Md part Ses...not as long, but still long.
Oct. 6th, 2005 10:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ptpgradAs time passes, memories begin to fade, so before I forget too much, here is the weekend in review…well, my perspective on it. There were a hell of a lot of people there. All the standard rules apply.
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK ITALIAN
Tired but ready for work, the Lelio’s and I travel in together. I had forgotten to bring in my jug of water the day before, so I have to lug it in from the car this morning. At our entrance, we are greeted by Bob Davinci. It is his first weekend back to MD. I always welcome his arrival as he tends to bring the fall leaf colors…not personally, but his arrival is always JUST before they come. He is organizing his props as the Lelio’s and I head to Fortune.
RING RING GO AWAY
I get there a bit before and begin to set up my equipment. They arrive and we find that today I am a bit ringier. Can’t figure out why, but we test to see how to minimize it. Then, they are off to brekkies and I to stretch with my music. I always wonder what the security people think when they see me flipping upside down and the like. It must be somewhat amusing or just frightening.
AGATHERING THEY WILL COME
We meet for morning meeting after a quiet time in the dressing room. Props set and mask brought to meeting, I drop off items for my Romance War hit at the Rose Booth. Then I am handed papers from NormTuba about TRF, to assist me in my upcoming visit. I then drop off more papers to TS. It’s a paper kind of morning. Meeting starts and people seem happy to be past the hump, (only 4 weekends left including this one). It’s Oktoberfest, which means oompah bands and drunks. I don’t mind the oompah bands, I HATE the drunkards. At the end of meeting, time is adjusted, we BEEP and off we go.
SMOOTH GATES
I run backstage to drop off the new papers and head to the gate. The show goes well upstairs as I do the last little stretches and chat with the rest of those gathered. We look out the exit and see that it is going to be a big day. It is cool today, but not so cold as it will get, so I don’t actually need the cloak yet. Once gate opens and we are cheering goodbye to the crowds, I warm up. I am greeted by Vyxen who provides me a boxed disk, which I save till I get home. I do head out the gate after the first huge rush to chat with patrons here and there. WRNR is outside, but they are live when I walk by so I don’t disturb them. Back inside to look around.
WHERE ARE THEY?
I go to find some people and can’t find them. This is disturbing. I wander their regular routes, but they are not to be found. I greet patrons and act silly while I wait, then I give up and go back “home” to O’Shucks to sing. Again, the rush isn’t so large that I am reaching as many as I want, so I head in and end up by Heineke’s again. I get some small groups stopping and a few that sing with me, though no one wants to sit. It is about time to start the Girlie Show, so I head out to change.
GIRLIE WITH GYPSIES
Today, Yasmin from Gypsophillia comes to help me read. She has great fun talking about CHOOP Skirts. This becomes fun for Stupina, but she starts to hurt herself from saying CHOOP a lot. Again, I hear that little girls want to take Stupina home. I really need some kids sizes. But, there are plenty of 2X’s…cause you NEEEEEEED a tshirt, you MUUUUUSSSST HAAAVVVEEE at Tshirt…sorry, where did that come from? Bob is charming and the show ends well.
REVISIONS WITH PATTERNS
Today, I pack my props and change right after my show. I have a few things I need to do today and it will be much easier to do them in Columbina. I get the stuff I need done and then head back out to streets. I feel bad that I am not “working” so hard with patrons that I work through my lunch. I grab my steak on stake and eat that quickly. I then spend my time wandering around chatting with patrons. I spend some time in the sun bowl and see it is turning into the DUST bowl. We do very much need rain (heard the forecast promises some for Thursday and Friday…this is good) and the dust clouds are scary they are so thick, especially by the jousting field. I keep my throat coated with lozenges and blow my nose as often as possible to allow my lungs to be safe.
VISIONS REALIZED
As I am close to the Fortune, I start toward the Wayt Gallery for my weekly message that “it’s not done yet”, but that is not forthcoming. He crooks his finger to me and says he has something for me, and BOY does he ever. It’s perfect. A pencil sketch of a single body branching out into two figures, on side Columbina, the other Stupina. I am SO very excited. He also has the inked version to be used for the tshirt design…yes, I am having this designed as the next Teatro Tshirt. I am HOPING I will have it designed and approved for closing weekend, but no promises. I will do what I can. Otherwise, you just need to find me after faire is over. He holds the pic for me and I promise to pick it up at the end of the day.
SAD NEWS IN HAPPY TIMES
I am wandering around until my show and see the pony ride line is long, I head over and start to chat with the people in line, when I am approached by a friend who informs me of another friends extreme misfortune. He is ok, as is his family, but the emergency has pulled him from faire. He is also the musician for one of my shows, so I am worried what will be done to cover for it. I can’t do anything at the moment, so I head back to the stage to set props and do the show.
