Lately, Ive been feeling shitty in reference to me performing. I’m almost used to it, but I don’t want to be used to it. I often question why I bother doing what I do, I wonder if moving to another city might perhaps aid in my emotional malaise. The past couple shows I had done left me feeling strange and unsure and I was wondering whats wrong with me since everyone else appears to be jazzed after their performances where as I often want to disappear for a few days.
Well…I have noticed various people on my Facebook mention Yard Dogs Roadshow. Enough people mentioned them that I became curious as to what they were about myself. Then it came to my attention that they were to be performing in Baltimore, so I figured that I ought to go. Even if I didn’t know anyone who would be going, I was going to attend.
The morning before the show (Sept 23), I received an email from The Ottobar. I was asked if I could perform! My very first answer was “no” because I didn’t have a routine that quite matched their style and clearly no time to come up with something new. I was annoyed I wasn’t asked earlier to give myself time for a new routine. But then I got to thinking, I don’t have to do a new routine for every show, and I figured it was time to do “Pachinko” again so I emailed Ottobar and said that I would do it.
And I then began trying to remember the routine while sitting at work, since I hadn’t done it since the Bootcamp show on May 1st. At home I took the costume pieces out of their bag in the basement and let them air out, all those rice grain pillows…its been a while.
Unfortunately on the Friday of the show it was another really hot day here in Baltimore…truly the dog days of summer are late September with a few 90 degree days sneak in. I got to The Ottobar early to be able to do a quick run through of my routine on stage with all of the Yard Dog stuff there. Well as soon as I walked in to the air conditioned Ottobar, my mouth was agape in the fabulousness that filled the small stage. I saw a whole bunch of instruments on stage, fabric paintings draped up and they even brought their own red velvet curtain. I already knew I was in for a great night!
As I made my way to the “backstage” area, I was a bit little nervous. I was hoping that I wouldn’t get a weird feeling/vibe, especially since I’m a last minute addition to the show. But of course, almost as soon as I walked in, I felt most welcomed by them all!!!
I quickly changed into my sushi costume to do a run through with everything on the stage, and all that stuff really wasn’t a problem for me. After that, I waited around, petted the show chicken (how awesome, they have a show chicken!) and prepared for the show. I wanted to get myself ready to get out of the way of the other women in the show. Taking a few peeks out to the crowd, I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t as packed as I wanted it to be…not for me as a performer but for the Yard Dogs.
Time went by really quickly, and before I knew it someone shouted that they were going to start in 5 minutes and I was still sticking my sushi rice pillows to my dress! I was still sweating, I had to put my wig on, I quickly safety pinned my little hat to my wig, and I was putting my gloves on as I walked down to the stage, and Molotov the bull whipper was just finishing up. I did not see any of his act, since they had the velvet curtain up, but I was able to hear the whip cracks and that was cool enough for me.
So I was announced, and I went up there and did my silly sushi thing. And then I was done! Didn’t really matter to me how the performance was going to go, or how it went, I was just really happy to be there and to finally feel good. When I was done, I was still sweating, and ran back upstairs to put on a tank top, and then ran back downstairs on stage to pick up my rice with a little help form a couple people. I really wanted to get everything off stage quickly to get out of the Yard Dogs’ way. I then went back upstairs and changed into a dress to then go back out to watch the Yard Dogs Road Show’s show.
Still sweating, wearing my wig since my hair was just not working for me in the heat and sweat, I went up to the upper seating area because I knew the AC was strong up there. A really nice couple recognized me as having just performed and moved aside to give me a place to sit for the show..they were so sweet.
And I sat and watched the show, and I fell totally in love with the Yard Dogs Road Show! I mean, its a little hard to explain just how amazing everything was. Its like all these visions and ideas and styles that I have in my head, I saw on that stage…it was perfect. I watched the entire show with a huge smile on my face.
Their style, their sound (a trombone and an accordion…sexy!) all the talent they have, the costumes on the dancers, and a magic guy as well…perfect! They are so tight and so talented as performers, I was so impressed. They threw confetti to the crowd, they have a chicken, smoke machine fog, crystals on costumes… I wanna run away and join the Yard Dogs Road Show!!!!
After the show, I stuck around talking to people, I got a couple of their CDs, and even had them sign a poster for me. I hung out until they had to break down all their equipment.
I am so grateful for the Ottobar for giving me this opportunity, and I am in love with the Yard Dogs Road Show, for they are so nice and so talented, and they all kind of helped me feel a little bit better.
