Joey Broyles: MAKE ME FAMOUS

As you know I’m a huge Lady Gaga fan and I’d say that’s an understatement. Last Thursday, September 2, 2010 I attended the concert that will change lives. In retrospect my soul has been waiting for an event like this my whole life. A place where you can go and be free and be whoever you want to be. You can be yourself and ain’t nobody gonna tell you otherwise. Like a good little monster I had seen most of the concert online via low res YouTube clips, but those clips can’t express the amount of emotion, talent, and goodwill Gaga gives back to you in that concert hall.

The day started with my friends Jamie and Kristi and my sister Jackie driving down to Milwaukee. We left about 2:30 pm to embark on our adventure to The Monster Ball. We arrived at my sister Brigette’s apartment went to grab some yummy Jimmy John’s and then came back to get ready. I had downloaded a tutorial video off of YouTube onto my phone so that I could do my make up beautifully. The girls were in various places of the apartment also getting ready and just getting all pumped up for an awesome night. Jackie got makeup done by Brigette and I needed some assistance from Kristi for my super long eyelashes (last worn during my Lady Gaga Masquerade Bday Bash). Around 6 pm we were all ready to go to the Bradley Center and we took a fun cab ride to get there!

Look how excited everyone is!

Yay! We're here!

When we arrived at the Bradley Center it was everything a little monster dreams about: a place to be a freak and have a good time. The costumes were so beautiful and you just wanted to go up to every person and congratulate them on their excellence. I went up to a few fellow monsters to tell them I loved their outfits. One guy was wearing the most amazing shoes ever and I know he must have been in pain by the end of the night! Kudos to you fellow monster brother! We got our picture taken next to the GAGA bus and sort of just did our thing getting all excited waiting outside to get in!

Such a brave boy!

Around 7 they let the people who didn’t have general admission ticket in the door. On our way up Virgin Mobile was doing a photo shoot of all little monsters of ages 18 years old and up. Jackie was sweet and waited with us as we went in line to get our photos taken professionally by this glamorous woman! You could see she was a very exciting and hyper lady ready to take your picture and make you look beautiful in your own way. I saw Kristi get her picture taken first and she was super stoked! Then Jamie was up, a little nervous, but she was also super cute in her little get up and she did great. Then the lady was like, “Hello! Joey! Are you ready?” And as a monster I instinctively said, “Rar,” and put my paws up at her! She was all like, “Yes. That’s amazing.” We took a couple of pictures and then she ran over to the girls at the computer and said, “That one!” Little did I know 24 hours after The Monster Ball I ended up here LadyVirgin.com in 9/02 Milwaukee Featured Monster Section! So cool!

Look I got featured! HA!

We got up to our section 421 and bought some sodas and started to get ready for the opening act Semi Precious Weapons. While we were waiting for the opening act they were playing some good music and I may or may not be up on YouTube via a strangers camera. Kristi and I were getting our freak on to Ludacris and I believe I made one of the lady ushers night. If you go to Gaga you gotta shake your ass and be a free bitch, baby! As the clock approached closer to 8:00 pm I was getting excited to see Semi Precious Weapons, I’ve been playing their cd in my garage for almost a month now and I think they are amazing!

As per instructed on Semi Precious Weapons website I printed out the cut out of Justin, the lead singer, and I held his face proud during their sexy 45 minutes on stage. I love glam and I love rock! They were such a bunch of free crazy bisexual hotties! Owwa! When Justin began to chant, “LADY GAGA! LADY GAGA! LADY GAGA!” I got super excited for the moment was almost here: Lady Gaga and me. Of course I wasn’t the only one at the concert but the intimate relationship she shares with her fans it feels like a real loving relationship between two close friends. She knows this and we know this, we are all family in a world where we are made to believe that being different is slutty, inappropriate, and wrong in God’s eyes. You do not have to conform to society’s idea of what is normal!

