This past weekend I was performing at the Endless Mountain Maple Festival in Troy, PA. It was a blast. Saturday was a beautiful day and I had fun crowds. The audiences were very hip. My favorite quote came after a show when someone approached and said "I thought this was going to be a kiddie show - but you were hilarious!"
Even though Jeff Dunham is selling out arenas, Terry Fator is the biggest draw in Vegas and Jay Johnson won a Tony award and tours with The Two And Only, some people still associate ventriloquism with birthday party entertainment. It felt good to dispel that myth for at least one person.
Every year I enjoy entertaining at fairs and festivals. With all my years of experience, you'd think I'd remember a few things...but I seem to always forget. So on a sunny Saturday, I forgot to use sun block and ended up with a red burn. I miss my hair - a scalp burn is no fun.
On Sunday, it rained, was windy and cold. The crowds were smaller, but the second and third shows had very enthusiastic audiences. Vendors had started breaking down before my third show even started. My fear was I'd be talking to myself, by myself. So when the show started, I was pleasantly surprised to find a good sized audience of repeats. And the crowd grew throughout.
So what did I forget Sunday? A jacket for the show. Instead I froze for 30+ minutes at each performance. You never know what you are going to need, so it makes sense to pack more than you expect to need - and know where a Wal-Mart is so you can buy what you still forgot.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
To See, Or Not To See...
Had my appointment with the Lasik surgeon and have decided to go under the laser.
Reading his information package prior to, I had decided to try Epi-Lasik. The possibilities of the flap issues associated with regular lasik scared the heck out of me. After talking with the doc, he felt I was better off with the lasik, and told me my concerns, while valid, should not be an issue due to my corneas.
The biggest problem is now getting it done! He only schedules Lasik on the second Tuesday of each month. May would have been ideal - but as I mentioned in my last post, I'm now pretty busy that month. So we are scheduled for June. My biggest fear, that there will be an issue. I leave for my summer tour a week later. Doc says not to fear - but he's not the one under the laser...
I'll let everyone know what happens!
Reading his information package prior to, I had decided to try Epi-Lasik. The possibilities of the flap issues associated with regular lasik scared the heck out of me. After talking with the doc, he felt I was better off with the lasik, and told me my concerns, while valid, should not be an issue due to my corneas.
The biggest problem is now getting it done! He only schedules Lasik on the second Tuesday of each month. May would have been ideal - but as I mentioned in my last post, I'm now pretty busy that month. So we are scheduled for June. My biggest fear, that there will be an issue. I leave for my summer tour a week later. Doc says not to fear - but he's not the one under the laser...
I'll let everyone know what happens!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Corporate Comedian Availability
Some entertainers feel if their schedule isn't filled, they do not appear successful. When the calendar is empty, they offer special "discounts" or start calling agents and clients in a panic mode.
I'm not like that. I do not "hold" dates. My schedule changes in the time it takes to pick up the phone. Truth is, I love what I do. There is little I enjoy more than making an audience laugh. I also place a high value on my free time.
A month ago, my May sat wide open. No shows. I figured there was a reason. There always is. Perhaps it was because my summer is booked solid. Starting mid-June, I don't get more than a day or two of rest until September. I'm NOT complaining! I love to work, but I rationalized May as perhaps I would need that time off.
Two weeks ago I got a call from an agent who wanted me for a corporate event in NJ. I was available and we locked in the date. The next day, a long time client called and wanted a Saturday. Last week, another agent called for two more dates. Those confirmed this morning. May is suddenly a very profitable month.
Now I'm wondering how I'll fit in everything I had planned. Things that should be completed before I leave for two and a half months. I'm going to be busy.
There is more to life than a show schedule. Ventriloquism involves daily skill practices, rehearsals and material creation. There is office work and so much more. Then there is the private life and spending time with the family. It all goes by to fast.
I'm not like that. I do not "hold" dates. My schedule changes in the time it takes to pick up the phone. Truth is, I love what I do. There is little I enjoy more than making an audience laugh. I also place a high value on my free time.
A month ago, my May sat wide open. No shows. I figured there was a reason. There always is. Perhaps it was because my summer is booked solid. Starting mid-June, I don't get more than a day or two of rest until September. I'm NOT complaining! I love to work, but I rationalized May as perhaps I would need that time off.
Two weeks ago I got a call from an agent who wanted me for a corporate event in NJ. I was available and we locked in the date. The next day, a long time client called and wanted a Saturday. Last week, another agent called for two more dates. Those confirmed this morning. May is suddenly a very profitable month.
Now I'm wondering how I'll fit in everything I had planned. Things that should be completed before I leave for two and a half months. I'm going to be busy.
There is more to life than a show schedule. Ventriloquism involves daily skill practices, rehearsals and material creation. There is office work and so much more. Then there is the private life and spending time with the family. It all goes by to fast.
Hire A Corporate Entertainer
In conversations about corporate events, the first thing you usually hear is either "It was great!" or "It was horrible, I couldn't wait to get out of there." Beyond that is the discussion why...
