In working with the Ooh La Las on their Varietease show last year, we discovered that we enjoyed playing games with the audience. When we took the show to Gen Con 2016 the games, of course, were the most energetic part of the entire show. This year we decided to write the show to be a game as well. We sat down with someone from the Columbus Museum of Art to get some tips since they have done live game shows before. Then I sat down to write.
So far I've written The Trulie Awesome GAME! Show and Trulie and The Scone Throwers. I had to look up scone throwers to make sure it wasn't a term for something else. It does sound like an insult. It's a play on stone throwers but really it's about throwing scones at targets. When I worked in a coffee shop the scones would get so stale (right before we threw them) out that you could play hockey with them.
We are also moving forward with my Cosplay Yourself concept. It's about taking the best aspect of yourself. Something you really like, and turning it into a super power. I'm going to have people make costume pieces out of paper and then once they are done, they can fight a monster against a green screen. Totalie is going to edit their videos to look fun and then we will send it to the attendees. They don't have to fight the monsters but it's a fun addition. If they just want to make the costumes that's great too!
I submitted these events to Gen Con and I hope they get accepted. If not, I will try focusing on making it work here in Columbus. I am trying to get a test date for May at Wild Goose Creative so people can play the game and give us feed back.
Right now it's just a waiting game. But at least it's still a game.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Pull it Back
I was doing a triple turn into a layout and I pulled my back. Just kidding. I bent over to pick something up and I pulled my back. That was Saturday and I am still in pain so I know it is serious.
Saturday Electro Cult Circus had a gig at Rumba Cafe. I've been there but never on the stage. There's a cool backstage area with a couch and everything. I love when there are green rooms. We played with Morning Theft and Qiet. Both amazing bands with totally different sounds. We were different from both of those bands too, so the evening was really fun to experience.
Except I was in a ton of pain and having to stand almost the entire time. In high heeled boots. See,
I was trying to get a lot of things moved in the studio so we can have a filming space, but I pulled my back as soon as I got there so, after trying to work through the pain, I gave up.
It was just too painful to go on. I think this applies to a lot of things in my life.
I managed to get all of my costumes for the month finished but I can barely walk today and I am hoping this stops by Friday so I can dance.
Saturday Electro Cult Circus had a gig at Rumba Cafe. I've been there but never on the stage. There's a cool backstage area with a couch and everything. I love when there are green rooms. We played with Morning Theft and Qiet. Both amazing bands with totally different sounds. We were different from both of those bands too, so the evening was really fun to experience.
Except I was in a ton of pain and having to stand almost the entire time. In high heeled boots. See,
I was trying to get a lot of things moved in the studio so we can have a filming space, but I pulled my back as soon as I got there so, after trying to work through the pain, I gave up.
It was just too painful to go on. I think this applies to a lot of things in my life.
I managed to get all of my costumes for the month finished but I can barely walk today and I am hoping this stops by Friday so I can dance.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Clearly It Runs In The Family
I always tell my sister as long as we are still cracking jokes, we know we are okay. This song she wrote is perfect:
Laughter is the best medicine.
Don't take yourself too seriously.
"Life is a joke and the joke is one me" - Our dad.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Xanax and Scrambled Eggs
Breakfast of champions.
My mind is a bit scrambled right now, but I'm fighting my way through because I can't lose momentum on the things I want to work on. First project is an updated look for Totalie and Trulie. I wanted to thrift for the costumes, he wanted them custom made. So we are getting them custom made, which is really great.
We picked through 1940's style patterns on Simplicity. I was happy to see they has a website since I haven't enjoyed going to Joann Fabrics for some time now. The men's selection of patterns was sad. Why can't men's clothing be as varied as women's? So sad. But I found the pants and blouse I was looking for, for me and a double breasted vest for Totalie so we are in business. We feel the 1940's look is more mature and in keeping with our comedy style.
I was able to get the patterns picked out, but working on my numbers for the shows on January 20th, 27th and 28th has been challenging. My mind wont focus and none of the music is solidifying any ideas. That happens when my brain is like this. It's like trying to hold onto one of these:
My mind is a bit scrambled right now, but I'm fighting my way through because I can't lose momentum on the things I want to work on. First project is an updated look for Totalie and Trulie. I wanted to thrift for the costumes, he wanted them custom made. So we are getting them custom made, which is really great.
We picked through 1940's style patterns on Simplicity. I was happy to see they has a website since I haven't enjoyed going to Joann Fabrics for some time now. The men's selection of patterns was sad. Why can't men's clothing be as varied as women's? So sad. But I found the pants and blouse I was looking for, for me and a double breasted vest for Totalie so we are in business. We feel the 1940's look is more mature and in keeping with our comedy style.
I was able to get the patterns picked out, but working on my numbers for the shows on January 20th, 27th and 28th has been challenging. My mind wont focus and none of the music is solidifying any ideas. That happens when my brain is like this. It's like trying to hold onto one of these:
keeps slipping out of my hands
I still get frustrated with myself when that happens, but I am trying to just let it be. There's nothing I can do to make it stop. It just eventually stops. (then comes back)
Sometimes when I am really down like this, dreaming helps. I think about all the things that I really wish could happen for me. This time around, some friends posted they had a space available for rent and I contacted them about it, only to realize how much I don't have my act together. Instead of letting it stop me, I should get it together-business numbers-projected income-this and that. I really need to crack down on the actual business side of this. The creative side is just so much more interesting though. :) Nothing seems to want to work right now so I have to sit and let it all break.
Monday, January 9, 2017
Talking Underwater.
I've been teaching myself how to use a spindle wheel to turn tissue paper into paper yarn. YouTube tutorials are very helpful. One of the things I have trouble with is patience and I've looked into several ways to cut corners to try and speed up the projects I want to make, but the truth is, some things just take time and I have to be okay with that.
When I am inspired all I want is to see the end project. The ideas are like rushing water and I am afraid they will all get away from me. Even if I write them all down, projects are either inspired or they aren't, and if I go back to an idea, sometimes the inspiration to complete it, is just gone. That's one reason it's so frustrating when "real life" gets in the way.
The more it gets in the way, the more fatalistic I get about everything. The days I can wake up and indulge the muses chattering in my brain are the best days. The rest of the week can be very frustrating and feeds into my downward spiral. Everything starts to seem hopeless. I am not able to enjoy anything because it's all rushed and crammed into whenever I can get to it.
There are many days I wish I had learned to be more selfish so I didn't end up sacrificing the majority of my time on this planet to things that drag me down into the hopeless abyss. Right now I'm about 20,000 leagues under depression. Maybe there's an undiscovered cave full of oxygen down here, like in the book cause I really down feel like swimming back up to the surface right now.
When I am inspired all I want is to see the end project. The ideas are like rushing water and I am afraid they will all get away from me. Even if I write them all down, projects are either inspired or they aren't, and if I go back to an idea, sometimes the inspiration to complete it, is just gone. That's one reason it's so frustrating when "real life" gets in the way.
The more it gets in the way, the more fatalistic I get about everything. The days I can wake up and indulge the muses chattering in my brain are the best days. The rest of the week can be very frustrating and feeds into my downward spiral. Everything starts to seem hopeless. I am not able to enjoy anything because it's all rushed and crammed into whenever I can get to it.
There are many days I wish I had learned to be more selfish so I didn't end up sacrificing the majority of my time on this planet to things that drag me down into the hopeless abyss. Right now I'm about 20,000 leagues under depression. Maybe there's an undiscovered cave full of oxygen down here, like in the book cause I really down feel like swimming back up to the surface right now.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
2016 For Me.
January saw me recovering from my second laparoscopy. I was still in recovery when I forced myself onstage for a Mon Cherie Entertainment Show at the Backstage Bistro. I covered up my glued together puncture wounds with stickers, and had Totalie onstage with me in case I fell over, or gave him the "get me the hell offstage" sign. I was so happy to be in my bed after that, but it was worth it because a few more people became aware of The Trulie Awesome Show.
The Trulie Awesome Show continued it's performances at the Ooh La Las Varietease Show until December of this year, when it was canceled by the producers of The Ooh La Las portion, due to their lack of people in their half. I wasn't happy about all the work we and the Sick World of Dr. Show did, being shoved in the garbage without any discussion (in fact it was put to us that there would be no discussion) but there wasn't anything to be done about it except sit in my room and watch music videos from the 90's until it was time to perform with ElectroCult Circus that night.
I performed at several Mon Cherie Entertainment gigs at the Shrunken Head throughout the year as well. I really enjoyed bringing out new material at these shows. I did a little bit of work with The Sick World of Dr. Show and I performed at a few Bossy Grrl's Shows too so it was a very packed schedule heading into the summer.
February and March I took time to build all of my old costumes, and worked with Taryn Lindsey to record my numbers so I had them for keepsake. It was a ton of work. Building all those costumes and then performing them one after the other was a bigger undertaking than I thought it would be. We got all of the signature numbers down which was good.
In April we did a 24 hour stream (which Totalie forgot to pull off of Twitch so we lost all of that footage dang it!) We had some people on to make crafts for DRAUMA and read stories and play games. It was kind of a mess but most things I do are.
