So before I go into the new ideas, let me recap the weekend.
On Saturday, I went out with the microphone, but it didn't really cut it. This meant that I had to resort to my old standby, which is yelling all day. This ultimately leads me to lose my voice after just a couple of days, so it's not really sustainable.
Basically, i just ended up grafting my old street performance onto this one. For those of you that knew Nerf (who was the dragon that I performed with in Boulder), you would have had a flashback or two, since Smutter was basically channeling him. There were no limericks though (which was Nerf's specialty. He yelled at eh audience a lot for so callously flaunting their legs (since he has none), and accused a number of children of stealing the ones that he supposedly used to have.
Working in this manner i found to be much easier than the previous way that I was working it. I still did many of the old bits, but would do as much improv as i could as well.
Money on Saturday was the best so far (though far from what I need to be solvent), but it's hard to tell if it was because of te changes in the show, or the fact that I had a better spot (mister CAN-ada was gone for the day). I actually got a late start, because I originally set out to perform in the bush man's spot. For those of you that don't know of him, the bush man is a homeless guy who brings a couple of branches down to the wharf, and sits behind them, jumping out to scare people as they pass by. This builds quite a crowd, as people just love to watch others get the poo startled outta them. Anyway- he wasn't there, so i began to set up in his spot. Just about the time that I was ready to go- he shows up. I didn't even hesitate to immediately break it all down again, since I knew that he'd just set up right next to me, and that'd be that. Such interesting work dynamics that I have managed to find. Personalities like the trash man, the bush man, the silver guy and the dog man. Even if nothing else comes from this experience, it will all make a great story to perform at some point in the future...
Which brings me to my new ideas. I was thinking tonight of how I could work al of the elements of this into a great stage piece. I was thinking about this performance that I saw on a date a while back. It was an autobiographical piece about a woman's coming out as a dyke, told largely using baking cookies as metaphor (she actually makes, and serves cookies to the audience). Tonight, i was thinking that the autobiographical thing might be a way to go, and that made me think of coming out in the rig, and at some point shedding it. This in turn, led me back to thinking about what Mette had suggested- about me not covering up my face when I perform. Originally when she brought this up, I couldn't think of a way to make it work, but i got this flash that perhaps I could do a show that was a cheating ventriloquist show. Instead of ventriloquism, Smutter could have all of his dialogue be prerecorded, and he'd trigger it. I could be the straight guy, to smutter's clown. I really think that there's something to this approach. He is in control of my body, which offers much in the way of possibility. It'll take some scripting, but I am convinced that this angle is something that could really go over well. My interest in the show is revitalized. I am open to any and all suggestions that people have to offer about this new approach. I'm already beginning to brainstorm and script it. It will definitely be a much bigger challenge to pull off than my original idea- or at least more challenging as a performer, but if I can manage to pull it off, I think it could be pretty great.
The big, fat words of eeno at June 28, 2004 04:09 AMyes there is insite into the delima with that vent ideal. It realizes that there are two performers on stage and that one is just standing there doing nothing. That was one of the short commings of nerf...people were still aware of the chenney factor. It seems like it would be much simpler to remove one of the perfomers. perhaps it comes down to choosing between "Lili" or "the wizard of oz". Which ever solution you discover...the walk is still yours. Enjoy the trip!
gogol's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on June 28, 2004 07:45 AMHey Eeno,
Been enjoying the skinny on yer adventurez in tourist scamming. Its cool how you document the evolution of yer show on a daily basis. Even though you planned for months to do it a certain way, you still are free to experiement with it till it fits. One idea I had. Why not have yer puppet actually interact with the other performer freaks on the wharf and riff on them a bit. I'm sure the audience would get a big kick out of that. It sounds like a twisted neighborhood of make believe down there or sesame street on drugs. Granted yer all competing fer the same money but the material for improv would be bottomless. Maybe arrange a profit share with the other buskers for doing joint improv shows once in a while. See what happens. I like the idea of you interacting with the puppets somehow. Bring some of the other puppets you have along and experiment with different schticks. They all have different personalities and sometimes you have to feel the audience out for what they respond to the best. The high tech bunraku sounds very awkward and more trouble than it's worth. Call me a Luddite, but a computer cannot replace human imagination and that's what you got going fer ya. Look at what a guy in a trashcan or a couple of shrubs can do that yer computer can't. It doesn't work half the time and yer losing valubale busking hours fiddling with it. OR you could develop a schtick around getting your computer to work as a PART of the show. Malfunctioning puppet? Malfufunctioning puppeteer? Malfunctioning audience?
Sorry, your stories just got me to brainstorm on yer belhaf. Look forward to hearing more about it. It will be great whatever you do.
Loved the pic of you watching the sunset. I miss SF. When I get down there again, I hope to see you perform.
Steev in Redding
steev's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on June 28, 2004 12:04 PMYou're right Kenneth- It seems like it would easier to remove the human element in many ways, but never let it be said that I did anything the easy way! Actually, I think that building a crowd would perhaps be easier with two characters present, but I could be wrong. If putting me in the mix doesn't work out (after trying various different versions of it), I'll go the opposite direction.
