Weekend stuff

[wendyzski]

Got up waaay too early to head up for our third of four performance dates at Bristol. But this time we had our new CD in-hand, and I had planned a special marketing campaign 'Music On A Stick!'. In the firm belief that rennies will buy ANYTHING if it's on a stick, the addition of a bit of hot-glue and a tongue-depressor could only make a great product more appealing! It seemed to work pretty well - getting LOTS of laughs and a pretty decent number of sales. Of course, the fact that I spent nearly every non-performing moment on Saturday in the streets & shops with my chalkboard reading "Music On A Stick" didn't hurt any. I personally sold 8 on the weekend, contributing to our total of 20 sales. Not bad for a debut...

Saturday night, after a visit to Culvers to see what exactly a 'Butterburger' was, was spent at the home of the attorney (Greg) that Josie works for. It's an 1850s farmhouse, and quite lovely. Unfortunatley we were too tired to take advantage of the pool, opting instead for showers and early bed. John's room had a light-up frog, and the bedside table in my room turned out to be an antique sewing machine. (I restrained myself from playing with it.) My very picturesque daybed came complete with very picturesque dust and dead beetles, and something with little-bitty toenails has apparently taken up residence in the ceiling. Combine these with this being the first twin-sized bed I have slept in in at least 10 years led to a restless night. However, the breakfast these wonderful people cooked us more than made up for this.

Six-Degrees-Of-Me moment - Greg's wife works with the Marriott Lincolnshire theatre, and this knows not only the object of my first crush-on-a-turned-out-to-be-gay actor, but my sophomore acting teacher. (The one who told me I have no talent). She doesn't like him much either.

Sunday was back at Bristol for a day to play. I have been up there on three days that I was not performing, and I have now only seen two shows! I spend most of my days hanging about with friends among the merchants, actors, and playtrons, and this time was no exception. I even got to have a lovely chat with Jim & Joyce Lilquist, aka The Gypsy Guerrilla Band. They were at Bristol when I first started performing there in the late 80s. We swapped evil hotel stories (They won't stay at Super-8s either, after one particular room gave them fleas) and "worst-ever renfaire experiences". (We may have survived TAMT aka That Awful Mansfield Thing, but they lived through Cavalier Days aka Cadaver Days - the show where the ad guy absconded with most of the funds, and the promoter is making good on his payments on a $10/month installment plan! This show is legendary amongst performers.)

Had a chance to see The Belles of Bedlam - Wow. Naughty and wonderful. Had a sort of wierd moment at the Pig while waiting for the show. On my right were microwench and her friends from KCRF, and on my left were Stella and some of MiRFers. I was like "Which faire am I at again?" Also got to see the results of my handiwork - 'pretty mousy-lady' from a few weeks ago, tipsy and giggly and looking stunning in a chain-mail-bimbo outfit. If you have to tip the pendulum a little too far to get your self-confidence back, faire is a reasonably safe environment to do it in. The people she is hanging out with I either know personally or recognize as regulars, so I know that "no" will be taken for an answer, and that people are looking out for her.

Had THE Dead Parade Kodak moment on Sunday! Just past the royal kitchens we encountered a young boy who was determined to prove his mettle. Now, most of the characters tend to clump behind the standard-bearer and drummer, but I've been doing this long enough that I tend to range off into left field as it were - the better to interact directly with patrons. It went something like this:

Standard-bearer and drummer pass. Boy is standing on side of street.
dead juggler passes
Boy - "I'm not afraid of you"
dead schoolmaster passes
Boy - "I'm not afraid of you"
antler-man passes
Boy - "I'm not afraid of you"
I have come up from behind him, and pivot in ront of him to face him.
Boy - "aaaaagh!" (runs to mommy)
Crowd - laughter and scattered applause

We live for moments like that. Apparently all of security knew by the time we passed the Pig, and big sweaty dead-people hugs were waiting for me as soon as I got backstage, and the comment "It's good to have Big Mamma Dead back!" made me all warm inside. Either that or it was the incipient heat-exhaustion...

By the time I got home I had a raging headache and felt really ill. Took a long cool shower, forced myself to microwave a Mean Cuisine and chug some gatorade and was horizontal by 9:15. Several uncomfy hours, cool cloths, and ibuprofen finally got me to sleep, and I actually felt pretty good, if a little groggy, this morning.

Next week, Play-time in Hollygrove!

Comments

[that-david.livejournal.com]

"It's good to have Big Mamma Dead back!" made me all warm inside. Either that or it was the incipient heat-exhaustion...

Probably a little of both...

[aedifica]

Hey, I recognize that pic! Legend of Nightfall?

[that-david.livejournal.com]

Yep. The artist is Jody A. Lee, who does many a piece of cover art for fantasy or science-fiction books. She also happens to have done most of the book covers for my favorite author's books (Mercedes Lackey and her Valdemar book series). This other icon is hers too, from Exile's Honor.