GenCon, Day 3

[filkertom]

(This may end up being a duplicate entry. DreamWidth is being funky re: crossposting, so I just manually posted this.)

Much shorter report, except for the end.

Saturday. Up and at 'em. Hah. I was already dragging before I left the hotel room.

Very nice morning, though. People came by, a few bought stuff. At 1:00, I went for my first busking run. Didn't do a lot; it was loud, hot, and loud. Came back for 2:15 to do a bit in the Entertainment Spotlight, which went over pretty well -- I kept hooking people with one line or another. Several LJ friends came by, and if you held a gun to my head I couldn't tell you who.

The day progressed, kinda. Things blur. marcgunn, lukeski and I planned a little strategy: their sets were right up against each other, but I'd stick my head into each and we'd see if we could [a] get a larger combined audience and [b] get some cred for the notion of having a larger comedy concert next year.

At 6:00 p.m., I was supposed to busk some more. I admit that I did not, not for more than five minutes. No one was listening; the exhibit hall had just closed, and everyone out in the hall was either watching something else or heading for dinner. I went back to the room and ordered a pizza, and tried to get a bit of a nap.

At 9:00, I headed over to the Marriott. Luke's room was rockin'. So was Marc's, although it was rather smaller than Luke's... and this was where I was supposed to go. You'll recall that Thursday I got moved to Ballroom E, which was rather larger. At 10:00, I Hamelin'd everybody over there, and we had around a hundred, hundred and ten people. Fun.

About four songs in, some guy from the con came in, very apologetic, but pointing out that NASCRAG was going to have an awards ceremony at 11:00. And they were showing up to set up the room.

I kept playing, we kept shticking, it was very silly. The con guy was going for an all-or-nothing solution, but one of the NASCRAG people pointed out that they had to set up for their ceremony anyway, so we could keep going. And I said, excellent, give me a ten-minute warning, five minutes for the last song and five more to get out of the room. And we thanked them profusely and kept on.

About the time they were setting up the projector, someone yelled out, "Blue Screen of Death". So I started doing that one, and immediately an upside-down DOS screen appeared behind me. Which was great for a laugh, but not as good as when the NASCRAG people started listening to my lyrics, and began falling down laughing, and even shticking around in the b.g.

It got wilder, and crazier, and the crowd was red-hot, incredible bunch, and I was on baybeh, and Marc and Luke and dement1a sat in the back by the door, and Luke came up to help with "Cthulhu Fthagn", and it just kept building and building and at about 11:15 they gave us the five-minute high sign which you'll recall was actually ten minutes and so I did "307 Ale" and "Rocket Ride" and got a standing O, and we thanked NASCRAG again for their grace and accommodation and they thanked us for the music, and it worked out great for everyone. Again, one of the most fun sets I've played in a hell of a long time, but with a different dynamic because of the much larger audience. This is why I love doing this.

And I meandered back to the hotel, escorted by a couple of LJers, and pretty much fell over.

If any of you guys want to identify yourselves, I'd appreciate it. I literally am drawing blanks, I was so damn tired.

Comments

[isolde-deely.livejournal.com]

We were keeping an eye on you.

I liked that you also had us sing "Somewhere over the Rainbow" as well :)

I like to sing (go figure) and you make it so easy to have a good time and we all loved it. The Nascrag people were really nice as well

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

It just suddenly seemed a thing. I love singing that song.

[bald-ruminant.livejournal.com]

My pal Joe and I were in the second row for that set. Heck of a good show.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Indeed you were, and indeed it was. :)

[madmanotl.livejournal.com]

That was a great set you had on Saturday night. I'm glad I was there to see it.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you were there too, Ken, and I'm sorry I didn't mention you up above.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__kat__/]

I'm so happy that I knew where your second concert was so I could go. It was a blast! I'm still a bit peeved I couldn't figure out where your first concert was.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

You and a bunch of other people. We'll try to fix that up for next year. And thanks again for all the help at the table -- Marc and I both appreciate it a lot.

[wingus.livejournal.com]

Oh man, that sounds like an awesome little jury-rig. Nice, wish I could've seen it. :D

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

And I wish I had recorded it. Still, nice memories.

[lizard-sf.livejournal.com]

I was there, along with spouse.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

And I'm sure you came up and said Hi, but brain go splodey. :)

[lizard-sf.livejournal.com]

Didn't really speak to you at the concert (spouse was hitting end of energy + reacting to this week's roll on the random Psych Med Table, wheee!), but I stopped by your booth in the Dealer's Room a few times. I was the fat guy with a pony tail wearing a black T-shirt. :) (I bought your new FUMP CD and asked about the Chaos Filk I'd bought a seemingly-useless ticket for, like I bought one for Mark Gunn... well, buying tickets tells the con people how many people want to go to events, so, if it leads to more Filk, it's 2 bucks well spent.)

[roman-mclaze.livejournal.com]

Fantastic show!

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Many thanks, and thanks for being part of it!

[batyatoon]

HI ROMAN :D :D :D

[ldyerzsie.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend and I were there. It was our first time seeing you live and it was an absolute blast. I think that was the most fun I had at GenCon. You ROCK!

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, and I'm glad you had a great time!

[aylinn.livejournal.com]

hey, tom?

Out of weird curiousity, did you get a program book for GenCon? and if so, do you still have it?

If so, could you check something for me? Rumor has it that they advertised events by Mystic Station Designs (us) that we actually ran several years ago.

I'd like to confirm that because if they did, that means they charged for them and if anybody paid money, I want to know about it. Especially since we weren't there and told GenCon we weren't going to be there several times.

Thanks!

[beldar.livejournal.com]

the_dark_snack and I were there both concerts and stopped by the table a few times. Really glad to see you (and hear you, as I'm usually too busy working at InCon to hear you there) -- well worth my two bucks. =D

Q about busking etiquette

[mnenyver.livejournal.com]

I have a general question... I'll sometimes pass a really good busker or some type of street/hallway performance and have the urge to stop and listen, but can't because I'm rushing off somewhere or just really focused on doing... whatever it is I'm doing. (Yes, a bad habit, I realize.)

So as a performer, is it better when someone stops and listens for a minute or so or just hurries on by? Somehow, someone stopping to listen and then leaving shortly after seems somehow worse than the second option. It seems to imply some sort of flaw in the performance.

Also, did you ever see this old link? Joshua Bell plays in the DC Metro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myq8upzJDJc). The associated article is interesting. The only people who really stopped to listen were a child, a woman who knew who he was, and a man who had played the violin himself. I'm not sure it's a condemnation of people's tastes so much as it is a statement on how presentation affects perceived value.

[dwimmerlaik.livejournal.com]

Oh man, nothing quite like that 3rd day of a con exhaustion, is there? Except maybe the 4th day. ;)

[eyezofwolf.livejournal.com]

That was a wonderful concert. It was the first time I've had a chance to see you perform live and it blew my expectations away (I've been listening to your music for a while now). You were definitely on. thanks for a great show!