Behind The Scenes at Friday’s Event! Shhhhhhhhh…. Magic Is Happening!
Angela & Laura in some VERY sparkly costumes!
Hey peeps! I thought it might be fun to chat about the mayhem and merriment of EVENT DAY by taking you behind the scenes at our latest gig. Join me, won’t you?
12:01 – Angela arrives at the venue to rig.
12:15 – Angela realizes that the ladder provided does not in fact reach the beams she’s supposed to rig off of. LADDER FAIL. She texts me (Laura) to make sure I know to start worrying.
12:45 – Angela performs a miracle and makes it work. I do not want to know how, but I suspect it involved her catapulting herself from the ladder, executing four perfect somersaults, and landing cat-like on the beam above. Cause that’s how she rolls.
1:20 – Angela texts me that the rig is completed and I can stop hyperventilating. Whew, because that was getting tiring.
4:15 – I get on the ferry from lower Manhattan to the venue. It’s ridiculously windy and it’s like “The Perfect Storm” out there on the Hudson. I am a fetching shade of green upon arrival. Place looks amazing (The Liberty House always looks amazing – GORGEOUS venue, check out their site).
Amanda kicks herself in the head. You know, like you do.
5:30 – Company warm up! Amanda the Hula Hoop Artist arrives and does this. She’s a little flexible (and a lot fabulous).
6:30 – Time to start the spackling. We go from zero to drag queen in 30 seconds flat! (hint: glitter is our secret weapon)
7:29 – Exactly one minute before we’re supposed to start, Angela breaks the sink, falls in the toilet, and splits her costume. That’s talent, ya’ll.
7:30 – Duct tape fixes everything. Let the aerial bartending begin!
9:00 – Time for the show! Buckle your seatbelts, folks!
10:00 – All done! Time to raid the dessert table…. Twice…..
And a great time was had by all! Now you know what really happens backstage – glamorous, ain’t it?
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ImaginAerial’s Magnetic Presence
This past Tuesday, we at ImaginAerial had the pleasure of performing at the Metropolitan Pavilion at the 2012 AdAge Digital Conference. Check it out! We had a blast, and hope the attendees did too!
- Angela smiling through a giant wedgie!
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A Birth Story: How a Costume Comes Into the World Part 1
You may laugh, but making a costume is a lot like growing a baby (I speak from experience) – lots of shopping, complaints of “this doesn’t fit my ________!”, and a big sigh of relief when it’s all over. OK, it’s actually nothing like human gestation, but give Mama a little creative leeway! In any case, I hope you’ll join us for this Awesome Three Part Series on how a costume goes from being a twinkle in a costumer’s eye, to a sassy, fabulous, functional cirque-style unitard.
In The Beginning, There Was a Boy… and a Girl
The boy in this story is our AMAZING and super-talented German wheel artist, Chris Delgado. The girl is mahself (Laura), Co-Artistic Director of ImaginAerial and resident costumer. Chris is in need of a new, really dynamic Cirque-style costume for some of our upcoming shows, and I’m just the gal to make it happen! I sew most of the unitards for ImaginAerial – give me some spandex, rhinestones, and a seam ripper and I’ll show you a happy (really sparkly) camper.
At our first meeting, Chris whisked me off to Tahiti for the weekend. OK, not really (my husband just threw a VERY STINKY sock at me – jeez, I can’t get away with anything!). We actually had a chat about his needs as a wheel artist – what has to be covered? Uncovered? Loose or tight? Bedazzled or plain? We then touched on preferences like color, fabrics, and silhouette, and sketched out a design. Next stop? Spandex House, the Mecca for all things stretchy in New York City!
You never know WHAT you'll find at Spandex House! I love this place!!!!!
So, we’ve got a design and $100 worth of red and black spandex – what’s next? CLIFF HANGER! Tune in next time for the Part Two in the series (hint: it involves several fittings, and please believe me when I say you don’t want to miss that).
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Torturing the Younger Generation: ImaginAerial at SETC!
Oh my – Witwer and Jones on the road again! ImaginAerial descended upon Chatanooga, TN a couple of weeks ago as we partnered with Hall & Associates Flying Effects at the Southeastern Theater Conference. We had the pleasure of torturing some very promising young aerialists on aerial hammock and lyra (aerial hoop), while Tracy Nunnally and his team squished their classmates into harnesses and catapulted them into the rafters. A great time was had by all! If you don’t believe me, watch the video….