CELEBRATION
Today, the wedding is ok. The audience is a bit tough, but our cast is good and by the end we are having some fun…it’s just a downer after last Sunday’s show, which was JUST amazing. I notice the bride’s hat needs to be cleaned, so a note is made to take it home. Watching us is the Deputy today. He seems to enjoy it. Feedback isn’t awful, but it’s there when I climb up and down stairs, which I try to do quickly. After we finish, we step outside to say hello to the audience. We are thanked and congratulated on the way out as Lelio thanks them for coming to church.
WALTZING WITH STUPINAS
I am on my way back to get Baby Stupina when I run into the directors of that show, I note to them the information and they inform me they have been told over 100 times. I assume it’s an exaggeration, but with this group, who knows. They have brought in Lady Cyd to replace the piece so all should be well, but I am asked to be down a trifle early to run the dance to the new music. I bid them adieu and grab the little girl after checking that there are no privy lines. We walk and dance around. I head toward the gate area as the Angels are beginning set up and I don’t want to have focus diverted. Its finally time and I head back with Mumsie.
DANCING TO A DIFFERENT TUNE
We get to the costume house and run the dance with the new music. Some of the others are having a problem hearing the rhythm, but most get it and by performance time, it works fine. The key is a bit minor, so it’s not as playful, but it works well and no one really notices anything.
FIGHT SCHOOL RELOADED
I head over to the Market Stage in all my elegance and finally see the show after lord knows how many years. There are lots of modern references, some that the rest of the audience didn’t get…but I did, cause I LOVED the movie Clue. The crowd is having fun and enjoying the show. Once it is over I head over to the Wayt Gallery to pick up the art. It’s not in a period container, so I am hiding it under my overskirt. On my way back to put it away, I am informed that Dan the Master Joyner is at his booth. I turn immediately and head over to see him.
ART AND FRIENDS
I get there and Jean Cabot is saying hello and touching base. I give him a big, but gentle hug and we catch up, Jean has to leave and I sit with him. I show him the sketch, he is VERY impressed. We talk about life and I hear he does not know about the event being held for him that night. I don’t tell him but tell the lady at the booth to send my regrets once he is there and gets it. I head out and toward the pub and some assorted friends.
TIME TO BRAG…AT A DISTANCE
So I head toward the pub and the drunks are in full force. I don’t trust the beer around my new art, so I stand outside. I walk around the pub and show off the picture. I get oohs and aahs and “I want one”s. I head over to Stub Toe to show my friends over there, I head over to Leather Rose to make it clear, I head to the scales and show them, I head back to the pub. I am with a few friends and a rather drunk patron who I recognize. I ask him if he wants to be let onto a secret. His friends convince him it’s ok and I reveal the pic. He stares at it and says “I don’t even get it”. DOH. After a moment he says, I mean, I see that one…is that you? I respond with a big ass smile. Then, I assure him, don’t worry, you are drunk enough that you won’t even remember tomorrow. The cannon’s boom and I head out with the line up. Day is done.
ERRANDS AT NIGHT
We meet up with a group for dinner at Fuddruckers. The line is HUGE, almost as bad as getting off site. Dinner is fine and I get a chance to talk to Dodo, the pretty one, and Star of the Ariel Angels. We talk clowning, travel and the fun of not having the boss around…We are acrobats, we are contortionists, we are UNSUPERVISED!...LOLOLOL. Time is up and the Lelios and I head home, making a stop to find gas…FINALLY we find something under $3.00 and we all head home and collapse in bed.
SLOWLY TO RISE
URGH but today hurt. I felt draggier and was still coughing up dirt from the site. I left early though and got to site pre-security. I headed in and started to stretch out. Bob Davinci came by and started guilt stretching…you know, they see you stretch, they know they should stretch, so they start to based on your lead. It was kinda cute. We talked about feet pain and I showed him a few stretches to help out. It was time for me to head to Fortune, so we wandered that way and split by Sandcrafters. I turned on my music and bopped to the stage. I got in, turned the stuff on and tested my system. I sounded great, I could even go up a bit and still sound great…then Lelio arrived and he became the Ringing King. At least I knew it wasn’t me. We balanced and then headed out to brekkies.
MORNING RITUALS
Breakfast was a brief, but pleasant, affair with some vendors I know. Once I had eaten, I took my leave and headed to the costume house. It was open, and NO ONE was there, except for Stitch. She said I was the first. I went to set props, and I was STILL the only one there. WOW. They must be as tired as me. Once I started changing, the group slowly arrived. I grabbed my stuff and headed out for the meeting before the meeting. Then, I headed to the meeting. Our numbers were as big as I thought they were, and we hope for bigger numbers today. We are told that we need more coverage between 1:30-2:00 at the Center Food court where the cappuccino booth is. I figure I can adjust my time and will help out. BEEP and off we go.
MORNING REARRANGEMENTS
Gate show is crowded again, but not as much as the day before. We cheer and give tours (that I almost miss because I was chatting with a playtron) and energy is good. I head inside the festival today as it is cool and I wanted to catch some of another show in the morning. I head in toward Market Stage and sit by the fountain. I see the King and Queen set themselves and head to the other side so as not to distract from them. As I see Royal Arrival start, I head back to that side of the stage. The Royals compliment my song and I sing a special verse to Her Majesty. I had already sung one for the King, but he missed it. They head to the stage and I continue to entertain the walkers by. Somehow I managed to find the shady spots. I am amused to see people walk by and turn toward the voice to figure out what is caterwauling so loudly…then they laugh or point to me and walk on. It’s a good thing.
FIGHTING BOBS
I head over to Market and watch the first half of the first Fight School show. It’s a lot of fun and even tighter than the other one. I am still being waved at and watched, as Stupina is rarely subtle I have to leave though, as I have a show starting. Mother Goose is my reader today. She is worried as she forgot her glasses, but the print is large enough that she doesn’t need it. The show goes well and the audience is laughing up a storm. It ends and I pack up my props as fast as I can and head over to the Lyric stage to watch another show I have yet to see. I sit in the back and am having a bit of trouble hearing them, but the front audience seems entertained. In front of me, a man’s glasses fall and the lens pops out. I help him clean his glasses and let him know how to find something he is looking for. Another little girl on my left keeps looking at me and wanting to talk to me. I wave, she asks my name and leaves. She comes back and asks again and leaves. She comes back with mom and asks again. Eventually, she heads out into the village.
LOST PRINCESS FOUND
I see in the back of the house, the Lost Princess and her beau. After the show, I head over and introduce myself as only I can. Bwahahaha. I head into the village now to find new places to play. This time, I find it is appropriate to sit in the dirt at the BACK of O’Shucks near a tree. There is a lot of traffic and people laugh and chuckle at my song. I am approached by AniMoore who offers me a wet wipe for later. I assume it’s based on last week’s blue neck/black face fiasco, so I accept. Next, I am singing along and I see one of the “powers that be” wandering by. Ya know, it’s always a good sign when your boss looks at you and laughs…well, maybe not always, but today, it seemed like I was on the right track.
NAKED TIME
Well, not exactly. I finish and meet up with Mrs. Pugh on the way to change. She heads back with me and we switch me over. I head out on to street with my sign to grab lunch. After eating quickly with some patrons, I head over to the other food court area that had been crowded. It is still crowded. The lines aren’t bad though, so I head toward the tables. Now here is the odd part. For the last few years, I am almost always pre-disposed for bits. I am either in Stupina or I have baby Stupina with me. It’s easy. Now I walk up to the people, I have no storyline, perse, no big props other than my sign, and I don’t want to talk up the show to kids as it is PG. This puts me in a dilemma. But I figure out how to work around it. “ How many people here are having a good time?” “how many people have eaten wonderful food?” “how many have seen a show they enjoyed”. I get strong responses to all the questions and start having fun with them. I turn and see Sir Thomas Seymour has been sitting and watching this event incognito. I am amused to see him.
NAKE TIME TOO
I go to the other side and try ‘by a show of hands, how many of you are here now?”…and not all of the hands rise…ok, “by a show of hands, how many of you are NOT here now?” and a few more rise. “By a show of hands, how many aren’t sure?” I just keep getting sillier and the audience plays along. “OK, everyone raise your hands and make castanet moves! Wow, you WILL do almost anything…this is fun!” and it is. I haven’t had such a “seat of my pants” street day in a long time and both the crowd and I are enjoying it.
NAKED MONEY
Next, I head down Kenwood and see a HUGE line at the ATM. I stand at the front of that line and ask: How many of you are here to get more money? How many of you are here to get more money for BEER? How many of you want to give ME all your money?...ok, so the last one didn’t fly, but I take the time to chat with all the people waiting in line and make their time pass a bit faster.
BRIDE AND MOM, OH MY!
We start the wedding and I find a shy but amused bride. Mom is even more surprised I have picked her, but she is hysterical, even if she doesn’t get her line right. That’s the rule gang, if you push someone else, you COULD be up there instead. Which always makes the threatened person fee SO very happy. The show runs rather well with me not ringing at all and Lelio setting off the bells on occasion. The house is over full and laughing. I like those days.
RECONNECT AND EDUCATE
So in the audience is my secret admirer (yeah, not so secret and just a friend with a sense of humor) and his friend who has just arrived to study in this country. He brings him by to say hello as we are greeting the crowd. We begin to chat and discuss clothing. My SA notes that the kind of pants we want to put his friend in match “THAT GUY’S”. That guy, turns out to be the very shy man who stood by me and I think bought me a rose a few weeks ago. Funny that. He stops when my SA asks him some questions and I become playful and larger. He is very quiet and soft spoken, enjoys the conversation then leaves. We then discuss the art of hand kissing, as my SA’s friend makes the attempt. I tell him, WELL, if you’re going to learn, you are going to do it right.
