All about Rentboy the Musical!

Dear David,
How did your show "Rentboy the Musical" go up in New York?
~Interested

Dear Interested,
We ran for two weeks and sold out all performances except two matinees. And those matinees were nearly full. You can find out much more in my video post from April 13th above my darlings!

Dear David,
What do you think about gay marriage?
~Rather B. Single

Dear Rather B.,
Listen, if your idea of a great life is being an upper middle-class couple in the suburbs with children, go for it. For myself, my life has been all about romance. And if romance is gone, so am I.  I am 83 and have managed to be in my fourth great romance right now. The other three lasted  two years, thirty years and ten years. I count myself very, very lucky that I have managed to pull this off. I was always man crazy. I was never domesticity crazy. And if you think domesticity equates to security, you have another thing coming.

I think it was Tolstoy who wrote, "If you do not want to be lonely you should never marry." I think in this century we are going to see a lot of women opting for romance over marriage, while the people they are "copying"....gay men...will go in the other direction. Interesting isn't it?

Spring Fashion ~ great jackets & loafers

Listen, Spring is here! Time to shift gears and try something new, even if you are pretty conservative. Here are some things to think about.

1. The little jacket and the big bag. I think the are really here. Somehow it makes you look younger, trimmer, more ready for a new life in the new century. The light blue pants are okay and look good but aren't nessesary. Longer hair too. This is a 1960s throwback I kind of like.

2. The bright yellow jacket looks really good. Of course there are going to be more dry cleaning bills with all these lighter colors but I think this is a light color that is really very masculine. The rolled up pants cuffs I am not sure I like and the shoes with no socks I will never go to. I think the whole thing makes you feet look too big.

3. The loafer seems seems to be back. I actually have a pair I bought in once of those recycling stores and I wear a lot when I'm traveling because it makes going through airport checks really easy. Kick 'em off. Stuff them back on. There has been something really "stuffy guys in Palm Beach" about loafers but I think we can get over it. I think the green ones a lot.

Handsomest Man in the World ~ Chris Dattola

My goodness, I think this model Chris Dattola is really good-looking. He's my vote for Handsomest Man in the World this week. What do you think?

Neighborly Advice!

Dear David,
I am not gay but I have a question. I live next door to a male couple with a child in Denver. This kind of a conservative neighborhood and everyone is very nice to them but we're not really mingling. I think I should lead the way in being neighborly but I am a single man in his early forties and I have to admit I don't want the neighbors to think I am gay if I start socializing with these guys. Am I chicken? Help!
~The Neighbor

Dear Neighbor,
You can be a friendly neighbor without being Jim Nabors. This is the 21st century. I keep repeating being gay is like being Swedish. A little different but in no important way. More important is to make your community into a community. Be friendly, be helpful, invite them to dinner but invite the other neighbors at the same time, espcially the ones who also have kids. Have a big cookout in the backyard and invite everyone. You should lead the way. And finally - you want to be nice to the neighbors, but do not be concerned with that they think!

I am 28 years old, gay and still a virgin...

Dear David,
I am 28 years old, gay and still a virgin. What should I do?
~Wonderin'

Dear Wonderin',
You are not in such a fix as you might think. Imagine all the bad sex you have avoided! Still, it is definitely time for you to lose it. First, do not pay for it. That will give you a bad attitude towards the whole thing. You must get it clear in your head what kind of guy you think is sexy. Then you must concentrate on going where those kinds of guys are. Muscly? Go to the gym. Intellectual? Try an adult education class. Whatever it is, get out there. Meet somebody. As them to have a drink, coffee, lunch. And probably this whole thing is about being rejected. Expect to be rejected. None of us are everybody's type. And if someone wants to pursue you, let them. You just need to meet some people. Keep me posted.

Come On Out! with David Leddick ~ Episode 74

A happy Friday to you my darlings! Welcome to the 74th episode of "Come On Out! with David Leddick". Find out about my new advertising memoirs "We Offered Them Caviar" - all about my "Mad Men" days as in advertising as a Creative Director working for Revlon. I promise you will not be disappointed!

Fashion, Fashion ~ Bright colors, shoulder bags and the return of high rise pants

My fashion guidance is a little more extreme today. Spring is here and some of you can get a little wilder:

1. Everyone is talking brighter colors. I think bright pants, like these yellow ones, could be good if the rest of your look is traditional. 

2. I kind of like this sports look of a long sleeved T-shirt top and pants with a tight ankle pants. Sort if a gym workout look but all in gold. You must have self-confidence to wear this. 

3. How about this multi-color shirt and the shining blue pants? I really like this look but it is not for blondes. Brunettes only and you can not be shy.

4. I see high-rise pants coming in. I actually like this. They are more comfortable although I was among the first into the low slung pants in the 1960s. Pierre Cardin introduced the low-cut pants.

5. How about this shoulder bag? I want it!

Handsomest Man in the World ~ underwear model

Here is the Handsomest Man in the World, I have no idea who this is. Just a model in a foreign fashion magazine. He wins the prize for this week. Wow!

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Dear David,
In your pictures I see you have quite a lot of hair. Do you have any suggestions for those of us beginning to thin out?
~Ball Ding

Dear Ball Ding,
I stand on my head every morning. The skin across the top of your head is the thinnest place on your body carrying blood, which nourishes your hair. As you get older your heart isn't pumping the blood through as well and your hair starves. At least that is the theory. Why it doesn't apply to women I do knot know. But do try to get upside down daily, hanging from a trapeze or something at the gym at least. It does help. Also, get on of those electric hand-massagers and massage your scalp throughly. That will keep the circulation going, too.

Is this where being successful leads?

