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June 2005 Featured User
Scuttlebutt Slut
love David Lee Roth. But not the way you might think when
you hear that. Sure, he's sexy as hell, and I'm a girl, so I
really like checking out those spandex pants he wears on
stage -- sans underwear... I'm not crazy OR blind - I see
the appeal. But for me, it goes much deeper - I admire and
respect him. David has something so lacking among most other
famous "stars" -- he actually has TALENT, and that
is something I revere.
 I
have a long background in music, beginning at age 4, when I
started playing piano by ear. At age 5, I began ballet
lessons. I was a fat child, so I suffered extremely at the
hands of my classmates in elementary school. I was always
the last one chosen for dodge-ball (and then made the target
by EVERYONE playing...), and when it came to other
children's birthday parties, I was never invited.
Instead,  I hung out at home with my only friend -- my piano.
I won every talent show I entered through elementary school
by playing Barry Manilow and Lionel Richie songs on piano --
the "townspeople" simply couldn't believe a child
could play so well, and without being able to read a note of
music. In sixth grade, I entered a state-sponsored
songwriting contest and won my way through every division up
to the nationals, when I lost. But that didn't matter to me
-- my name and picture was all over the newspaper for quite
a while, and a plaque with my name on it still hangs in the
elementary school. Not bad for an 11 year old. I thought
that was appropriate vindication for all the hell I went
through in that building, no?!
I was lucky that my ballet teacher adored me -- she thought
I had "charisma," and would not only feature me as
a "spotlight dancer," but also had me sing
whenever there was a chance during one of the "Big
Shows" she is known for throughout Utah.
At age 14, I was encouraged by friends to start singing in
talent shows, along with/instead of just playing piano. When
I did my first talent show as a singer (Feb. 1985), the
audience went crazy and I started getting booked all over
Utah. I did different fairs, expos, etc. Later that summer,
just after my 15th birthday, I did my first professional
recording of an original song called "Mask". I
used baby-sitting money I had been saving (and birthday
money from my grandma) for just that occasion.
"Mask" got local radio play, and I was a "psuedo-star"
in the state of Utah for a couple of years afterwards!
 During
high school, things went from my being teased and tormented
to being asked for my autograph. I wasn't having any of it
-- during my senior year, I felt I had more than vindicated
myself through my performances and newfound
"status," and I wasn't interested in graduating
alongside any of THOSE assholes, so I dropped out. (That
same summer, I took the GED and my score was in the top 4%
among graduating seniors that year -- in the nation.)
Besides, I had gotten VERY busy with my entertainment
career, and THAT was what I wanted to focus on.
 At
age 18, I moved to Las Vegas where I started singing at
little clubs here and there. I was asked by the music
director at "Catch a Rising Star," to audition for
him. I did, and was booked/hired on the spot. I did my first
performance just after my 19 birthday, and was more thrilled
than I can say!
I briefly returned to Utah and, at the suggestion of a
friend, decided to go into talent management. I made an
appointment with the top agency in Salt Lake City and while
I was sitting there talking to its owner, he cut me off,
mid-sentence, and asked "Have you ever done
runway?" I blurted out the first thought that came to
mind: "airplanes?" Then, when I realized he was
talking about modeling, I just burst into hysterical
laughter and said "uh, NO!" (I AM a fat girl,
after all!) Then he had me get up, walk for him, turn, walk
-- you know the drill. He then sent me to Nordstrom's
"talent buyer" who was booking plus models (size
12 and up) for some upcoming fashion shows. She hired me on
the spot. (And I was hired as Director of Sales and
Promotions at the agency, which included running the Provo
division, too!)