In May I competed in the BurlyPicks Competition and won first place. I was so shocked I won. Really. The entire time waiting for the National Competition portion was just so surreal. I couldn't believe it was happening, and I had no idea what I was doing...which usually I don't, but in this case I felt like I should. That was one of the happiest performance days of my life. DRAUMA was a disaster for me. Most of the costumes fell apart before they hit the stage, and I am pretty sure my models were going to revolt. I got them ready to be onstage at the time we were supposed to be ready, but the show was running behind and we didn't know that. So everyone was making their way up the stairs (which is when things started to break because steps and paper clothing don't mix) about 30 minutes before they had to be. Then they had to stand there and wait. And these were not comfortable things to wear. After this show fell apart on me, I vowed I wouldn't do this to myself or anyone else again. If I do a big show, I have to do it where I can build the items in the venue and not have to transport them. AND NO STAIRS. Button got some good stuff out of DRAUMA though. Someone hired her to make a mask like she made for the show, and she did a photo shoot in some of the costume pieces so at least someone got something out of it! I think I just aged a few years and felt shitty for a few weeks.
June we did Origins which was more fun than the year before. We got to go to more of the panels and we had time to hang out with the other volunteers. We also did the Columbus Arts Fest for two days which was sweaty but really fun. It was a huge stage and the staff was awesome. And Comfest which was hilarious because when Totalie was testing the sound, it was turned all the way up and a giant fart scared everyone at Comfest. Yep that was us. Sorry.
July we did the DooDah Parade which is my favorite parade of the whole year. Up to this point, we had 19 ElectroCult Circus shows under our belt as well.
August was GenCon which was so much fun and full of classes and shows and adventures.
September was the BurlyPicks Nationals. I had a fantastic time in Pittsburgh and I won Most Innovative which was another shock. I didn't even know that was a category. Another happiest day. Plus ECC got to play at The Rex, which I had been trying to make happen for two years. September also started my Heels of Horror Rehearsals so it was a very good September.
October was Performance Art Day and Heels of Horror. Both totally new and unique experiences to me that kind of kicked my butt in a very good way.
November was our last Varietease Show (unbeknownst to us at the time) and my last Girls Gags and Giggles of the year. We also got to do a Creative Mornings event which is like TED talks but oh so early in the morning. We got paid in bananas. I found a blip of us at the event on their website, but they cut out everything I said which I think was something like "There's art and theater and drag and burlesque and music and all kinds of things to do in Columbus" to "and music and all kinds of things to do in Columbus" or something like that. Marking the second time this year I was basically bleeped out. (CD102.5 bleeped out my "suck it" on an ECC song)
December was mostly ElectroCult Circus gigs since our TAS gig was canceled, so the year wound down pretty quickly.
Personally 2016 was a jam packed year with some very cool things happening so, while most people want the year to burn, I was okay with this year. I learned a lot about myself.
The Trulie Awesome Show continued it's performances at the Ooh La Las Varietease Show until December of this year, when it was canceled by the producers of The Ooh La Las portion, due to their lack of people in their half. I wasn't happy about all the work we and the Sick World of Dr. Show did, being shoved in the garbage without any discussion (in fact it was put to us that there would be no discussion) but there wasn't anything to be done about it except sit in my room and watch music videos from the 90's until it was time to perform with ElectroCult Circus that night.
I performed at several Mon Cherie Entertainment gigs at the Shrunken Head throughout the year as well. I really enjoyed bringing out new material at these shows. I did a little bit of work with The Sick World of Dr. Show and I performed at a few Bossy Grrl's Shows too so it was a very packed schedule heading into the summer.
February and March I took time to build all of my old costumes, and worked with Taryn Lindsey to record my numbers so I had them for keepsake. It was a ton of work. Building all those costumes and then performing them one after the other was a bigger undertaking than I thought it would be. We got all of the signature numbers down which was good.
In April we did a 24 hour stream (which Totalie forgot to pull off of Twitch so we lost all of that footage dang it!) We had some people on to make crafts for DRAUMA and read stories and play games. It was kind of a mess but most things I do are.
In May I competed in the BurlyPicks Competition and won first place. I was so shocked I won. Really. The entire time waiting for the National Competition portion was just so surreal. I couldn't believe it was happening, and I had no idea what I was doing...which usually I don't, but in this case I felt like I should. That was one of the happiest performance days of my life. DRAUMA was a disaster for me. Most of the costumes fell apart before they hit the stage, and I am pretty sure my models were going to revolt. I got them ready to be onstage at the time we were supposed to be ready, but the show was running behind and we didn't know that. So everyone was making their way up the stairs (which is when things started to break because steps and paper clothing don't mix) about 30 minutes before they had to be. Then they had to stand there and wait. And these were not comfortable things to wear. After this show fell apart on me, I vowed I wouldn't do this to myself or anyone else again. If I do a big show, I have to do it where I can build the items in the venue and not have to transport them. AND NO STAIRS. Button got some good stuff out of DRAUMA though. Someone hired her to make a mask like she made for the show, and she did a photo shoot in some of the costume pieces so at least someone got something out of it! I think I just aged a few years and felt shitty for a few weeks.
