WIP'd

My goodness.  So many new things to report.  Let's make a list.

#1: I have a new teacher.  Another new teacher.  She is Marina, and she also teaches the hoop class, and over the course of two lessons she's thought of a number of clever things for me to do to my act, to make it shinier.  There was some complicated bureaucratic business that meant Gretchen couldn't teach me anymore--which is sad--but she's nice enough to let me continue using her trapeze.  (Another trapezist recently petted this trapeze and exclaimed "it's like riding in a Cadillac!"  Indeed it is; the corners and ropes are covered in hand-sewn leather.  I'm sometimes tempted to curl up and go to sleep on it.)  I feel as though I just need a set of eyes to look at my act and tell me whether or not I look like an idiot.  If it could be the same set of eyes for more than two weeks running, that might be helpful, too.  But I'm secretly pleased to be getting so much good advice from such a variety of teachers.

#2: Last weekend was the second-ever Works In Progress Showing (better known as WIPS), and here is what I showed...

(Thanks to Marsha for filming not just me but everyone else at the WIPS as well.  Her own act, incidentally, blows my mind with its twisty, all-up-in-the-ropes sultriness.)

Compared to last month, the observant viewer will note that there is a fancy new swinging section near the beginning (which means that my act requires an obnoxious number of crash pads) and that I did not do that stupid thing where I slide the wrong way out of the back balance at the end and wind up in crucifix.  (There is also no meat hook at the end, because I've pulled a small muscle in my ribs that hurts all out of proportion to its size whenever I do a meat hook or skin the cat.)

We did the feedback differently: last month, we all sat down on the floor and talked about it until the poor cleaning staff (who were waiting for us to leave so they could go enjoy their Sunday evening) threw us out.  This month, in the interest of time, we all wrote down our feedback and handed it in to the artists afterward.  Little known fact: people say different things in print, especially when their notes are anonymous, then they do when they're having a chat.  Sometimes these things are slightly incoherent (I know it made sense in their heads when they wrote it...).  And some of them don't come out sounding like they meant to, I'm sure.

My personal favorite: "get your hair out of your face."  What are you, my MOM?  (Hi Mom.)

But most of the feedback was fairly predictable: straighten your legs; nice music (how could you not love Zoe Keating?), and good match between the music and the style of the piece.  Nothing earth-shattering, but all useful.  If you, beloved readers, have anything to add, the comments are at your disposal.  The internet is also a fine place for gathering anonymous, semi-coherent feedback.

#3: There's this thing at Circus Center every summer called the Showcase (or the Student Showcase, or the June Showcase).  It's a show for students of Circus Center, as well as for the Youth Circus program.  Audition notices were posted awhile back, informing those interested to turn in a video and application.  It concluded with the enigmatic words "Auditions will be held in mid-April." 

Today, you may note, is the 24th, but if auditions are happening, I haven't been invited.  This is the sort of thing that generates a deal of paranoia--wait, am I the only one who hasn't been contacted for an audition or is everyone else in the same boat?-- and I've had several conversations with my peers this past week, in which we monger each other's rumors.  Have they already picked their performers?  Is there going to be a physical audition or is it just the video?  (Had I thought that the video was all there was, I would definitely have filmed it seven or eight more times to get the best possible version.  But at least the one I turned in is an honest sample.)  Have you heard anything?  No, I haven't heard anything either, and neither has my friend.

To the best of my knowledge-- which, I'll be the first to admit, is not very good--they have not yet chosen their acts.  Cross your fingers for me.

#4: I have hoop video!  I do not have edited hoop video!  Rather than punish you with four thirty-second clips, all of which begin with me frowning at my (brand-spanking new!) video camera as I sort out whether or not it's recording, I will instead spend some quality time with iMovie this weekend and post it next week.  Stay tuned...