The performance of Dancing Barefoot at ACME went well. I guess about 35 people came, and we had a great time together. It was about 40 minutes too long, but luckily for me, (and the audience) I performed for probably the only audience in the world who wouldn’t mind such a long show.
Because I was in Vegas, and then lost my Fat Boy, I never really had a chance to get excited or nervous about the show. It was just a commitment on my calendar that I had to prepare for. It wasn’t until I was driving down Beverly, near Highland, that I got that familiar rush of excited anticipation that comes before I do a show for the first time.
We played with a few different visual styles, but eventually chose to keep the stage very stark: it was just me, a mic stand, and a stool with some water on it. We put a color wash across the back wall that we could change when the stories changed (flickering orange for Inferno, red for flashbacks, and blue the rest of the time), and used spotlights to isolate me. I dressed in all black (if you saw ACME Love Machine, it was the same costume I wore for Untitled Office Sketch Number Nine.) After the show, I got several compliments from people who thought the staging was cool. Honestly? I thought it looked pretty cool, too. Mike and Travis did a great job putting it together.
I read Ready Or Not, Here I Come, followed by We Close Our Eyes, and then Inferno to finish the first act. After a brief intermission, I did most of The Saga Of SpongeBob Vega$Pants (or how i learned to stop worrying and love star trek).
I had a really great time, even though I made some serious gaffes a few times, like introducing Inferno: “This is called Inferno. It’s a love letter to my wife.” Pause. Frown. Look at book. Look at audience. “Wait. No it isn’t.” Pause. Swallow. Sweat. “This is called We Close Our Eyes! It is a love letter to my wife.” Pause. Look at book. Look at audience. Wipe brow. “Thank you for coming to my dress rehearsal.”
Then, when I read Inferno: “This is called Inferno.” Pause. Pause. Pause. “Maybe you’ve heard of it.”
I had a really good time, and I can’t wait to do it again. Travis and I are going to edit the hell out of it, so the second half is closer to 35 or 40 minutes, and the first half is closer to 25 minutes. We figure that Vega$Pants has three main bits: Meeting WFS, totally dying onstage, and going on Star Trek: The Experience. I’m going to take those sections, write some new “bridges” to tie them all together, and the result will be the second act.
I didn’t get the greatest audio, because I ended up going off the mic an awful lot, but we’re definitely going to do this again, and I’ll get good audio from a future performance.
I want to thank everyone who came out to watch the show, especially my Mom and Dad. As I said in the show, if you’re really lucky, maybe one day you will get the opportunity to be heckled by your own father. (It was really funny. You had to be there, I guess.) I know it was much longer than it should have been, and I really appreciate you all staying with me through the whole thing.
Update: There are only a few comments right now, but many readers have asked if a DVD or streaming video from ACME will ever be offered. We’ve thought about taping ACME shows in the past, but with a cast of 10, SAG and Equity rules make that sort of thing not worth the effort. However, since I am the writer and sole performer of this particular show, it’s a lot easier. Streaming is not an option, but a DVD certainly is. I’ll look into the costs, and see what I can do.
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awesome. glad it went so well. i wish i could come see it sometime, if i didn’t live across the country. i guess that’s why you don’t come out here often =[ my friend said her mom works with some conventionish thing and is trying to get you to come but i don’t know anything else. so yeah.
Is there any chance of a Dancing Barefoot DVD for those of us that have no chance to head to the West coast for your shows?
Will,
Heres a suggestion on behalf of all the people outside the states:
How about a live streaming video/audio feed of the ACME stage for plays etc.
ACME could charge a fair subscription fee for it (monthly/yearly or by show etc.)
It would be garunteed to be a success with all legions of adoring (or not adoring as the case may be) fans that you have and I’m sure ACME would buy into any scheme that would widen their audience and bring in extra revenue
What you think?
Noel
Wonderful! So glad it went well. Too bad there is no way my family and I could see it. Any chance of any of this making it on a DVD or anything?
A DVD or something would be a great idea. As much as I’d love to catch one of your shows sometime, it’s a bit difficult since I’m in Jersey, y’know?
I’d love to see a DVD, too. Since I don’t have a job at the moment, a trip out to LaLaLand to see the show live isn’t a possibility.
Glad the show went well. Sounds like a fun time.
I would DEFINITELY be interested in a DVD….
Whatever happened to the “Obey Wil” Cafepress stuff? I always wanted that stuff, and it’s not up anymore…=(
Jeannette
PS I hope you are feeling a bit better….
Some friendly advice from a full time computer nerd and part-time soundman… when you decide you’d like a perfecly mic’d performance, use a ‘Countryman E6’ or the like instead of a hand-held or a lavalier.
There is NO SURGINg of the SOUND AS YOUR TURN your head with an over the ear boom mic.
And they are very small and flesh colored, making them unobtrusive.
Hey Wil,
Glad to hear you had a great show. As for DVD burning, you should perhaps test burn a DVD on a brand new G5 Mac, deciding if it’s worth a later investment. Maybe if a paypal direct ordering page could be put together.
I’d love to see a DVD of you performing your book!
Sign me up, Wil!
A DVD of a DB performance would be super sweet indeed! If you went that route, though, I’d go with a body mic as opposed to the traditional mic. That way, you can walk around, get animated, and thusly bring even more life to your stories. Go for it, Wil!
Sign me up to buy a copy. I’m totally there, since I can’t be out in the LA area to catch a live performance…
I’m glad all is well with the show. Sometimes you get so much going on in your life you forget – that is so normal.
Cool! Thanks for the update. One extra kinda selfish request, if you make a dvd, can you make sure its available in region 2/Region free format too? otherwise it cant be played on Irish/european DVD players.
Must be so cool living in LA, sunny all the time (well in comparison to ireland it is), lots of films been shot in the area, good shows, celebrities everywhere, nice women…. Is there any bad side to LA? I’m not asking to run it down, I’m just intrested as Ireland certainly has its good and bad aspects.
By the way, click on my name to see a cool pic of me at work. (in a laboratory)
Wil, I’ve produced several of my own DVDs, and it isn’t impossible and doesn’t have to cost a ridiculous amount of money. All you need is a G5, some digital video, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, time, patience, and a creative wit. I would imagine the last two you can come by easily. The programs take some time to learn, but the books have really nice tutorials. After that, you can buy blank DVDs for less than $0.30 a piece these days. You can buy printable labels and cases, and you’re done.
I really enjoy the process, but it does take significant time on my part. Email me at [email protected] if you want more info. I’d be happy to give input etc. There are a few short trailers on my website if you’re interested.
Way to go Wil! Glad you were able to enjoy the show. Those of us who can’t attend your performances will await the audio or DVD. :)KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
I really enjoyed the show, Wil. The traffic getting to the show is another matter…somebody in the comments above mine asked what the downside to LA was, and I think it’s the traffic. Anyways, glad you enjoyed the show as much as us audience members did, and I’m looking forward to the audiobook when it comes out.
Hi Wil,
a DVD would be great – especialy for people like
me who live outside the US. What happend to the
“audio book project” of your’s doing JAG ?
a DVD sounds excellent… I hope it works out. sounds like you’ve got some good plans for the next time you do the show, so best luck with it.
If you’ll be able to swing it, here’s one more, “Sweet, I’ll buy a DVD!”
It would’ve been so cool to make it to the reading, and I really hope you’ll do another. We’ll fly down for it next time!
*congrats!*
Considering that the reading you did at Borders in SF was so bitchin’, I would say that a DVD of this show would be a popular item. Your monkeys would dig it!
I would buy the DVD!
Hell, I would edit and master the DVD!
gettng to see you in a show would be awsome. Live-onstage would be my first choice…
(i live on the other side of the country)
but i would happly settel for dvd.
C.
Yay for DVDs. I love them.
Speaking of the beloved Star Wars Episode 3 coming out: I just figured out that I will be in London the day of the London (world) premiere.
Take that, you Star Wars people lining up outside the wrong theatre!
I would personally *love* a dvd of this. I’d buy it straight out.
I was going to recommend a countryman E6. I see someone else already did. Its a good one too – almost invisible, so you don’t have to look like you’re a moonlighting telemarketer.
I’m an audio tech and trust me – it makes mastering a show much easier. Sound levels are steady and constant and you can never go off Mike.
Hey Wil,
I hope you are feeling better!! You and Anne and your family are always in my thoughts! I’m so glad you were able to enjoy yourself at ACME. I agree, a dvd would be awesome! I would give anything to see you in person and watch your great acting. Hopefully I will be part of the audience one day! If I did not live so far away things would be much better! Best wishes to you in all you do!!!
Wil,
The fact that everything went well, is great. The DVD’S would do fine.
FG
Hi, Wil!
I hope you’re feeling better. I’m glad the show went well. But I’m sorry that I miss it. By the time I read about your show, it’s too late. I live in Orange County and would love to see you (again) in your ACME show. (Everytime I see ACME, I pronounce it in my mind as acne, lol!)
I saw you every year in Star Trek Conventions but I’ll be excited to see your other gigs. I finished reading your book “Just A Geek” a couple of weeks ago and I just love it! You rock, man!
Also, I watched “Stand By Me” for the first time last week! You are great in the movie and I’m sure in the future that you’ll proved those fuckheads that just want you to fall WRONG!
All the best of luck and best vibes!
Ting
Yorba Linda, CA (Land of DICK Nixon, yuk! lol!)
I’m moving to L.A. this fall to attend USC (for opera performance) and I have to say I’m completely excited to hear you perform in person (finally). Been reading the blog for almost a year and enjoyed it immensely – always wanted to see the shows, come to the signings, whatever. So yeah, L.A. is a bit scary (all those plastic surgeons!) until I remember that nice guy Wil lives there and he’s not scary at all.
Thanks for making me feel excited to move to the land of the Palm Tree, Wil – preciate it.
Oh, and I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. I’ve been there, and it’s so hard sometimes. Those people who say that it’s “just a cat” really have no fucking clue. So, yeah, here’s some positive energy flyin’ your way.
Oh my goodness –
I had to catch my breath after reading your latest entry. Just reading it made me laugh I can only imagine how those who saw it live reacted.
Certainly an interesting change from the first time I saw you live and in person. Seems like ages ago now but it was only 1989 or 1990 at a Trek Convention in NYC.
You were running late and the Author of a STTNG book (Peter David I think) who had just given Wesley Crusher a nervous break down gave you a kick ass introduction telling those who would wish to boo you to get the F**K out. You arrived, got a standing ovation, drank your soda – I don’t remember what kind just that someone snatched the can and kept it. Then you signed autographs for what seemed like an eternity. Had an escort to the bathroom half way though the signing and you were very gracious the entire evening.
Well, hope you’ll post the dates of your next reading(s). I’d love to get out to LA and see that live.
Take care ~ Ken
Trust me, the people came to see YOU, not some pristine, robot-like performance.
If you had a DVD, you bet my MAME playing butt I’d be in for a copy. With DVD burners so incredibly cheap now, and video cameras that hook to computers being more common than those that don’t, it wouldn’t be that hard.
Until then, throw us a bone with a few still shots of your next performance.
A DVD would be awesome. Unless you’re considering visiting New Zealand soon?
Ahhh, unions. Never even crossed my mind, which is sort of blasphemous for even a lapsed AEA member. Don’t perform for a living anymore, so no need to be current etc.
Would love to see your solo gig on a DVD though. Shouldn’t be expensive at all if you do a single camera sort of thing. And, here’s the best thing for ya, you’d make a decent profit selling it.
Think about it!
It is simply amazing to me to see what you have done with your life. You are inspiration to me on how to handle all of life’s unexpected turns. I wish you continued success in all your ventures.
Since it’s doubtful I’m getting my Canadian butt too far down the coast in the next year or so, I’m in for a DVD too. I’m glad the show was a success!
Just want to let you know that I would also purchase a DVD of the show – and I was there.
If you’d like to be able to make performances available online you should take a look at BitTorrent. It’d make it easy to distribute without consuming a ton of your bandwidth.
A DVD is a great idea. If you are interested, I can help… I have all the necessary software and skills.
Just thought I’d offer.
Demian