Budget Negotiations- Shall we Dance?
Here is how the beginning of many requests go… Client: How much does it cost for a show? That question is a little like going to a real estate broker and asking how much it would be for a house. It all depends on what you want (how many acts, performers, time) and how much you are willing to pay for it.
It doesn't have to be like this
The best way to get what you want is tell us up front exactly what you have to spend. This way we can tell our clients exactly what they can get for the amount they have. We want you to be happy. For example, if you tell us your budget is $5,000, we are certainly not going to tell you that you can get one person spinning plates for that. We will see how we many excellent performers we can get you for that money according to your theme and likes. There are ways to get the most bang out of your buck, like doubling up acts. If three performers can do six different acts, you really end up saving. The incremental increase is little compared to the initial cost, and the greater variety you have, the more impressed people are.
We are not used car salesmen and are not interested in upselling you. There is a certain minimum that you have to spend to get anything cirque-style, but beyond that we don’t want to push your financial boundaries. In general, our policy is that we need to get paid adequately for what we do just like catering and the venue (read: no one is trekking to New Jersey for 5
It should really be more like this
hours for $200). There is a base price for each type of act that we cannot go below. If someone offers something that is too cheap, it’s best to be a little wary like with anything else. You might get that car off the lot, but that may be as far as it goes. However, we are not out to gauge anyone. As far as the market goes, we are very reasonable and we try to only charge what is necessary. We will be honest and clear about it all, what we can do and what we can’t. If you want to dance, we can do that to, just not around the budget!
Learning How to be Funny and other Aerial Tricks
"Dead" And yes, I'm holding Laura by her ponytail in this picture!
The aerial world tends to take itself a little seriously, and maybe that’s because it’s so damn physically difficult. We are usually too busy just trying to hang on and force a smile through the pain and exertion. Aerial work definitely always amazes people and has a certain mystique about it, and performers know it. Performers are often either sexy or showy or artsy, but rarely hilarious. Any attempts at comedy tend to be more cute than actually funny.
A couple of years ago, we were on tour and both had the flu and Laura asked what would happen if one of us sort of fell apart in the middle of the act? Then we wondered, what if one of us died? Could the other person make sure that the show will go on? Laura and I decided to give comedy a shot and came up with this piece “Dead”. We had a blast creating it because it was something we’d never done into before. We even got some feedback from our professional clown friends. We discovered how important timing is and how big we have to make gestures in order for them to read. The act has continued to be many people’s favorite because it’s aerial work with a dark twist. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed creating it.
HOT new Aerial Acts for 2012
Last week here at ImaginAerial’s International Headquarters, we discussed what awesomeness we see on the Ground for 2012. This week we want to share with you what gets us excited in the air.
Trio Triangle
Trio Triangle Act
This act is truly different. The apparatus itself is unlike any other you’ll see and it’s not big so what you mainly see is how the acrobats work with one another. It’s also uses only one point so it’s easy to hang anywhere and can be seen from any angle. It never ceases to get a thunderous applause when it finishes. Click here on our promo video to check it out!
Duo Silk
Duo Silk
By now, most of us have probably seen a silk act somewhere. The beautiful flowing fabric is beautiful and evocative. There is a reason this apparatus has become so popular. However, most of the time it’s one performer on one set of silks, but two is better than one! This act is truly unique because two performers intertwine themselves on one set of silks. They also manage to accomplish this without either of them coming down throughout the entire act which is very unusual. This act is so unique that it has been invited around the world from the Krystal Palace in Germany to the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Watch the Act that made our company.
Quadruple Trapeze
Quadruple Trapeze
Although based on the more traditional circus trapeze, this act featuring four performers and a bar with four spaces definitely commands attention. The beautiful part about hiring this act is that you not only get the benefit of having a big group number which will automatically create excitement, but each of the performers can do other acts as well. This means that you truly get more bang for your buck. Aside from possible economic advantages, this act is also a very different type of trapeze act. As with most of the acts it can also be adjusted to suit your particular style. Here you will see it played both in a modern Cirque style manner as well as a sassier vaudevillian way.
Duo Lyra
Duo Lyra
Spinning hoops are another act that is gaining a lot of popularity lately. It’s exciting and easy to hang, but again we can always up the excitement level by another notch simply by adding some partnering. A lyra spins and especially beautiful when our two bendy performers wind around each other and this elegant apparatus.
