My first time...

[StarPixy]

Hey guys! I'm ba-ack!! How you all been? I've been ok. I moved out of my parent's and got a new job, so everything's been up in the air lately (which would explain why I haven't been in here in like, forever). I got a job with another street dance team in Miami and done alittle more modeling, but basically I haven't done any REAL street/stage performing in almost a year! [img]frown.gif[/img]
But last night, I actually had a miming gig!! It was a blast! I was at a Halloween Harvest festival that was a street full of pony rides, games, and vending booths. I was hired to walk the whole street as a mime. This was my first time miming by myself (usually I'm just dancing in a sqared off area, or I'm with a team of my mime/clown friends on a platform doing a skit), and I actually got to interact with people! It was my first time by myself. I have a whole load of beginner questions now for you guys!!

Question 1) I gave this little girl a lollipop and did a few tricks to make her laugh, and then I moved on. Few minutes later, I turn around, and there she is! I patted her on the head and went about my business, but she kept on following me. Her poor grandfather almost had a heart attack looking for her, so I guided her back to him and went off. But she STILL kept following me! I finally asked her to please stay with grandpa, but she wouldn't. Finally, her grandfather took her away (after, like an hour of searching for her again and again), and I could tell he had clearly lost his patience.... WITH ME! As if I was forcing the girl to run off or whatever. What was I supposed to do? Stay in one place and babysit this little....sweetheart... (Who by the way, after a time she kept telling people about my gags before I finished them, etc.)

Question 2) Ok you all know I'm just a girl, and a rather small one at that. For some apparent reason, there were these two teenage kids who kept heckling me. Then they crossed the line. They snatched my hat and wouldn't give it back. Then one actually grabbed at me and started shoving me around. I totally broke out of character and said, "Give me back my hat you idiot, and if you touch me again I'll get security on your ass!!" I think this sort of shocked them, and they backed off. But it was kinda scarey. As I said before; I'm not a very intimidating figure...What do I do in this type of situation?

After a while, I noticed most of my hecklers were young guys. I'm guessing it's because I'm a girl mime, they think it's funnier to pick on me or whatever. [img]confused.gif[/img]

Any tips guys?[img]C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\5335D_jpg.htm[/img]

[ 11-01-2003: Message edited by: StarPixy ]</p>

[em]

we can get a fair amount of shit from people here in the uk when doing walkabout, in that situation the venue should provide a *discreeet* minder/ security guard/volunteer just to keep an eye on you and the public. You are always vulnerable doing roving, no "fat edge" audience to protect you, on your own,being a mime, being female (not a prerequisite to vulnerability but nonetheless it can make a difference to teenagers who are in the mood to be destructive). We tend to ignore the punters who are being abusive as much as possible but when it gets really nasty we will drop out of character and hiss quietly in their ear similar phrases to the one you used...occasionally a bit stronger!....there isn't much else you can do...except refuse to go out until your working conditions are a bit safer....we have been threatened a fair amount, although not so much anymore as we became very skilled at avoiding trouble...and we are much more confrontational now so punters don't get a word in edgeways!
as for the lollipop girl, its the parents responsibility to keep an eye on their kids..just ask him quietly to do that!! but one thing i would be careful of is giving sweets to kids....its an invite to get more, they will follow you, or the parent may not be happy about the sugar for whatever reason...i know it sounds trivial but its always felt iffy to me.....

keep at it and concentrate on the people that are enjoying it....oddly don't try too hard, its the little inconsequential stuff that is often the most intriguing...being in your own little world you know?

good luck
love em

[scot]

If people bother you, figure out what they're trying to get from their approach, and don't let them get it.

Let's say they want to distract you or make you angry. Be happy and give them suckers. ignore them. Give a big guy a bat and point at the hecklers.

The more you think of yourself as a vulnerable girl, the more you'll be treated like one.

With the little girl, you can whisper to her that you're playing a game and you want to suprise people. Tell her to ask her grandpa if it's alright to watch.

Kids will do all kinds of things. This issue might not come up again but a million other issues will. You need to kind of try things out and figure out what works. There are usually trillions of different solutions.

Scot

[Steven Ragatz]

Talk to Cybele, she's another "girl mime" that hangs around here. She probably knows some strategies that would help you.

Who's who (Cybele)

Steven Ragatz

[Stretch]

Anothers first time experience:

http://slate.msn.com/id/2090388/

My dreadful life as a street performer, by Emily Yoffe The Human Guinea Pig gives it a go.

Enjoy.


Walking tall and stretching imaginations!

Bill "Stretch" Coleman