|
|
Go to page 1~2~3~4~5~6~7~8~9~10 [Next] | ||||||||||
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Thought it would enlighten if those of us who are working this meat could post their factual stories here !!!
OK I shall open with,,,6 weekends down the road with multiple shows at Moredon Hall for the aristocrats and commoners mixed (Not a good idea !!) Then onto smaller venues where Polish people thought I had steel inserts grafted into my feet,,,then last weekend to Clapham Common London and the Borough of Lambeth >>> Health and saftey closed down the Dodgem Track and evicted them from the site!!! Reason,,such rides attract the wrong type of people !!! Woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of a Firework Display !!! Saw nothing,,,other than twenty plus armed Police Units scurrying around like ferrets,,,,next morning we were told that there was a gang, gun battle taking place,,,two shot (Fireworks haha) So we opened to around 36 general public who had the bottle to come (40,000 attended last year)Closed the show at 1.30pm,,,had 3 kids watching my first show of the day !!!Opposite me an act from the USA http://www.dockdogs.com who worked to themselves !! We lost over £1000 in take,,,,Showbiz. The Zibb made £2 that day,,,gotta be a record in tere somewhere. Still there is always next week ! Ken |
|||||||||
Gemeanii Regular user I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.... 161 Posts |
Ken,
Sounds like a bad break - gotta "take the good with the bad" I suppose is the lesson. Most important, one must be enjoying the trip. I had loads of fun working a haunt last October... Maybe I should post a link to the YouTube Clip... Later, Steve |
|||||||||
ReggieB Regular user Philadelphia, PA, USA 183 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-05-27 16:24, Kondini wrote: great visual:) I have a couple good shows in the short time ive been around that should be good for laughs....word to wise- don't drill air holes in the plastic tub youre carried on stage in.... |
|||||||||
The Village Idiots Elite user Orlando 464 Posts |
I told a big old story then clicked submit. Realizing your looking for Hot Press, I then came back to delete it but couldn't.
Sorry
Some are born idiots.
Some are made idiots. Some have idiocy thrust upon them. |
|||||||||
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Come on 77 visits and no up to the minet stories !!!
Am I the only idiot out there working ? Every show venue has its happening so with 40 venues a season should get plenty of info. OK heres another >>> Couple gigs back Stoke Goldington Steam Rally,,, There was Dr Death of Freak Show fame,,,getting a ticket for loseing his lucky dip Wishing well in the middle lane of the M6,,,, It dropped off his truck >>> He traveled to the next intersection (12 miles) Did a U turn,,, traveled back 16 miles >>> did another U turn back onto the M6,,,got back to where the Dip was (By now placed on the hard shoulder) Re loaded it and off again to the show. The old bill caught up with him at Goldington,,,presented him with an on the spot fine,,,he paid it from his Dip take of the day >>>> As the Police departed,,his very large pet parrot told them to ***K off,,, I thought my knickers would never dry !!! Showtime. Ken |
|||||||||
Josh Peters New user Minneapolis, MN 64 Posts |
Did my first ren faire last weekend with a fellow performer. One of the bits is a rope escape. The audience members tying me up got a little carried away and tied us both together. We made it work with humor and got an excellent crowd reaction but I have some bruises to show for it. Have to have a talk with my partner about safety…
Josh |
|||||||||
dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
WOWO Dr Death - how is he Ken - You seen him since the steam fair I came to see you at?
