T:BA:11 DVDs are done

Well, the T:BA:11 DVDs are done. I ran into some difficulty with iDVD in Snow Leopard.. gosh darn thing starting crashing whenever I tried to render a project. Grrrrrr.. So, I decided to fubar my ProTools setup in favor of upgrading to Lion, 10.7.2. Well, it worked out in the end.. I was able to finish the DVDs and I made jewel case inserts for all seven videos.

I'm also in the process of uploading lower resolution versions to PICA's Vimeo account.

In addition to my house manager job at Lincoln Hall this year, I'm proud to have produced these DVDs as well. My only regret from TBA is not catching any of Mike Daisey's piece in-person. I did watch a few hours on the webcast but it would have been different to experience it with everyone else.

Already looking forward to T:BA:12!

Night At The Opera

This past Saturday night, I participated in the Portland Opera's Big Night Gala Concert opening festivities dressed in gigantic balloon-headed character. I was Harpo Marx (center) with my brothers, Groucho and Chico flanking me.

My costume consisted of a customized backpack frame with a hoop welded on top to secure the balloon head. Then, I had an oversized felt trench coat, shirt and tie and white gloves. The top part of the tie was a mesh window that allowed me some visibility out. I also had these black felt cover that went over my shoes, giving my feet a cartoonish appearance. The collar of the coat attached to the metal ring. Harpo also had a bike horn that I used for effect. The top of Harpo's bowler was about 11 feet tall.

We had to be escorted around the front of the Keller and used a lane of traffic to walk to and from the back stage area where we were "assembled". I had lots of people want photos with me and the other Marx Brothers. Although it was later in the day, 6:15-7:00p, it was damn hot in those costumes.. different than being in the Creepy Dream Chefs outfit for Hansel & Gretel since I was outdoors and was allowed drinks of water. By the end, my red Opera Volunteer t-shirt was soaked through.

After changing into dry clothes, I went back to the street fair, grabbed a beer and watch some epic music and singing on the big screen while sitting comfortably at the Keller Fountain. I found my mom and her friend and said hello briefly. The show was really well produced. Following the musical portion of the evening, they screened the Marx Brothers' "Night At The Opera" on the big screen. I hung out with Melissa, Megan, Madelyn and her roommate. 

I hope this event becomes are regular Portland Opera tradition!

The same costumes were worn in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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More pics from the Big Night... Sept, 24, 2011

TBA'11 begins

In 24hrs + 3hrs, TBA'11 kicks off at Washington High School, SE Stark between 12th and 14th.

This year I'm house managing events at Lincoln Hall on the PSU campus. 

The first show is this Friday, Sept. 9th - Shatala Shivalingappa at 6:30pm - it is sure to be a sold-out show. I expect a shit-ton of festival pass-holders and patrons in attendance so I will have to monitor the head count closely so as not to oversell day-of-show ticket.

My next house manager gig is the following weekend. It's Zoe/Juniper at 8:30pm, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Sept 15th, 16th, and 17th.

The Willamette's Top Picks for TBA'11 are found here.

Additionally, I'm videotaping these performances:

Jesse Sugarmann @ WAHS, 9/10 - 3:30pm

Taylor Mac @ WAHS, 9/10 - 8:00pm

David Eckard @ PCPA lobby, 9/11 - 5:00pm

Andrew Dinwiddie @ WAHS, 9/14 - 6:00pm

Anna Gray & Ryan Wilson Paulsen @ WAHS, 10/2 - 1:30pm 

RIP Carl

Last Friday, July 22, my friend passed away. He was only 33. I'm still in shock at the loss. It doesn't seem real.

Carl Goebel (1977-2011)

An email written to my mom on Sunday 7/24th --

"my good friend Carl passed away on Friday morning. he was supposed to meet us that afternoon at Horning's to camp with us at the festival. By late afternoon we were all wondering what was taking him so long to show up but it wasn't that unusual. later Brian ran into a friend of Carl's who'd got the news and he shared it with the rest of us. We were all in shock. it was a struggle to decide what to do... none of us felt like being there. but eventually we reconsidered and decided Carl would have wanted us to stay. I think it was best that all his close friends were together. His ex-girlfriend and close friend Kax (they have a house together) came out to the show on Sat with her brother and sister-in-law. she needed a break from everything and needed to be with Carl's friends. There were lots of hugs throughout, sharing stories, etc. The weekend was good otherwise but not the same. I think we all went to bed early each night except the first (before we knew). I don't know the details about what happened Thurs night/Fri morning but it seems like he'd been having some kind of symptoms and had schedule a dr. appt in early August.

It still hasn't really registered. I'm going to a wake tonight and the memorial service is tomorrow morning at a church downtown."

We are heading down to Bend (adjacent to Tumalo State Park) to Lyle's parents' property to camp for the weekend with all of Carl's close friends and celebrate his life in a place he loved. I'm sure there will be lots of stories, hugs & tears, and bonding.

I'm so glad I got to hang with Carl up in Seattle in April for the Yonder show. This is cliche; we've all become closer (us survivors) but I really really REALLY wish it was under different circumstances. I wasn't as close to Carl as others (though I'm certainly feeling the loss) but I hope to bring comfort to those who are having a harder time accepting this new reality.

From Facebook: "Carl Goebel, until we meet again, my friend..."

More tattoos

Yang Yansi - 楊延嗣

I met with Lisa at Icon Tattoo on Saturday to go over design and elements for my new tattoo on my right arm. I'm going for a 3/4 sleeve.. I'm a little bit nervous to get that much coverage but it'll be great when it's done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4daimTVQXq8
-- I found a Chinese TV mini-series called "The Young Warriors" which features the Yang brothers.

http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Opera/type-14-broken-flower.html
-- I found Yang Yansi is from the opera "Golden Sand Dune".

http://info.teammurphyrealty.com/Portals/21113/images/Great%20Sand%20Dunes-resized-600.jpg
-- I like the idea of setting him outdoors somehow..
-- I like how the mountains are way in the back, the dunes in the
middle... multi-plane. perhaps the Great Wall can be represented
somehow too.

http://www.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/24/content_76690.htm
-- images of other opera characters

Northwest String Summit 2011

NWSS ('Strummit) 2011 is lurking around the corner: July 21-24

I'm so looking forward to this long weekend. I'm really overdue for a vacation: spatially, mentally. The posse keeps growing every year. I can't wait to hang at Horning's Hideout with Brian & Holly, Rob, Abby & Sarah, Kenny, Kyle & Kristen, Zac & Joelle, James, Alex, Nick & Kirsten, David, Josh & Kara, Carl & Kax, Patty and Pat, and more :) !!!

http://www.stringsummit.com/

...

Update - July 18 - I'm getting psyched about next weekend. So much happening at once.. I'm still trying to get out of my old place, trying to unpack and organize my new place and get ready for NWSS'11. It's a crazy summer!

Pinterested?

I started posting random shit over at Pinterest.com - http://pinterest.com/larry_moiola/pins/