As promised here are answers to the 3 recent queries. Do you have questions about Los Big Names? Send them here and remember LOS BIG NAMES CLOSES THIS SUNDAY!!! Spread the word- Marga

Pete Asks:
What’s Sharon Stone _really_ like?

Dear Pete,
Sharon Stone is really blonde, very appealing and stylish. She did give me one idiotic piece of advice documented in Los Big Names, but she meant well and was pretty cool otherwise. She had an entourage with her often, hairstylist, nutritionist, fitness trainer who nobody liked, and a dyke bodyguard, who was friends with my ex’s ex back in the day. Sharon made a point of shaking my hand the first day on the set and saying “Hello Marga I’m so glad to be working with you.” I was completely aroused. She always showed up at 6 am in a fabulous designer outfit and told me she wanted to make the teamsters happy.
I still feel responsible for her meeting Phil Bronstein at Glide Church- Because I was the one who suggested she check out Glide for Easter because it was the real San Francisco-
So if it hadn’t been for me Phil might not have gone to the zoo the day with Sharon and gotten his toes eaten by the Komodo dragon.
One last good thing about Sharon Stone. At the premiere of our flop- in LA the audience broke out in applause as all the names of the stars appeared in the title. I realized that my name was next- and there might be silence because I was so very unknown– But as soon as Marga Gomez flashed across the screen- I heard one row behind me cheer and lead the rest of the audience to applause. It was Sharon and her row saving my ass. Sharon is a class act no matter how many Basic Instincts sequels she cranks out.

ROBIN ASKS,
Do you have a before-you-go-on-stage ritual? If so, do you use it for both theater and stand-up? Also, will you tour LOS BIG NAMES? Chicago is a nice place .

Hi Robin
Before any performance I try to eat healthy, go to the gym or get some cardio in. And the minimum amount of stretching- Stretching bores me. For Los Big Names- I try to say all the words in the script- not act- just say them and think about what is happening in each section- I do this while I walk my dog or take the subway. So I am seen muttering a lot during the day-
It’s basic memorization, tedious like practicing scales- so I know the lines backwards and forwards. But I always try to aproach the show in new ways onstage– Lines are the only thing that is fixed. And I do about ten minutes of vocal warmups so that I don’t strain my voice for the 90 minutes. I drink two cups of throat coat tea before I step on stage. Then there are little superstitous rituals like many performers and athletes do which I can’t divulge. But usually- we always like to do certain things exactly the same before we go on. And I have pictures in my dressing room of my loved ones- And lots of Latin music from the period on my ipod with littler speakers. My girlfriend gave me a book with dogs in strange outfits and I’ll look at that sometimes before I go on- Because laughing is always helpful.
And yes I hope to tour Los Big Names- Chicago would be a great city for it I agree.

Becky Asks
How would you describe your creative process? How do you start and expand new ideas for a performance?

Hi Becky,

I guess what makes it creative makes it hard to describe. For Los Big names, I really had to decide what I wanted to say and why I had to say it. Once I figure that out the rest is a process of writing and rewriting, keeping a notebook and pen to record any breakthroughs, and for the last three years performing in workshops and discovering meaning that I hadn’t been aware of. Even now new ideas take shape. Although it’s based on my family the characters are independent of me now. I’ve heard novelists say this-

I also like to see other art that might trigger some of my writing. I went to the see the Diane Arbus exhibit last year and that influenced me a bit when I worked on Los Big names. Finally I must mention the advantage of working with my Director David Schweizer who keeps me on point as I write and sends me back to the drawing board until it’s fully realized.