Has he got his new motor home yet? Courtesy of the police? |
|||||||||
Gemeanii Regular user I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.... 161 Posts |
OK,
So it was for a good cause, and not for the money (sometimes you do it for the art, the practice, or the karma), but I had a great time on Monday evening. My girlfriend’s niece was on the national championship winning team of the Academic Decathlon (Google it). The team was invited to Washington DC to visit the White House and Capitol. They rolled it into a whole 4 day excursion and we invited then to visit us on the farm and have some good old fashioned Southern Maryland fun and hospitality with about 30 – 40 family and friends. As the afternoon wound into evening, the team did a few of their speeches, the sun was getting low and I decided to “challenge their brains” a bit in my own special way. Very bright kids, accepted to major Ivy League schools, their whole lives ahead of them and I’m talking about “limiting beliefs” and how the brain believes something is impossible (because that’s how we’ve been taught) so the brain prevents the body from giving 100% and failure results simply because we believe we can’t. Anyway, I went on to challenge these kids to question anything they think they cannot do and as example did quite a few things they REALLY did think were impossible. I had the pre med girl pull the nail out of my nose – She was cringing all the way… I had the former Eagle Scout do the tying for the Knot Escape Challenge…(I need to talk to his scout master). The shy germ phobic girl who couldn’t watch the balloon going into my nose was carried up and forced to pull it out – A souvenir she didn’t want… The physics student was called upon to examine the integrity of the bed of nails, and the glass – “It appears to be quite normal and as one would expect” … No one wanted to mess with my traps, but one uncle did come up to extricate me to everyone’s’ relief. They really seemed to enjoy fire. They were quite stumped with sword walking, the blades were sharp, and my feet were ugly but unprepared… even worse, unharmed. In the end, they all had a lot of questions and I was left with the very real sense that I had affected each one of them in a disturbing but significantly positive way. Even the chaperone (the superintendent of the county school system) had several questions and indicated her approval of the message I was trying to send. Don’t limit yourself by believing you can’t… “If you thought any of the things you just saw were impossible, what other things in your life do you not attempt because you also believe they cannot be done? – Go and DO!” – In the words of the Jedi master (more or less) “Do, or don’t do – there is no try”. Cheers, Steve |
|||||||||
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
So, summer comes late here, but one of the local halls has an annual rummage sale to help keep the place from falling down. Mainers are a cheap bunch, you can't count on them to toss anything in the hat for a street show, especially if they are there to save a quarter on a wooden spoon. So, it was the Feejee Mermaid Show for me. The forecast was showers, but what the heck. I set my 10' x 10' tent up with The Wonder of 1842 on the inside. Not a bad day, I think some popped in just to get out of the rain. People love the mermaid. No beefs, certainly no shootings, smiles and hugs all around at the end.
The next day (May 18) I ran the Flea Circus as the warm-up act for a magic contest. The magicians weren't counting on a pitch at the end, but people should know by now that when Dr. Wilson shows up, you can expect to have a big smile on your face as you open your wallet. I am the only guy there who made any money. It just never occurred to any of these guys to trim the sheep. Again, no complaints, smiles and happy kids all around. Photos here: http://www.ibmring362.org/reports/RR034.html Do, or do not, there is no try, indeed. Yours, Paul |
|||||||||
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Nice one,,,,love the Flea Circus,,,,have used mine as a come on for the Zibb, try it, it works a treat.
Is that a Noon ? Ken |
|||||||||
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Dear Ken,
I got the Walt Noon DVD, CD, and book set, which served as an inspiration, but this one is completely home-built. More here: http://www.memoryelixir.com/fleacircus/fleacircus.html I love the fleas, but the fans are even better. Please see: http://www.memoryelixir.com/fleacircus/fleaphotos2.html Yours, Paul |
|||||||||
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Got ya,,,,third from the left gets my vote!!!
Nice set up Doc,,,just took delivery of a Martin Duffy Circus,,,fantastic if a little costly!!! Ken |
|||||||||
Gemeanii Regular user I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.... 161 Posts |
Very nice Doc,
I remember digging around your site several months ago when I was thinking aobut getting my own circus. I also got Walts' package. It is nice in a lot of ways, but when (if) I get around to construction there are some things I'll be wanting to do differently as well. Your work looks really first rate and having seens Walts stuff I can see bits of his ideas were part of the genisis for what you've done. I think the tats are totally inspired! Great marketing move! Steve |
|||||||||
abigkahuna/1 Loyal user 274 Posts |
Stories, yeah we got stories....
How about at Yuma County Fair last year. This happened right out the door past Jimbo, who was pitching magic. I was in my grind show with the chupy along the midway and heard the story a bit later... Anyway, there was a calf tied up at the wash rack and a family was picnicing nearby. Billy decided to go over and pet the calf. Nuzzling it behind the ear. The calf was licking him. Mom told him to lay -off and come back and eat. But no, little Billy wanted more of the calf. THe nuzzling and licking continued and before you knew it, Billy dropped his trousers and let the calk have at it... Grandma was reported so say, "Billy, knock it off, you aren't at home." A gasp was released by all eyewitnesses. A true story of the fair... |
|||||||||
heartbreakheathermarie New user The Olde City Sideshow 13 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-05-30 01:14, abigkahuna/1 wrote: You mean to say the calf Ate his Trousers?!! Whoa! That IS a wild story! I hope he wasn't too cold without pants on (blinks with wide-eyed innocence) |
|||||||||
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
OK still nobody working !!