The stage got dark, the scrim came down, and the projector started to project images of the monster that is Lady Gaga. My heart started to thump in time with the beat, knowing that she opens with Dance In The Dark, my favorite song, I begin to tear up. When the projection leaves and under the scrim is Lady Gaga, I am in heaven. I am where I belong with my musical best friend. She begins to sing and I just lose it, more tears for one of the happiest moments of my life. All you can see is her beautiful shadow as she sings and dances in the dark. The imagery and lyrics to this song create a place for me and all the loved ones I’ve ever lost, we are together and we dance in the dark. I haven’t been this moved since I saw my first gospel choir in a Black Baptist Church, the spirit is alive in Gaga!

A beautiful loving person: Lady Gaga!

After that song you get to see Gaga in the flesh doing what she does best: singing live, dancing, and putting on a good show. I’m proud to know that I have exposed my sister Jackie to a true artist, a genuine loving caring, individual who made Jackie’s first concert epic.

Later during the concert Gaga started to speak telling you things that you long to hear from your wayward parents or friends, something usually coming from a motivational speaker, but with Gaga it’s all real and honest, no bullshit. She tells us you can be whoever you wanna be and she tells us that she was a freak in high school and that she never fit in. Again I cry because it’s like hearing these things for the first time again: I did not fit in, I was a freak, and I’m gay. She expressed her opinions about being gay and how it’s okay and I just felt like a million bucks. No one woman can make you feel like this other than your mother, just an amazing concert.

Gaga singing Paparazzi and facing her fear: the angler fish.

When the concert was over Kristi and I went to the meet and greet with Semi Precious Weapons where we got autographs on Justin’s cut out head and the CD. We also got our picture taken with them, it turned out blurry, but who cares. I met one of Gaga’s dearest friends and the lead singer messed up my hair, just awesome! I left the Bradley Center a new man who had barely a voice from screaming for Lady Gaga harder than any roller coaster ride or injury in my life. We drove home that night happy, changed monsters.

The following day at work, as I was opening the store, the concert was still brewing in my mind and I broke down crying. I was crying because I’ve never felt so free in all my life. I’ve never felt this way and will never feel this way again. Some may call this brainwashing or something, I’d like to say it was genuine inspiration for a better life and a better world. We need less hate and more love like Lady Gaga. To those of you who say she is not a relevant pop culture figure, you have not experienced The Monster Ball. This is a woman who writes her own songs, sings live, and plays a plethora of instruments. Lady Gaga is a genuine artist who is possibly one of the most loving creatures on this Earth. Needless to say I’ll never be the same after The Monster Ball.

Thank you Lady Gaga for all that you do for us!

Love,
Joey Monster

So happy I could die!

I’m trying to teach myself the art of silk screen printing. This is a series blog about the obstacles, the lessons, the knowledge and the skills I hope to possess by the end of my journey. Take what you will out of this and to other accomplished screen printers feel free to share your wealth of knowledge on the subject.

Previous entry: Part One

Since the last entry I’ve accomplished several new things: screen printing two different designs, discovering what mistakes incurred using the screen filler and drawing fluid, and making a better screen. Below are the successful prints I made from the haphazard Andy Warhol character silk screen.

Notice the hair does not print, along with the lips and nose.

As you may have noticed Andy’s hair does not print in full nor does his hair, eyes, lips, nose. The reason for this goes back to the mistake I made when applying the screen filler and drawing fluid. Originally I thought the the trouble started from my actual sketch from pencil to the screen, but I was wrong. (I do encourage you not to press hard when applying your sketch or tracing on the screen.) Let’s review where I went wrong. When painting with the drawing fluid make sure that the fluid fills into the screen. You can check by holding your screen in front of a light source. If you see little pinholes go back and lightly fill those in. I say lightly because when you put the drawing fluid on too thick you may have trouble when applying the screen filler. In my case I painted too lightly on some sections like the lips and too thick in other sections such as the eyes.