CLASS IN SESSION
I pull him into a large open space and as I start, the crowd begins to form. I toss down my hat give him the rules (I win) and give him all the instructions on what means what and where. Then he runs the skills and does quite well. This inspires another patron to try it on his hysterically giggling wife. I feel bad as he is doing such a good job and his wife can’t look at him with a straight face, she can barely look at him at all. Ah well. Another group of people well informed of the rules, my job done, I head to the stage and quietly go in (another show has started) and grab props to leave.
CONNECTION OVERLOAD
I head back to the front gate area and grab Baby Stupina for a little while. I run into the LP’s boyfriend. I say hello and he looks at me like he doesn’t quite connect why I would know him. He doesn’t really look at the marionette, so I don’t expect him to understand. I head away and start moving the little girl around. She has people stop and wave, stare, and little ones who just want to shake her hand over and over, or never let go. I even get her a few hugs today. All too soon, it’s time for me head backstage for the next show.
MUSIC TO MY EARS
We are informed that there are a number of people we know watching or filming the show today. I feel a pump up of the energy as we go out. Our musician is back and we are very pleased to hear the recognizable music. We are somewhat silly upstairs today, but not outrageous. I get stuck on poker, even though the others wanted to try a few other games. We ALL laugh exactly on cue, how fun, and it seems to run smoothly. We see LP’s boyfriend in the audience, It’s cute. She noted he was at all her shows today.
GOODBYE WITH GYPSIES
Today, even though Wolgemut isn’t back, we are filling the stage with Gypsophillia. This is wonderful as my little girl can dance again. I really enjoy the energy and the audience just loves to watch her move. A number of people recognize her from the show or the street and I inform them of her dehydrated condition. Some “smart” kids are trying to piece it together, but they don’t succeed. A little girl and her mom come to the front gate and say they were told the Lost Princess was here at the gate, I find her and bring her to the family. Within moments, she is surrounded by little girls, swamped more like. It’s very sweet. I switch sides to avoid the crowd. I see her BF again and THIS time he sees me. He sees me and asks me if I was just in the other show, which I say yes, then looks at the marionette and says “you were her too?” I have to chuckle. Back to waving. Time is finally up and I take her back for a rest for the weekend.
MEMORIES OF MUSIC
At Pub Sing, there is a familiar face. Louis the Moor, but in mundanes. I ask him if I should be getting a good spot to hear him, he looks at me oddly and I tell him I want to know if he will be singing. He says yes…SWOON. I love the man like a brother, but his voice makes me melt. He introduces me to his GF and her Brother. Brother and I hit it off and chat for most of pub sing (way the hell in the back and out of the music’s way). He and I both wonder how he could have visited so much and we never met. I say wait, how about her, and pull out the pic a patron gave me of Stupina. NOW he recognizes me. We run in to listen to Louis, they go in closer to take pics, I stand back and sit at a table with Ani and a few others. She has my tshirt and asks me if I can sign it. All three of us sign it..hee.
GOD SHAVE THE QUEEN
The Royals are not at Pub Sing so the villagers improvise. With the Seymour’s hats, Shep and Zach come up as the Royals reading from cue cards. They are HYSTERICAL and the crowd enjoys them thoroughly. They leave when the royals do and we escort them with cries of God Save the King and God Shave the Queen. Well, she did have a full beard and moustache. I am amused greatly. We get to the front and I peal off to head backstage. Waiting for me is my Romance War delivery. I appreciate the thought that has gone into the gifts, but I will admit that finding it waiting for me rather than it being delivered makes me a trifle sad. Ah well.
I NEED MORE HANDS
Today, I have to pack all my laundry for the week, all the props that need to be fixed, and all the …well the HUGE gourd and my arms are just effing full. I get to my car and I am hurting just from carrying everything. Yeesh. A group goes to meet at Ruby Tuesdays and is horrified at the lack of service. Our waiter is helping two tables at different sides of the restaurant. It takes forever after we order our food to get it. After getting there around 7:45-8:00. We get our food after the people who arrived after us, in fact, other than the one appetizer, we don’t get our meals until around 9:15. I snarf my food as I had an appointment at 9:30 and I know I am going to be late. The food, when it arrived, was good, but when we have to find our own silverware, it’s not good service. Eventually, the rest of the wait staff does what it can to help us get our orders clarified and by the time I leave, one person STILL doesn’t have their food. I hear she gets it brought out in a box and takes it home in the car. Not the best ending to the week, but not awful as the company was fun and informative.
NEXT WEEK is single’s weekend and the renewal of vows.