Dear David,
I was a invited to dinner where two (I guess) wealthy male couples talked about nothing but their money, their cars, their real estate, their jewelry, their clothes. It was a kind of unending battle to impress, impress, impress. Is this where being successful leads? They never inquired once about the lives of the other people at the table, who didn't get a chance to speak anyway. Have you experienced this? What is you take?
~Is That All There Is?

Dear Is That All There Is,
I assure you there is a lot more than that. I would wager that these male couples involve one older man with money and one younger man without. (Which is not anti-gay. There are certainly many heterosexual couple like that.) And I would further guess they didn't earn their money but inherited it. So underlying all this is low self-esteem and a constant need to make sure people know you are important - because you suspect you are not. People who are actively involved in earning their own money or working hard in creative fields don't act that way. They are very interested in other people and have a lot of confidence. They don't need to impress you. In the future you can refuse invitations to dine with the wealthy and self-centered. You are just wallpaper to them anyways. You can skip it!

Come On Out! with David Leddick ~ Episode 73

Happy Friday my darlings! Welcome to the 73rd episode of "Come On Out! with David Leddick". I am back from the debut of "RentBoy the Musical" in New York and boy do I have lots of great news!

Men's Fashion: Armani carryall bag, fancy sandals for summer & aprons?

This week is about men's accessories, both pro and a little con. Here goes:

1. I'm not too big on men with big carryall bags but I thought this Armani bag could be find if you are quite soberly dressed with. I kind of think gray, white and black are the best colors for spring. Make you stand out.

2. I am not too big on fancy sandals for men either but I though these ones from Kenzo were masculine and excellent. I would like a pair. Let's hope somebody copies them.

3. I know summer approaches but this big overcoat hangs in my memory. If you run across one on sale, grab it. They will be very much in view next winter.

4. This skirt thing with the drape in back I don't get at all. The longer and longer shirt is obviously creeping in from the Near East where men wear a shirt that is really dress length and loose pants under under it. This can look good but it is very much ethnic dressing. This kind of apron and towel effect does nothing for anyone unless you're planning to sit down on unclean things. Are you?

Handsomest Man in the World ~ underwear model Kaylan Morgan

Handsomest Man in the World! Here he is. Model Kaylan Morgan for 2(x)ist underwear. If he isn't the Handsomest Man in the World  I don't know who in the hell is! WOW.

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Dear David,
I am beginning a new romance and the only problem is that he is "uncut" and I really prefer, well you know, the other way. How do you feel about this?
~Kit-Kat-Kut

Dear Kit-Kat-Kut,
Close your eyes.

What to do when your lover overreacts...

Dear David,
I am slightly over 50, in good shape, and have been very much enjoying a new romance with a man not quite a decade younger than myself. He needs to lose a little weight and frequently mentions this himself. But when I dropped a remark that it might be good to lose some weight, he exploded into a hysterical fit and disappeared, then sending me lots of very uncomplimentary emails. The reaction was out of proportion to the incident. I don't really want this to be the end. In your opinion, is it?
~What's next?

Dear What's next?,
The party is definitely not over in my outsider's opinion. You are somewhat more mature obviously and just from having seen a lot of men in my time, your new guy may just be extremely sensitive right now as he advances into his 40s and his looks are shifting into something more mature. As you undoubtedly have read here in my blog, every relationship is "the lover" and "the loved one." In this case, you are definitely "the lover". When he contacts you again, and he will, just remember you have to coddle your loved one. Make him feel good about himself. Try to keep him away from donuts, but in a polite way. He obviously feels strongly about you or he wouldn't have reacted so explosive. Hang in there, apologize and move forward.

Old love, new love? What to do?

Dear David,
I am living with an older man who has been essential to my staying in the US, as my South American home country is difficult to visit with visas, as is this country. We have sex, but we both have other flings. He seems to have no objection to this. He loves me and I feel very strongly about him. He has also done so much for me.

Recently I have fallen in love with someone my own age and do not want to lose him. My new love of course, insists I leave the older man. I am so torn up about this. What should I do?
~Torn & Tormented

Dear T. & T.,
You have gotten yourself into quite the situation. I think you should just keep both relationships going for a while. Your new love needs some testing in my opinion and your existing love may want to move on to a different kind of life in the upcoming year. Don't make a decision right now. Just remain tormented for another six months and see what happens.

Fashion Day - JCP & Aerin Lauder for Lee Jofa

www.jcpenney.com

http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/jsp/browse/marketing/promotion.jsp?pageId=pg40023600013

Also, for our Fashion day I want to call your attention to a new men's line called JCP by, of all companies, J.C. Penney rebranding themselves. They have done a really good job and the prices are amazingly low. You really need to check these things out. I am.

How about this jacket? One of several in the catalog that really look good. I haven't seen them in person but will report back. See more at: www.jcpenney.com

Very good underwear, T-shirts, bow ties even...

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I want to call something to your attention that I would ordinarily ignore, but Aerin Lauder has designed a line of fabrics for the company Lee Jofa that I think are really beautiful. The line is called Aerin. She is Estee Lauder's granddaughter and I would like to think they are really created by her. They are in the traditional French fabric design and truly beautiful.

Handsomest Man in the World ~ underwear model!

Our Handsomest Man in the World this week is from the UnderGear catalog. He must be a soccer player from South America. Look at those thighs...Ugga, ugga, ugga!!!

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Dear David,
Now that you've finished in New York, what's next?!
~A Fan

Dearest Fan,
You are swell to ask. We're planning to go out to summer stock, maybe Providencetown, and then come back up to New York with a full out Equity production. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

But more importantly, what's next for you? What's the plan, Stan? Or should I say "What's the plan, fan?" I think you always have to know what you want to do for the next two years. Tell me where you're going next.