Review That Review with Chelsey Donn & Trey Gerrald
Episode 38: "Mean Comments with Natalie Weiss"
Transcription
*Please Pardon any spelling errors!
THEME SONG: [00:00:00] Everybody's got an opinion.
Every Californian and Virginian.
It's so hard to tell who to trust and who to ignore.
Someone's gotta settle the score.
Trey and Chelsey will help you choose!
Whose views win, which ones lose.
Online haters are comin' for you!
Baby, it's time to Review That Review!
RTR 38 GOH Natalie
[00:00:00] VOICEOVER: [Theme Song]
[00:00:30] Chelsey Donn: Hi,
[00:00:31] Trey Gerrald: Hello, and welcome to Review That Review the podcast dedicated to reviewing
[00:00:38] Chelsey Donn: Reviews! We're just like Siskel and Ebert only instead of reviewing cinematic masterpieces, we rate and review those hilarious scathing and sometimes suspicious online reviews.
[00:00:49] Trey Gerrald: that's Chelsey Donn,
[00:00:50] Chelsey Donn: And that's Trey Gerrald
[00:00:52] Trey Gerrald: and together we are
[00:00:54] VOICEOVER: The Review Queens.
[00:00:58] Trey Gerrald: To support the show and get bonus exclusive content, including our members only after show podcast. Visit our patreon Page at patreon.com/ReviewThatReview
[00:01:10] Chelsey Donn: Yeah. And today
[00:01:12] Guest of Honor!
[00:01:12] Chelsey Donn: we are so excited. I am like jumping out of my skin excited because this week we've got a very special.
[00:01:20] VOICEOVER: Guest of honor.
[00:01:29] Trey Gerrald: Chelsey and I are so into these special guest of honor episodes because as you know, our whole podcast is about rating and inspecting and breaking down online reviews as outsiders. And then we have our special versus one in five star review episodes where we explore both extremes and the world of reviews and opinions with occasional replies from the sellers.
[00:01:51] Trey Gerrald: So it's a very exciting extension for us to invite some very special guests of honor.
[00:01:57] Trey Gerrald: on to talk about their experiences, dealing with online reviews, from their professional area of expertise.
[00:02:03] Chelsey Donn: That's right. And with their experience in their field, we have them down there Review Queen crown and help us inspect some reviews.
[00:02:12] Trey Gerrald: And today, Oh my God. we have got the renowned legendary talent. Of Natalie Weiss. So let me tell you just a little smidge about Natalie. If you've literally been living under a rock, Natalie is a song, stress and educator whose performance videos mixed with her 'edutainment' series, Breaking Down the Riffs, made her a viral sensation, garnering over 30 million views on YouTube alone.
[00:02:41] Trey Gerrald: Her groundbreaking and fun approach to pop technique has become a growing standard in the music industry and made her a highly sought after celebrity vocal coach having taught Katherine McPhee, Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Ellis. She has broken down the riffs with Tori Kelly. Who's a God. Ben Platt, Avery Wilson, Laura Osnes.
[00:03:02] Trey Gerrald: she's also song with Jojo Pentatonix, Todrick Hall, Liz Callaway, Shoshana Bean, Lauren, Alred and many, many more. Natalie has performed her solo shows to sold out audiences, literally across the globe with her career, taking her to the UK, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Poland, and Austria.
[00:03:23] Trey Gerrald: I haven't even been to like, I've literally not been to any of those places where she has led masterclasses for many universities and institutions, including the Institute for vocal advancement, the national association of teachers, of singing vocal, cology, and practice and Broadway teachers work.
[00:03:40] Trey Gerrald: Natalie has performed on Broadway in, you guys, this is literally in my top three favorite musicals of all time, Everyday Rapture, starring Sherrie Rene Scott, off-Broadway in Emojiland and Natalie toured in Les Miz and Wicked, where she understudied, alphabet and performed in the ensemble. She was also on American idol, season four, she was a semifinalist and she performed the national Anthem at Cowboys and Shea stadium.
[00:04:04] Trey Gerrald: Now you can hear Natalie's voice on the soundtrack of The Greatest Showman in which she appeared on the 90th academy awards, excuse me, in the live performance of This is Me, Uh, you can also hear her on the original Broadway cast recording and the original film recording of Dear Evan Hansen and on the jingles for the Incredibles 2.
[00:04:23] Trey Gerrald: But most importantly of all, Natalie is the vocalist our theme song. So without further ado, let's welcome. Our special guest of honor, the Natalie Robin Weiss.
[00:04:38] Natalie Weiss: I didn't, I didn't know what you were going to say. Most importantly, I was like, that is so good. Wow. That sounds really cool when you read my bio, but then I get, we're not even on camera. I was so awkward. I was like,
[00:04:49] Chelsey Donn: Yes.
[00:04:50] Trey Gerrald: kind of hard to like, sit and hear.
[00:04:53] Natalie Weiss: it's very weird.
[00:04:55] Trey Gerrald: So Natalie, you know, our show, we focus on online reviews. So we're just curious. How would you say your decision-making is impacted by online reviews?
[00:05:06] Natalie Weiss: Hmm. If I'm looking at like a knee, like a massage place, that's like cheap. I'll probably in that case, read a few I'll scroll and see like high rating, high writing. But I don't often read many reviews minus if I'm like, if I'm in a foreign city and I'm on Yelp and I'm literally outside the restaurant, I'll be like, what about this one that I'll quickly go on Yelp or something like that.
[00:05:29] Natalie Weiss: But it really is about those like little underground massage places is what I can think of where I have to kind of see.
[00:05:36] Chelsey Donn: Yeah. Like, am I going to get killed? Is this a legitimate place? Those kinds of things. Have you ever left a one-star review yourself?
[00:05:44] Natalie Weiss: I've never left a review. I don't think. Have you guys
[00:05:48] Chelsey Donn: Not really. Yeah. Trey and I are not the biggest of Review! writers. We're more studying the art form.
[00:05:55] Natalie Weiss: reviewers? Yeah.
[00:05:56] Chelsey Donn: Yeah.
[00:05:56] Trey Gerrald: well. We're going to come back to this cause we're going to get a little personal
[00:06:00] Natalie Weiss: Yeah, we don't want to get personal too early.
[00:06:03] Trey Gerrald: Exactly.
[00:06:03] Lodge A Complaint
[00:06:03] Trey Gerrald: So, um, as a warmup Natalie. Chelsey, and I like to show our diversity as Review Queen by sharing how we also have things to complain about. So, Natalie, I'm just curious, would you like to join us as we,
[00:06:17] VOICEOVER: Lodge A Complaint.
[00:06:19] Natalie Weiss: I would definitely like to join you for this.
[00:06:21] Chelsey Donn: Okay,
[00:06:21] Trey Gerrald: okay, good. I'll start.
[00:06:23] Chelsey Donn: start trying,
[00:06:23] Trey Gerrald: Okay. Today. I really want a Lodge, A Complaint against loud talkers in public. Have you ever been like eating salad at Sweetgreen? And you're like with a friend and they're just speaking so loud that You start noticing people at other tables are like
[00:06:40] Chelsey Donn: oh my God. I hate that.
[00:06:42] Trey Gerrald: it feels like such a helpless experience because cause it's rude to be like can't!'
[00:06:46] Trey Gerrald: can you lower your voice?
[00:06:48] Natalie Weiss: I know, actually the other day, my friend in a Broadway show, long story, she was a student of mine on zoom. We met for the first time and we were like, got really close and we were in a Broadway show and she was before the show started talking so loudly and I went, you're screaming, you're screaming. Why are you screaming?
[00:07:01] Natalie Weiss: And I said it in a funny way. And so it wasn't as rude, but I totally get you.
[00:07:04] Chelsey Donn: Do you think you're always aware when your, that person I'm aware when there's just someone who's like, agregious really loud, of course, but I don't know if I'm always aware,
[00:07:14] Trey Gerrald: Well, I feel like I'm always super hyper aware of how I'm being perceived, like to a fault, but literally like three days ago, David and I were walking our dogs around the neighborhood and it was like 10:00 PM. And he was like, you're like screaming, be quiet. And I was like, what? But that's a great, that's a great tactic, Natalie.
[00:07:33] Trey Gerrald: Just, make the suggestion as a joke. Like, oh my God, why are you
[00:07:36] Chelsey Donn: I use that. I use that technique all the time. I usually will break into like my Jewish mother dialect when I do it. I'm like you're screaming. Well, I guess screaming so loud, you
[00:07:47] Trey Gerrald: So That's my complaint. Just everyone. Let's all be a little more, aware of how loud we're belting. Speaking of Natalie, how about you Chelsey? What do you want to Lodge A Complaint about today?
