry: the way we make music and the way we listen to it has changed too.

Back when I first starting remixing, record companies really worked an artist. They developed them, found the right songs, built a name for the artist… Now it seems that these companies want a finished product, complete with a fan base, all wrapped up nicely and ready to sell with a bazillion remixes (all done on spec) on the side. There’s no development. Basically, the A&R man has gone away.

Because of technology and the internet, so many people are now making music and sharing it. It’s great to have so many options, but sometimes things get lost. Some computer programs are basically writing and producing songs with a few clicks of a mouse. The craft is missing. The public is eating all of it up, but they want it NOW and they want it for free. Meanwhile, so much of what they’re listening to is all frosting and no cake. They get bored quickly and move onto the next flavor. One friend told me that her daughter was playing song in the car through her iPhone. She would listen to each song until the end of the first chorus, and then skip to the next song. Finally, my friend asked her daughter to “please let one song finish!”

On the other side of this, the internet has allowed older artists, or artists that don’t necessarily do popular music, to release material on their own without a recording contract. They have an outlet and can do the kind of music they like without any input from the record companies. I love supporting the artist directly.

Paul Andrews, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: PaulAndrews.org

What are your plans for 2015 and beyond for Paul Andrews?

Well, I’ll continue to do the mixes, but I want to start collaborating with other musicians, get involved in some projects… I definitely need to concentrate on original material. I tend to like so many different styles, I’m just going to see what comes out of my head!

Want to know more about Paul Andrews? Check out his official site’s below!

Get To Know My Big Funny Peter A.K.A. Peter Bisuito

by Ryan Shea

Funny can come in all different shapes and sizes, but not often do we find someone of a particular physique and stature do it so well as my buddy Peter Bisuito, AKA “My Big Funny Peter” does. Peter, who resides in upstate New York, has developed quite the following for himself in recent years as his stand up gigs become bigger and bigger. I met this brooding & tall drink of muscle water over the summer at Provincetown’s epic Bear Week, in which he was one of the highlighted performances. As someone who has a bit of an intimidation factor when it comes to muscle bears, Peter couldn’t have been any more of the opposite. He was kind, sweet and funny all at the same time besides being quite the eye catcher if I may say so myself. After meeting him at Bear Week I wanted to get to know him more and most importantly how he decided to make people laugh more than just a hobby.

Peter sits down and discusses with me how he got into the industry, what makes him laugh the most, how his Bear Week experience was and what the future holds for him and My Big Funny Peter. Take a look.

Manhattan Digest, mybigfunnypeter.com — Credit to: Mybigfunnypeter.com

Hey Peter! So how did you get started in the comedy world in the first place?

I’ve been a performer since I was a teen-ager but its been all theater. I started as a dancer in musical theater 25 years and 90 pounds ago. Comedy is something I’ve wanted to try all my life but never had the courage to do so. But in January 2011 I hosted an awards banquet for a local theater company and asked them if I could try a bit of stand up before the ceremony. They said yes. So I wrote a 20-minute set and killed it! The audience loved me and I decided from that point on I was going to pursue comedy.

Who would you say are some of your influences that helped you along the way?

Definitely my husband, Mark. He was so impressed with my comedy he actually encouraged me to quit my job and give up my income to purse comedy full-time.

Is your comedy based strictly on LGBT material or does it go outside the grain of that?

Oh God no. LGBT is only a fraction of what I do. Many of my audiences are predominately straight. I only perform in front of all gay audiences whenever I’m hired to host or headline an all-gay event. My comedy appeals to everybody. Gay, straight, young, old etc.

What makes you laugh the most on a consistent basis? Do you ever use what makes you laugh and put that into your act?

So many things make me laugh. I truly laugh all throughout the day. Whether it’s something cute and funny my dog did, or something I heard on TV. Or even something stupid that I did like trip over the end table or drop something in the toilet. I was on the couch one day watching TV and I farted so loud it scared the cat. She jumped off the couch and ran into the basement. That right there made me laugh for a good 17 days straight! And yes of course I use all of this in my act because I figure, if it made me laugh, it will certainly make an entire audience laugh!!

Peter Bisuito, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Mybigfunnypeter.com

You obviously have a fantastic physique. Do you think aesthetic plays a huge part of being successful in the gay world?

