Compleat Works Opens
So this weekend marked the opening of (The Reduced) Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s production of The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Two words… Fun… ny…! Go see it!
I had the honor of executing the duties of Sound Design for this production, and this was definitely a lot of fun. I went opening night and decided to take a blanket and a picnic basket so I could engage in the experience as a spectator. I had a very nice moment while waiting for the play to begin…
My recording of Pure Imagination was included in the pre-show music. I hadn’t really thought of including it when the discussion of what to choose first came up, since I didn’t think of it as matching the vibe or mood. It also felt a little cheesy in my mind to throw in something of mine. However the director (thanks, (other) Scott!) asked if I had something of mine to include and after talking about it he was very encouraging.
So I’m there on my blanket relaxing. Eventually my track came on, so I was hearing it in the context of everyone else in the audience. My blanket was next to another blanket with a group of four folks (two couples, it looked like). Since I was still by myself at that moment (my housemates arrived later), I couldn’t help but overhear some of their chat as they enjoyed their picnic and talked about the wine. There was a pause in their conversation, and then one of them said, “This is nice music.”
Although I am always trying to get better at shameless self-promotion, I only briefly toyed with the idea of saying, “You like this?!? This is me!!! I have a download card I can sell you for a dollar!!!!!” Instead I sat, smiled, sipped my beer, and was insufferably pleased with myself in silence.
One of the other things to come to light by attending as a spectator was that I felt like more opening music was needed. I didn’t like the idea that early picnic attendees might have to hear the same track 2 or even 3 times. This is the kind of thing that annoys me when I go to an event. So I compiled another 80 or so minutes of pre-pre show music.
Guess what?
I sneaked my other track in….. I feel so self-indulgently scandalous!
Shhhhhhhhhhhh…. don’t tell anyone!
This Psychoregurgitation™ originally disgorged at scottfarquhar.com. Comment here or there.