I recently had the opportunity to interview Dennis Dippary for Bear Talk Woof which he agreed on doing it. I had never met Dennis but I consider him a good friend on FaceBook and he was nice enough to do this interview for Bear Talk Woof. After exchanging some thoughts and laughs with Dennis, I wrote them down to share with you and said to myself…what a sweet man Dennis is, with a wonderful sense of humor and just plain “amazing”.
BTW: How did you get into your singing?
DENNIS: I’ve always liked singing and performing. I’ve always sung.... in choirs and such... since elementary school.
DENNIS: I’m not that good. LOL
BTW: What kind of songs do you sing?
DENNIS: In choir, anything that they gave me. For karaoke, mostly soft pop, musical, easy listening.
BTW: And do you choose your own songs from the list that they give you or do you sing ones that you are most familiar with?
DENNIS: For karaoke, there is a list of 150,000 songs to choose from.
BTW: Wow, and do you pick the same songs that you are most familiar with?
DENNIS: For now, but I’m slowly adding more songs to my repertoire.
BTW: That's fantastic. Have you ever performed on stage as an actor?
DENNIS: Yeah, but I prefer being backstage.
BTW: What kind of performance have you done?
DENNIS: I’ve done performances such as plays, musicals, all sorts of stuff! hehe
BTW: What was your favorite role that you had done?
DENNIS: It was Professor Clown, in an original show in Pittsburgh.
BTW: Have you ever done street performance before?
DENNIS: No, not technically. LOL I did participate in two flash mobs.
BTW: haha. Were you ever involved in any of the gay pride parades?
DENNIS: Well, I was in a few in Pittsburgh, with the choir, and then I became the production manager for the Pride fest.
BTW: Are you still manager for Pride fest?
BTW: Chicago is where you live, have you done anything in Chicago?
DENNIS: Just the flash mobs.
BTW: And what are the flash mobs.
DENNIS: They are groups that come together for no reason to do something. We did a huge Freeze down at the Bean in Millennium Park. We froze for 5 minutes. Then we did a conga line through downtown.
BTW: What is the huge freeze down?
DENNIS: There were about 1000 of us, just walking around at the "Bean" and at 1pm, everyone who was in on it just froze in place. Then at 1:05, we all began moving again, as if nothing happened.
BTW: Did you like it at the Bean in Millennium Park?
DENNIS: oh yeah!
BTW: Do they have this once a year?
DENNIS: Whenever they want to. LOL
BTW: Do you go to a lot of the bear events?
DENNIS: No, not really. I don't do the "scene”?
BTW: I'm not really into the scene either. Is there a reason why you don't go to them?
DENNIS: I don't like the way that people act. It seems like it’s just an excuse to grope, make out, and randomly hookup. I am not into other bears, and as sexual as I am, I am kind of a prude when it comes to 'randomly making out'
BTW: I agree with you. You actually brought up a good reason on the table why bears go to events. I think the bears forget the meaning why bears have events. What are your feelings about this?
DENNIS: They SHOULD go to events to socialize with like minded men.
BTW: What was your experience at your first bear event?
DENNIS: I was at Lazy Bear for the pre weekend, 2000. I had to leave for San Francisco for a choir convention. It was awesome! I got to cuddle with some new friends in the pool as we talked. I had spent some time with one 'special' guy, and went away feeling so good about the weekend. Exactly what I thought it should be.
BTW: I don't think there is anything wrong with meeting new friends and cuddling as long as that's as far as it goes. Has anyone tried to make a pass at you to get in your pants?
DENNIS: oh, MANY times. LOL
BTW: That's why I don't go.
DENNIS: I tell them "not interested"
DENNIS: I’m tired of saying NO.
BTW: When is your next singing gig?
DENNIS: I don't know.
BTW: Next time you plan on singing you should tell people on the Bear Talk Woof FaceBook page where you will be at. I could also add you to the blog as well if you like.
DENNIS: Cool. I don't think I’m on the Bear Talk Woof FaceBook page, am I? LOL
BTW: Wow I don't think you are. Add yourself on it. (Click onto here to get to the Bear Talk Woof Facebook Page)
DENNIS: Okay, added.
BTW: Thanks. Add your friends on there too. I think it would be great. The more the merrier.
DENNIS: hehehe you know that it will need to be switched over to the new format soon.....?
Since Dennis brought that to my attention, I immediately went to the Bear Talk Woof page and switched over to the new format. I personally am not sure how I feel about it but I suppose it is a matter of getting used to.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dennis for having this quick interview with Bear Talk Woof.