Truthfully when I started comedy, everybody and their mother told me I would sell-out every show because of my muscular body. I have come to realize over the past few years that the way I look actually works against me. People are not used to seeing a big beefy bodybuilding comedian. People fear the unknown so when they see me they say to themselves, “Wait a minute. A big muscular comedian?? There’s no way this guy can be funny.” Especially in the gay community. If I had a dollar for every time a gay man said to me, “Are you going to perform naked?” I have a very difficult time convincing people that I’m a legitimate funny comedian. Just because I’m in shape doesn’t make my life easy. I continue to claw and scratch for every ticket I sell.

I met you over the summer at the infamous Bear Week in Provincetown. Was that your first or have you gone before? What was your show like?

Bear Week 2014 was my 3^rd time performing there. All my shows have been well received with lots of laughter and love from the audience. However, all 3 years I was about 5 or 6 tickets short of a sell-out. I’ll be back for 2015 so hopefully this will be my very first year that I will see that SOLD OUT sign across my poster!!

Seeing as you are part of the bear community where do you think we can improve on overall to make us more unified?

Actually I think the Bear community has done an amazing job at being unified. There is a whole Bear movement going on right now. We are the shit baby! There are Bear events going on all over the world!! And the nice thing about the Bear events is that we are all accepting. We truly welcome anybody whether they are Bears or not. That’s why most Bear events promote themselves not only to Bears, but to “Bear Admirers.” Can you believe it?? We are ADMIRED!! I think people love the Bears because we are always so happy and down-to-earth. And I think the reason for that is because Bears aren’t hungry! No need to be bitchy when you’re well fed!

Do you think there is enough representation of gay comedians in the mainstream media?

Hmm, I don’t really really have an opinion on this. I’ll have to think about it and give you my answer during my next interview!! J

You are based in upstate NY however if the opportunity strikes would you ever consider relocating?

Oh come on! Who wouldn’t want to live in BUFFALO for the rest of their lives?? Ha. Actually the only reason why I live in Buffalo is because my husband has a good steady job here. He’s been working there for 26 years. If he found a job elsewhere we’d move immediately. Buffalo is a great city but sometimes I feel life is passing us by. However I will say my husband always tells me that if opportunity knocks, he would want me to go. Mark and I have been together for 12 wonderful years. We love each other more now than we did when we first met. Our love continues to grow with each passing year. He wouldn’t want me to miss any opportunity no matter what. So just because I live in the big flashy and exciting city of Buffalo, doesn’t mean I would pass any opportunity that came my way.

Now that 2015 is here, what are the next steps career wise for you?

I’d really like to get an agent and/or business manager. I have the talent but I just don’t have the contacts. I think an agent would really help but unfortunately I don’t even know where to start looking for one. I’m also very excited about this awesome project I’m working on. I’m developing my own YouTube web series called Exposing Peter. It’s a show based on my comedy. There will be reality moments, scripted moments, sit-com moments. There will also be funny cooking, travel and workout segments. I already have 2 episodes complete. I’m working on a few more and I hope to make my series premiere in February or March 2015 with a new episode every month. I’m so excited at the DOZENS of viewers I’ll be getting!! So STAY TUNED!!

Anything else you want to add?

Well, I guess this is where I get a bit sentimental on your asses. I grew up extremely closeted. I thought the entire world hated me because I was gay. It caused horrible self-esteem issues. So I would make people laugh to gain their acceptance. It’s become a way of life for me. However, I got a very late start. I always wanted to make my living as a performer but my life just didn’t go in that direction. It was only 2 years ago when I decided to give up my life and my income in order to purse comedy and entertaining full-time. I put myself on food-stamps and Medicade and now I feel like I’m trying to catch up for 25 lost years! I spend every minute of my life thinking of ways to make people laugh. I want to be as successful as I can but I don’t want to wait until I’m 65. In other words, I don’t want to be Estelle Getty! So all I ask is that people share my videos, tell all your friends and follow me on social media.

Want to know more about Peter? Log on to his official site.

All Music Inc Celebrates 30 Years In The Biz

by Ryan Shea

30 years in business for anyone is good, but when you add a roster of guests that include everyone from Twisted Sister to Keith Urban, you are clearly doing something right. This past December, All Music Inc celebrated its 30th year in business at its flagship store in Plainview, Long Island. They have been described as the musician’s best friend out here on the island, due in part to its massive involvement in all things music- from guitar selection, lessons and more- they have you covered. They have even opened up their own Rock N Roll University in Hauppauge, which provides musical instruction with band performance rehearsals, eventually leading to live concerts. More information on that here.

With all of the success they are having, I was lucky enough to sit down with owner Guy Brogna (pictured right) about the longevity of his business, his partnership with The Space in Westbury, and hopeful plans for the future. Take a look.

