Confession time: I’ve always wanted to be a Blue Man.

Well, when I write “always,” obviously I don’t mean “always,” but I do mean “ever since I first saw a live Blue Man Group performance X years ago.” The thing is, living in Las Vegas, being part of the Blue Man Group show – whether painted cobalt or rocking out with the excellent band – isn’t that far-fetched (I’m sure the same goes for New York City, Chicago, etc.). Audition notices appear from time to time, and though I barely fall short of the minimum height requirement to be an actual Blue Man (I believe the cut-off is 5’11”, and I only hit 5’10” on a good day), of particular interest to me, of course, is one of the spots behind the drum kit with the Blue Man band. Trouble is, I don’t think – no, strike that, I KNOW – I’m not a good enough drummer to make the cut, so … I continue to admire the talented actors, musicians and crew of BMG from the theater seats.

Or, in the case of my latest story (and first cover feature) for M Life magazine, from the other side of the telephone. I interviewed two of the original Blue Men, Chris Wink and Phil Stanton, and we talked about both the new facets of the show that launches this month at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino and the broad influences the show’s creators draw upon to inform the direction of the show. It’s the second time this year I’ve depicted the Blue Men in a glossy magazine, the last time being the two-page editorial comic I drew for Insomniac’s Electric Daisy Carnival magazine. So I guess that’s as close to blue as I’m getting. And I’m fine with that.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to start work on my next M Life piece, which will take readers into the dark world of … the 24-hour Vegas getaway. Hey, it’s a living.