[00:07:57] Chelsey Donn: I've been thinking about this a lot. So I want to lodge a complaint against the phrase and philosophy that blondes have more fun. Okay. Here's why,
[00:08:08] Natalie Weiss: on philosophy.
[00:08:10] Chelsey Donn: right. Like my mom is blonde. My sister is blonde. Both of my grandparents were blonde. So for them, they get to experience this phrase, like Yan I'm better than you.
[00:08:22] Chelsey Donn: And I just am resentful of this. Like, I don't understand where the case study was done. when did people decide that if you're blonde, you're like Marilyn Monroe, but if you're brunette, you're Janine Rothwell who I love by the way. I mean, I, I mean, like, I love her. Trey. You've been a blonde. Do you think that you had more fun,
[00:08:44] Trey Gerrald: I, um, I don't know. Now that it's such a question directed to me. I don't know. I think I did have more fun when I was blonde, but I don't know if I just felt duped. for some reason I feel like it is credited back to Marilyn Monroe. I don't know why, but she also was not a natural blonde. So. I don't know.
[00:09:02] Trey Gerrald: I hear the complaint. There is, it is just something in our culture about, you have to change who you are. Everything is like You're too fat. You're too old.
[00:09:11] Chelsey Donn: too brunette.
[00:09:12] Trey Gerrald: is bad. All right. Good complaint.
[00:09:15] Chelsey Donn: you. We have we've um, we've gotten everything off of our chest today. So, Natalie, it's your turn Lodge? A Complaint.
[00:09:22] Natalie Weiss: I would like to Lodge A Complaint about people who don't pronounce their ING's and they say verbs as running, jumping, walking, listening, and the bachelorette, Becca, who I love the bachelor at. She was really known for that. I listened to two very famous podcasts recently, which I'm not going to say what they are kind of motivational people.
[00:09:45] Natalie Weiss: And I had to turn it off because of the Eden's it's so grading to my ears.
[00:09:53] Trey Gerrald: Wait. I literally caught myself and didn't start over. But when I said breaking down the rafts, I said breaking down the
[00:10:00] Natalie Weiss: no break in is fine. Cause that's like, break-in this is, I am physically enabled to put the back of my tongue up on the roof of my mouth Brae king. So if you say you, is this a musical theater audience? Okay. I'm still hurting,
[00:10:17] Trey Gerrald: Oh yeah.
[00:10:20] Chelsey Donn: Oh Mike, so
[00:10:21] Trey Gerrald: that even?
[00:10:22] Natalie Weiss: And I haven't figured out the consistency because people I know from so many different places set, say it like that.
[00:10:29] Trey Gerrald: you been able to correct?
[00:10:30] Natalie Weiss: Yes. I have worked. I have actually posted a video about this maybe three years ago because the girl I was coaching the song had verbs every other line. So it was like
[00:10:40] Chelsey Donn: Oh,
[00:10:40] Natalie Weiss: we're having a kick ass time and being who you want it, it was like being, I was like,
[00:10:46] Trey Gerrald: So why was the breakthrough there? Did the person, even here they were too.
[00:10:50] Natalie Weiss: No. She didn't know until I told her, so not to call it my friend, Carl, but he has this song. He's unbelievable. And he notices now, so he was saying, we're facing it now. Let's say we're facing it now we're facing it now. And he's saying we're facing in now. We're facing it. And it was so jarring that he rerecorded, not just for me.
[00:11:13] Natalie Weiss: He did another version.
[00:11:17] Trey Gerrald: but he couldn't unhear
[00:11:18] Natalie Weiss: Wow. He could not hear it. So the, basically the thing is like, how do you say the word ring ring?
[00:11:24] Trey Gerrald: Ring.
[00:11:24] Chelsey Donn: Ring.
[00:11:25] Natalie Weiss: then the ring singing. And they're like, what? This is so weird.
[00:11:30] Chelsey Donn: Yeah.
[00:11:31] Trey Gerrald: I wonder if like the Kardashians do it or something. Like, I wonder if there's like a very specific point in pop culture that shifted people's FINAC, EULAR.
[00:11:40] Natalie Weiss: if you can figure this out, please
[00:11:41] Chelsey Donn: I personally have like a gut instinct that it's like, what is that? That ball hanging ball. The you, what is that call?
[00:11:50] Chelsey Donn: Yeah, I think it's that? I think
[00:11:52] Natalie Weiss: Just blame the uvula for
[00:11:53] Chelsey Donn: no, I think it's a week. uvula and it's, uh, it's like without using this word incorrectly, it's like a retardation of the movement of the uvula, because if you're going back for the, like, which like the an, like brings you back up then to get that G out, you got to go and that you utilize to shoot down.
[00:12:16] Chelsey Donn: Ring ring. Good. When you do that, feel the uvula just saying I'm not a vocal coach. You guys not even close, but it's the uveal as vault is my instinct.
[00:12:26] Trey Gerrald: That was really fun. So now that we've kvetched.
[00:12:32] Chelsey Donn: Yes.
[00:12:32] Trey Gerrald: Let's rate and review someone else's kvetch.
[00:12:36] Chelsey Donn: Great idea. Trey. Natalie. Since you are a world renowned singing teacher, I have brought in a review from the internet that I feel needs to be inspected. I will read the review and together the three of us we'll break it down and rate the impact of the review on a scale from one to five crowns. It's a very Regal process that we call.
[00:13:00] VOICEOVER: Assess That Kvetch
[00:13:01] Trey Gerrald: it is your turn, Natalie to embody your Review Queen-ness and help us crown Chelsey's Review! are you ready for this challenge?
[00:13:10] Natalie Weiss: Yes. Scared.
[00:13:11] Chelsey Donn: be scared.
[00:13:14] Vick's Personal Steam Inhaler
[00:13:14] VOICEOVER: Review That Review.
[00:13:18] Chelsey Donn: All right. So Natalie, when I knew that you were coming on today, I thought, let me do a little bit of Googling. And I came across a website and the website is called actoresteticc.com They have a list of the five essential items that every musical theater actor should own. And I thought, okay, let me take a Gander.
[00:13:42] Chelsey Donn: The list includes a personal steamer amongst other things. But I decided to go with the personal steamer, cause I thought maybe, you know, a thing or two about steamers. So this is a three-star review of the Vick's personal sinus steam inhaler with soft face mask face humidifier with targeted steam relief aids with sinus problems, congestion and cough.
[00:14:08] Natalie Weiss: Okay.
[00:14:13] Chelsey Donn: That's a mouthful. So this review is written by geekdrop[.]com. Now it's important for me to let you guys know. I don't know why, but the period in.com is surrounded by brackets. Why? I don't know, but it just, it is. And I want to make sure that I'm honoring the name as it, as it lies here. So.
[00:14:37] Trey Gerrald: And this is on Amazon.
[00:14:38] Chelsey Donn: This is a three-star.
[00:14:39] Chelsey Donn: Yes, Amazon review by geekdrop[.]comped.com.
[00:14:44] Chelsey Donn: First, the good. It will clear a nose and it's easy to use.
[00:14:48] Chelsey Donn: Now, the bad. It will clear your nose, but you're also breathing in what seems mostly like more heat than water vapor. Like maybe a 90% heat, 10% vapers, what it feels like. For a machine developed for the sole intention of generating steam, there is NO steam. Like really? I could drink a hot cup of tea and fart a larger cloud of steam. The country has been utilizing steam for centuries. You think they'd have this down by now, but even on the high setting, if I wanted to see steam, I had to put the device up against something black and look extremely hard.
[00:15:35] Chelsey Donn: In which case I think I might've seen a small whisp or two once in a while. Mostly you just see water droplets building up in the mask to let you know something with water is actually happening. All that said, I tried to give it a fair chance and kept my face super close to it. Even placing my face right on the mask for awhile.
[00:15:59] Chelsey Donn: And you definitely do feel the heat. And after some time you do notice it cleared up your nostrils, but I am also a singer and currently have the flu as well. And I wanted to get all the way down into my throat and lungs, but I really didn't notice anything happening there with this device. Which is a disappointment.
[00:16:23] Chelsey Donn: To be sure my device wasn't faulty, I went and YouTube dub bunch of user videos of my model and watch closely to see if there's created more steam, but it didn't. Therefore, I think it's just not much of a steam creator. I was expecting PLUMES of steam to come out of one of these things. If you set it on high with the ability to dial it back as needed, almost like you see from vape devices, these kids are inhaling tooti fruti cotton, pitooti flavor, GS form, but you're actually getting more of a suntan on your face, minus the light and minus the tan.
