Before her turn to do a dueling pianos set at The Shout! House, Martha Boles is backstage making note of the songs played by other performers.
The shows at this popular, two-decade-old piano bar on Fourth Avenue in downtown San Diego are largely driven by audience requests. Boles says she doesn’t want to repeat any recent requests when it’s her turn to take the stage.
A versatile artist with lots of skills in her belt, Boles sings and plays piano, saxophone and the drums. She’s also done some acting. You may have caught her on The Young and the Restless, Grey’s Anatomy, or in roles in other TV comedies, dramas, improv shows and theater work.
“A stage is a stage is a stage, no matter what you’re doing,” Boles says.
When she takes the Shout! House stage, Boles is clearly in charge. She tosses rose petals out into the crowd, and gets one volunteer to come onstage, get up on her piano and do hip thrusts. All in a day’s work.
For years, Boles has dedicated herself to dueling piano bars while pursuing acting and comedy.
“Friday nights can be challenging because often people have been working all day, and then they come out to have a good time,” Boles says. “Honestly, it’s the energy of the crowd that I get hyped up with…I can feel tired backstage, but I’ll wake up as soon as I get downstairs.”
Each night’s show includes three sets spanning from early evening into the early morning. Every audience is different, and Boles’ experience in improv and comedy have just as much to do with her delivery as her musical skills.
“I think the audience is rooting for you,” Boles says. “I think in order for people to have a good time, they have to want to have a good time. It’s one of those unspoken social contracts: You’re going to come into the club, we’re going to sing some songs, you’re going to drink some beers – or whatever you drink – and with your friends, have an experience.”
Boles was born in Okinawa, Japan, and grew up in a military family. She lived in various countries all over the world and attended a private music school for piano. When she moved back to the United States, she studied tourism management and business at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and was hesitant to make the jump and move to Austin to pursue performing.
Once she did, and got her first piano gig, she dove headfirst into that world and never looked back. “I was doing a lot more acting work when I lived in L.A., but right now I’m just focused on The Shout! House and learning music for the show,” Boles says.
A major part of Boles performances, whether its music or acting, is authenticity.
“A lot of people think acting means you’re pretending or lying—it’s not that,” Boles says. “It’s actually just the truth in imaginary circumstances.”
Whether engaging a bar crowd or playing a character on television, an artist’s job is to exist naturally within the space, allowing the audience to decide whether or not they connect.
There have been challenges along the way – both economic and personal.
“The biggest challenges were grappling with my own old ideas about things — whether I could do something or not,” Boles says. “People often say, ‘Oh, that actor has it!’ as if it’s some magical thing. It’s not. There are certain skills you have to learn. It’s not as mysterious as people make it out to be.”
A major challenge for most performers is compensation. Beyond the big names on billboards and arena marquees, there are thousands of artists just trying to make a living off their craft.
“So many people think, ‘Oh, everybody wants to be a famous actor,’ but no — I just want to do my three commercials a year, get my health insurance, and be able to afford to live,” Boles says.
Despite hurdles, Boles has found solace in community and creativity.
“It really is as simple as finding a few people you can talk to and say, ‘Hey, I’m kind of scared right now,’” Boles says. “Some days I’m someone’s shoulder to cry on, and other days they’re mine.”
At The Shout! House, Boles has found her people.
“Out of all the clubs I’ve ever performed at, the players here get along really well,” Boles says. “We support each other. We genuinely like being around each other. We have fun with each other. I think that comes across, too. I think people pick up on that.”
Audiences also pick up on her passion for the performing arts. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“If I could go back and give myself some advice…” Boles says, “I would say to take deep breaths often, trust the process and practice with a metronome.” SDSun