Now onto the next part where I went wrong: too much screen filler! Now the screen I’m using comes in a kit made by Speedball which you can find at your local art shop or online shopping. I have the 10 x 14 screen and so far it has been good to me. When preparing the application of your screen filler don’t be afraid to apply a large line of filler horizontally above your design, if you cut yourself short I can tell you what happens. When you take your squeegee and slide it vertically down over your design you are to do one swipe and one swipe only to cover your design! Try not to miss a section, swiping it a second time risks washing out your design. Which is exactly what happened to me my first time.

The ghostly image. The haze!

Reclaiming your one and only screen was a pain and I’m not going to lie. First of all nowhere in my awesome book or slew of bookmarked websites was there an explanation on how to reclaim your silk screen. After some hard core research I found some suggestions. Get a spray bottle and some bleach. Fill the bottle with one part bleach and two parts water. Get your screen wet with water and then spray the screen with your bleach solution. Let it soak for five minutes and then agitate with a nylon scrub brush, do this on both sides. Then blast the screen with your high pressure hose in a downward position. Soak again and repeat. Honestly I did not like doing it this way, so I’ll let you know that I’m looking to buy some sprays that with eat away at the emulsion a little faster next time. I did find this helpful video that gave me the idea… Helpful video.

So after I removed the Andy stencil and all its glory I was annoyed to still see him stuck on my screen. Now this is called haze and there is a product out there that removes the haze from your screen. I’m looking to buy it myself later this year: Enviro Haze Remover. However, it’s just a haze and will not interfere with your next design. As long as you can see through the other side I wouldn’t worry about it.

With my next design I was more prepared and took into consideration all the mistakes I made. I’m very happy to report that this next design washed through perfectly but that doesn’t mean I didn’t discover a whole new set of mistakes. Don’t worry this is an awesome hands on learning process that gets me away from long hours in front a computer screen!

As I said, all things went through fine but just wait until I got clever with where I put the ink. Traditionally just as you put the screen filler horizontally above your design, you also do the same with your ink. Don’t get too creative unless you are looking to make unwanted errors. As I was printing I noticed that I was losing ink down by the words “fashion icon.” I decided to put some ink in between the lips and the words as an extra buffer. Well once the swipe was complete I got a big shadow of lips and letters as pictured below:

Notice the middle print. Very thick, almost shadow like.

Now remember, in between prints, you should run your squeegee over the screen lightly in order to properly flood the screen, otherwise the ink will dry inside the screen.

When I’m printing I feel as though I don’t get enough time before the screen is just done doing its job. I was reading my awesome book, which I highly recommend: Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens by Lena Corwin, and it says to use Ink Retarder. Ink Retarder prolongs the drying process and gives you more work time. Next print I’ll totally be prepared, keep those fingers crossed!

Where To Buy Stencil Remover?
Stencil Remover

It’s been a year since I found a way to submit my song If U Luv Me (Google Me) on iTunes. It was fairly simple to do, but selling it, has been a task in itself. Let’s just say it’s not a popular song on the radio and wasn’t written for that intention. Why was it written? Self love, self promotion, and to satire pop culture and the Gossip Queen himself Perez Hilton. It’s had some laughs and it’s had it’s criticisms, but all in all, it’s just a fun silly song.

When I started this blog last year I was determined to “dethrone” and conquer Perez Hilton’s spot in Pop culture because I was jealous. To be honest, I don’t want his job and I don’t want to spout like opinions and then get myself in trouble with The Black Eyed Peas. I am about drama, but I’m not about being the one to cause the drama. I do not renounce my opinion that I think Perez was in the wrong for calling will.i.am gay. That whole Toronto club situation and the way all parties handled it was wrong. But I’m over it.

What does that mean for Google Me? Nothing, really. I still feel strongly that it is a fun song, is it a hit sensation? No, and it never has to be because I made it for me. I think it’s funny and absurd and weird and it holds a special place in my heart. Above all I love the music video. As of today it’s been viewed 26,000 times and that’s an accomplishment for a non-celebrity status, but seriously make me famous! LOL!

With that being said, “Happy Birthday ‘Google Me’!”

Never seen it? Click below:

Click To Watch.