Sure, there are shades of gray. But those are the two extremes. One of which you want to avoid. So how can you avoid being the "horrible" event? Keep these thoughts in mind as you plan:
1. Your Corporate Entertainment/Speaker is one of the two most important pieces of the equation. From banquet entertainment to convention speaker(s), if they do not captivate your audience and keep them involved, the energy will be sucked out of your event. As soon as you start planning the event, entertainment should be priority one.
2. Catering would be next on the list. Any time you bring people together, food is probably on the agenda. You want the food to be eaten, otherwise it is a waste of money - so check out the catering, taste the food and plan out the details.
When working with a venue's catering department, you often find the on-site catering manager is not the person who helped you plan the event. Messages, notes and orders do not always get passed along. It is important to have your contract with you and to arrive early enough that changes can be made!
3. Venue selection is not quite on the scale of the first two. Location is important, as is ambiance, but if the first two items aren't addressed properly, your venue will be the least of your concerns.
The truth is, there are more caterers and more event venues than there are qualified corporate entertainers and speakers. When you plan your next corporate event, keep your entertainment at the top of the list and your event has greater potential for success.
Sure, there are shades of gray. But those are the two extremes. One of which you want to avoid. So how can you avoid being the "horrible" event? Keep these thoughts in mind as you plan:
1. Your Corporate Entertainment/Speaker is one of the two most important pieces of the equation. From banquet entertainment to convention speaker(s), if they do not captivate your audience and keep them involved, the energy will be sucked out of your event. As soon as you start planning the event, entertainment should be priority one.
2. Catering would be next on the list. Any time you bring people together, food is probably on the agenda. You want the food to be eaten, otherwise it is a waste of money - so check out the catering, taste the food and plan out the details.
When working with a venue's catering department, you often find the on-site catering manager is not the person who helped you plan the event. Messages, notes and orders do not always get passed along. It is important to have your contract with you and to arrive early enough that changes can be made!
3. Venue selection is not quite on the scale of the first two. Location is important, as is ambiance, but if the first two items aren't addressed properly, your venue will be the least of your concerns.
The truth is, there are more caterers and more event venues than there are qualified corporate entertainers and speakers. When you plan your next corporate event, keep your entertainment at the top of the list and your event has greater potential for success.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Every Show Is A Journey...
Every story, movie, or show, has a beginning, middle and end. It is a journey that has meaning. If every journey was the same, it wouldn't be entertaining. Twice in my career have I been told my program started slow. Today was the second.
The first few minutes on stage, I get to know, or "read" the audience. Some are there with you, others are not so sure. Some will have no desire to leave their world behind to join you. The goal is to bring them all on board so that by the end of the journey, everyone in the room is engaged and rolling with laughter. Sometimes that is an easy task. Theater shows are usually filled with people who want to be entertained. That is why they came out.
Sometimes the audience is much more complicated. The show involved was one of those. The program followed a long day of meetings, a huge banquet and an endless procession of people crossing the stage for awards. The audience was assembled from places scattered across the country. The audience was tired. It took time to pull them in. The client's final quote was glowing about the positive feedback and the fact the entire group had been extremely entertained.
While I realize the journey started slow for a reason, the client did not. Thankfully the outcome was exactly what they wanted!
Two "mentions" over this many years and this many shows may not be much - but I plan to look into things further. Time to re-write...
The first few minutes on stage, I get to know, or "read" the audience. Some are there with you, others are not so sure. Some will have no desire to leave their world behind to join you. The goal is to bring them all on board so that by the end of the journey, everyone in the room is engaged and rolling with laughter. Sometimes that is an easy task. Theater shows are usually filled with people who want to be entertained. That is why they came out.
Sometimes the audience is much more complicated. The show involved was one of those. The program followed a long day of meetings, a huge banquet and an endless procession of people crossing the stage for awards. The audience was assembled from places scattered across the country. The audience was tired. It took time to pull them in. The client's final quote was glowing about the positive feedback and the fact the entire group had been extremely entertained.
While I realize the journey started slow for a reason, the client did not. Thankfully the outcome was exactly what they wanted!
Two "mentions" over this many years and this many shows may not be much - but I plan to look into things further. Time to re-write...
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Paperwork
Every year I throw receipts into a monthly file, then come January everything needs to be entered into the computer and sent off for the taxes. Even though I hate the job, I'd rather do it than pay an accountant for the service. This year, I decided never again - and have committed to entering receipts the first of each month. With spring, I've procrastinated. This is the part of the job I hate - but today, its got to be done. Wish I had a show instead...
Monday, April 5, 2010
Total Pain
On Friday, I must have scratched my eye. Wore glasses all day instead of my contacts. Saturday I put in my contact lenses before heading to the show and had no problem until I removed them that night. Sunday was a day of pain. This afternoon, I'm going to the eye doctor. It may be time for lasik...
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Time To Laugh...
Tonight is another show and another opportunity to have some fun! Writing the custom comedy material for the program was challenging since the information arrived Thursday afternoon. I prefer to have two weeks minimum to develop the added extras that personalize the act. I spent some hours sweating yesterday, but I think the custom segment will be strong.
On another front, my physical therapy sessions have made a huge difference AND I have lost ten pounds since I started working out. Feeling pretty good about that!
On another front, my physical therapy sessions have made a huge difference AND I have lost ten pounds since I started working out. Feeling pretty good about that!
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