Duo Cloud Swing
Duo Cloud Swing
Last but definitely not least is The Cloud Swing. A Cloud Swing is basically a single rope set up like a hammock that a performer sometimes swings back and forth on. In this case, it is original because the duo uses two ropes at different heights and weaves them like a cat’s cradle back and forth creating suprising shapes and images. It is part of our Luminarium show which you can see here, worth watching and getting excited about.
ImaginAerial And The Seven Bar Foundation – A Very Sassy Combination
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The Seven Bar Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women around the globe.
Save the world on a g-string, rather than a shoestring. Why not?
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What’s HOT in Ground Acts for 2012
It may be cold outside, but it’s pretty warm at the studio (kind of hot, actually)! What is it, you ask, that has us all a-twitter? Ground acts, ya’ll. Ground acts. Come see the must-have acts for 2012!
German Wheel
German Wheel
What it is: Well, it’s kind of hard to explain – you’d better watch this video. It’s like a human hamster wheel, but way better.
Why we love it: This act is SO dynamic and fun! It engages and energizes an audience like no other performance. With jaw-dropping spirals and incredible acrobatics, the German wheel will knock (roll?) your socks off. Highly recommended!
Acrobatic Pole
Acrobatic Pole
What it is: Yep – this is another one of those video moments. Click here to see this performer on the Ellen Degeneres Show!
Why we love it: Really, what’s not to love? The strength, beauty, and astounding athleticism of this act is just beyond words. He seems to defy gravity itself! Not to be missed.
Juggling
Glow Juggling
What it is: You only think you know what juggling is. Imagine glowing balls and clubs, light up props, and some very sassy performance. Yes, please!
Why we love it: It’s a classic for a reason! Reinvented and amped up for 2012, this act never fails to get rave reviews!
Click here to see this act in action in our latest promo video!
Contortion
- Contortion
What it is: You know what contortion is, I don’t have to explain it. But if you’d like to see some WOW!-inducing bendy-flexiness, check out this link.
Why we love it: Because it’s amazing to see people sit on their own heads! Also fun? The audience’s reaction to watching it! If I did this, they’d have to call an ambulance, so I leave it to the pros. Gorgeous!
Hand To Hand
What it is: If you watch only one video today, please - let it be this one!
Why we love it: Um, hello? Because it’s simply astounding! This act brings the house down every show. The strength and beauty of this act cannot be overstated – it’s absolutely exquisite. AND they’re really easy on the eyes. Just a completely impartial observation.
We’re adding new acts to our company every day as we team up with the best of the best. Give us a ring – we’ll chat!
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ImaginAerial’s Opening Act- How We Met
Everyone loves how-we-met stories because they are often funny and romantic and just a little cheesy. Laura and I are no exception. Even though years later, like many partners we would go through couple’s (business) therapy on national television, that doesn’t tinge our adorable beginnings.
It was one bright eve in an outer borough. Laura and I were both performing solo acts, she on silk and I on rope at a nightclub in Queens that no longer exists. I remember seeing Laura and thought how professional she looked, all cirque-like. I felt like a country mouse next to her glittered up self. We were performing at different times and on opposite sides of the room and people kept thinking we were the same person and calling us by the other’s name. Since then, people have asked us on numerous occasions if we were twins which is a little strange given our height difference. On that night though, our similar looks made things a bit confusing. Laura called me the next day and (as she likes to put it) threatened me,“Join me or die.” I think she was slightly more charming than that, but whatever the method I quickly agreed and we began rehearsals.
Neither of us were totally flush at the time, Laura was about to get married and I was moving out of my ex-fiance’s place, so we struck a deal with the Queen’s nightclub owner. We could use the space for free if we would offer performances for a rather reduced rate. At that point, there weren’t any tall aerial rehearsal spaces (yes, kids it’s true) and it seemed perfect. The only drawback was that it was dark, a little musty and had no heat. Winters then aren’t like winters now. We rehearsed with our coats and hats on and then when we thought we got it right, and were fairly warm, we’d take everything off and run whatever we’d gotten through. It took us the better part of a year, rehearsing two hours a day almost every day to get the act right. We were so psyched but then we couldn’t actually get through the darn thing physically because we hadn’t built the endurance back. It’s so funny to us now because now I know that act so well I’m sure we could do it with having no training or prep at any moment.