[00:17:03] Chelsey Donn: It comes with a menthol pad to use. I tried that and wasn't really fond. That's just a personal preference though. I know there's a whole essential oils culture out there right now, but for some reason I get hung up on the idea of inhaling oils and whatnot. I prefer to try to keep my lungs as pristine as possible. Though, I still like that the option is there if wanting to use it. Ultimately I returned it and I'm going to try a different brand that I saw on YouTube that looks like it does the same, but shoots out WAY more vapor and is about half the price. My final verdict is yes, it will work, but don't expect to see much, IF ANY steam, which means at least to me, that it probably doesn't work as well as it should.
[00:17:57] Trey Gerrald: Wow.
[00:17:58] Natalie Weiss: How much time does that person have,
[00:17:59] Trey Gerrald: I know that was so
[00:18:00] Natalie Weiss: literally who would write that long? Review!.
[00:18:04] Trey Gerrald: I'm really struck by the fact that they were bragging about being a singer and having the
[00:18:09] Chelsey Donn: I know. I
[00:18:10] Trey Gerrald: and then they returned the product. can't!' you catch the flu from isn't that.
[00:18:15] Chelsey Donn: Oh, and
[00:18:16] Natalie Weiss: I
[00:18:16] Trey Gerrald: contagious? The flu
[00:18:18] Chelsey Donn: oh, good point. So they use that, they spread all their flu germs all over it, and then they put it back in the mail. That's gross.
[00:18:26] Trey Gerrald: Natalie, what do you know about these like personal face steamers as a singer?
[00:18:31] Natalie Weiss: I have the, MyPureMist, which is apparently like the only one to use a lot of, voice people were like, don't use Vicks, but some people love Vicks. So
[00:18:43] Trey Gerrald: your steamer produce a lot of steam?
[00:18:45] Natalie Weiss: it, it produces steam.
[00:18:46] Chelsey Donn: Plumes??
[00:18:47] Natalie Weiss: plumes. I like, I love I like to take off the mask to just drink the straw, but, um, no, not maybe plumes.
[00:18:55] Natalie Weiss: Maybe you need
[00:18:55] Chelsey Donn: Like you could see it. If you didn't put it against a black surface, the amount of science, you know what I mean? I really feel like that's why geekdrop[.]com is geekdrop[.]com because they seemed like they were doing science experiments with this thing.
[00:19:09] Trey Gerrald: How old do you think geekdrop[.]com is?
[00:19:12] Natalie Weiss: 25. I don't know. What do you think? Are you getting older?
[00:19:15] Trey Gerrald: I w I felt younger until he said, cutie patootie, young kids with vapes, but then maybe there are in their thirties. Cause I feel like I call the kids that vape kids.
[00:19:26] Chelsey Donn: Yeah. Same Trey, like, I, this whole time was picturing like a young snooty college student or something that was like, I'm a singer. But then when I got to the 2d fruity part, I was like, is this a 50 year old man? I don't like, I don't, I, I, I felt like I didn't even know,
[00:19:43] Chelsey Donn: you know,
[00:19:44] Trey Gerrald: It's also curious to me that they were like, it produces a lot of heat, but not a lot of steam. So I had to press my face right on the mask. What didn't You think you would put your
[00:19:54] Natalie Weiss: You literally
[00:19:55] Chelsey Donn: Yeah. I w I thought that too, I was like, where are you holding your face? Like
[00:19:59] Natalie Weiss: He thinks it's going across the
[00:20:01] Chelsey Donn: I don't, I don't know, but it's like, it just doesn't make any sense. Like, why do you think the mask is soft? It's soft so that you can put your
[00:20:09] Trey Gerrald: face
[00:20:09] Trey Gerrald: on it?
[00:20:10] Trey Gerrald: Also, this whole thing about they can drink a cup of tea and then fart more steam just T make you gassy.
[00:20:18] Natalie Weiss: No, that was another question far more seem.
[00:20:20] Chelsey Donn: I mean, I just think it was the geekiest joke I've ever read. You know, I just think geekdrop[.]com was really trying to bring on the comedy and nobody laughed at any of their jokes, which is
[00:20:33] Trey Gerrald: Yeah.
[00:20:34] Trey Gerrald: I was going to say that about the humor. I think it's pretty low on humor, but okay. What about the value? Because I think I am feeling like perhaps, like maybe I wouldn't want to try vex and then Natalie contributing, I'm thinking, oh, maybe this isn't the right product as a vocalist.
[00:20:49] Natalie Weiss: Yeah. I mean, I've heard mixed about it because it is salt. My peer mist is between one 50 and 200 and VIX is probably 25.
[00:20:56] Trey Gerrald: Right,
[00:20:56] Chelsey Donn: Right,
[00:20:57] Natalie Weiss: but some people just are like, I just need some steam who cares,
[00:21:01] Chelsey Donn: right, right, right.
[00:21:02] Trey Gerrald: Well, right. Cause I feel like this personal steamer, which this is, is not going to produce plumes. If you want plumes, then you're going to get like an actual VIX, like for the room, right? Like a humidifier for nighttime.
[00:21:14] Chelsey Donn: Yeah. Do we trust geekdrop[.]com? Cause I feel like our trust in them is, is waning as they go on.
[00:21:22] Trey Gerrald: I feel split about that because I do feel like they, I mean, this is so lengthy. They really went through a lot of effort. So it makes me think they've done a little bit of work here to form this opinion.
[00:21:35] Chelsey Donn: Yeah,
[00:21:35] Natalie Weiss: a little bit of like a judgment with me of like somebody who spends that much time has a lot of time. And so I'm still like how long. Did they spend on that? If I was like, this is literally the worst service I've ever experienced in my life, do not go there. Maybe one more sentence is the longest Review!
[00:21:52] Natalie Weiss: I'd leave.
[00:21:53] Chelsey Donn: Right. If you were to see a Review! as long as geekdrop[.]coms, what'd you be like not reading that Review!
[00:22:01] Natalie Weiss: I think I would read it if it's, I would be curious to see the one-star and then if it got really long, I'd be like, whoa, this is just fascinating, but it wouldn't be like, yeah, I would scroll. I wouldn't read everyone
[00:22:13] Chelsey Donn: And this is a three-star review. You should note, do we feel like three stars are the appropriate amount?
[00:22:18] Natalie Weiss: for that long. I feel like maybe he thought it was
[00:22:20] Trey Gerrald: Yeah. I don't get three stars from this. They returned the product.
[00:22:25] Chelsey Donn: Yeah, I feel like this is a one star Ms. Qualified as a Three,, which doesn't happen often. Usually it's the other way
[00:22:31] Trey Gerrald: Wait, so do we think that this is a common experience or do we think it's a flu? I feel like, I wonder if geekdrop bracket dot bracket com got a faulty product.
[00:22:41] Natalie Weiss: I don't know.
[00:22:43] Trey Gerrald: I just feel like it wasn't working because they have the flu.
[00:22:45] Natalie Weiss: Oh
[00:22:46] Chelsey Donn: I'm so grossed out now by the fact that they returned the product after they had the flu based on what you said earlier, like ill,
[00:22:52] Trey Gerrald: All right. Last thing. What's the spelling grammar like,
[00:22:55] Chelsey Donn: excellent. Solid score. on, on spelling and grammar.
[00:22:58] Natalie Weiss: Hmm.
[00:22:59] Chelsey Donn: All right, Natalie, any final thoughts before we go on to crowning?
[00:23:02] Chelsey Donn: All right. I think we're ready.
[00:23:03] Trey Gerrald: yeah, I think I can crown it too. All right. So Chelsey, Natalie and I each have our own set of one to five crown cards. In an effort to be fair and not influence one another. We will simultaneously reveal our writings. Did I say it.
[00:23:17] Trey Gerrald: wrong again?
[00:23:18] Natalie Weiss: you said it's weird. You said influence, but it's you didn't say the
[00:23:21] Chelsey Donn: But that's what he says. Insurance
[00:23:23] Natalie Weiss: I'll know you say insurance.
[00:23:26] Trey Gerrald: I say, see Matt instead of
[00:23:28] Natalie Weiss: What's
[00:23:28] Chelsey Donn: Halloween, Halloween.
[00:23:30] Natalie Weiss: influence.
[00:23:32] Trey Gerrald: Jersey
[00:23:32] Natalie Weiss: Delete you don't say EAN.