At the Girlie Show is:
Sat: Mali Green
Sun: Mrs. Pugh
It looks to be an interesting weekend!
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK ITALIAN
Tired but ready for work, the Lelio’s and I travel in together. I had forgotten to bring in my jug of water the day before, so I have to lug it in from the car this morning. At our entrance, we are greeted by Bob Davinci. It is his first weekend back to MD. I always welcome his arrival as he tends to bring the fall leaf colors…not personally, but his arrival is always JUST before they come. He is organizing his props as the Lelio’s and I head to Fortune.
RING RING GO AWAY
I get there a bit before and begin to set up my equipment. They arrive and we find that today I am a bit ringier. Can’t figure out why, but we test to see how to minimize it. Then, they are off to brekkies and I to stretch with my music. I always wonder what the security people think when they see me flipping upside down and the like. It must be somewhat amusing or just frightening.
AGATHERING THEY WILL COME
We meet for morning meeting after a quiet time in the dressing room. Props set and mask brought to meeting, I drop off items for my Romance War hit at the Rose Booth. Then I am handed papers from NormTuba about TRF, to assist me in my upcoming visit. I then drop off more papers to TS. It’s a paper kind of morning. Meeting starts and people seem happy to be past the hump, (only 4 weekends left including this one). It’s Oktoberfest, which means oompah bands and drunks. I don’t mind the oompah bands, I HATE the drunkards. At the end of meeting, time is adjusted, we BEEP and off we go.
SMOOTH GATES
I run backstage to drop off the new papers and head to the gate. The show goes well upstairs as I do the last little stretches and chat with the rest of those gathered. We look out the exit and see that it is going to be a big day. It is cool today, but not so cold as it will get, so I don’t actually need the cloak yet. Once gate opens and we are cheering goodbye to the crowds, I warm up. I am greeted by Vyxen who provides me a boxed disk, which I save till I get home. I do head out the gate after the first huge rush to chat with patrons here and there. WRNR is outside, but they are live when I walk by so I don’t disturb them. Back inside to look around.
WHERE ARE THEY?
I go to find some people and can’t find them. This is disturbing. I wander their regular routes, but they are not to be found. I greet patrons and act silly while I wait, then I give up and go back “home” to O’Shucks to sing. Again, the rush isn’t so large that I am reaching as many as I want, so I head in and end up by Heineke’s again. I get some small groups stopping and a few that sing with me, though no one wants to sit. It is about time to start the Girlie Show, so I head out to change.
GIRLIE WITH GYPSIES
Today, Yasmin from Gypsophillia comes to help me read. She has great fun talking about CHOOP Skirts. This becomes fun for Stupina, but she starts to hurt herself from saying CHOOP a lot. Again, I hear that little girls want to take Stupina home. I really need some kids sizes. But, there are plenty of 2X’s…cause you NEEEEEEED a tshirt, you MUUUUUSSSST HAAAVVVEEE at Tshirt…sorry, where did that come from? Bob is charming and the show ends well.
REVISIONS WITH PATTERNS
Today, I pack my props and change right after my show. I have a few things I need to do today and it will be much easier to do them in Columbina. I get the stuff I need done and then head back out to streets. I feel bad that I am not “working” so hard with patrons that I work through my lunch. I grab my steak on stake and eat that quickly. I then spend my time wandering around chatting with patrons. I spend some time in the sun bowl and see it is turning into the DUST bowl. We do very much need rain (heard the forecast promises some for Thursday and Friday…this is good) and the dust clouds are scary they are so thick, especially by the jousting field. I keep my throat coated with lozenges and blow my nose as often as possible to allow my lungs to be safe.
VISIONS REALIZED
As I am close to the Fortune, I start toward the Wayt Gallery for my weekly message that “it’s not done yet”, but that is not forthcoming. He crooks his finger to me and says he has something for me, and BOY does he ever. It’s perfect. A pencil sketch of a single body branching out into two figures, on side Columbina, the other Stupina. I am SO very excited. He also has the inked version to be used for the tshirt design…yes, I am having this designed as the next Teatro Tshirt. I am HOPING I will have it designed and approved for closing weekend, but no promises. I will do what I can. Otherwise, you just need to find me after faire is over. He holds the pic for me and I promise to pick it up at the end of the day.
SAD NEWS IN HAPPY TIMES
I am wandering around until my show and see the pony ride line is long, I head over and start to chat with the people in line, when I am approached by a friend who informs me of another friends extreme misfortune. He is ok, as is his family, but the emergency has pulled him from faire. He is also the musician for one of my shows, so I am worried what will be done to cover for it. I can’t do anything at the moment, so I head back to the stage to set props and do the show.
