Monday, May 15, 2006

A view from the other side!

At last an eMail from a Ken & Nicole employee, a party we know on the Blog as "Anonymous #2."

"I miss the pomp and spectacle as much as anyone and I must admit I don't care for the warm up suits and the clown gags can get a bit long (depends on which show you are seeing).
The show opens strong with Sylvia but unfortunately loses it's momentum from that point.
None the less Mitch Freddes is doing some very classic clowning (he's done it for years) same for Tom Doherty and my apologies but they're pulling "kids" from the audience as participants, not other act members and this is only done once.
But the fact remains the public is enjoying it, they're making noise during those long clown gags and getting into it. They roar when Monica Neves catches the triple, they like the energy of the frisbee dogs and cheer them on and they even stomp the bleachers during the "Jump" number despite it being a rehash from the Blue Show a few years ago.
And on the subject of prices, there was a comment about floss for $10 a pop, well back when we sold cones for $3 or $5 that was also considered outrageous and to quote Rebecca "People will buy for their kids" is there a problem with that? It's a business and businesses need to make money.
OK I've written a book here......my apologies......just had to vent.
Anonymous #2

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are the wrong person to say I begrudge children anything. Any one who knows me would laugh at your statement regarding me and kids. They have nothing to compare circus to. Knowing parents will buy for their kids is no reason to soak them for these treats.

Buckles said...

All this is well and good and as I have mentioned, I have heard that this is the best show of the three. I saw it when it first came out as the Home Town Unit and couldn't sit thru it again under gun point.
Too much conversation and making the artists mingle and even dance with the audience was deplorble, I felt embarrassed for them.
I'm fully aware that the parade has passed me by, nobody can halt progress (tho I'm trying to slow it down a little).
But I have two questions: Is it true that this show has lost money from the day it opened? and Is there a lot of dialogue and audience participation in a Soliel Production?

Anonymous said...

Rebecca,
I believe you misunderstood. I was not saying you begrudge anyone. I used your comment to make the point that people will buy regardless of price.

Anonymous said...

Just show Gold Unit Wed. and Show was well presented, acts first class,and show and performers looked excellant. Yes,concession prices are high. That is what the circus needs to make money.
Cost of arena, police, permits and moving the show is way up.
Yet some think nothing of spending twice as much on circus soiel.
Support the circus and be thankfull we still have them!!

24-HOUR-MAN said...

RE: $10.00 Floss!
Dear "anonymous #2",
People don't buy regardless of the price, they buy because of being put in a position of paying the price or doing without, and the fact they "will buy for their kids", is no excuse. A friend of mine, who happens to be watching this closely used to say, "the two things that move the world, are greed & fear". The greed part makes me sick, the filthy rich business men who are not satisfied with making a profit, they have to bleed everyone dry. I've done some concessions, and know what it's all about, but nothing, "NOTHING!", can justify those prices. Yes businesses have to make money, but when is enough, enough.
BILL STRONG

Anonymous said...

(This is from klsdad. - New York City For some reason when I try to use this name.. the program says the name is already used..! I don't mean to be
anonymous!

Wow.. Audience making noise?? Now I get to give my observation...
I attended opening night
at Madison Square Garden of the Blue Unit as usual.. this year. (I'll give my review at another time.)
Very disappointing.

Previously I had wondered about Cirque de Soliel adding "laugh tracks" during the show. I would notice that there would be "uuuhs..and ahhhs".. and applause.. but noticed the audience wasn't doing it!!

I hadn't noticed that The Garden had surround speakers..but when the "lady-with-the-dog act" came out.. in the second act.. I noticed the dog barkings where coming from around the area during the playing of "Who let the dogs out?"!!! And then.. it struck me.. The show was using a laugh track.. like most TV shows do!!!!!!! I wondered how there could be so much audience "noise".. and now I'm quite sure I know. THEY ADD AN AUDIENCE SOUND TRACK!!!! How long has this been going on?? I always thought that the "ooohs..and ahhhs" during the trapeze catches were coming from fellow audience members. I don'think they are any longer.

