| The Great Houdini in a moment of repose, trying to come up with a better name for his current production BING BANG BOOM, a title that is receiving considerable ridicule. Just received this from a party I'll not identify: This is too good to put off to a comment. At the Zing Zang Zoom fiasco last night I was sitting next to a group of people and the teenager told his dad- quote - Ken and Nicole Feld present Flim Flam Flop. Nuff Ced. "That having been said, I plan on rounding up the usual suspects this afternoon and taking them to the Gibsonton Showfolks Circus. Maybe this time I can broker a better deal on concessions." Buckles |
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Master Magician and Illusionist!
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13 comments:
If zing zang zooom is a flop.......well i was just wondering what you defintion of flop? Because the crowds are not showing a flop ! In a "down" economy i might ad
We tried to get tickets to the show last night and only nose bleed seats were available. Wanting to sit closer to the action we elected to try today (Saturday) only to find that upper tier seat were the only option for all three performances. Our only option for decent seats are tomorrow at 5:30.
If ticket sales are an indication the show seems to be a huge success.
We look forward to tomorrow night to make our own opinion.
Buckles, is the show really that bad? You made it clear that the concessions made arena operated concessions seem affordable and I haven't even visitied the RBBB concessions for years as their prices grew to total absurdity.
I was disappointed with Bellobration, the inflatable ring curbs, and those endlessly sliding boxes that belong on an ice show but this really looks even worse. No flying act? The cannon looks interesting - guess landing in airbags on the track somewhere?
There is, in the one photograph, something blatently wrong with the elephant in the box. If it is an inflatable, then at least it is a decent replaca. How do they make the switch between the real and fake elephant?
Jim Steinmeyer, currently the greates living magic historian and illusion creater describes in his book "Vanishing the Elephant" id detail of Harry Houdini's less than stellar elephant vanish which used tapered walls and forced perspective to achieve the effect on a stage. Because the elephant remained in the box, it was only slightly moved to show it to some of the audience as empty. Most simpy had to accept the word of Houdini that the box was empty.
This prop appears to use some drapes to enclose the beast which I can only guess either retract or fall to show the box empty.
The Russian Swing act looks interesting, however. Do the two wheels do anything unique like exchanging places or is it just two wheels working near each other?
Thanks for posting all those photos of the Blue show with the beautiful wardrobe, stellar production value, and 22 elephants.
It will be a while before I can see the show somewhere and I try to be fair. But I remember seeing RBBB growing up, working at Circus World, being on the road with "The Greatest Show on Earth", and as I approach the age of 62, realize that the circus I loved is no more.
Warren
The show was packed tonight. We came up from Sarasota and sat in the upper balcony for 15 bucks. The crowd loved the show. While different from previous editions it was nonetheless impressive.
Concession prices were comparable to theme parks.
Anonymous...
6 years ago I played a Fair in Northern Indiana...The SideShow did a land office Business...Now keep in mind The "Front" was powerful..However, the "inside" was less than desirable...I will never forget a well dressed family of 5 payed their admission..When they exited...The Father walking with his Arms held straight out and his eyes WIDE_OPEN,while muttering "THE POWER OF ADVERTISING,THE POWER OF ADVERTISING!"....Point is, A strong Front-End does not guarantee, A strong Show...
please note: I have NOT seen Zing Zang Zoom..and in No way am I passing Judgement...
I have just move to the US from Europe and was really looking forward to seeing a Ringling show as I had heard how good they were. I love circus in Europe but after reading so many negative responses on here from so called circus fans maybe I wont bother and just stick to what I know and love when I go back home.
So is Circus in America a lost cause?
Some time we should just think about what young people like to see?
Do you think when they go to a shrine show in this age of internet,and every other gadget they own.That they are really impressed when the lighting tech oopps i mean home-less man they picked up at the mission point a 20 year old spot light at the disco ball ?
Or how bout the sound from the 4 speakers that they purchased at 'Ed's gun and pawn'
Lets be real and face the fact that everything has a place in time.If some producers would think out side the box maybe they would enjoy the gates like ken & Nichole!
And maybe this would create new jobs for out of work performers.
Lets cherish the past as it WAS and try as performers past and present to keep it alive.
I am beginning to wonder why people defending the Ken & Nicole offering do so anonymously.
Playing Devil's Advocate might I point out to those who proclaim the inability to get good seats that forty per cent of the seats have been sealed off giving the best illusion of the evening.
In the not too distant past we showed Madison Square Garden for three months now it is 17 days. It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure out that to survive, any business would have to scale down.
It has nothing to do with Boom Boxes.
Is it so awful for people who remember those glory days to grumble a bit?
Just because Ringling's concession prices are comparable to theme parks does not make those prices "reasonable".
Does anyone remember the "old" buildings that were just big industrial masses of steel and concrete with hardly a water fountain. The new buildings have their own concession stands that would rivel the best food courts in those mega-malls.
What pretzel is worth $5.50 PLUS tax?
Remember the 6 big arenas, per the NHL, were:
Montreal, Toronto, Boston, New York, Chicago, Detroit, the original 6 franchises in the NHL.
A 20 oz. soda for $4.75 when WalMart has 2 liter bottles for about a dollar.
A hold-up without a gun.
Grumble a bit!! There is criticism on nearly every photo.
Yes remember the 'Glory Days' but don't put people off going in the 'Today day' making Madison Square Garden 5 days instead of 17.
Circus is seeing the same thing in Europe but at least those that love it seem to support it still even those who remember Billy Smarts when it was run by the Smarts.
Martha
I was wondering about the "No Name PR Team". Normally it is anonymous slams of a person/show, here we have an anonymous defense. It seems the team is basing their rants of greatness on one good spot??? What was the ratio of free/purchased tickets? If I was selling $12.00 floss, I would certainly give away some kids tickets...
Also...
Took my daughter to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler TX yesterday. Two drinks (one in a souvenir lion shaped cup) two hot dogs, and chili cheese fries....14 and some change. 12 bucks for floss is still a rip off.
If Ken & Nicole sold the floss for $3.00 instead of $12.00, they wouldn't be able to keep up making the stuff. The magician hats can't cost them more than a $1.00 each, given the fact that they all come from China (lead paint and all).
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