CELEBRATION
Today, the wedding is ok. The audience is a bit tough, but our cast is good and by the end we are having some fun…it’s just a downer after last Sunday’s show, which was JUST amazing. I notice the bride’s hat needs to be cleaned, so a note is made to take it home. Watching us is the Deputy today. He seems to enjoy it. Feedback isn’t awful, but it’s there when I climb up and down stairs, which I try to do quickly. After we finish, we step outside to say hello to the audience. We are thanked and congratulated on the way out as Lelio thanks them for coming to church.
WALTZING WITH STUPINAS
I am on my way back to get Baby Stupina when I run into the directors of that show, I note to them the information and they inform me they have been told over 100 times. I assume it’s an exaggeration, but with this group, who knows. They have brought in Lady Cyd to replace the piece so all should be well, but I am asked to be down a trifle early to run the dance to the new music. I bid them adieu and grab the little girl after checking that there are no privy lines. We walk and dance around. I head toward the gate area as the Angels are beginning set up and I don’t want to have focus diverted. Its finally time and I head back with Mumsie.
DANCING TO A DIFFERENT TUNE
We get to the costume house and run the dance with the new music. Some of the others are having a problem hearing the rhythm, but most get it and by performance time, it works fine. The key is a bit minor, so it’s not as playful, but it works well and no one really notices anything.
FIGHT SCHOOL RELOADED
I head over to the Market Stage in all my elegance and finally see the show after lord knows how many years. There are lots of modern references, some that the rest of the audience didn’t get…but I did, cause I LOVED the movie Clue. The crowd is having fun and enjoying the show. Once it is over I head over to the Wayt Gallery to pick up the art. It’s not in a period container, so I am hiding it under my overskirt. On my way back to put it away, I am informed that Dan the Master Joyner is at his booth. I turn immediately and head over to see him.
ART AND FRIENDS
I get there and Jean Cabot is saying hello and touching base. I give him a big, but gentle hug and we catch up, Jean has to leave and I sit with him. I show him the sketch, he is VERY impressed. We talk about life and I hear he does not know about the event being held for him that night. I don’t tell him but tell the lady at the booth to send my regrets once he is there and gets it. I head out and toward the pub and some assorted friends.
TIME TO BRAG…AT A DISTANCE
So I head toward the pub and the drunks are in full force. I don’t trust the beer around my new art, so I stand outside. I walk around the pub and show off the picture. I get oohs and aahs and “I want one”s. I head over to Stub Toe to show my friends over there, I head over to Leather Rose to make it clear, I head to the scales and show them, I head back to the pub. I am with a few friends and a rather drunk patron who I recognize. I ask him if he wants to be let onto a secret. His friends convince him it’s ok and I reveal the pic. He stares at it and says “I don’t even get it”. DOH. After a moment he says, I mean, I see that one…is that you? I respond with a big ass smile. Then, I assure him, don’t worry, you are drunk enough that you won’t even remember tomorrow. The cannon’s boom and I head out with the line up. Day is done.
ERRANDS AT NIGHT
We meet up with a group for dinner at Fuddruckers. The line is HUGE, almost as bad as getting off site. Dinner is fine and I get a chance to talk to Dodo, the pretty one, and Star of the Ariel Angels. We talk clowning, travel and the fun of not having the boss around…We are acrobats, we are contortionists, we are UNSUPERVISED!...LOLOLOL. Time is up and the Lelios and I head home, making a stop to find gas…FINALLY we find something under $3.00 and we all head home and collapse in bed.
SLOWLY TO RISE
URGH but today hurt. I felt draggier and was still coughing up dirt from the site. I left early though and got to site pre-security. I headed in and started to stretch out. Bob Davinci came by and started guilt stretching…you know, they see you stretch, they know they should stretch, so they start to based on your lead. It was kinda cute. We talked about feet pain and I showed him a few stretches to help out. It was time for me to head to Fortune, so we wandered that way and split by Sandcrafters. I turned on my music and bopped to the stage. I got in, turned the stuff on and tested my system. I sounded great, I could even go up a bit and still sound great…then Lelio arrived and he became the Ringing King. At least I knew it wasn’t me. We balanced and then headed out to brekkies.
MORNING RITUALS
Breakfast was a brief, but pleasant, affair with some vendors I know. Once I had eaten, I took my leave and headed to the costume house. It was open, and NO ONE was there, except for Stitch. She said I was the first. I went to set props, and I was STILL the only one there. WOW. They must be as tired as me. Once I started changing, the group slowly arrived. I grabbed my stuff and headed out for the meeting before the meeting. Then, I headed to the meeting. Our numbers were as big as I thought they were, and we hope for bigger numbers today. We are told that we need more coverage between 1:30-2:00 at the Center Food court where the cappuccino booth is. I figure I can adjust my time and will help out. BEEP and off we go.