[00:23:36] Trey Gerrald: A'.. Okay. Here we go.
[00:23:37] Chelsey Donn: Okay.
[00:23:38] VOICEOVER: The Queens. Tabulating.
[00:23:45] Chelsey Donn: Oh my goodness. Trey. Okay. So Trey is holding up four crowns, Natalie, two crowns, and I'm holding up one and a half crowns.
[00:23:53] Trey Gerrald: I'm the outlier.
[00:23:54] Chelsey Donn: mean the real ally, I was shocked,
[00:23:57] Natalie Weiss: Wow. I'm shocked for
[00:23:58] Chelsey Donn: Right. Natalie, let us know that it's high, I think, but Trey will defend himself in a second. So Natalie, let us know why you gave geekdrop[.]com two crowns.
[00:24:08] Natalie Weiss: Honestly, he wasted too much of my time.
[00:24:11] Trey Gerrald: Um,
[00:24:12] Chelsey Donn: Okay.
[00:24:13] Natalie Weiss: It just was too long. Like we get it. You don't like it.
[00:24:18] Chelsey Donn: Yes. Okay. That's fair. Trey. Let's hear
[00:24:23] Chelsey Donn: it.
[00:24:23] Trey Gerrald: right. I, I said four, I took one crown off because it. was way too lengthy as well. But the fact that they went on YouTube, the fact that they tried the product, I feel like they were giving their experience. So I think it would give me pause. That's the impact for me? So I said four, but Yeah.
[00:24:44] Trey Gerrald: I am still turnt about the fact returned it.
[00:24:47] Trey Gerrald: That's so disgusting. Chelsey, why did you say one and a half?
[00:24:50] Chelsey Donn: Okay, I hear you try it. I want to validate your opinion because I do think that there are people out there that are eager and hungry for these long reviews, with like a ton of meat on the bone. So for those people, maybe this would be a four for me. It was a one and a half geek job.com was like attempting to make me laugh on successfully.
[00:25:11] Chelsey Donn: The flu thing really gross me out. I gave them one crown because the spelling and grammar was really good. I threw on an extra half crown because it was a three-star, Review! not a One,. So they were at least acknowledging a few times in the Review! that it kind of works. Like it did clear my, my nostrils up.
[00:25:32] Chelsey Donn: Right. So for that, I decided to give them the one and a half crown, but I couldn't give them more than that. So that's it. That's my decision.
[00:25:40] Chelsey Donn: Yeah.
[00:25:41] Trey Gerrald: All right, everyone. So we're going to take a quick break. And when we return, Natalie Weiss has agreed to share a Review That she herself has received
[00:25:50] Chelsey Donn: Oh, boy, I cannot wait to crown that we will be right back.
[00:25:58] VOICEOVER: Hold your crown we'll be right back.
[00:26:27] Meryl-Go-Round[00:26:27] Ad
[00:26:27] Trey Gerrald: It's game time. All right, Natalie and Chelsey, it is time for us to take a quick spin on the Meryl. Go round.
[00:26:35] Natalie Weiss: I love this.
[00:26:36] VOICEOVER: 'I don't feel like an icon.
[00:26:45] Chelsey Donn: Here's the deal. Trey has picked a rotten scathing, pithy One-Star-Zinger for Natalie and himself. And with 30 seconds on the clock, they'll take turns, trying to recite the zinger in as many singing styles as possible
[00:27:02] Trey Gerrald: Just like queen Meryl Streep, who does it all, including singing.
[00:27:05] Chelsey Donn: before the clock runs out.
[00:27:07] Trey Gerrald: Okay.
[00:27:07] Trey Gerrald: Natalie, I just texted you a review that says zinger.
[00:27:11] Natalie Weiss: Okay.
[00:27:12] Chelsey Donn: right, Natalie, since you're our guest of honor, I would love it. If you would go first today, and can you let us know? Where is your zinger from?
[00:27:20] Natalie Weiss: So this is a one-star review for vocal ease Amazon product. And this is from Jessie S, "IT DIDN'T WORK MY VOICE IS STILL HOARSE NO CHANGE."
[00:27:32] Trey Gerrald: it's not an all caps.
[00:27:35] Chelsey Donn: Wow. Okay,
[00:27:37] Trey Gerrald: right.
[00:27:38] Chelsey Donn: Natalie, we got to strap you into something before you got on the Meryl-Go-Round.
[00:27:42] Trey Gerrald: fling off.
[00:27:43] Chelsey Donn: Yeah, We don't have liability insurance. So I'm picturing like a bedazzled microphone. Okay. So like sort of like an, like a nod to Whitney Houston. So strap yourself in.
[00:27:53] Chelsey Donn: Okay. Are you ready?
[00:27:56] VOICEOVER: Three, Two,.
[00:28:00] Chelsey Donn: Jazz singer
[00:28:01] Natalie Weiss: it didn't work level is still so home. There's no change. Am I doing it to this music? Okay.
[00:28:08] Chelsey Donn: country,
[00:28:09] Natalie Weiss: And then
[00:28:15] Chelsey Donn: Brittany
[00:28:16] Natalie Weiss: it didn't work.
[00:28:22] Chelsey Donn: AHPRA, diva. Oh, my God. I like, I think I might just have to like pay extra to hear you do
[00:28:37] Natalie Weiss: Oh, my God. I was so nervous because you know why I heard the key of the other song and I was like, I have to stand the key and I could only write one tune. I can see kept repeating the same
[00:28:45] Chelsey Donn: first of all that Brittany was like epic. So you got four Natalie, but I don't know, like, if you will let us, I would love nothing more than for you to do the rest of the genres in the After Show
[00:29:00] Natalie Weiss: I want to, I want to do more.
[00:29:01] Chelsey Donn: Okay. Okay, good. I want you I'm like so excited. So if you're not on Patreon, this is a really good reason to join All
[00:29:07] Trey Gerrald: believe I have to follow that.
[00:29:09] Chelsey Donn: got to follow that act. So with that in mind, I'm going to strap you into a Mike with Auto-Tune just so like it can help you out a little bit and that's process. You're welcome.
[00:29:21] Natalie Weiss: Just high belt, just high belt, Trey.
[00:29:24] Trey Gerrald: All right. So today my zinger is also from amazon.com and this is for the Andover pipe,
[00:29:33] Chelsey Donn: Oh my
[00:29:33] Trey Gerrald: this is written by Tim lover and the one-star reviews subject is, does not work. And the Review! is had to blow hard and long, not helpful.
[00:29:45] Chelsey Donn: Okay. Okay. Moving on, Trey. Are you ready?
[00:29:54] Trey Gerrald: Okay, Here we
[00:29:54] Trey Gerrald: go.
[00:29:55] Chelsey Donn: Here we
[00:29:55] VOICEOVER: Three, Two, One, GO!.
[00:30:05] Chelsey Donn: Heavy metal.
[00:30:13] Trey Gerrald: Hey,
[00:30:36] Natalie Weiss: so
[00:30:36] Trey Gerrald: I'm like, I am so embarrassed and I'm friends with
[00:30:41] Natalie Weiss: literally, what are you talking about? I can't even built that high stop.
[00:30:45] Chelsey Donn: I'm not giving you Natalie. Cause you didn't get it in time. So Trey. No, no, no. I'm not giving him the point
[00:30:52] Trey Gerrald: that's fair. No, it's
[00:30:53] Chelsey Donn: which is
[00:30:53] Chelsey Donn: fair because he came in, he came in after the buzzer
[00:30:56] Chelsey Donn: And you know, I'm the one that's judging this. So that's only fair. So that means that it's a tie divas just saying Trey, I think the Auto-Tune helped.
[00:31:06] Chelsey Donn: That's all I'm gonna say about that.
[00:31:08] Trey Gerrald: I agree.
[00:31:11] Turning Internet Trolls into Art
[00:31:11] VOICEOVER: Review That Review.
[00:31:15] Chelsey Donn: All right. We are back from that rousing game break and now it's time to get a little more personal, but before we share your personal review, Natalie Trey, and I want to discuss your bugaboos scrubs mashup that you do and your concerts, where you geniously and comically tackle your mean comments. Let's hear a clip from.
[00:31:37] VOICEOVER: So sometimes when I feel down, I like to go on the internet and
[00:31:46] VOICEOVER: now everybody's entitled to their opinions. That's what we're here to talk about. And why are these? Natalie has a fierce belt, a fierce, fierce nose. And it's totally nice. Maybe busy, maybe not the prettiest girl ever, but certainly a great
[00:31:59] Chelsey Donn: Oh, my God.
