In spite of the the heat and in spite of a not so fabulous attendance (heat advisory kept folks indoors) we pulled good audiences. We can hold 200-250 in our performance area and we came so close to 100 people per show it was astounding. The shelter has a tin roof and open sides and the higher up you are the hotter it is in there. When Nick and Olivia do the trapeze there are in the center of the Dutch oven. I was crazy hot. In stead of my regular costume, at the second show I wore my Anti Monkey Butt t-shirt....everyone understood.
Did an on phone interview with an Iowa Newspaper. Though we were there last year they wanted to know more about us. It was exciting sharing the new things the kids are doing. I am so proud at how far each of them have developed their skills but even more proud of their showmanship skills. In reality, who cares what the trick or stunt is. As long as it is entertaining. At one point that showmanship had to come into play fast. Victor was presenting his 55 gallon water drum escape and all of a sudden the curtain he performs within (a curtain tube) started moving and shaking and I heard from with in, "ouch, ew, eee., a wasp, a wasp". We dropped the curtain and Victor dashed out and hobbles fast to the back curtain and exited. He had been bitten or stung 4 times by one of those red ugly suckers. The audience understood at once. The wasps and bees were quite irritable because of the heat and several colonies exist in the upper levels of our show shelter. They all will be dead colonies by tomorrow. There was a nurse in the audience and she went back stage and checked him out as did a ride captain. They even brought over a sting kit. The showmanship came in when I had to go and check on Victor Jr so Jim went out and started doing various things to entertain the crowd.
We went on with the rest of the show and by curtain time Victor Jr got a huge ovation when he came out for his applaud.
We have been doing his escape behind the curtain tube because we don't want anyone to learn the secret to picking real locks and handcuffs. Next week we will be removing the curtain after we get approval by local law folks that giving such secrets away doesn't constitute teaching people to break the law.
You all know that the spring skunk has been our show mascot for nearly 20 years. The gags have changed a little but are pretty much the same as they were for years. Well, one thing I say, after shooting the skunk into the audience is to ask an audience member to throw it back up. It's not aerodynamic so it mostly falls short or goes wide. Then I say, "Oh, you must play for (insert local team here)" (For this are it is the Titans.) I said, "...Titans". One little boy, obviously a big Titan fan, yelled, "Hey, No way." I then corrected myself and said, "I mean the Raiders". He then said, "or the Patriots, I hate the Patriots..." Brought down the house.
The heat was so bad we found three dead birds near our shelter. I think they use the upper section as home and were cooked in there. Sad.
We hit the Splash Lagoon today between shows. The little one hit everything in the water park with their friends from the area. I rode an inner tube around the lazy river then rode the wave back in. It was pleasant. They and I had a wonderful time. See, Beech Bend is a great place to come.
On that note there are two shows here. The Dinky Gowen magic show and the Wild West Show. Both I hear are good shows to see. Though to be honest I have only caught a little bit of each due to time constraints. That and, believe it or not, I don't enjoy watching magic shows. I'm sure it is a fine show. They have a lot of complimentary and flattering things in their show. So if you are in the area come out and see it.
I received a new prop table for the show. I had to make a resell order and found the table with my supplier so I ordered one since the kids were upset I kept using a table meant for other purposes. Picture below:
Mami and Titus stay at the hotel on really hot days. We missed them but the heat would have been too rough for Titus.
I praise God for the opportunity to perform here and that with the exception of the wasp stings or bites (Victor is doing fine now) we are all well. I praise God for the kind audiences who have been coming out and that the kids perform so professionally in spite of the heat. I praise God that our show good enough that other acts are willing to copy our ideas, or are inspired by our show. No greater compliment, nor any greater flattery! I am thankful for Mami who has kept us clean and fed. And I thank God for the older kids who have been setting up, tearing down, and homeschooling the kids. I am thankful the park owners are so kind and have adopted us.
heat + bird=dead
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