MORNING REARRANGEMENTS
Gate show is crowded again, but not as much as the day before. We cheer and give tours (that I almost miss because I was chatting with a playtron) and energy is good. I head inside the festival today as it is cool and I wanted to catch some of another show in the morning. I head in toward Market Stage and sit by the fountain. I see the King and Queen set themselves and head to the other side so as not to distract from them. As I see Royal Arrival start, I head back to that side of the stage. The Royals compliment my song and I sing a special verse to Her Majesty. I had already sung one for the King, but he missed it. They head to the stage and I continue to entertain the walkers by. Somehow I managed to find the shady spots. I am amused to see people walk by and turn toward the voice to figure out what is caterwauling so loudly…then they laugh or point to me and walk on. It’s a good thing.
FIGHTING BOBS
I head over to Market and watch the first half of the first Fight School show. It’s a lot of fun and even tighter than the other one. I am still being waved at and watched, as Stupina is rarely subtle I have to leave though, as I have a show starting. Mother Goose is my reader today. She is worried as she forgot her glasses, but the print is large enough that she doesn’t need it. The show goes well and the audience is laughing up a storm. It ends and I pack up my props as fast as I can and head over to the Lyric stage to watch another show I have yet to see. I sit in the back and am having a bit of trouble hearing them, but the front audience seems entertained. In front of me, a man’s glasses fall and the lens pops out. I help him clean his glasses and let him know how to find something he is looking for. Another little girl on my left keeps looking at me and wanting to talk to me. I wave, she asks my name and leaves. She comes back and asks again and leaves. She comes back with mom and asks again. Eventually, she heads out into the village.
LOST PRINCESS FOUND
I see in the back of the house, the Lost Princess and her beau. After the show, I head over and introduce myself as only I can. Bwahahaha. I head into the village now to find new places to play. This time, I find it is appropriate to sit in the dirt at the BACK of O’Shucks near a tree. There is a lot of traffic and people laugh and chuckle at my song. I am approached by AniMoore who offers me a wet wipe for later. I assume it’s based on last week’s blue neck/black face fiasco, so I accept. Next, I am singing along and I see one of the “powers that be” wandering by. Ya know, it’s always a good sign when your boss looks at you and laughs…well, maybe not always, but today, it seemed like I was on the right track.
NAKED TIME
Well, not exactly. I finish and meet up with Mrs. Pugh on the way to change. She heads back with me and we switch me over. I head out on to street with my sign to grab lunch. After eating quickly with some patrons, I head over to the other food court area that had been crowded. It is still crowded. The lines aren’t bad though, so I head toward the tables. Now here is the odd part. For the last few years, I am almost always pre-disposed for bits. I am either in Stupina or I have baby Stupina with me. It’s easy. Now I walk up to the people, I have no storyline, perse, no big props other than my sign, and I don’t want to talk up the show to kids as it is PG. This puts me in a dilemma. But I figure out how to work around it. “ How many people here are having a good time?” “how many people have eaten wonderful food?” “how many have seen a show they enjoyed”. I get strong responses to all the questions and start having fun with them. I turn and see Sir Thomas Seymour has been sitting and watching this event incognito. I am amused to see him.
NAKE TIME TOO
I go to the other side and try ‘by a show of hands, how many of you are here now?”…and not all of the hands rise…ok, “by a show of hands, how many of you are NOT here now?” and a few more rise. “By a show of hands, how many aren’t sure?” I just keep getting sillier and the audience plays along. “OK, everyone raise your hands and make castanet moves! Wow, you WILL do almost anything…this is fun!” and it is. I haven’t had such a “seat of my pants” street day in a long time and both the crowd and I are enjoying it.
NAKED MONEY
Next, I head down Kenwood and see a HUGE line at the ATM. I stand at the front of that line and ask: How many of you are here to get more money? How many of you are here to get more money for BEER? How many of you want to give ME all your money?...ok, so the last one didn’t fly, but I take the time to chat with all the people waiting in line and make their time pass a bit faster.
BRIDE AND MOM, OH MY!
We start the wedding and I find a shy but amused bride. Mom is even more surprised I have picked her, but she is hysterical, even if she doesn’t get her line right. That’s the rule gang, if you push someone else, you COULD be up there instead. Which always makes the threatened person fee SO very happy. The show runs rather well with me not ringing at all and Lelio setting off the bells on occasion. The house is over full and laughing. I like those days.
RECONNECT AND EDUCATE
So in the audience is my secret admirer (yeah, not so secret and just a friend with a sense of humor) and his friend who has just arrived to study in this country. He brings him by to say hello as we are greeting the crowd. We begin to chat and discuss clothing. My SA notes that the kind of pants we want to put his friend in match “THAT GUY’S”. That guy, turns out to be the very shy man who stood by me and I think bought me a rose a few weeks ago. Funny that. He stops when my SA asks him some questions and I become playful and larger. He is very quiet and soft spoken, enjoys the conversation then leaves. We then discuss the art of hand kissing, as my SA’s friend makes the attempt. I tell him, WELL, if you’re going to learn, you are going to do it right.