[00:32:06] Trey Gerrald: uh,
[00:32:10] VOICEOVER: girl who needs to eat.
[00:32:13] Chelsey Donn: Stop.
[00:32:14] Trey Gerrald: tell us about the creation of doing the mashup of bugaboo scrubs while reading mean internet comments. How did you get the idea? How has it evolved, et cetera?
[00:32:24] Natalie Weiss: Well, I have used mean commons in my shows for so long. I had put the mean comments to something else. I'm not sure. And then I realized the way that I already started a song as like a ballad. Like you make me want to throw my pager out the window. Very, very deep. I knew I needed, like, I guess zinger is a different, I use it as like a, like the zinger and, um, it just was kind of like the perfect segue for like, you mean trolls.
[00:32:52] Natalie Weiss: Everything is fine. You know, trying to kind of take the high
[00:32:55] Chelsey Donn: Yeah.
[00:32:55] Trey Gerrald: What's the general reception, like
[00:32:57] Natalie Weiss: they love it.
[00:32:58] Chelsey Donn: I just love that you're doing this because the thing that brings me the most joy about our show is that we get to bring in some of these one star reviews. Kind of dismantle them. And I really think that that's what you do. Not only are you dismantling the insanity of someone going on the internet and being a troll but you're also turning it into art, making it humor.
[00:33:24] Chelsey Donn: And by doing that, giving permission to other people, to like, hold that middle finger up to these trolls who really are not deserving of their time. You know, we always on the show, it's saying, ignore the haters. You're a queen, but it's true. Like you are embodying that. And I think there's so much power in that.
[00:33:44] Chelsey Donn: It really makes the rest of us feel like, okay, I can have a thicker skin.
[00:33:48] Natalie Weiss: I mean, that's like a really awesome way of putting it. Like thank you. But I have to say I have the thinnest skin, like. Of anyone. So when I re like, I remember where I was when I saw a girl who did you eat?
[00:34:00] Natalie Weiss: And it crushed me. And then now, because it is absolutely absurd years later, I was like, this is insane.
[00:34:07] Natalie Weiss: Of course, I'm going to use this in my show.
[00:34:09] Natalie Weiss: There are some comments I won't read that are too truthful to my own insecurities that are like, they're not like, they're like, mean, but they're like, kind of true. And I'm like, oh, I read me for Phil. But the ones that are like insanely, like how would anyone ever write that?
[00:34:22] Natalie Weiss: What are you saying? Those are the ones, but the ones that are really, really dig deep, like I need to like spiral for 10 minutes with my best friends, for them to be like, literally stop. So it's, I'm glad I can do that after the fact, but I'm definitely not like that. These people I'm not like that at all right
[00:34:41] Trey Gerrald: I really recommend everyone go to YouTube type in Natalie Weiss mean comments. It's the first video that comes up. She's wearing white.
[00:34:48] Chelsey Donn: But even though, like you said, like, oh, like, I'm glad you see it that way, because I actually feel terrible when I read them. I think that like that's even more brave and more true. It's like, yeah, I feel terrible when I read this and I'm not going to just sit in that terrible feeling, I'm going to have the terrible feeling and then I'm going to turn it into this other thing.
[00:35:05] Natalie Weiss: Yeah, thanks.
[00:35:07] Chelsey Donn: All right with that in mind. Okay.
[00:35:10] Chelsey Donn: With, With, all of that background in mind,
[00:35:12] Natalie's Personal Review
[00:35:12] Chelsey Donn: Natalie, we asked you to bring a personal review in with you today. That was either a harsh critic or an MVR, which is the most valuable reviewer.
[00:35:20] Trey Gerrald: Which is basically a negative or a positive review that you have personally received. And then it just like before we, well,
[00:35:28] VOICEOVER: Assess That kvetch.
[00:35:30] Chelsey Donn: Then after Trey and I have crowned, we will ask you to share with us what the personal impact of this Review! was on you. So, Natalie, what have you asked Trey to read?
[00:35:39] Natalie Weiss: So in 2014, eight years ago, I was doing two cabarets at this Houston venue, like Monday and Tuesday, and the morning, the second show on a Tuesday. I got a tweet from the reviewer that said, check this out, Natalie. And so I clicked on it. Long story short, you'll hear the Review! They tweeted it at me.
[00:35:59] Chelsey Donn: Oh, okay.
[00:36:00] Natalie Weiss: So I was like, what's this?
[00:36:02] Chelsey Donn: Hi. All right.
[00:36:03] Trey Gerrald: Okay, so you got this. So this is a harsh critic and you got this the morning before you had
[00:36:09] Natalie Weiss: I had to do another show, the exact same concert.
[00:36:12] Trey Gerrald: All right. So this is a BroadwayWorld Cabaret Review. This is written by David C. And the subject is 'Natalie Weiss's Personality Overshadows Vocal Talent In Houston Cabaret. Here we go.
[00:36:27] Trey Gerrald: a YouTube sensation, many are familiar with Natalie Weiss's voice and face, and the largely teenage slash early twenties audience last night, couldn't be more enthusiastic to see her perform live. Yet, somewhere along the way, her abrasive personality overshadowed her vocal talent. Don't get me wrong. The brash new Englander is my favorite form of American. I enjoy the stereotypical confidence and charisma of the typical Northeasterner.
[00:36:57] Trey Gerrald: However, when one comes on stage to sing for an audience, that is what I expect to happen. It's easy enough to forgive the 17 minute delay at the beginning of the concert. Well, that is until the first act wrapped in about 35 minutes. The second act of dragged out a bit longer as Natalie Weiss added a song to the set, not included in the program.
[00:37:19] Trey Gerrald: She also returned for a three song Encore. Even with this, the concerts still ended at the stroke of 10:00 PM. Meaning between banter and singing. Last nights, audience got approximately 88 minutes of Natalie Weiss on stage. Moreover, Natalie Weiss's banter didn't really hook the audience in Houston. It took almost the entirety of the first act for the crowd to warm up to her.
[00:37:42] Trey Gerrald: Before the act one closer, she read actual messages from her OkCupid inbox. This was Natalie Weiss at her most genuine. I get that quote, all the world's a stage and her job is to perform. However, the beauty of an intimate cabaret concert is that you get to be real. Others treat the experience like they are performing in their living room for long lost friends.
[00:38:04] Trey Gerrald: And that dynamic is what seemed to be missing the most from last night's concert.
[00:38:08] Trey Gerrald: Moreover. a second moreover, her Encore was a fun selection of audience favorites. It started with a lovely take on, Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, but the song fell apart for me at the end, when she added needless riffs, she followed this with her rendition of Let It Go from Disney's Frozen, which the audience had been clamoring for since the show's beginning. Then she closed with her take on Demi Lovato's Skyscraper.
[00:38:35] Trey Gerrald: I can't deny that the vocal performances that she offered were thrilling. Natalie Weiss also deftly delivered many, an impressive vocal riff, opening with a cover of Titanium. She made the performance fund by walking through the crowd to get to the stage. Her Spark of Creation from Children of Eden was captivating. My favorite performance of hers was the energetic and colorful mashup she did of Destiny Child's bugaboo and TLCs, no scrubs.
[00:39:02] Trey Gerrald: Even with the impressive vocals, her need to stop and restart some songs parentheses, except when she choked on water Got in the way of her performances. It also rubs me the wrong way when she called out David Lerner on the drums twice for missing cues, I understand fully that she had less than one week to rehearse with her band. At least she tried to cover it in jest, attempting to make a joke out of it by more or less welcoming the audience to her quote, unquote casual open rehearsal.
[00:39:31] Trey Gerrald: However it was her declaration of quote. 'Usually I don't do this. Normally, I can't talk by now!' At the beginning of the Encore that really raised my ire, every voice lesson teacher I've ever had would remind her that if she was doing some solid vocal, warmup and properly supporting and singing from her diaphragm, that she'd be able to sing belt and riff on 15 songs every night for weeks on end without having to worry about the fact that she has concerts on two consecutive nights, but that said not otherwise. This concert in Houston, wasn't a total bust. The audience got to hear some sturdy vocal performances, the teenagers and young 20 somethings got to see one of their heroes perform live.
[00:40:14] Trey Gerrald: Everyone had some laughs. However, I'd hazard a guess that Natalie Weiss, who seemed truly to be performing for herself had the most fun last night.
[00:40:26] Chelsey Donn: I'm so mad at David. See, I need to like take a breath.
[00:40:30] Natalie Weiss: too.
