I rejoined the union after a lapse in membership. I had fallen on tough times and could no longer afford the quarterly fees. At that time, I started to wonder if I was still meant to be a bass player or living in NYC at all. I had begun the process of moving to Nashville to try and do something very different with my life. As luck would have it, I was literally placing things in boxes when I got a call and was offered my first tour. (The show was “Hair.”) My life began to change. I found my musical passion and realized that musical theatre could offer me a sense of stability and how much I truly enjoyed working in that environment. That was four years ago, and I just recently finished the first national tour of Jason Robert Brown’s “The Bridges Of Madison County.” I could not have asked for a more beautiful score to play every single night. It was an absolute joy to bring it to cities all across the country. Michael Keller and Michael Aarons contracted the tour and I must also thank fellow bassist Randy Landau for being an incredible mentor and nice enough to answer every little question I’ve had over the years. One of the advantages of working in musical theatre is that the union is behind you 100 percent. It is an invaluable resource for any musician to have. I trust the union with my career and my well being. I believe in the union’s mission, and the union believes in mine.