CLASS IN SESSION
I pull him into a large open space and as I start, the crowd begins to form. I toss down my hat give him the rules (I win) and give him all the instructions on what means what and where. Then he runs the skills and does quite well. This inspires another patron to try it on his hysterically giggling wife. I feel bad as he is doing such a good job and his wife can’t look at him with a straight face, she can barely look at him at all. Ah well. Another group of people well informed of the rules, my job done, I head to the stage and quietly go in (another show has started) and grab props to leave.
CONNECTION OVERLOAD
I head back to the front gate area and grab Baby Stupina for a little while. I run into the LP’s boyfriend. I say hello and he looks at me like he doesn’t quite connect why I would know him. He doesn’t really look at the marionette, so I don’t expect him to understand. I head away and start moving the little girl around. She has people stop and wave, stare, and little ones who just want to shake her hand over and over, or never let go. I even get her a few hugs today. All too soon, it’s time for me head backstage for the next show.
MUSIC TO MY EARS
We are informed that there are a number of people we know watching or filming the show today. I feel a pump up of the energy as we go out. Our musician is back and we are very pleased to hear the recognizable music. We are somewhat silly upstairs today, but not outrageous. I get stuck on poker, even though the others wanted to try a few other games. We ALL laugh exactly on cue, how fun, and it seems to run smoothly. We see LP’s boyfriend in the audience, It’s cute. She noted he was at all her shows today.
GOODBYE WITH GYPSIES
Today, even though Wolgemut isn’t back, we are filling the stage with Gypsophillia. This is wonderful as my little girl can dance again. I really enjoy the energy and the audience just loves to watch her move. A number of people recognize her from the show or the street and I inform them of her dehydrated condition. Some “smart” kids are trying to piece it together, but they don’t succeed. A little girl and her mom come to the front gate and say they were told the Lost Princess was here at the gate, I find her and bring her to the family. Within moments, she is surrounded by little girls, swamped more like. It’s very sweet. I switch sides to avoid the crowd. I see her BF again and THIS time he sees me. He sees me and asks me if I was just in the other show, which I say yes, then looks at the marionette and says “you were her too?” I have to chuckle. Back to waving. Time is finally up and I take her back for a rest for the weekend.
MEMORIES OF MUSIC
At Pub Sing, there is a familiar face. Louis the Moor, but in mundanes. I ask him if I should be getting a good spot to hear him, he looks at me oddly and I tell him I want to know if he will be singing. He says yes…SWOON. I love the man like a brother, but his voice makes me melt. He introduces me to his GF and her Brother. Brother and I hit it off and chat for most of pub sing (way the hell in the back and out of the music’s way). He and I both wonder how he could have visited so much and we never met. I say wait, how about her, and pull out the pic a patron gave me of Stupina. NOW he recognizes me. We run in to listen to Louis, they go in closer to take pics, I stand back and sit at a table with Ani and a few others. She has my tshirt and asks me if I can sign it. All three of us sign it..hee.
GOD SHAVE THE QUEEN
The Royals are not at Pub Sing so the villagers improvise. With the Seymour’s hats, Shep and Zach come up as the Royals reading from cue cards. They are HYSTERICAL and the crowd enjoys them thoroughly. They leave when the royals do and we escort them with cries of God Save the King and God Shave the Queen. Well, she did have a full beard and moustache. I am amused greatly. We get to the front and I peal off to head backstage. Waiting for me is my Romance War delivery. I appreciate the thought that has gone into the gifts, but I will admit that finding it waiting for me rather than it being delivered makes me a trifle sad. Ah well.
I NEED MORE HANDS
Today, I have to pack all my laundry for the week, all the props that need to be fixed, and all the …well the HUGE gourd and my arms are just effing full. I get to my car and I am hurting just from carrying everything. Yeesh. A group goes to meet at Ruby Tuesdays and is horrified at the lack of service. Our waiter is helping two tables at different sides of the restaurant. It takes forever after we order our food to get it. After getting there around 7:45-8:00. We get our food after the people who arrived after us, in fact, other than the one appetizer, we don’t get our meals until around 9:15. I snarf my food as I had an appointment at 9:30 and I know I am going to be late. The food, when it arrived, was good, but when we have to find our own silverware, it’s not good service. Eventually, the rest of the wait staff does what it can to help us get our orders clarified and by the time I leave, one person STILL doesn’t have their food. I hear she gets it brought out in a box and takes it home in the car. Not the best ending to the week, but not awful as the company was fun and informative.
NEXT WEEK is single’s weekend and the renewal of vows.
At the Girlie Show is:
Sat: Mali Green
Sun: Mrs. Pugh
It looks to be an interesting weekend!