[00:40:30] Trey Gerrald: really super long Review!, but I, okay. I'm curious because I feel like David contradicts themselves because they say like, this is a chance to be like casual in your living room with your friends. And then later as like, how dare her be casual,
[00:40:45] Chelsey Donn: Yeah.
[00:40:46] Natalie Weiss: Oh, wait, how dare her? Yeah. Okay. I'm not going to.
[00:40:49] Chelsey Donn: So I have so many thoughts now, first of all, his assessment is so contrarion like in moments he's acting as if it was bad, nothing happened. I was turned off by this, but then proceeds to list a bunch of things that he likes. He also says that the audience as a whole, because suddenly they've all hired him to be the spokesperson of their experience, thought that it was boring and weren't on board until a certain point.
[00:41:17] Chelsey Donn: But then was like, they got to see their hero and they were so excited and we all had some laughs like, I'm sorry, asked S T F U David C
[00:41:27] Trey Gerrald: I literally was going to mention that because first of all, David approaches this whole thing as an outsider, which I think is like.
[00:41:34] Trey Gerrald: a bizarre point. If you're trying to like, Review! something, but they separate themselves from the audience, which I think is bizarre, but they say like, everyone, couldn't be more enthusiastic to see her perform live.
[00:41:46] Trey Gerrald: That's the first sentence. But then yeah, no, they just, it seems very contradictory.
[00:41:52] Chelsey Donn: I also think it's completely bizarre that they bragged about loving the abrasive personality of brash new Englanders. That that's their favorite and then had a problem because they found Natalie brash. I don't know. David. See, I think you're shady. And I think you can go ahead and leave.
[00:42:14] Chelsey Donn: David's say
[00:42:15] Trey Gerrald: I just, one other little thing that jumps out to me is, um, you know, vocalists, like Natalie have impressive ranges. And so when you see them and a concert, you know, they, they mentioned how the audience was clamoring to hear, let it go. Which how do you know that? But like, let it go. Like, I think there's maybe like a handful of people that can sing that.
[00:42:38] Trey Gerrald: And then, I mean, here we go. It says, let it go. Skyscraper. Natalie holds like a G sharp or
[00:42:44] Trey Gerrald: something crazy. It's like titanium. That's like Jennifer, Hudson C uh, like crazy people sink. That's not an easy, it's like all of these songs, the spark of creation, they are at like the most highest Full voice belt and it is a huge task to sing the song.
[00:43:01] Trey Gerrald: It's not like Natalie's going out singing lullabies. Like I don't understand the whole judgment about her offering three songs as an Encore and making a joke that like her repertoire is hard to sang
[00:43:13] Chelsey Donn: No, there are so many things in this Review! that are contradictory. So I don't, I immediately don't trust the author. I also really hated the entire section where they were talking about if she knew the proper way to sing, she wouldn't have trouble singing, like the songs, like literally talking about technique.
[00:43:34] Chelsey Donn: All of a sudden, Natalie doesn't have the technique to get through these songs. Like give me a break, David. See, I want to see you get up there and sing all those songs and not have a moment where you like, need a minute, need water needs. I was like, blessed enough to see Whitney Houston. And she had taken many minutes to be like, oh, that was a song.
[00:43:59] Chelsey Donn: Give me a second. I'm going to have some water. Like, what is it that you're expecting? I don't think you're honoring the crowd of people that are going to this show that want to be there. And if you don't want to be there, then you shouldn't be there. And that's why I don't trust him.
[00:44:14] Trey Gerrald: Well, that's why I also think there's something wrong with the value here, because if you're recognizing that everyone in attendance is like losing their minds, then that's who is interested in reading a review. So the value that you're adding feels mean like an unnecessary, okay. Obviously spelling and grammar is great because I'm sure BroadwayWorld has an editor and the truthful shady.
[00:44:37] Trey Gerrald: I mean, I think it's shady. I think they're just intentionally like having a superior attitude and like wanting to be mean, like it comes across as Shady common experience or fluke. I mean, based on the fact that David C excludes themselves from the crowd makes me think this is not a common experience.
[00:44:59] Natalie Weiss: Oh, is that something you guys do with all the reviews? I love that. Okay.
[00:45:03] Chelsey Donn: yeah,
[00:45:03] Trey Gerrald: And then humor where you entertained. I mean,
[00:45:06] Chelsey Donn: no. I was like stunned to silence. A mad,
[00:45:10] Trey Gerrald: And then final question before we crown, is what's the impact? Is this a deal breaker? It makes me like, it's interesting because I think the intention of the Review! it's flipped for me because it makes me feel defensive of the artist and that the person writing it didn't get it. And that's really maddening.
[00:45:32] Trey Gerrald: You know, it is interesting, cause this is like about an art form. So then it gets subjective and people have, see what they want to, you know, it's different than like a review of a toothbrush. So like this is a deal breaker for me. I think it's a deal breaker for me for reviews from this reviewer.
[00:45:48] Chelsey Donn: Agreed. Totally
[00:45:50] Trey Gerrald: All right, well I'm ready to crown.
[00:45:51] Trey Gerrald: Do you want a crown?
[00:45:52] Chelsey Donn: I am ready to crown. Yes.
[00:45:54] Trey Gerrald: here we go.
[00:45:55] Chelsey Donn: All right, let's do it.
[00:45:56] VOICEOVER: The Queens are Tabulating.
[00:46:03] Chelsey Donn: Okay. I'm committing a show first. I
[00:46:05] Chelsey Donn: want you to know Natalie. This is a show first and I am giving David C zero crowns, zero crowds, and Trey is holding up half of a
[00:46:14] Natalie Weiss: What
[00:46:15] Chelsey Donn: Yep. Trey.
[00:46:17] Trey Gerrald: tell us about the show first.
[00:46:18] Chelsey Donn: I swear my life. I'm not just saying this because Natalie is sitting here. as a performer. I'm so like trigger warning about these type of reviews and I'm so mad.
[00:46:29] Chelsey Donn: I don't think there's any value here. I don't think we're tapping into the audience. I think David C can go ahead and go home. And for that reason, zero crowns, David. See, do better. a
[00:46:41] Trey Gerrald: And I did a half crown because I think the only value here is that I get a glimpse at what the set list will be and that, and that the crowd, I mean, I am someone who was a fan of Natalie before knowing her. So I feel like I would fit in with the crowd. Like I think that I would also be like, oh my God.
[00:46:59] Trey Gerrald: Oh my God, it's she's doing
[00:46:59] Trey Gerrald: let it go. Oh my God. And it makes me feel like I'm more of a fan because I felt like this reviewer simply didn't get at. And that makes me feel like I'm closer to the person. I'm a fan of, because I want to like, make it better,
[00:47:13] Trey Gerrald: you know,
[00:47:14] Chelsey Donn: Agreed. And
[00:47:15] Natalie Weiss: Sorry, I'm typing. I'm writing notes. Cause you have so many good points.
[00:47:18] Chelsey Donn: that was a lot, but, but I want to just say like quickly again, like I'm not discounting or have crown, but I just want to point out like your assignment included, those little peeks into what the show is going to be. I don't give them any credit for that because I think that's expected as a part of the assignment.
[00:47:35] Trey Gerrald: I will just throw in. I don't know how this works. I, I don't know if BroadwayWorld commissions reviews. I don't know. I, I don't know if you're right or wrong. I'm just throwing out. I don't know how it works to be a contributor for BroadwayWorld. So I just want to clear the air. Okay.
[00:47:52] Trey Gerrald: So show first, zero and a half crown, which is insane.
[00:47:56] Trey Gerrald: So first of all, Natalie, thank you for being vulnerable and sharing this. I know that like, we've been sort of tiptoeing around this, this whole second half of the show, but you are in the public eye. People are very forthcoming behind keyboards and you have handled a lot of negativity and ferociousness thrown at you.
[00:48:16] Trey Gerrald: And so since we have you, we want to know what the impact of this. You, you mentioned you got this in between two performances, so take us back to 2014. And what was, why was that?
[00:48:27] Natalie Weiss: Sorry. I did a lot alongside, I need a water. Um, okay. First of all, thank you for pushing me to do this because as Trey knows, I was super, super resistant. I'm super triggered by this Review! because I don't really talk about it. And it's also on the internet for life
[00:48:47] Natalie Weiss: and it was so hurtful and I like, I know who they are and I never talked about it again.
