Shotgun Red Taping Nashville

Today is the day we have been driving and flying cross-country for. We got to the General Jackson River Boat where the Shotgun Red Variety Show is taped. This is season 2 and we are one of seventy-two acts chosen out of 2000 acts that were considered. The Jackson is located just around the corner from the Grand Ole Opry. 

We arrived just before 8am (and remember we are all on California time).  We had to carry all the props you see on the stage in the pictures below from the van to the boat down the really long gang plank.  Miles was limited to holding doors open for us since he injured his foot at youth group last Sunday.  He has been on crutches but on stage he toughed it out and did a splendid job. 

I was surprised how small the stage was because on TV it looked a lot bigger. It's amazing how TV can do that.  

We had to five minutes to do our piece then 2 minutes to do an interview, thirty seconds for a commercial lead in and then we did a bit more at the final bow. 

Here is what we did....Intro-I ate fire and lit my tongue on fire. Used the fire to light a fire in a cage then covered the cage and made Amelia. Olivia and Belle Appear.  Victor and the girls laid down between Belle's platforms. Belle jumped over the three of them through the three hoops they held.  Victor climbed onto the tightrope and walked most of the way across and turned around mid-stride then walked more than half the way backwards to the other side.   Olivia came out and made Buttercup appear (the snake). Then Miles whipped an item out of my hand and mouth.  Next Olivia climbed a pole and Jim balanced her on his chin.   Then Miles came out and laid on the bed of nails. Jim stood on him juggling Machetes.  I then broke a brick on his stomach while on the nails.  That ended part 1.   For the commercial lead in we had Miles whip an item from the Sheila, the co-host's mouth while Jim balanced the giant bottle of Anti Monkey Butt Powder on his chin.   At the close I hammered a nail into my nose as Miles did lasso tricks and Jim continued to balance the big bottle. 

The host, a puppet named Shotgun Red, really respected our wishes to promote AMBP and talked a lot about them.  We even gave free samples to the audience. 

The funniest thing was right after we did our first part Belle disappeared some place.  Since things are taped out of sequence it was alright because we didn't need her but it became a big running gag as to where is Belle. The ship crew, musicians, camera crew, stage hands, performers and us all went on a search as we simultaneously cleared the stage for the next act.   She ended up being under the musician stage risers.  Seemed she was spooked by the live band and especially the drums. 

All the pictures here are about an hour before the show since it got real busy from that point on. 

Everyone did a great job. I envy singers since all they have to do is show up. Being a prop heavy show had us the first people there and the last to leave.   Since we were deprived lunch we grabbed some yummy pizza on the way back to the hotel.  Tomorrow Vic and I will start the trek home and the rest will fly home.