So today I spent my day sitting at the piano working on my song ‘Sorry’ and I’m happy with a lot of the writing I have accomplished. Starting to find the Chorus and that’s so cool finding the words after months of just a dead end. Here’s my little Vlog about it from YouTube. Please subscribe to my channel if you like what you see Joey’s YouTube Channel.

(Watch video here.)

In other news if you haven’t bought the Eclipse Soundtrack, you must! I’m so addicted, even if you never intend on watching the movie or care about the Twilight saga. I feel very strongly about how amazing this album is on its own. You’ve got so many indie artists about to take off. Key tracks that I dig a lot right now: Heavy In Your Arms by Florence + The Machine, My Love by Sia, and What Part of Forever by Cee Lo Green. Listen please!

So you may have noticed my video above and well I scored a RCA EZ1000 Small Wonder from my credit card rewards and it’s a lot of fun. Of course I still use my other video camera, but this one fits in your pocket and is perfect for those on the go vloggers or catching that thing while you are out. Make sure you are in a well lit area and I wouldn’t recommend zooming because there’s a bit of clicking sound but still great for being free! I think it retails at like $99.

Well gotta go! Make me famous kids! If U Luv Me (Google Me) is now at 22,000 views, somebody’s doing there job for sure!

Watch video here

Working on more music. More everything. Finding this summer to be my magical inspiration summer.

THE PROJECT JOEY: MAKE ME FAMOUS is proud to announce that the Google Me video is starting to get some of it’s recognition. Hopefully we can get the video in the 10,000 views by the end of summer! Please share this video with a friend, the more hits the better!

The Project Joey: Make Me Famous

We have started a group on Facebook for Joey. Please join our group on Facebook and help us, this blog, and other friends of Joey’s get recognized for their many talents.

The mission: To assemble a team of artists, photographers,videographers, musicians, street team, public relations, web designers, and fans.

We are taking a normal person, Joey Broyles and turning him into a marketable product. There’s no hiding that he has the ambition and talent, but help us put him where he belongs in history.

If you’d like to join the street team for The Project Joey please email us at projectjoey@joeybroyles.com and we’ll send you a kit for your area!

The Wedding was amazing! I cannot believe how fast the day came and went! A lot of love for two average guys and that means a lot! Go Ashley for all her hard work on the photos! And as I said earlier today: “A wedding is nothing without all those special people who make it worthwhile. Thanks to the girls, the guests, the friends, the family!” Thanks to everyone for making the day so special. We were so happy you could be there for us!

Photo by Debbie Daanen Photography. Oh and if you are wondering my review on Debbie Daanen Photography? They are unique and open minded to all sorts of worlds from very traditional to outrageous, so the only question is: Do you have a Debbie Daanen? Love them! So, yes you should go there!

And to everyone who couldn’t make it, I can’t wait to show you the pictures!

Love,
Joey

So here is what happened kids! Welcome to retail drama. It’s the same whether it be food or furniture.

Christine believes that because she saw one person get something taken out the front door that she has automatically earned this privilege to get shit taken out the front door only.

She came in to pick up her two chests and I said to her the usual thing I say to all our customers, “Okay I’ll get those ready in back. I’ll have you pull around to the back garage door and we’ll load up.” Most people find this to be a reasonable offer. Not Christine.

“Why I gotta drive around to the back?! You always tell me I gotta go around the back. And I see other people get their stuff brought through the front door.”

I am snappy! “We always have people pull around the back. It’s nothing new. We have on occasion taken stuff through the front door because it was right next to the front door. Your stuff is in back. That’s why we have you pull around to the back…”

She interrupts, “Ah hell no! That ain’t true you take it out the front. I don’t need to go round the back! You gon take it through that front door like you do for all the customers. I ain’t goin round to the back!”

“Well we usually go around to the back because it’s faster and there is less stuff in the way to bring it to your vehicle. But if you insist we’ll let you get it through the front door because you are a princess!”

“Oh I’m a princess! Okay den! I’m a princess!”

“Yep. Meet you out front,” incoherent mumbling and swearing under my breath as I walk hurriedly to the back.

