Bernard

Bernard

Meditative, Frisky, Singing Telegram

“I have a pink gorilla. I have a chicken. I have a panda. I do one to four singing telegrams every day. It’s always like a Broadway show. I go in and I act retarded. Or not even retarded--with a lot of charisma and fun. It’s always a big show no matter what. I get so into it, it becomes an explosion.”

“ Once, I was hired by a woman to sing for her husband in Brooklyn. She wanted me to wear a tuxedo with a pig mask on. When I got there, it felt like I was walking into a horror film. The house was old. It had a big porch and everything. When they opened the door she called her husband and he came up from the basement. When he walked up, he looked very serious. Then she had me sing the song she requested It was all about «I know I’m a pig. I know I know. I know I’m a pig. I know I need…» I was thinking, «Ohhh my God… is he one of those people that calls his wife a pig!!?”

“To be honest, I love making people happy with my work. After doing a singing telegram, it always uplifts me.”

“I moved here from California. Being on the train there and here is completely different. Over there you don’t see a lot of people reading books or newspapers. I noticed when I moved here that so many people are reading books. I’ve always been a good people-person, but I was very vulnerable when I got here. I didn’t have the smarts. I had the intuitive smarts, but I didn’t have the intellectual smarts. Coming here has opened me up, but also helped me see my naiveté.”

“Here it’s tough because some people have a shell over their face and it’s hard to break through that. It took me a while to not take the harshness of New Yorkers seriously and find my place to have a voice and speak up. The city helps you get to who you really are. It really does. It helps you find your voice.”

“First, I came here and was like «Ohhh my God, I’m in New York.» But after some time I was like, «I hate New York and every person.» You think they’re going to rob you or take your money because it’s a hustling city. But at some point when you’ve been here for some time you find your own place and love it.”

“ My friend told me that if you come to New York, it will make you a man of the world, and it did.”

What neighborhood do you live in? I live in good old Washington Heights!

Best thing about living there? The beautiful nature that is nearby. There are lots of parks and a great path that run along the Hudson River.

Favorite neighborhood in NYC? West Village.

Why? There are so many great restaurants and health food stores in the area.

Favorite restaurant? Freemans. It is located in East Village at the end of an alley. The restaurant feels like you just took a trip to a country house.

Hidden gem? I love to go to 5Rhythms, an expression dance class located at the Moving Center (434 6th Avenue) in The Village. You will find about 100 people dancing to their own beat for two hours. It’s a very different, but also a freeing, experience.

Favorite bar? The Library located in the East Village. It has the perfect down-to-earth, old school vibe.

How to be(come) a New Yorker? Make sure you’re moving with the crowd when walking, and if you want to sightsee, then please move to the side and then enjoy the wonderful buildings.

Your New York soundtrack? “We Built This City” by Starship.

Can we come visit you? Yes! (3 minute video interview quotedmagazine.com/bernard)

5 THINGS THAT TELL A STORY ABOUT BERNARD

TIBETAN SINGING BOWL “It is a reminder to return to my center. Anchoring myself is so important because of what I do here in the city, plus I love the way it makes me feel when I hit it!”

GLOVE ”This represents the artist in me, the performer. I was born a performer and will always be a performer. It’s what keeps me moving and what gives me purpose.”

SHOE​​“The shoe presents New York. Even through the hustle and bustle I always strive to keep grounded and move forward to create opportunities. This is the city were people come to fulfill dreams and staying grounded keeps me more on track.”

INCENSE BURNER “I love incense because it brings piece to my house.”

JOURNAL “It is great therapy for me. I revisited a story the other day. My mom was never really supportive of me singing, but one day out of the blue she called and said, “Can you sing me a song?” I had totally forgotten about that moment”