Arts Journalist Bruce Fessier

He Can Resist Just About Any Dessert

Bruce Fessier is arts, entertainment, and special projects writer at The Desert Sun, which serves Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Before moderating a discussion of why arts and music festivals matter, he thought on why he relates to Willy Loman of Death of a Salesman in the Zócalo green room.

Q:

What’s your favorite cliché?


A:

It’s not my favorite, but the one I seem to recite the most is, “No good deed goes unpunished.”


Q:

What’s the last great party you attended?


A:

My dad’s funeral. (Laughs.)


Q:

Describe your singing in one sentence or one word.


A:

Flat.


Q:

Did you have any childhood nicknames?


A:

I was “The Feez.” It was short for Feezer, a bastardization of my last name, Fessier. I haven’t heard that in years.


Q:

What dessert do you find impossible to resist?


A:

I’m not a real connoisseur of desserts. I can resist just about anything. But I like going out for ice cream.


Q:

What character from the theater do you identify with?


A:

I don’t know why Willy Loman just popped into my head. I guess it’s because being in print journalism, I kind of relate to Willy Loman being part of sort of a dying profession. That’s sort of morbid.


Q:

What profession would you practice in your next life?


A:

A university professor. I would love to be able to take biannual sabbaticals.


Q:

What’s the ugliest tie you own?


A:

A yellow-and-black bowtie. I never wear it anymore. I still have it. I don’t know why I haven’t gotten rid of it. My wife would like me to get rid of it.


Q:

What do you wake up to?


A:

I like to wake up to quiet and birds, and I usually meditate first thing in the morning.


Q:

What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?


A:

I have to say to marry my wife. Well, I don’t have to say that. I want to say that, and it’s true.


*Photo by Charles Sappington.