[00:48:53] Natalie Weiss: I don't want any, any fights with anyone, but. So I'll take you back and then I'll say, first of all, thank you guys, because I needed you back then. And I know like, you know, I just met you, but Trey and I have known each other for so long. And obviously I know you're, my friends are going to give it a zero Review!,
[00:49:10] Natalie Weiss: blah, blah, blah, or a crown. But it is interesting objectively the things you're saying, I'm like, yeah, you're right. I did feel that way. But basically when I saw the tweet, I opened it being like, oh my God, I got it. And then I just like, saw it. And I was like, Andrew, Andrew. And he was like, Natalie, why did you Google your name?
[00:49:28] Natalie Weiss: And I was like, what do you mean? I'm not just searching mean comments. Like that's like, no. And so I had to like tell the producers. That I was like, this is insane. I can't believe I have to go back and do this again. Like, and the thing is, it's not, she can't act, I've heard enough of that. It was like a direct attack of me as a person.
[00:49:46] Natalie Weiss: So it feels so, so personal. And I had to do the exact same show and I was like, so in my head, and then the person who brought me down was like, don't let this get you. Nobody felt that way. Literally nobody, they loved it because I had such a high meeting the audience, then there's the other side. Like I did it, I got through it.
[00:50:05] Natalie Weiss: I was singing. Um, bring him home then as with a fuck you in my head of what, this is my interpretation of the song, you know, it's a pit every time even reading it to him or you reading it again, I was like, oh my God, I forgot about that part. On the other hand, I will say I took it as a learning experience because.
[00:50:26] Trey Gerrald: Mmm,
[00:50:26] Natalie Weiss: One, Trey has seen many of my shows and I hope that he would attest to part of the enjoyment of my show is, is that I am so besties with the audience. I am chilling out in my living room. Me self-deprecating is on brand of like, oh my God, Ooh, lost my voice cracked. Oh, that is more to me.
[00:50:47] Natalie Weiss: I'm not going to change that. That is more like, I'm perfect. I'm going to crack. I'm going to joke. I literally inhaled my spit on an inhale. I distinctly remember when I went, sorry, because that's, it's not, I'm not in a Broadway show where
[00:50:59] Natalie Weiss: like, I can't leave the stage. I actually can ban.
[00:51:03] Natalie Weiss: So that was just like, take a seat off of your high horse.
[00:51:06] Natalie Weiss: I am totally self-deprecating and joking where I can learn is like, yes, the drummer, we only had one rehearsal. He missed, messed up two things. And I definitely, I will take that as a, I probably can't ever call them out. Of course I did it in jest because that's my humor. I wasn't like, excuse me, where my backup singers.
[00:51:24] Natalie Weiss: I wasn't like, excuse me, somebody singing my note or like you played the wrong thing. I was like, oh, where'd you go or something shady. But I would say, I would learn from that. I probably won't ever do that again because that rubbed him the wrong way. And he is allowed to be rubbed that what seemed like bitchy to a musician, which I never want to do.
[00:51:42] Natalie Weiss: We kind of bonded me and the drummer. I thought that we have this rapport. I think that's probably why I was like, we had spent two days together. So I thought maybe we had that rapport okay. I don't remember why we started 17 minutes late. Maybe it was the venue. Maybe I, I don't even know why the whole I'm singing. If she really knew how to sing really gets me. I can't with that. The thing was that I had to do it again. That was super hard. Um, and he didn't get it.
[00:52:08] Natalie Weiss: That, that's the thing that really hurt the fact that like, I think the audience was with me, like, okay, Cuba jokes, except for the calling the drummer out, which could be viewed as like, whoa, take like Natalie that don't like, I definitely was like, okay. I started second guessing everything. I was like, everything he said is right.
[00:52:27] Natalie Weiss: Everything he said is right. I will never do that again. Not fuck him. It was. And now looking back, like hearing like objective, like wait, huh. You know, so.
[00:52:37] Chelsey Donn: I mean, I'm just, I'm so glad we could do that for you because it's like so clear when you're reading it about someone else but I also, like, I hear you and that we internalize all of that stuff and I do too. So I, you know, I empathize.
[00:52:51] Natalie Weiss: Right, right, right.
[00:52:52] Trey Gerrald: And something you said at the very beginning is like, what do you mean this was, this is my interpretation. Like, I think that is something that's very key, especially in a world that is musical theater, where we listened to cast recordings. We think things are a certain way. And where is the creative license?
[00:53:12] Trey Gerrald: And you weren't doing Les MIS you were doing a concert and you were singing a male song. So like, why can't you do what you want to
[00:53:20] Chelsey Donn: I don't know the definition of cabaret, but I think any cabaret that I've ever seen, there's always going to be a like, different take on a classic. I mean, who wants to hear a straight classic over and over again? We've all heard it before. We're coming to the cabaret to hear a different take on it.
[00:53:38] Trey Gerrald: I have a question. Did you alter the show at all?
[00:53:41] Natalie Weiss: Oh, for the second day,
[00:53:43] Trey Gerrald: Yeah. And then in general, moving forward, cause you said it was a lot, there were a lot of blessings for you as an artist and moving forward,
[00:53:50] Natalie Weiss: I probably didn't start 17 minutes late. You know what I mean? Like who knows? Um,
[00:53:56] Trey Gerrald: were singing when they were walking in.
[00:53:58] Natalie Weiss: like literally,
[00:53:59] Chelsey Donn: You're like I'm early.
[00:54:01] Natalie Weiss: and then, yeah, exactly. Um,
[00:54:05] Trey Gerrald: So no, not
[00:54:05] Trey Gerrald: really. You were able to
[00:54:07] Natalie Weiss: I definitely, probably didn't call off the drummer,
[00:54:09] Trey Gerrald: Right.
[00:54:09] Natalie Weiss: you know,
[00:54:10] Trey Gerrald: I feel like, I guess like, we've talked about how you do have a thin skin, but like you've been in the public eye for a very long time. what would your advice be to your younger self? Like how do you keep producing and not hiding in a hole somewhere?
[00:54:26] Natalie Weiss: I guess people have said to me, if you're on the internet, the more known you get, the more haters are going to have. And so you're doing something right. If people are talking, but it's hard because not everyone can like you, you can't serve everyone. I'm like, oh, what do you mean? You
[00:54:38] Trey Gerrald: Right.
[00:54:39] Chelsey Donn: Yeah, no, I do now.
[00:54:40] Trey Gerrald: I also just, I want to end this little section here. Yes. Obviously, like you're sitting here with us, but I would just say as authentic as possible. I remember when David and I went to see your show at the high line and we were in the front row
[00:54:54] Trey Gerrald: and I feel like, um, I feel like I'm getting emotional, but I feel like I was like, so taken by.
[00:55:03] Trey Gerrald: What your specific talent that you just like God given possess. And it was like, it makes me feel emotional because I feel like so many people want to be able to contribute to the world and have an impact on people. So it makes me feel really crazy that someone wouldn't get that or what twist it in a way to be cunty or like, it just, it makes me so disappointed that we feel like we have to tear people down when it's like the simple gifts that you have are so radically insane for someone to not appreciate it.
[00:55:41] Trey Gerrald: Like it pains me because it's just a waste of energy and time.
[00:55:47] Chelsey Donn: totally agree.
[00:55:49] Trey Gerrald: if we could just all add positivity, like we wouldn't have this podcast, but like, what's the point. It's like, what's the point at the end of the day?
[00:55:58] Chelsey Donn: Totally. Yes. I concur with all of that.
[00:56:03] Trey Gerrald: Okay. Let's All right. Let's move on.
[00:56:06] Chelsey Donn: All right. Let's everybody grab some tissues.
[00:56:11] Strong Opinions
[00:56:11] Trey Gerrald: All right. We're going to crank up the heat.
[00:56:13] Chelsey Donn: Yeah. If you thought that burner was all the way up, you're wrong. Cause there's a few more levels.
[00:56:17] Trey Gerrald: So Natalie, We have some questions for you,
[00:56:21] Chelsey Donn: We have some very serious questions. Not only it's time for some strong opinions. We want to hear your first gut reaction. There's no wrong answer. Just your immediate.
[00:56:32] Trey Gerrald: Chelsey, and I will alternate pulling questions out of our respective Kvetcher hats. We're going to put 60 seconds on the clock and you will try to answer as many of these either or strong opinion questions as you can. And if you get more than eight, we're going to send you a five crown t-shirt in the mail.
[00:56:52] Trey Gerrald: Are you ready?
[00:56:57] Natalie Weiss: Yeah.
[00:57:01] Chelsey Donn: Virbrato or straight tone
[00:57:04] Trey Gerrald: Love on top.
