Stuff I learned

[scot]

make it clear what you want from volunteers and they'll feel great.

[Rex Boyd]

I agree with the volunteers bit Scot. Especially here in England it's generally agreed amongst the public that the reason for using volunteers is to make fun of them, "take the piss" as the English would say. The truth is exactly the opposite. If you ever do make fun of the volunteer, the audience won't like you for it and the volunteer will just pull back rather than play along and achieve what you are hoping they will do.

The ultimate goal of using a volunteer should be to make that person the star of the show. If the volunteer feels happy, supported and on your side there is no limit to what they'll do. The performer should give up us his ego and status and let the volunteer shine. When it works right the audience will see the "real" drama happening within that person's emotions as opposed to the performer's "rehearsed" drama that happens show after show.

[Kenny Ahern]

Advance an engagement, no later than, a week prior to the gig. Tactfully review the engagement agreement/tech rider points.

Find out if the person you are dealing with before the gig is actually going to be at the gig. If not, find out who the onsite manager is, and contact them too.

If you have "must have" need(s) that will greatly affect whether you can do your show or not ... never assume that the client understands this importance.

Talk to the person, pre-engagement, who is in charge of your "must have" need. I have power requirements for my self contained stage. I always speak with the onsite electrician prior to a gig.

Create an email trail of "written recaps" of your important client phone conversations.

CC emails are a very good thing.

A day before the engagement send a "looking forward to the gig!" email and thank the client for providing your show needs (my subtle reminder).

Never give advice to a client unless it is solicited. And still be weary if they solicit advice. Do they want advice or do they want to be told how great they are?

[Evan Young]

As you make more money, everything will cost more.
It costs more money to make more money.
Having people like you and networking a lot can get you really good deals, which can help cancel out the last two things I just said.


If you wait for a time when you are magically "not busy" to do something, it will never get done. Put it on your calendar and do it.

[nick nickolas]

count your coins with both hands.

don't let all your hats collect up 'till the end of the festival, change the change into notes every day.

read a book when your in the customs lines.

don't have any photos or diaries saying what you do if you are going into somewhere without a work permit.

use kerosine not shellite.

[Dan Holzman]

new props

When you have an idea for a new trick involving a prop that has to be built, make a cheap prototype first, before hiring someone to build a more expensive model for you. I recently had a prop built by a non-juggler based on a picture from an old juggling newsletter. $400 later, I have a prop that won't work, and some more junk to clutter up my garage.

Dan

[jugglery]

Underwear

Always wear presentable underwear. Seams split.

The audience will always believe the lies you say on stage and never believe the truth - or maybe that is just me.

[martin ewen]

more for beginners

http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_1/132000/132472/1/print/132472.pdf

[Isabella]

Group Shows

No-one ever snarks about the shortest act in a group show.

[Rachel Peters]

"I tell you, if one wants to be active, one must not be afraid of going wrong, one must not be afraid of making mistakes now and then. Many people think that they will become good just by doing no harm -- but that is a lie, and you yourself used to call it that. That way lies stagnation, mediocrity."

~Vincent Van Gogh

[Evan Young]

Sometimes you have to act a little crazy and violent to have credibility and keep people from walking all over you. Most of the time the best trick is to stay calm and let everyone else act like assholes until they say or do something they really regret.

[rottenbros]

Dan taught me 5+ years ago in the Miami airport to not drop my boarding pass! I'm still flying every week and have never dropped one since. Most embarrasing to meet someone I have admired for so long and to have done something so silly in front of him upon our first and last meeting. It was great meeting you Dan.

One of my travel tips is to carry ear plugs. They make the anouncements much more bearable and sleeping on the plane easier.

I also reccomend cargo pants and cargo shorts for carrying your passport, wallet, handkercheif, etc.

Loafers are a must thanks to TSA security theater. Damn that shoe bomber.

I used to blame myself if the show didn't go well. Now i know if it worked great last week and didn't this week the audience has some fault in it.

