The practice that wasn’t

[fbhjr]

The clouds had a weird look to them as we went to practice today.


And, the lake monster seemed to be out as we crossed the lake.


Looks like a boat wake, but no boat… Must be a monster.


It was mostly sunny when we got to the practice area.


The cardinals were out flying around. I’m not sure how a bright red bird in a green woods isn’t caught by hawks, but they manage it.


Sadly, no one else showed up for practice today.

My wife and I had a nice visit with the man who rents us his garage for practice, but eventually decided we should just head home.


As we got on the highway it was clear rain was coming.


But, it was still blue right above us.


When we hit it, there was a LOT of rain.


But, it didn’t last long and by the time we got home it was past.


I am a bit sad no one showed up for practice. It is a bit frustrating when we rent the area, pay the insurance and book the jobs.
But, we don’t make enough money to pay people to perform too, so I can’t blame folks if they have better things to do too.

Comments

[elven-ranger.livejournal.com]

The point I make with the Kings Musketeers:
if you don't practice, you don't get better, and the better you are, the more likely you are to pick up interest and good word of mouth.
Yesterday, to me it was very obvious who had trained heart and soul, and those who had avoided sessions and could only do so much, and missed a couple of critical split second timings on the attempted assassination of the Queen (thank goodness Hayley and Ric thought quickly enough to cover it).
Bearing in mind our lot do get paid. It will vary, by event, but I pay the admin-related costs (rehearsal hall, insurance etc) out of my money at the moment.
No-shows are a fact of showbiz it seems.
Despite people being paid, we still have people who are frantic to be in it, until they have to rehearse. And then they run a mile, I have just fired the guy who was cast as D'Artagnan. He was frantic for the part, and good in an audition. But he doesn't come to any rehearsals, refuses to answer when I do any team roll-call for a booking. I have emailed him (no answer), messaged him on facebook (he saw the messages but didn't answer), tagged him in team discussion convos, to please reply, spoken to him in person (he said he would sort it out, and hasnt), had someone else try and contact him (no reply) so I have tonight fired him.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

We pay for the practice space, the insurance, instructions, basic swords and props and travel expenses.
If there is money left over we pay people.

Back when we had a free place to practice, that happened a lot.
Now that we pay for a practice space, it doesn't happen much.

[elven-ranger.livejournal.com]

Totally understandable I'm afraid. Doing anything needing rehearsal space can be a panic on that score.
How do you go about getting bookings? We find that once we are in touch with one set of event organisers, others come to chat to us, but it starts by approaching fetes, and things like that.
Also have you thought about running interactive kids activities as well, like we have a kids duelling thing with foam swords, and they go nots for it, and we can make a small fortune out of it, I have run it under other themes for the theatre company as well. That could increase income and stuff for you as well.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

We've done "sword lessons" for kids since we started. We don't use foam swords, we let them actually handle the real ones and teach them a short choreographed fight. What we actually teach is very dependent on the child, their age and abilities.
That makes us money at some shows and not others. It really depends on the venue. There are some we can hardly keep up with them and some we hardly sell any.

As for bookings, the best way we've found to book jobs is to do jobs. The library this and next weekend saw us at one of our other shows and gave us a call.
We used to send out demo DVDs to a lot of venues in the area, but after three years of doing that and zero jobs from it, we stopped spending the money on it.

My wife has pretty good contacts with shows and other perfuming groups. So, if she hears about a new show we contact them and see if it is something we can work out.

But, as I said, the best thing is to do shows. The more shows we do, the more people see us and want to hire us.

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

sorry people did not call you guys so you could cancel and do something else.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It happens. Not a big deal.

[meathiel]

Well, people could at least have let you know they wouldn't show up for practice???

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

ah that sucks nobody showed up

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

Those clouds look like the meringue on my pavlova.

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry no one came/called or anything.Would have been nice so that you two could have had the day. Is J and D still doing next weeks show?
That storm moved fast, and hard.
I would definitely say Lake monster.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Jose called as we sat there to say he wasn't coming. So, I can't say no one called.
But, calling as it was supposed to start...

D said he would do it, but hasn't actually hit that "going" button on the Facebook. So, I don't know.
Signed up are you, me, my wife and Blue_micha.
More would be nice...

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

As I said Sat. I will not be able to go due to Linda having surgery Wed.s. I don't know if she will be home by then, or coming home, or what. I am sorry I had to bail. So I really hope more are going to do the show.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I don't know. You're still signed up on Facebook...

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

Huh, I thought I pulled that. I will go check.