I was about to write about Dead Bob (who was the one that gave me my original inspiration for puppet busking), and about how his show went over so well, but then I realized that his main cornerstone was a stage show, which has a completely different dynamic than a traditional busking show. He did work very well in a busking context though...
eeno's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on June 28, 2004 01:15 PMI didn't realize Dead Bob did a stage show; I saw him only in his wandering-around busking phase. He was by far my favorite of the wandering performers, though.
Sidde's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on June 28, 2004 08:54 PMi'd really love some video footage posted of a EENO performance for those of us in foreign lands to download and get hot&horny over.
Yo dood. I'll post some after I get the new version of my show underway. Mayhap it'll be a tad more successful than the previous one.
Yup.
we're coming out 10/1-10/4 to meet my new niece-or-nephew (won't know til later this month!)
Can't wait to see the performance by then!
Ian, you are a mother-F.N. ispiration.
Last week the family and I went back to CO for the first time in five years, since we left. Thought about you as we did the Boulder Mall.
Now that I'm caught back up at work, I can waste the company bandwidth on catching up on yr blog, and holy macaroni; nice work, man, keep it up!
Truly, I am amazed, and delighted in reading of the process taking place. I think you've really found 'it' this time, this draws together all your gifts, and puts it out for all to enjoy. At the risk of sounding silly, I'm right proud of you!
I'm gonna dig up that red-headed (and handed) demonic piece you gave me, what- 15 goddam years ago?- and give you a scritch behind the horns.
Ben Brill's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on July 2, 2004 03:13 PMThoughts from an ex- pier 39 puppeteer.
-Definitely show your face. People need a way in, and the human face is it.
-Think about evenings. I used to make a killing with drunk people on Friday and Saturday nights. My content was very R rated. Sexual innuendo, and outright perversion worked very well. There are several bars in the area that might pay you to help bring people in… or if you could swing it. Even doing a show inside might go over well (maybe you and he as a band… ambient electronica mixing, with a few –Bill Murray moments thrown in- basically, a 21st century lounge act.
-Personally, I think you are a high concept artist, which means you need the time and space to work with an audience, to build on the relationships you develop with people, and to have a regular spot. You are cult material… and the most important part for you will be location. Competing with Can-a-da is not your strength, and never will be. You ask for more from people (and I don’t mean money), and you need the right place to be able to do that effectively.
-I don’t think the tourists are suffering from ADD, as much as they are ‘memory hunting’. They are looking for experiences that they can quickly and easily tell their friends when they go home. « There was this guy in a garbage can, and… » Works quickly, so when people say « how was SF » they have a ready answer. I think you need to be able to describe yourself that way. This by no means is a recommendation that you limit yourself to that, but at least give the marks what they need. A hook.
-Include pain… for example, the puppet could, for money, shock the crap out of you (a nice sound and light show would be a pretty good draw). Basically, the puppet could ask people for a dollar to shock you… and you set up a routine where you basically beg people not to pay you money… The reverse psychology thing always worked for me. Or, as you are setting up, you start arguing with him about how to wire something. And bzaat… he finds a way to shock you…and then runs with it. Or, maybe a shock collar that spits off sparks and a flash.
*Ben rant tangent- We all still suffer from ADD, but to build a show around that is a defensive stance, and I think that you will find better material if you re-orient your thinking towards what they are looking for, instead of how to keep them from leaving. So, something that can be easily understood, and has a nice visceral component is a great anchor. See previous shock the human idea.
-If you show your face, you need a relationship with your character. Your relationship with him helps the audience build one as well. Personal suggestion: I think if he is a bully, and you are a victim it might help. It would at least be a way to start stuff off. Never underestimate the sadistic and voyeuristic tendencies of Americans. I had a routine like that back in ancient days, and it worked like a charm.
-Try adding some politics into your routine, and go to Telegraph ave in Berkeley (I’m not sure if you can still do stuff on Campus, but I think a college audience might be a much great fit for you.
-Sell something. Photocopied books, key chains, stickers, small cheap things that people can feel like they are getting something for their money. It gives you the ability to hard sell… at least your puppet can. You can be in the « stop being so rude » mode with him. It also serves as advertising…
ok… now, in exchange, I want to see some video… and make it snappy, as I only have a few more days of unlimited access.
thank you very much, mrsclean! I will definitely take what you have to say to heart. I will post video as soon as I can, but to be quite honest, i have never posted video before, so I may run into some challenges there. Tomas has the video that he shot on my first day, and things will have moved on quite a bit from that before I go back out- so keep that in mind. You might also notice a distinct lack of crowd. Keep in mind that that is only an illusion. There is really a cheering horde just out of camera range, who is chanting my name and readying their piles of money to toss my way....
eeno's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on July 4, 2004 02:06 PMI'll try and get some video processed today, or if you like, I can get the tape to you so you can decide what you want to show.
tomas's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on July 4, 2004 02:39 PMI'm sure that you will pick out something fine tomas! Thanky!
eeno's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on July 5, 2004 10:10 PMI'm uploading stuff now, I'll post here when it's done (within the hour hopefully)
tomas's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on July 6, 2004 12:38 AMOK, here are some clips from the video I took on Ian's first day performing down on the Embarcadero.~~~~~~~~~~
Ian, feel free to delete any of these links, or ask me to edit them differently.
tomas's werdz of wizdum, deposited here on July 6, 2004 01:38 AM