Fresno Famous

an exact science if there ever was one... um...

I've been told that when it comes to the performance, it's finding something that really hits you and is extrodinary,,, then you learn to get past your own being slayed by it, then you learn it to resonate within you, then you learn to play it for others, then you learn it to present it to the room, -and play it for those who are there,,, causing them to really feel it...

Painting: Kind of the same in a smaller form,, but you go through something, it takes a life of it's own, you really work it and work it, (if it's that sort of piece --some just sort of hit on the first take,) -and then you present it to folks,,, -and they stand around are affected by it,,, and give their impression of what is happening in the work... (which is kind of a protracted conversation at best... it can be sort of lonely, it's not really a conversation, very self indulgent...)

Writing: kind of more of the same, but some stuff is so subjective, you can get different reasons and stories out of something,,, confront the writer regarding the issue, --and find out that such a thing was completely not what they had in mind at all.. (I remember s short piece by Dickey, about a lifeguard who blows a save, and then later goes out and drowns himself... -problem is, according to Dickey, that never happened, the guy never drowns himself, (I still think the author was wrong...)

Counselling: you are working with a hot form, you are responding to what his happening live time, and yet you have to convey to the individual what is critical for them to know at that time, -as well as give them something to chew on, something to have success at, and dispel doubt... possibly performance in it's purest form as you are taking principal and motive (to assist in healing, provide hope,) and making it work right there in the moment, no dry runs, no cliche's, no riffing, no practice,,,

Preaching.. (and this is somewhat controversial,) --you are asking God to speak through you, and have studied the text,,, -even have cross texts, --but are willing to simply go with what is happening in the congregation and share what is laid on your heart two seconds after you open the book, clear your throat, and begin to speak... (This happens in a lot of 'Spirit Lead,' settings...) You really want to be totally out of the picture (as an influence,) and want to be all about the message and the text and the Spirit.

I think with all of the above, you have to really know what you are doing with the medium you are working with,,, be comfortable with it,, and be able to really communicate with it,,, and then just be vulnerable to sharing what is on your heart... You also have to really be able to feel how the room is responding and work with what they are giving you,,, you can lead, (in a way,) but really you are a conduit between they and what is trying to be said...

-nothing can make up for shoddy work, (if you don't know what you are doing, it's gonna get in the way of really communicating, you need to be able to comfortably sell the piece while reading your audience, further, if it's too rehearsed and you don't feel anything anymore, it will smell plastic and stale...)

The second aspect,,, the audience really has to want to feel something, and it has to be attainable for them in some areas, and just high enough that they have to reach and pay attention in others... they already have their expectations, -you won't reach everyone but they have to be hungry and want to play along, otherwise you have to win them over, (again, listen to them.)

I think it's subjective... I remember the last performance of Romeo and Juliette at Wdwrd Park,, the crowd was huge, (perhaps too big, weekend show,) and every pratfall, every fight scene, every physical act on stage was being laughed at, this covered lines, it removed a lot of the depth, -like professional wrestling or something, (I think the fight coordinator made the scenes too long and exaggerated, and didn't realize that folks are well versed in WWF..) -but everyone had a good time..

A great performance was a few nights earlier, when the crowd was smaller, (during the week show,) and felt every emotion of the actors, (and it was understudy night,,, a little choppy, but the actors vulnerability removed that sense of overplaying, even in the fights,) ---folks were really into it, and the crowd gasped, cried, laughed, -things really hooked up and an ancient story came to life...

It's always cool (during performances, regadless of the medium,) to see how people respond to different parts of the same presentation... you have to be ready for it, you have to know how to let it breathe do what it wants.

A good performer/presenter can read and feel their audience and respond accordingly... It's like dancing, body surfing, directing traffic, giving someone a bath, making love, conversing with them...

Finally, if a person has nothing to say that will benefit and challange them they have no business being there... If they aren't willing to listen and respond to the audiences openness and needs, even more so.