This whole situation is absolutely ridiculous that she wants the shit to go through the front door. What’s fucking stupid is that it doesn’t really matter, other than I have to make sure not to hit the maze of furniture on my way up. It’s really the principle of the thing, we make all our customers go through the back door. Exceptions of course if it is right next to the front door or if they pick up a floor model before we get it taken down and put in back. I will tell you right now I do appreciate her business, I just don’t appreciate her fucking attitude. Of course I’m obviously guilty of attitude as well, but I digress.

I cart the first of two 5 drawer chests, wrapped in plastic and cardboard, up through the front door, which Christine kindly opens. Magically her attitude is completely gone because like a princess she has gotten her way. She may think because she is bigger and louder than me that she can get her way, but honestly it just takes too much energy out of me to even care. I’m wasting enough energy writing about it as it is.

I cart the second chest through the front door and the gentleman helping Christine says, “Ain’t you gonna help load these.”

I snidely remark, “Well usually that’s a back door special but sure I can help you load it.”

We say are goodbyes and I really don’t think any of this would have been a big deal if Christine had been a kind person. But she was rude and defiant and didn’t care to hear me speak, she just wanted her way or no way. Christine was completely capable of driving her vehicle around to the back garage door, like every other customer. Maybe that’s just how she was raised, “be completely difficult and make everyone do cartwheels for you because you are a princess!”

I’d be happy if tomorrow when I wake up, health care, in America would be free, instead of striving for “affordable health care”. I believe in my president and I voted for Obama, but I think it’s time we make some hard decisions. Decisions that will make some people lose their jobs, but in the end it would be worth it. I think it’s time that The White House scrap this health care plan for a free health care plan. Why are we one of the only free countries in the world without a universal and free health care plan?

Is there a conspiracy for population control in America? Or are there just some people out there that want to keep on getting richer. Even though I believe in some conspiracy theories, I don’t believe that the government is refusing to switch over to free health care because they want to control population growth. What I do believe is these insurance companies are crooked, the doctors are making way too much money for 7 or 8 minute consultations, and people without health care are going broke trying to stay well. This sort of thing would not happen in other countries which provide their citizens with free health care.

For those who don’t know what it’s like not having health insurance let me give you an idea. I was diagnosed with acute bronchitis in December. The doctor prescribed a number of things including an inhaler to help me breathe better. The total amount for drugs was about $160, out of pocket. The total bill after seeing this well educated man for 8 minutes was about $360, out of pocket. That means my doctor charges about $45 a minute. Do you know anyone else who makes that much? Granted not all of that money will go to my doctor, but it certainly feels like a lot of money to pay someone to make it all better. The argument of course is can you put a price on your well being? Yes, $500.

Imagine you are a parent with no health care and you make too much to qualify for any sort of state help, but you don’t make enough to pay $1,000 for two kids who get really sick. Of course you should have health insurance, life insurance, home owner’s insurance, car insurance but how do you afford to live after all these insurances? How does anyone stay well and get ahead in a country like America? The truth is this is where some of the poverty comes from, not all of it, but some. You go broke trying to fix your kids broken leg because he fell off a slide at the park.

Now I’m not here to pick on insurance companies. I’m here to pick on this health care issue. America needs free health care, since all these taxes you charge us, a large percent we will never see again, why not have the taxes go towards health care. Forget about my social security because we all know that money doesn’t grow on trees and there’s no social security left for the youth of America. Why do you think 401k’s exist?

Anyway the whole thing frustrates me because I fear going to the doctor. Not because I’m afraid of going to the doctor, but I’m afraid to open my mail and have a heart attack over the bill. That fear is unnecessary but it’s there because health care is about making money and not about making people better. Sure doctors become doctors to save lives, but their sworn oath only provides for those who have the coverage or the money!

Bottom line here is give us free health care because we’re Americans and we deserve to get more back than a tax return. I don’t need a tax refund, I need free health care!

Thanks for reading.

Joey Broyles
American Citizen since 1983