Just had three days at West Park in the centre of Wolverhampton. Day one >>> A little Asian boy around 9 years old was handling the goods while sat on his cycle !!! Bing bango,,,he lifted £65 worth, shuved it down his T shirt and peddaled like the clappers out of hell with me trying to catch him on foot !!! Police reported >>>> Nothing done (Kid too young to prosecute!!!) But as far as Im concerned he was the right age for a thick ear >>>> They know the law better than the grownups and get away with it. Asleep in the van on day 2 >>> 11pm,,,all hell let loose with security running around like blue assed flies,,,,, at the end of the Park a large Gang of Asians were at odds with an equaly large gang of Russians !!! What next! It seems the way things are going over here,,,,showbiz !!! Ken |
|||||||||
gsidhe Inner circle Michigan 1725 Posts |
Ok...This was a rough weekend.
We were doing a festival in Wisconsin, we had three shows a day scheduled plus was doing a little walkaround stuff. First day of the festival, we did our first two shows, the crowds were on the way up and things were looking good. Then the word started to spread- Tornados were spotted about 10 miles away, time to flee the grounds. Everything for the rest of the day was cancelled. Sylver and I threw all of our gear into the trailer, hooked it up and drove back to the hotel where we were staying, figuring that we would be better off away from the waterfront. We parked the stuff outside our hotel window and sat watching the storm come in. Walls of water, high winds and lightning that arced from horizon to horizon. It was an amazing storm...I love this sort of thing. At least I did until our SUV was struck by lightning. Yep. We were watching out the window when lightning came down, forked out and danced over the wet outside of the SUV. It was so loud and so close that Sylver literally fell over from the sound. The same bolt of lightning also hit the hotel and set off all of the fire alarms and damaged some of the rooms on the second floor. I looked out at the truck in disbelief. No way it could have hit the truck...Sylver was insistant. It had struck her vehicle. The storm let up for a bit, so I went out to check things out and hopefully get some food. I looked at the truck...it seemed fine. Not a mark on it. I got in and started it up. EVERY single warning light that the thing had was lit. All of them. I tried to drive it to see what was going on. It would not move more than 2 miles per hour. I got out and looked at the pavement underneath the frame. There were huge black spots in the grey cement where it had been melted into something that resembled volcanic rock. The lightning had traveled around the wet car like a fariday cage and blew itself out into the pavement. My first thought was "Dang. We should have left the trailer at the fairgrounds. We have shows to do tomorrow...Oh yeah...and we need to figure out how to get home." We managed to get a friend to tow the trailer back to the fairgrounds to finish up the weekend. The rest of the shows went really well, we made a lot of people happy and we made it out safe and fairly intact...But the truck... The cars computer is totally fried and they are still trying to figure out what other damage occured. I am back in Michigan with a rental, the truck and half of my show is 330 miles away in Wisconsin. Hopefully they will have it fixed up by next weekend so we can go pick it up for the gigs coming up. All I can think now is "What are the odds?" Gwyd the annoyed but still amused |
|||||||||
crisgal New user 80 Posts |
Hey Gwyd sorry about the truck. It was a crazy weekend up here. The tornado passed very close to my building, it was scary. I thought I lived in the city?
Please let me know when you come to Wisconsin. I would've loved to have seen youguys! Also PM me if there is anything I can do to help, since I'm close to your stuff. much love and better luck, Cris |
|||||||||
gsidhe Inner circle Michigan 1725 Posts |
Thanks Cris!
Where in Wisconsin are you? We were in Port Washington and the tornados that touched down nearest to us were in Beaver Dam. Funny though...My final show last year at this same festival was canceled for the same reason- Tornados. You would think I would get a clue. My trailer is fairly safe for the week, all locked up and tarped. We'll be back up there to pick it up Saturday. Lessee...the next time I will be performing anywhere in the area will be Elgin Il in August. I'll send you details if that is in your traveling range. I wasn't alone at this festival though...There was a Higley Mer there as well. Hairysmoo(Real name Josh-scroll up a few posts) had the perfect Hig set up and we got to chat a little bit. Always nice to meet someone from the Café! Gwyd |
|||||||||
Josh Peters New user Minneapolis, MN 64 Posts |
Gwyd! One of my good friends and co-workers who was at the festival with her two kids asked me if I had heard about the car that had been struck by lightning. I never dreamed it would have been your vehicle.
We ended up in flooded Columbus where we stayed the night, on our way back to the flooded kickapoo valley. What a weekend! Josh |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Believe it or not... » » Post your stories as they happen, here !! (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2~3~4~5~6~7~8~9~10 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.06 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |