Sunday, August 12, 2012

The Lull-

We've hit the mid-festival doldrums, awaiting a media review that will hopefully make people aware of the good work that we're doing, and that will bring audiences in droves. The excitement of the opening has worn off, and the inevitable desperation of the final week has yet to descend- the need to consume, experience, immerse ourselves in everything that this place has to offer.

We're going up to the mile today to flyer.  This show is not a flashy one- there is no song and dance number, and without the projection, much of what we do would just seem weird. Our small venue doesn't have a massive media presence, the "company," such as it is, doesn't have a recognizable brand presence to bring people in without us working for it.  And so we do.  People here talk a lot about your pitch line- the words that you fling at a passing festival goer that make them select your postcard from among the thousands that they are bombarded with on a daily basis.  We're left with the question, "what is the two-second synopsis of our show?"

Some highlights have been:  "Nabokov multimedia story theater!"  "World premiere Nabakov adaptation!" "All the way from California to scintillate your senses!", and "here's a shiny postcard with my face on it!"

The point is, it's tough.  But amidst the challenges, glimmers of awesomeness remind us of the other reasons why we're here.

Participating in a community of international art makers is a unique and priceless gift.  The incredible russian dancers of "Mephisto Waltz" aren't coming to LA, nor is the surprisingly touching and magical "Bullet Catch." Even the drek serves a purpose (and there is plenty of that, too.) Each piece serves as a mirror back to us, to our own artmaking, to our own reasons for doing this seemingly futile dance day in and day out.

And that's comforting.  But we'd still like some audience.

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