I modeled for nearly two years. It was good money, but I
HATED it. (How pretentious can you be? Besides, all that
poking and prodding drove me crazy!) During my tenure at the
agency, I got involved with an entertainment
magazine-style/anti-Mormon propaganda show (in the heart of
Utah, can you imagine?!), and I got to write, produce, edit
and star on the show! I was a correspondent, and also had a
character spoofing a typical Mormon woman. Her name was
"Beverly" (I thought that was HYSTERICAL, for some
reason), and she was the epitome of a puritanical baby
machine/butter churner! I was also hired as the PR Director,
and of course, I had some big ideas for the show.
We wanted to expand, so we decided to bring the show to
Vegas, with me as the Las Vegas correspondent. That was 14
years ago and I have loved Las Vegas so much that I never
looked back! Since I've been here, I have worked in various
capacities in entertainment-related jobs, including one at
House of Blues (1999), which I absolutely LOVED! Currently
(and for the last several years), I own a talent
management/public relations firm and am listed in Variety's
Hollywood Creative Directory.
Throughout my career, I have had the incredibly good fortune
to meet and work with some of the top entertainers of our
day. I have been able to travel quite a bit, and have made
appearances on lots of TV shows, including "The Oprah
Winfrey Show," "Geraldo Rivera,"
"Entertainment Tonight" -- you name it, I've
probably done it. Along with that, unfortunately, comes
scandal and "tabloid tango," and I've dealt with
that, too. But I would never trade any of the loves of my
life, and I am grateful for what those experiences taught
me.
Here are a few un-career-related things about me - I love to
cook and am very good at it (you should taste my lasagna,
Swiss steak and all the treats I make at holiday time,
including my famous fudge and peppermint bark!), I love to
have dinner parties and entertain in my home, I love
beadwork (and teach classes) and needlework, etc. I did my
first semester in college last year and LOVED it, majoring
in Women's Studies. I did so well, in fact, that my WS
professor asked me if I would consider teaching and/or being
a guest lecturer! I am a radical feminist, a liberal
democrat and a proud, Jewish woman. I love children, though
I don't have any, and I am deeply concerned about the state
of America and the world. I am terrified about what our
"leaders" have done and are doing, and I hate
feeling powerless. I have loved my entertainment career, but
would like to get into politics, maybe. I just know that I
would end up getting killed for being outspoken AND for
refusing to be bought off! I am very tenderhearted and cry
easily (both joy and sorrow...), but I'm also very tough,
and I WILL cut your balls off! LOL!
So now you know a teeny bit (believe it or not!) about me --
some fabulous tales, all true.
 But don't think for a moment
that my life has been all glitter and stars. The backdrop
includes a horrendous childhood both at school and at home,
and deep feelings of anguish and solitude. I have battled
(and overcome) suicidal tendencies, rape at age 16 and
watching my siblings destroy themselves with drugs. (The
youngest one is currently incarcerated -- heart break of my
life.) Through it all, I have survived, and have been
incredibly blessed to know so many loving, generous,
encouraging and supportive friends. Most important is my
dad, who is one of the baddest motherfuckers I've EVER
known. (He finally got his ear pierced in 1999! LOL! It
looked GREAT with his ponytail. Now I'm just waiting for the
tattoo!) He's a bad ass for sure, and I see some of the same
qualities in him that I see in Dave. They also prefer the
same drink! (My dad even named our St. Bernard
"JD" after the libation!) He's one of my best
friends, and is my most loyal, supportive confidante. His
wisdom is something I know I can always count on when things
get ugly, and I got my survival instincts and demand for
integrity and honesty from him. Thanks, Daddy. (By the way,
I gifted my dad with all Roth-era VH albums, and also most
of Dave's solo stuff. He loves 'em!)
We are both living proof that you can survive anything if
you choose to. Which brings me back to Dave. He knows
himself, he OWNS himself. Despite choices that have set him
back, career-wise, he has been true to his own vision, and
how can you not totally respect that? He is brilliant, has a
fabulous, silly, witty sense of humor and seems to be a
genuine guy. AND Jewish? AND Single?! Hang on, Dave - I'm on
my way, baby...
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