June we did Origins which was more fun than the year before. We got to go to more of the panels and we had time to hang out with the other volunteers. We also did the Columbus Arts Fest for two days which was sweaty but really fun. It was a huge stage and the staff was awesome. And Comfest which was hilarious because when Totalie was testing the sound, it was turned all the way up and a giant fart scared everyone at Comfest. Yep that was us. Sorry.
July we did the DooDah Parade which is my favorite parade of the whole year. Up to this point, we had 19 ElectroCult Circus shows under our belt as well.
August was GenCon which was so much fun and full of classes and shows and adventures.
September was the BurlyPicks Nationals. I had a fantastic time in Pittsburgh and I won Most Innovative which was another shock. I didn't even know that was a category. Another happiest day. Plus ECC got to play at The Rex, which I had been trying to make happen for two years. September also started my Heels of Horror Rehearsals so it was a very good September.
October was Performance Art Day and Heels of Horror. Both totally new and unique experiences to me that kind of kicked my butt in a very good way.
November was our last Varietease Show (unbeknownst to us at the time) and my last Girls Gags and Giggles of the year. We also got to do a Creative Mornings event which is like TED talks but oh so early in the morning. We got paid in bananas. I found a blip of us at the event on their website, but they cut out everything I said which I think was something like "There's art and theater and drag and burlesque and music and all kinds of things to do in Columbus" to "and music and all kinds of things to do in Columbus" or something like that. Marking the second time this year I was basically bleeped out. (CD102.5 bleeped out my "suck it" on an ECC song)
December was mostly ElectroCult Circus gigs since our TAS gig was canceled, so the year wound down pretty quickly.
Personally 2016 was a jam packed year with some very cool things happening so, while most people want the year to burn, I was okay with this year. I learned a lot about myself.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Adventure at the Wex
On Friday December 9th we went to see Dane Terry: Bird In The House at the Wex. Dane used to play keys at 2Co's Cabaret in the Short North and he was back from New York where he is doing very well. The Facebook Event Page said:
"Dane Terry is the millennial Cole Porter. He's got the hooks of Elton John, the jokes of Tom Waits and the heart of Leonard Cohen."—John Cameron Mitchell, creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Somewhere in Ohio, a boy’s bedroom ceiling is slowly falling in on him. Strange lights haunt the sky, living rooms glow with static, men with guns are asking questions. Volton is coming...Volton is here.
Join us for Dane Terry’s return to Columbus as the songs and stories he deftly weaves from the piano bench draw you into “a genre defying, musical spell” (Huffington Post). With his solo music theater work Bird in the House, the Columbus-raised, New York City-based sensation paints surreal scenes of childhood, coming of age, and coming out in Mid-America. Featuring songs from his 2015 release Color Movies (TONK records), Bird in the House premiered in New York at La MaMa in April 2015 and went on to be a highlight of the Public Theater’s prestigious Under the Radar Festival last January. Welcome home this gifted talent Timeout New York calls “the realest deal in town.”
"Dane Terry is the millennial Cole Porter. He's got the hooks of Elton John, the jokes of Tom Waits and the heart of Leonard Cohen."—John Cameron Mitchell, creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Somewhere in Ohio, a boy’s bedroom ceiling is slowly falling in on him. Strange lights haunt the sky, living rooms glow with static, men with guns are asking questions. Volton is coming...Volton is here.
Join us for Dane Terry’s return to Columbus as the songs and stories he deftly weaves from the piano bench draw you into “a genre defying, musical spell” (Huffington Post). With his solo music theater work Bird in the House, the Columbus-raised, New York City-based sensation paints surreal scenes of childhood, coming of age, and coming out in Mid-America. Featuring songs from his 2015 release Color Movies (TONK records), Bird in the House premiered in New York at La MaMa in April 2015 and went on to be a highlight of the Public Theater’s prestigious Under the Radar Festival last January. Welcome home this gifted talent Timeout New York calls “the realest deal in town.”
We walked into the space and the backdrop was a black curtain with one panel of white. There was a piano with an old fashioned television on it that stuttered static. The setting itself was a work of art.
There were several people in the audience that we knew including some more of the old 2Co's staff who are now the band Mad Funk 8. So it was really fun pre and post show to catch up with everyone! We missed saying hi to Dane though, because there was a Q&A for OSU students after. (I wish I had gotten to listen to that too!) It's probably better that we didn't see him, because I would have spewed nonsensical praise all over him and he probably would have wanted to run away from me.
The show itself was very good. So intense and moving. He took simplicity and turned it into a tapestry you could touch and inspect. The storytelling was so rich, and of course his playing and singing were just beautiful. This is his website . His story sticks with you. I love shows that cause discussion days after they've been seen. This was one of those shows.
It's so cool that he went out and pursued his passion! I'm so glad he came back to Columbus to share it with us!
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