The Vibrant Cabaret Today!

An Interview with Cabaret Producer, Clifford Bell of Hollywood. 

Clifford Bell and performer, Katey Sagal

Performers and audiences alike are rediscovering the vibrant Cabaret experience, thanks in no small part to the inexhaustible efforts of Producer, Clifford Bell of Cabarabia. Join us for a fascinating interview with Mr. Bell on the state of health of the Cabaret today!

SNB - How would you define the “cabaret” these days?

CB - I have a very expansive definition of "cabaret". Traditionally, the cabaret is defined as a live performance in an intimate setting; a small room, under 100 seats generally where the audience is close to the stage.  In many people's minds, this sort of "cabaret" is usually show tune-ish or "Great American Songbook" - Broadway Revues or Gershwin/Cole Porter type stuff. However through the years, the definition has evolved to have much more contemporary definitions - political satires, stand up comedy, story telling, acoustic rock - all have a place in how I define modern "cabaret".

SNB - When did you form Cabarabia?              

CB - I've been doing what I do, pretty much for over thirty years.  I grew up in a house that introduced me to Broadway Music and standards (The Great American Songbook) and I naturally gravitated to doing live shows in small venues. I was in the room to see so many of the greats when they were first getting rolling - early Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters, Roseanne, Sandra Bernhard, Peter Allen, etc. Cabaret clubs were where a lot of the greats got their start. 

Somewhere along the way, a friend said to me, "You're like Lawrence of Cabarabia", and a concept was born. From that point on, I started to use the term "Cabarabia" to describe the lifestyle and "universe" of being a citizen of the nightclub world. In the late 90's, I actually got the DBA and made it my business.

SNB - Can you describe your mission?

CB - I've always been most interested in giving new talent practical experience.  As a person who went to college to study Musical Theater, I always felt the biggest flaw of the academic environment was not being enough like the market place. As a producer in the cabaret world, I try to create a melting pot where accomplished veterans can share the stage with newcomers. That is always the underlying focus of my work.

SNB - What is your position with Cabarabia?

CB - I'm it, Baby!   It's all me. It's just an umbrella for my activities and interests.

 

SNB - When did you first become interested in the Cabaret venue?

CB - I guess when I was in college studying Musical Theater.  I always felt that I wasn't a traditional enough type to get the great roles in book shows, but the cabaret stage is the performer’s canvas. They are the star of the show. Whatever the show is, they are the leading man or woman by virtue of the nature of the medium.

SNB - What appeals to you about producing Cabaret performances?

CB - To me, after all this time, what I do is the ultimately most satisfying thing I know about.  It is always creative and always stimulating. My goal is to define someone at their most likable, most interesting and build a frame around it. In some ways it's kind of a mystical talent, but in some ways it's just knack I have for being able to find the right "context" to present people.

SNB - Do you have a few favorite cabarets in the US today?

CB - Tragically, the big ones in the major cities are closing like wild fire. In the last year, the most prestigious venues in New York - The Oak Room at the Algonquin and Feinstein's at Loews Regency - both suddenly closed. The Rrazz Room in San Francisco just closed. All of these places will reinvent themselves, but it was a hard year for the high-end cabaret rooms.

SNB - Do you see a growing popularity in the cabaret venue these days?

CB - Absolutely.  I think the future of cabaret is that young people are discovering it as a way to be seen.  All the TV talent shows create these gargantuan, vocally histrionic performances, but the truth is, the place you get good, the place you get known, the place you get discovered is still in the small rooms playing in front of real people who care.

SNB - You are a performer. What is it about performing in an intimate performance space that you enjoy?

CB - I've always had a love/hate relationship with performing. I was a nervous performer. In my early career as a singer, I got to the point where I needed an 8 piece band and a lot of distance to be doing something that made me feel courageous enough to be onstage. I always loved singing but I was deeply shy and it was unnatural to be onstage.

Ultimately, I quit performing for 20 years while I became a producer and director, and after many years of watching different great singers have a healthier attitude about just being simple and sharing with an audience, I sort a tiptoed my way back. Now, even though I don't pursue anything big, I sing quite often and get lots of positive reinforcement for it, and I enjoy it so much more now.

SNB - You love to encourage and support young performers and a wide variety of performers. What qualities and abilities do you look for in up and coming performers?

CB - Well, the one thing that I really have, is a lot of experience - a lot of experience. I have worked with soooo many people that I really feel like I have a broad understanding of what it takes to pursue being a professional performer. Actual talent is one of the smallest factors. It certainly helps and makes for a nice ante to get into the game, but it's really, confidence, vision, ambition, people skills, time management, etc., things like that that make a difference. I've known huge talents who get nowhere and I've known minimal talents that are big stars. It's best when there's a good balance between the two.

SNB - What words of wisdom do you have for performers who would like to break into the Cabaret scene?

CB - People want to know who you are. Develop a way to understand and present yourself that will make people want to know you. I've always said that a good cabaret act is like spending a really great hour long dinner conversation with someone, where you really love being with them, get to know who they are and really embrace them to your heart.

Check out the Cabarabia Website and visit them on Facebook.