[00:57:05] Trey Gerrald: or Bohemian Rhapsody,
[00:57:07] Natalie Weiss: Love on top.
[00:57:08] Chelsey Donn: food poisoning from a restaurant. What'd you go back
[00:57:11] Natalie Weiss: No
[00:57:12] Trey Gerrald: Streisand or saline,
[00:57:14] Natalie Weiss: saline,
[00:57:15] Chelsey Donn: Rodgers and Hammerstein or Sondheim,
[00:57:18] Trey Gerrald: sung through or a book musical
[00:57:21] Natalie Weiss: book, musical
[00:57:22] Chelsey Donn: bachelor, or bachelorette.
[00:57:25] Natalie Weiss: bachelor.
[00:57:25] Trey Gerrald: Apennine or Elphaba
[00:57:29] Chelsey Donn: Lose your voice or lose your savings.
[00:57:32] Natalie Weiss: this might savings.
[00:57:34] Trey Gerrald: One song for internety. She used to be mine.
[00:57:37] Trey Gerrald: or waving through a window
[00:57:39] Natalie Weiss: She used to be mine.
[00:57:42] Chelsey Donn: Yeah,
[00:57:43] Natalie Weiss: Judy,
[00:57:43] Trey Gerrald: fast virbrato or slow vibrato.
[00:57:46] Natalie Weiss: slow vibrato,
[00:57:47] Chelsey Donn: prison with a lead reviewer status. Is that a turn on
[00:57:50] Chelsey Donn: or turn
[00:57:50] Natalie Weiss: turn off. I guess
[00:57:53] VOICEOVER: That's
[00:57:53] Natalie Weiss: are so clever who wrote those?
[00:57:55] Trey Gerrald: We both dead.
[00:57:56] Natalie Weiss: You guys are so clever.
[00:57:58] Trey Gerrald: 4 5, 6, you got six of mine.
[00:58:01] Natalie Weiss: so funny. Cause normally I'm either or I'm like neither. And I was like, so clear about
[00:58:05] Natalie Weiss: some
[00:58:05] Chelsey Donn: got seven of mine out all you, so you crushed,
[00:58:10] Chelsey Donn: you got
[00:58:11] Trey Gerrald: Natalie.
[00:58:12] Chelsey Donn: nah,
[00:58:13] Natalie Weiss: Oh
[00:58:13] Trey Gerrald: Wait, can I ask you one more that we didn't get American idol or the voice
[00:58:19] Natalie Weiss: Oh, the voice.
[00:58:19] Chelsey Donn: I have three more. should I do?
[00:58:21] Trey Gerrald: yell? Let's just do them.
[00:58:22] Chelsey Donn: Singing on a cruise ship or singing at a theme park.
[00:58:25] Natalie Weiss: Theme park.
[00:58:26] Trey Gerrald: you see an ENT with a three-star rating,
[00:58:29] Natalie Weiss: No
[00:58:30] Chelsey Donn: Under study or swing.
[00:58:32] Natalie Weiss: understanding.
[00:58:33] Trey Gerrald: final question, flat or sharp.
[00:58:36] Natalie Weiss: sharp.
[00:58:37] Chelsey Donn: Okay. Oh, interesting.
[00:58:41] Trey Gerrald: We had a lot of fun making those up.
[00:58:44] Chelsey Donn: Yeah. Sweet dad.
[00:58:46] Trey Gerrald: Great job, Natalie. You have officially proven yourself to be a certifiable Queen.
[00:58:51] Natalie Weiss: Thank
[00:58:51] Chelsey Donn: you have earned yourself a five crown. Whew. That will be in the mail on its way to you.
[00:58:58] My Royal Highness
[00:58:58] Trey Gerrald: So Natalie, now that you have been queened, we have reached the most Regal portion of our show. Is there someone or something that you think is deserving of five crowns? Who are you inducting today for?
[00:59:12] VOICEOVER: My Royal Highness
[00:59:13] Natalie Weiss: I will be giving five stars to MealPrepChef.
[00:59:17] Natalie Weiss: They are a company started by a girl that went to Penn state under me, Alyssa and I have been working with them for like two years, especially in my really busy times during emoji land. And if my teaching days are crazy, it sounds very bougie, but it's kind of really affordable.
[00:59:33] Natalie Weiss: And she has a bunch of chefs. So I have a personal chef sounds again, but I, and that personal chef, like I have my own chef, but they cook in your home, the order from fresh direct. And it's based customized menus based on what you need. So like I'm doing whole 30 paleo, but if you're like, I'm gluten free or I hate olives, I love sweet potatoes.
[00:59:50] Natalie Weiss: I get delivered meals every week but they usually cook in your home and it's an insane service that I recommend to everyone. And the food is as I quote trademark moldable.
[01:00:04] Chelsey Donn: wow.
[01:00:05] Trey Gerrald: love that. I'm going to look into that cause you know, David and I do eat clean brow, but that sounds more fresh.
[01:00:10] Natalie Weiss: Yes.
[01:00:11] Chelsey Donn: Yeah. What a worthy induction. It sounds like if it's moldable.
[01:00:14] Natalie Weiss: Moldable.
[01:00:15] Trey Gerrald: All right. So that's it. We did it. That is another round on the R U a R Q Ferris wheel of life. Thank you so much for joining us today. Natalie
[01:00:25] Natalie Weiss: for having me.
[01:00:27] Trey Gerrald: where they can find You et cetera,
[01:00:29] Natalie Weiss: You can find me at on socials, the Natalie Weiss, and you can find me at natalieweissofficial.com.
[01:00:36] Trey Gerrald: or they can find you at NatalieWeissVoice.com.
[01:00:40] Natalie Weiss: yes. That's where my online course.
[01:00:42] Chelsey Donn: Oh, cool.
[01:00:43] Trey Gerrald: And Natalie has been so gracious. Everyone get this, you can use the promo code ReviewQueen40 for 40% off Natalie's course. So tell that tell everyone about the course.
[01:00:57] Natalie Weiss: Anything you've seen on the internet of breaking down the risks. It's much more broken down and simplified and added pop techniques stuff I don't even ever talk about for free on the internet. Lots of visuals there for visual and oral learners, there is think 15 modules. There are quizzes. It's like a whole program you can buy and do at your own pace.
[01:01:16] Natalie Weiss: And it's Natalie Weiss, voice.com and the promo code.
[01:01:20] Trey Gerrald: ReviewQueen40 for 40%
[01:01:23] Natalie Weiss: off.
[01:01:23] Chelsey Donn: Got the course, the what, uh, what a generous offer and thank you listeners for joining us today and thank you to any of Natalie's friends and fans who are listening to us today. We hope you'll become fans of the show, and we really, really, really appreciate you tuning in. If you like, what you heard, please share it.
[01:01:41] Chelsey Donn: Tell a friend.
[01:01:42] Trey Gerrald: If you didn't like what you heard, please share it And tell an enemy. you can join our mailing list to stay up to date with the goings on, in the queendom at ReviewThatReview.Com
[01:01:51] Chelsey Donn: And you can hit up our voicemail box 1-850-REVIEW-0 or slide into our DMS. You can follow us on all the socials at @theReviewQueens. And I'm at @ChelseyBD.
[01:02:04] Trey Gerrald: and I'm at @TreyGerrald. Now everyone pay attention. We are going to cover an additional review with Natalie Weiss on our after show podcast. So to find out what made Chelsey say.
[01:02:19] Chelsey Donn: Everything's coming up arose as Chelsey and to find out what made Trey say.
[01:02:26] Trey Gerrald: You mean, you haven't read singing for dummies Natalie, and to find out what made Natalie say. then join our Patreon Page at patreon.com/ReviewThatReview to hear our special members only after show podcast.
[01:02:45] Chelsey Donn: And remember, as Natalie has taught us today, ignore the haters, you're a queen.
[01:02:52] Trey Gerrald: Gender non-specific queen!
[01:02:53] Chelsey Donn: Bye.
[01:02:54] Trey Gerrald: Bye!
[01:02:56] Natalie Weiss: Bye!
Review That Review is an independent podcast. Certain names have been redacted or changed to protect the guilty. Executive produced by Trey Gerrald and Chelsey Donn with editing and sound designed by me with voiceover talents by Eva Kaminsky. Our cover art was designed by LogoVora and our theme song was written by Joe Kinosian and sung by Natalie Weiss.
[01:03:20] Trey Gerrald: Oh, my God. I, even as she's joking,
[01:03:22] Chelsey Donn: I know, I know me jail. It's amazing. I love it.
Photo by Girl with red hat on Unsplash