What to do for my act - needs immediate fixing!

[Juggalicious]

Hi,
I'm part of a Juggling group known as Juggalicious, as well as a group show I have a solo show. We have been performing infrequently over the past 2 to 3 years but I have gotten a lot of solo stuff at local fairs. Last year I decided to audition for Faneuil Hall in Boston, I got to the audition figuring I wouldnt get it but it would still be a great experience to have. So I went I did not so well because it was one of my very first solo performances. My act was boring and was only filled with juggling - no shticks or bits or anything just straight juggling with tricks... I knew that I needed something to make me stick out from everyone else. So from that point on I was determined to find something good... I spent that summer doing shows - I still had no shtick but it was building up my skills as a performer and audience interactions... and then finally one day in the middle of November I got the idea...

I cut an apple if half on someones head...

I don't want to go through all the details of it - but I never actually cut the apple in half but the audience member is fooled into believing that it is... it's not a magic trick or anything it just involves a blindfold - and a good audience... but anyways I came up with this great bit that can last anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on how long I stretch it... so I have this great bit- which I have done 3 or 4 times and everytime no one can stop talking about it.... and I have a spot in Faneuil Hall but there is a problem...

Last year when I auditioned I remembered them stating that you could not juggle knives... now in the letter it states that knives cannot be used in any performance.... so I have a dilemma on what to do ... if I was able to do my bit along with my now increased juggling skills - Im positive that I would have a superb chance at getting a spot... but without the knife thing I dont have a trademark bit that will make me stick out....

so I was thinking - maybe I could still do the bit but tell the audience that Faneuil Hall wont allow the use of knives
so I will do it with a rolling pin? and then tell everyone that I will cut the apple in half with a rolling pin? and then do everything else exactly the same?

Or should I drop the bit and think of something else... but I dont want to drop the bit because I work with some other jugglers (Fly By Night) and they always say never drop a good bit... so I dont know what to do... I've already emailed Faneuil Hall and asked them to specify knives to see if I could some how manage around being able to use a knife...

Any and All help would be great....
Alex
www.juggalicious.cjb.net
sign the guest book

[Juggalicious]

is there any reason I havent gotten any responses?

[martin ewen]

Use a credit card
Sorry, what was I thinking, you don't simply want to cut the apple , you need to infer some dangerous method.
A boomerang?
A stuffed bunny with razor sharp incisors.

[ 04-03-2003: Message edited by: martin ewen ]</p>

[Peter Voice]

Get a $10 bill from one of your audience and use it to "cut" the apple.
You can also work it into a mid-show hat prompt.

Chain or circular saw, hedge-clippers (hand or battery/electric), papier mache swordfish or even the razor sharp wit of George Dubya Shrub?

[ 04-04-2003: Message edited by: Peter Voice ]</p>

[Todd]

There may be other ideas out there, but I think Peters is the best.
The mid show hat propt as well as any humor you can get out of getting and using the money is great.

[martin ewen]

I was applying myself to the mere slicing of the apple too but then realised that its probably the blindfolded volunteer with the mock danger and the other volunteer brought on after the first ones blindfolded and the audience playing along.
(Knife throwing farce comedy--oldie but a goodie if done well)
Or a variation with or without the second volunteer.
So i realised that whatever was used had to be something impressively dangerous to the person being blindfolded which puts a slightly different take on it.
"I am now going to throw this tenner at your head".... "um well ok then"
Could you elaborate as to what the knife does so we can replace it in context.
I'm confused,

[Rob Torres]

They said no knives. What about a massive broadsword?

[Butterfly Man]

What about a massive broad?

[Peter Voice]

Martin, you can get a very nasty paper cut from a $10 bill.

[The Groovy Guy]

We need to know if you are doing the COD knife throwing routine. Standard rountine, Blinfold duplcate knife on the back of a board. crowd calls 54321 etc etc.

If you are, then you still need to use somthing a little dangerous to sell the bit correctly. If its not this old classic, (which by the way is still fantasic if done right). If not you could use some comedy prop just as the old jugger routine, who is not allowed to juggler fire torches, juggles flash lights (called torches in the UK)

Dont give it away if you dont want to, but there is THAT ONE STANDARD ROUNTINE which from your description is just that.

More info so we can help please.

Groovy

[le pire]

You want ideas? Think of 'em yourself! Everyone here has enough trouble coming up with their own show let alone writing someone else's! Take a clown class or work with an improv theatre company or better yet go to harvard square and just do shows. Play 'hit or miss' with yourself -- in other words if it works keep it and if it sucks, abandon it.

étienne

[martin ewen]

As 'Everyone here's' already been spoken for, I'd like to speak for 'Those few contrarians among us' who see p.net as one resource among many and just as valid as any keith Johnston structured impro clique, any clown school or workshop. (both of which are of course as plentiful and available as the computer sitting in your room.)
Some of us selfishly delude ourselves into thinking we may be able to be helpful and enjoy the option of trying to solve given problems.
You choose for yourself which methods and resources you employ to advance whatever performance ambitions you have.
Someone asking for help is by definition vunerable and someone who attacks the vunerable is by definition insecure.
(I should know, I'm permanently in attack mode except for those brief periods when I'm helpful)

[ 04-04-2003: Message edited by: martin ewen ]</p>

[theincrediblelarry]

It seems pretty obvious that the routine you want to use, is out of question, considering your venue. Do not drop the bit, use it in the correct place, at the correct time. Faniuel hall- no fire, no knives, not the correct place or time. Find another routine that you can use here. thats my suggestion. In my opinion, the best way to be a better performer is to rely on yourself, not your act, and learn to adapt. you have time before the audition, get to work! good luck.
Larry
I'm working on it

[Steven Ragatz]

Alex,

Don't be put off by lp, your request for help is welcomed at this forum.

"never drop a good bit..." may be sound enough advice, but you are learning that not all material is appropriate for every venue. In this case, you are having to modify a routine involving a knife, but the situation could have easily been caused by one of many different conflicts. Inappropriate content (dirty jokes etc.), dangerous contents (fire, knives, etc.) or even size (large props) are all going to influence what sort of routine you can present in a given venue. For that matter, even if you are able to physically execute something in your repertoire, it may not play well under certain circumstances because the crowd is too large, or too small, or there may be a language barrier...

My point is that there are going to be many opportunities for you to perform under various conditions, and none of them are going to offer you the perfect situation for all of your favorite material. The issue that you raise with knives is a common one since there are lots of venues which don't allow danger props of any kind. You are going to have to resolve the situation eventually, even if Faneuil Hall works out in your favor, or else risk not being able to work in those venues.

If you like the routine, keep it, but don't think that it is the be-all and end-all. You are going to have to continue to write and build for the duration of your career, so get in the habit now by not allowing yourself to lean on crutches. After all, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that bit that you are so proud of now becomes something that gets cut from your show in the future and replaced by something better.

Steven Ragatz

[Busteroo]

Alex.

I agree with Steve on this one. Your time may be better spent on thinking of an entirely new bit instead of beating your head against the wall to make this one fit. I am relatively new to this and learned this the hard way not so long ago. I, however did not know about this forum at that time and had to muddle through. It was a true learning experience. Good Luck! [img]smile.gif[/img]