All Music Inc, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: All Music Inc

How does it feel to be 30 years into the business?

Even though I have only been here 13 years, I have been coming to the store since it opened. I became friends of the previous owner, Irwin Natman, when he opened the store 30 years ago. I was coming to this store even before he owned it as a little kid. Back then it was called Straub Music.

What has been All Music’s biggest success story since inception?

Irwin started with only a handful of his own guitars on the floor to sell. If you come down now and look at the store, you will see over 700 guitars. The success of the business is the growth and staying power of a small store like this.

Speaking of, how did this whole thing get started?

Like before, Irwin started it. I became friends with him. Throughout the years All Music would take care of my instruments before I would go out on tour and in turn I would thank him and All Music on my cd’s.

Who are some of the bigger acts over the years that have stopped by All Music?

We have had so many! Mark “The Animal” Mendoza (Twisted Sister), Bakithi Kumalo, Billy Squier, The Good Rats, Most of the Scatterbrain, Rob Balducci, Johnny A, Jesse Lacey from Brand New, Anthony Esposito from Lynch Mob/Ace Frehley, Joe Satriani and Keith Urban have all at one point bought guitars from us.

What separates All Music from the pack, a la Guitar Center for example?

For one, service. Everything we sell we service. And service to the customer. We treat them like family. We don’t just try to sell them something we need to get rid of or make the most money on. We want the customer to be happy with the choice they make and we are there to guide them. No one works on commission so everyone that walks through our door is treated the same whether it is a $5 piece of sheet music or a $5000 guitar.

Tell us about your relationship with The Space in Westbury?

I did a show at The Space with WBAB, Twisted Sister and Joe Rock. When I first went into the venue I came across their Lounge. I immediately fell in love with the room. I approached them with doing shows for Long Island acts because there was nothing going on in that room and I felt it needed to be used. I supplied the back line for the room and we are bringing in different bands to play on Thursday nights.

What are your hopes for the future of All Music?

I hope to continue to grow and bring music to the younger generations to come. I would like us to become more of a destination for local musicians. I would also like to see people coming back into the stores instead of buying online. I can’t understand how you can spend thousands of dollars on a guitar that you never even picked up.

Want to know more About All Music Inc? Log on to their official site.

The 20 Greatest Songs Of The 90’s- 20 to 11

by Ryan Shea

Like A Moth To A Flame, I Like The Way You Work It, You Were Meant For Me. Yeah, 90’s.

The 90’s is arguably the greatest decade of music. As someone who has grown up as a lover of music and was even called a “walking radio station” growing up, this decade alone has given me so much nostalgia and memories of a time where music was great and had meaning and flavor to it. The music today pales in comparison to the amazing and one of a kind songs that the 90’s really put out, and I wanted to take all of that joy and put it into a short but sweet list of what I think are the 20 best songs. After watching VH1’s version of this, I had to make a rebuttal as some they got right and some they got dead wrong (“I Want It That Way” at #3? Girl Bye!) Everyone has an opinion about what they think is the best, so please sound off and let me know what you think.

20. Ace Of Base- “The Sign”

It really is hard to believe that no matter how hard you fight it, Swedish pop has a way of coming into your lives and making you belt out a synth-heavy tune while jamming in your car or dancing at the club. Ace Of Base did that and more, with their #1 hit song “The Sign” in 1994. The album of the same name was also the #1 best selling album of the year and Billboard’s #1 song as in a midst of R&B megahits from Boyz II Men to All 4 One as an example. Ace Of Base proved to not be one hit wonders with follows up from the album such as “Don’t Turn Around” and “All That She Wants” but pretty much anyone can tell you that when you say the name “Ace Of Base” generally this song comes to mind. Delicious swedish pop- eat it up.

19. Brandy & Monica- “The Boy Is Mine”

The 90’s was known for many different types of genres, most notably R&B throughout. Brandy & Monica were two of the hottest female R&B artists at that time, spawning solo hits like “One Of Dem Days” and “Sittin Up In My Room”. But when it came time for them to duet on a timeless tale of two women fighting over one men, the chemistry was undeniable. “The Boy Is Mine” became one of the biggest songs of 1998, winning Brandy & Monica their first Grammy award and spending an unprecedented 13 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100. It also had a fantastic music video with actor Mekhi Pfeifer being the man in between and ultimately being the one left alone. Both these women are crazy talented and this was pure serendipitous when they put their sultry vocals together.