Regards,

Ted

aka Will

https://www.thevillageidiots.biz

https://www.rottenbros.com

[miquee]

my volunteers usually make the biggest drops.

when working in italy make it clear to the festival you want to be paid in cash the night of the show. very clear. especially if you do the festival in pescara. actually in pescara ask for the money before you do anything.

experimenting with new bits and the arrangement of your show, working at unusual times, changing things may make you less money at the time but in the long run will make your show stronger and you'll be more flexible as a performer.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

When you're on a cruise ship, do not, for any reason, do a striptease down to a sports bra.

[rottenbros]

Hell, I once walked across stage naked on a cruise ship. Read all about it.


Nude Cruise
Category: Travel and Places
I posted this years ago but have came back in to make some
modifications to the story. I'm adding things not deleting. And on a side note, my
lunch date ended up being my wife. When I wrote this originally
I didn't know that would happen, but I should have.

Idiot Log February 2005

An organization called "Bare Necessities" chartered our ship last
week. They are a group of people that believe clothes are optional.
That's right friends, they are a nudist group.

When I first got on the ship everything seemed normal. I met up
with a friend in the crew area. We decided to go upstairs and eat
lunch on lido. At first we had the elevator all to ourselves until the
doors opened on deck three and a naked couple walked on. I
couldn't help but grin. Not laughing at them mind you just the fact
that they were naked and there I was fully clothed. Never have I felt
so over dressed. We went all the way up to deck nine.

Once we made it to lido we went to the buffet line to choose our
lunch. Right there in line, naked people. Everywhere you could see,
naked people! I started feeling the nervous giggles coming on. I
express again I was not laughing at them just the situation. I have
also been known to get the nervous giggles at funerals and
weddings.

My lunch date and I found a nice table outside at the rear of the ship
under an awning. Out in the open air the deck was covered with sun
chairs and you guessed it, naked people. My date started giggling.
We contemplated if we were mature enough for this. Just at that
moment it began to rain and all the naked people jumped up and
started running for cover under the awning where we were sitting.
Right then and there a huge parade of naked people passed by us
and hurdled around ass. Asses and elbows in my face. It really
was all types of people. I tried to show immense interest in my
plate but we were going to get the giggles, they were unstoppable
at this point. So I blurt out to my date, "I love that joke he tales,"
and we burst into laughter.

After finishing lunch (well I lost my appetite from the tension) we
headed back to the crew area. Once we where alone in the elevator
we both burst into giggles again. For my first nudist experience I was
really thrust into it. Pardon the pun it wasn't intended.

Now it's Show time!

We were given the option of performing with or with out
clothes. We of course chose with. Well, Wally wouldn't do
it and I wasn't that keen on talking him into it. Then I had the
misfortune of thinking of a funny gag. Now, if you know me, if
I think of a funny gag I must do it. I just have to. Otherwise I
might regret it later when I'm 80 sitting in a rocking chair. Plus my girl
friend said it was so funny I had to.
So here is what happened.....

Wally was down stage (close to the audience) and the traveler curtain
was behind him and open about 15 feet. He was performing his
cigar box routine, which the finale is him throwing one box in the air
and spinning around, then catching it. Then he throws two boxes
up, spins and catches it. Finally he throws all three of them, spins
and catches.

Well as he threw the two up and spun around a little red remote
control sports car pulled out on stage behind him, stopping center.

Upon Wally throwing all three of them and spinning I walked onstage
following the R/C car from one side of stage to the other in my birthday suit.
I was only onstage for a matter of seconds. Maybe 5. The crowd
went wild and Wally thought the unusual amount of applause was for
him. Even saying "What! I've never had this kind of a reaction!"

I was being modest but in all honesty I received a standing
ovation the second show. I was walking with a little more bounce in
my step. Nough said.

I calculate almost 2000 people saw me nude that night. And yes, as
long as I had another funny gag, I would do it again.

At that point I was the only entertainer to appear naked on stage.
The next night the Cruise Director did it. I swear nudity is
contagious. I don't know how many times I took my clothes off
while at the same time someone else did.