Wow, what a day. From Ellicott City, MD to Media Pa to Crownsville, MD. From Professor Snape at a Hogwart's theme birthday party to having fun at a 13 year old young man's party in a gorgeous house seriously done up for the occasion.
Both were great parties with parents going all out for their children. Everyone was nice as could be and a good time for all.
The Harry Potter theme party was amazing. The house was done up like the great hall and the outside was done as Hogsmeade. I tested the students as Professor Snape. Am sure you can guess the results. The transformation from paper to fire certainly shocked the student.
Might not have handled the second party as well as I could but they had inquisitive minds and lots to say so I tried to work with them. Given the choice between stopping the show and demanding quiet or going on and taking their inquisitive nature into account and working with it I choose the latter. All in all they were a cool bunch of kids and the parents were great. Had to adjust the show as I went along but it worked out. Always amazes me how well the linking rings go over everywhere. Everyone loves the fire bits, I think the fire bits are cheap theatrics but they work.
Again the original pieces are the stars of the show, I have to find the muse for more
Denny Haney has it so right in his lecture notes. It really is about getting the audience to like you, then presentation and it's got to be tight and it's got to be fun.
If I can reach someone's mind and make them think and or feel, then I've achieved art
It was a challenging weekend but I think we did ok
Going on with the show
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Busiest weekend of the year
For me Halloween will be the busiest weekend of the year. Have done more shows in a weekend but never through 3 different states and the District of Columbia
Friday October 31, Halloween work started at 3:00pm with a 45 minute show for a senior assisted living facility in Virginia. When the show starts with asking a resident (who seemed fairly alert and I had seen playing cards earlier) to name a card and after some thought she says "4th of July" you hope it's not a harbinger of things to come.
Fortunately it wasn't and the set went well (except for the facility dog eating my chocolate covered cherries but in trade for the pumpkin pie and apple cider I came out ahead). Again my original pieces were the best received of the set which tells me I'm on the right track.
One women was such a sweetheart, as I was packing to load out she came up and spoke with me thinking she had seen me before. Her smile and asking to give me a hug made the day. Sometimes it really is the small things.
Even with a 2.5 hour drive home through some of the nations worst gridlock
Tonight I was the featured performer at 12:15 am for the Alliance Française party at the Napoleon Bistro and Lounge. Incredibly crowded all through Georgetown (DC), had to create a parking spot (I am a magician after all). Got there with 15 minutes to set up, club staff saw me at the door and took me right in (in front of about 25 people who were waiting to get in) .
Imagine trying to do a 15 minute set in a crowded dance club!!?? Have worked for Alliance Française before so I had worked up something special for them but wasn't expecting the conditions. The show MUST go on. With an elbow to elbow crowd I was beyond nervous, the skull I was going to float broke from it's anchor. Had a flat response to the head growing disc but patrons love fire.
For the scariest thing I could think of I did a piece about ..... Corporate America ah ha ha ha
It's the Box from David London (which is going over well) . Had a few challenges but with a lot of fire work in a small place the set went on.
Really like the Alliance Française parties and the people but hopefully if I work for them again it will be more like the party from October 3rd. If I knew what the working conditions were going to be tonight I would have prepared a different set. Had an avant garde, performance art set ready but you work with the circumstances.
Got stopped as I rolled my table down the street (why carry if you can roll) by a group sitting outside to smoke at another club, they recognized me as a magician and asked me to do something for them. What else could I do, I start pulling lights out of the air and passersby.
The 2 shows could not have been more different or more challenging in their own ways, really measures and shapes who you are as a performer. Glad to have these opportunities, to grow and gain unusual experiences.
Later today (it's 2:28AM) Professor Snape in a very special recreation of Hogwarts in Media PA and then onto Crownsville, MD to be the surprise entertainment at a upscale birthday party
Friday October 31, Halloween work started at 3:00pm with a 45 minute show for a senior assisted living facility in Virginia. When the show starts with asking a resident (who seemed fairly alert and I had seen playing cards earlier) to name a card and after some thought she says "4th of July" you hope it's not a harbinger of things to come.
Fortunately it wasn't and the set went well (except for the facility dog eating my chocolate covered cherries but in trade for the pumpkin pie and apple cider I came out ahead). Again my original pieces were the best received of the set which tells me I'm on the right track.
One women was such a sweetheart, as I was packing to load out she came up and spoke with me thinking she had seen me before. Her smile and asking to give me a hug made the day. Sometimes it really is the small things.
Even with a 2.5 hour drive home through some of the nations worst gridlock
Tonight I was the featured performer at 12:15 am for the Alliance Française party at the Napoleon Bistro and Lounge. Incredibly crowded all through Georgetown (DC), had to create a parking spot (I am a magician after all). Got there with 15 minutes to set up, club staff saw me at the door and took me right in (in front of about 25 people who were waiting to get in) .
Imagine trying to do a 15 minute set in a crowded dance club!!?? Have worked for Alliance Française before so I had worked up something special for them but wasn't expecting the conditions. The show MUST go on. With an elbow to elbow crowd I was beyond nervous, the skull I was going to float broke from it's anchor. Had a flat response to the head growing disc but patrons love fire.
For the scariest thing I could think of I did a piece about ..... Corporate America ah ha ha ha
It's the Box from David London (which is going over well) . Had a few challenges but with a lot of fire work in a small place the set went on.
Really like the Alliance Française parties and the people but hopefully if I work for them again it will be more like the party from October 3rd. If I knew what the working conditions were going to be tonight I would have prepared a different set. Had an avant garde, performance art set ready but you work with the circumstances.
Got stopped as I rolled my table down the street (why carry if you can roll) by a group sitting outside to smoke at another club, they recognized me as a magician and asked me to do something for them. What else could I do, I start pulling lights out of the air and passersby.
The 2 shows could not have been more different or more challenging in their own ways, really measures and shapes who you are as a performer. Glad to have these opportunities, to grow and gain unusual experiences.
Later today (it's 2:28AM) Professor Snape in a very special recreation of Hogwarts in Media PA and then onto Crownsville, MD to be the surprise entertainment at a upscale birthday party
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