As far as prices of programs..and merchandise. A few years back, as I was entering The Garden, I noticed three gentlemen who
where noticibly to me..as Garden officials. I called their attention to the fact that there were no prices on the merchandise.. as required by New York State law. (I've always been very sorry to see a Mom or Dad come up with a kid.. and had to pay a ridiculous price. There are now.. and hope I had something to do about it. I still mention to the program people that they need to have the price on their stands (They still don't)!! I think the programs were $15 this year.

In closing.. I'll mention I had the pleasure of seeing the Universoul Circus in the parking lot of Yankee Stadium last week..and sure enjoyed it!!
Wonderful tent enviounment as you walk in.. Smoke.. Verilite colors around the tent.. Even a lion act opeing the second act. (I,of course, watched the crew bring in and erect the 32 panel aluminum cage for the 4 females, 1 male lion act.).. and enjoyed the 3 elephant display.. (a couple of which they used in the teterboard act to follow!!)
BUT.. I'm quite sure they were augmenting the audience sounds.. with recorded audience sounds.
How long has this been going on?? I don't think it was happening when I saw my first Ringling shows under tent in the 40's!!

Thought of all you great show folks as I was watching the show. I CAN tell you I'm priviledged to be able to read..and see all the history on Mr. Woodcock's great blog.

(Another naive suggestion..as I'll bet there is already one.... How about naming the new elephant "Buckles"!!)

Most sincerely

klsdad

Anonymous said...

Name the new Ringling elephant Buckles??? Great idea, but it would probably go over like a turd in the punchbowl.

Anonymous said...

Clownron..

No.. I meant the one in Canada...

Guess I didn't read correctly..

Sorry..

klsdad

Buckles said...

Ron, I received a couple of the best pictures I ever saw of Bumpsey Anthony today from Don Curtis.
I'll send them out in the next few days.

Anonymous said...

Oh well, I guess I was in the minority when it comes to the fabulous Gold Unit. Y'all can be happy that there's still circuses to go to. If Gold is the new wave, I won't be amongst the ticket buyers. And the price is not the issue. Everything is expensive. Heck, I paid $150 to see Soleil in Vegas (morbid curiosity) and once flew to Zurich to see the opening of Knie. My point in regards to tickets is that the prices were the same as they charged for the big show that used to play the same venue.
By the way, I was trying to get tickets for Tim McGraw in Boston. The ticket seller web sites are getting $700.00 a pop for front row. Tell me there's a recession and people don't have disposable cash!

Anonymous said...

I don't think you would take a six year old child to see Tim Mcgraw [?] The circus is for kids of all ages. A stage show is something else. As Buckles says I would not pay $ 200 to see the last supper with the original cast. These people who do probable use their charge cards and take months to pay it off. NO show is worth that.

Buckles said...

I once paid $100 when we were at Lincoln Center with Big Apple to buy my wife a ticket to see Julio Inglassia on her birthday and thought I had done something big.

Buckles said...

When I saw the Ringling Show in 1948 it was almost 3 ring displays from beginning to end and had maybe 12 announcements at most, with things like "And now! The man who has accomplished the impossible by balancing his entire weight on his fore finger. The Great Unus!" Brief and to the point, people would even shush children so they could hear what was being said.
The last time I saw the show it was like someone had left on an electric appliance in the background and you gradually become oblivious to it.
No doubt that after intermission the announcement could have been "Brittney Spears will now remove her clothing in the center ring" and no one would have paid any attention, having been announced into submission.
The most unique announcement I ever heard was for the Besalou elephants with Polack Bros. Circus and came after the elephants had left the ring "Ladies and gentlemen, bear in mind that six months ago these elephants were running wild in the jungles of India and today the finest animal act in circus History.
Trained and presented by Mac and Peggy MacDonald!".

Anonymous said...

You don't have to go back as far as 1948. I wasn't around then, but even in the arena era, under Irving there were some fantastic years.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bob Cline said...

Exactly how does calling Buckles a vulgar name hope to accomplish anything on Beth's part? If you have an opinion, it's always a good idea to have some facts behind it.
Quite simply if you were the one shoveling manure 7 days a week, and worrying about the animals in your care, most of your very own questions would be answered by yourself. Experience is a wonderful teacher. You should really try it sometime.
Bob

Anonymous said...

You guys have got to stop answering her. She's a lonely, unlikeable child whose only chance in life to get any attention is to post remarks in order to get a response. She's to be pitied and deleted, but not encouraged.

Anonymous said...

AMEN!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.