18. Notorious B.I.G. Featuring Total- “Juicy”

Certain music artists, including ones on this list, will always have the “Could’ve Been” factor, meaning what could they have been had they not passed away so suddenly. Notorious B.I.G. is a classic example of that. Biggie catapulted to fame in the mid 90’s with this track and one of the most recognizable lines in hip-hop history- “And if you don’t know, now ya know”, which has been used in several songs since then. In his short career he put out two flawless albums- “Ready To Die” and “Life After Death”, both chock full of massive hits but when you think Biggie overall, you think “Juicy”.

17. Jewel- “You Were Meant For Me”

Alaskan native Jewel dropped her first album in 1995 with “Pieces Of You”, but it didn’t necessarily go anywhere chart wise until the second single was released- the painfully softly sung “You Were Meant For Me”. The angst from her voice with the strums of her guitar mixed with a simple yet beautiful video put this easily in my top 20. It really is a song you can never get tired of, and it makes me yearn for why she still isn’t as big of a star as she was back then.

16. Sarah McLachlan- “Building A Mystery”

Staying on that Lilith Fair tip is Sarah Mclachlan, who released one of the best albums of the 90’s in “Surfacing”. The phenomenal album was catapulted by its first single “Building A Mystery”. Sarah described the song as this- “Basically about the fact that we all… have insecurities to hide, and we often do that by putting on a facade.” She also goes on to say that “Unfortunately, if we just be who we are, that’s usually the more attractive and beautiful thing”. It is such a simple yet beautiful track when it gets down to it and one of my favorites that she has ever released.

15. No Doubt- “Don’t Speak”

Ska had a huge influence in the 90’s, and Gwen Stefani was its true queen in every sense of the word. No Doubt was like a semi lighter version of the band Garbage, and had so many funkadelic tracks to go along with. “Tragic Kingdom” remains one of the best albums of the 90’s IMO but “Don’t Speak”, which details the breakup of her and another band member, is simply divine with its rock edge and fantastic lyricism. Gwen For Life.

14. Janet Jackson- “That’s The Way Loves Goes”

Janet reigned supreme in the 90’s with two massive albums and hits galore. Her best is “That’s The Way Love Goes”, one of the best smooth jams the music industry has ever seen. At the helms of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis lies this beautifully sung and melodic hit detailing the intimacy one person has with another. The video itself also introduced us to a future superstar in the making- Jennifer Lopez. In a standout of standouts for Janet, this one takes the cake.

13. Spice Girls- “Wannabe”

You would’ve had to have been in a coma or dead in the mid to late 90’s to not know who the Spice Girls were. One of the biggest girl groups of all time, they won the hearts of millions (and me) with their debut single “Wannabe”. I still to this day don’t get the “If you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends”, but whatever it made for a gigantic pop track and put them on the lips of millions of adoring fans. POSH SPICE GET OVER YOURSELF AND REUNITE WITH THEM SO THEY CAN DO ONE MORE TOUR. Thanks girl.

12. Whitney Houston- “I Will Always Love You”

I’ll make this simple. The best song to ever be a remake of an original (Dolly Parton). One of the best songs from a soundtrack to be ever made (The Bodyguard). The highlight of her illustrious career and proof that Whitney will go down in history as of the greatest to have ever existed. RIP.

11. Blackstreet featuring Queen Pen & Dr. Dre- “No Diggity”

Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” is just one of those damn songs that if you are ever at a slow party and the music aint what it supposed to be, you simply play this track and see everyone do a 180. Mixed with sick hip-hop beats, two great rap sessions by Dr. Dre and Queen Pen and smooth 90’s R&B vocals turns this track into a bonafide hit and one of the biggest tracks of 1996. Still timeless to this day. Shawty get down.

Check back here for part two tomorrow!!!

Do I Have A Hit Song- Indie’s Own American Idol

by Ryan Shea

Reality TV has inundated us over the past decade and a half with several competition series all designed to find the next big artist. From “American Idol” to “The Voice” these shows have proven time and time again that there is a ton of great unsigned talent out there for the masses to discover and appreciate. However for many of these shows the focus is geared towards the artist, and not necessarily the song written for them. This is where Do I Have A Hit Song comes in.

Premiering next month on IndiMusic.tv, Do I Have A Hit Song’s goal is to crown the next great songwriter in the sea of fantastic current ones such as Ryan Tedder from One Republic and Diane Warren, whose credits include Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart” and Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”. The winning act at the end of the series will see their submission professionally recorded and produced by Musik and Film, before it’s released worldwide and supported by international radio promotion, video promotion and full physical and digital distribution. The winner will also have the full support of www.indimusic.tv – the online channel which shows the programme and has over 800,000 members in its network – including a spotlight ‘Spotlight Segment’ and ‘Artist Feature’ on the site for the full month following the end of the contest. And that’s not all. Also on offer is a beautiful custom Montarado made acoustic guitar worth $10,500, plus a custom made Toneville amp worth $2,000 – plus official endorsements from both companies!

I was able to sit down with Stephen Wrench of Musik & Film about the show at hand.

How did this concept come about?

Do I Have A Hit Song came about because of our indie record label, Musik and Film. We have utilized our resources to discover ways to promote the indie artist who otherwise would never get heard including a worldwide radio promotions division. We wanted to take it a step further and the concept of Do I Have A Hit Song evolved. There have been many shows that are all glorified karoke contests but never a show that featured indie artists and original music. It was time that the world had a show with real indie artists and their original songs. That is how Do I Have A Hit Song was born.

Was any inspiration drawn from hit shows like American Idol & The Voice?

In a way, yes. People are tired. I was tired of seeing artists get on stage and sing someone else’s song. How can you sing someone else’s song passionately? I was tired of hearing stars critique contestants and lie and tell them they sounded great when they knew they were singing off key. I watched the rating and they were great at the blind auditions then they fell off dramatically. This told me people want real. That’s what we are giving them real indie artists real stories, struggles and real music all their own.

What do you think it takes to actually have a hit song today?

Magic and that is what it has always taken magic. If there were a formula to a hit song everyone would have it and write on. But there is no formula. It is a combination of lyrics and music that reach down into others souls and move them emotionally. If you have that magic it will surface and rise to the top just like cream.

What kind of contestants apply for this show? What backgrounds of music do you usually get when they audition?

We have contestants from all over the world enter from every genre of music with every type of background imaginable.

How is this show broken down and how is the winner determined?

The show is broken down into 9 episodes and 1 final. The 2nd episode is coming Jan 9. Voting on the contestants for each episode is completed during a 4 week session at which time it begins all over again for the next episode. Anyone can go on the website and vote. Six contestants are chosen from the top 12 and 3 contestants are producers’ choice. The performances of the contestants are displayed on the website for voting. The final episode will consist of the 9 winners of each episode. It is very simple the world listens and votes. The world determines who has a “hit song” by their votes.

I was also able to sit down with Eliot Sloan of Blessed Union Of The Souls as well as Drew Copeland about Do I Have A Hit Song, as they are involved in this project as well.

I of course remember you from Sister Hazel and the song “All For You”. What is the biggest thing in your mind that has changed in the industry since you released that track 15 plus years ago?

The single largest thing that has changed since we were signed to Universal records back in 1996 and our song All For You hit the radio has to be digital downloading of music. It changed the way music is bought and listened to.

Same question for you Eliot.

Well it’s always been a challenge to make it in this business, that’s no secret but it seems like things have become more difficult in the last decade or so for alot of different reasons which is what I like about this show so much. It creates an even playing field for artists who can’t gain access to major labels or travel hundreds of miles to stand in line for 8 hours to get on The Voice or American Idol. And while those shows have showcased some enormous talent, Do I Have A Hit Song focuses on the actual song…the words and melody-regardless of what the artist looks like. It just seems so much emphasis nowadays is focused on the image of the artist and the music is secondary. Do I Have A Hit Song focuses on just that-the Song.

Stephen, anything to add to this?

I have been in this business almost 40 years now and worked with some of the best. The biggest thing that has changed is an artist cannot count on being discovered and signed to a major label on development deals. Since the inception of streaming this is no longer possible. Indie artists must understand they are in “business” for themselves. As president of an indie label, I see the indie artist having to act as their own label and do everything that the major labels used to do. As creator and producer of DIHAHS, I see this as an opportunity for the indie artist to be discovered and become a major entity throughout the world.

What are your hopes for this show moving forward?

For viewers to realize this is how every song they have ever heard began. Every star was once an indie artist. Many mega stars struggled for many years before they became an “overnight” sensation. Every hit song was once an idea and a melody that began in the writer’s imagination that became reality because an indie artist created it for the world to hear. In this way, the show will become a household name.

Do I Have A Hit Song, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Rick Eberle

Check out more about this show by logging on to its official site and Musik & Film’s site as well.

Ryan Shea

Like A Moth To A Flame, I Like The Way You Work It, You Were Meant For Me. Yeah, 90’s.

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