Our greatest memories in performance

I thought I might share my greatest performance memories from my time as a performer with you, and i'd like to hear yours.

i started performing 6 years ago, and in that time i have had some experiences that i would not trade for anything.

the first time i spun, i was instantly hooked. i didn't know where it was going to go from there, but i knew i loved the sound of the flames. people liked watching, and that helped, as i have always been a bit of a showoff. getting onstage was a bit if a pain, as there was a group in my area of the Society for Creative Anachronism that was a bit territorial and would do anyting to keep people off the stage if they weren't with them. i started up my Troupe, Fire and Steel, and decided never to blackball anyone who was sober at the time of performance. this led to being respected by other performers. (before this, firedancers were known as a walking egotrip.) the drummers were reluctant to play for firedancers because they never got so much as a thank-you for playing when they didn't have to. this changed for us when i started getting the audience to applaud for them, pass them drinks (if they get drunk, they're not putting the audience in jeopardy... this is not the case if the firedancers get drunk, however.), and inviting them out at the end of the show to take what i considered their rightful bow.

ubbangel

i'll also never forget the times we've passed the hat for people in our area who were recently hospitalized and decimated by bills. we never raised much, not really enough to dent medical bills, but it was enough to get them some extra groceries and things so they could direct more of their financial efforts toward their medical expenses. it's been more and more raised each time as our reputation grew. i am very passionate about this effort when we do it.

once, during a weekend of performing, there were so many children there who were inspired by our shows that they were spinning sticks all day long, and after dark, their parents broke out glowsticks. we invited them out to the stage while we took a break, so during intermission there were 40 or so kids out there with glowsticks. ubblove

it was so adorable, i had a hard time not crying.

during a performance two and a half years ago, i destroyed my left knee eek

. this ended the show early, as you might expect, but it was a weekend where we were raising money for a woman who broke her back. i thought when it happened, "oh, god, i'll have to stop performing... not now..." the extent of the damage: torn ACL, meniscus, and bursa. i started out the next morning in a chair, spinning in my campsite with a baton. i began the day on crutches, and by noon i was up to a cane. by early evening i was able to limp without the cane, and by showtime THAT NIGHT i walked without a limp. i didn't have to perform, but i did. why? because i still felt that the woman needed my help more than i needed to take it easy. i also felt that if i could make it through that night, i would prove to the audience as well as myself that i wasn't done yet. before i go on, let me state that this is not an arrogant statement: i am a bit of a legend in my kingdom, if someone doesn't know me by sight, they know of me, and if not, they've at least heard my name. there are over ten thousand people in my "kingdom" in the SCA, and they all pretty much are aware of me. when i performed that night, it confirmed to the whole kingdom that Frederick the Reckless is a man too stubborn to quit so easily... or so i would like to imagine... ubblol

LOL

then there were the times i invited all the bellydancers out to the stage to help with our grand finale... thirty or so bellydancers of all ages and abilities (don't give me any flack... just realize they are aware of the risks as well as we are... okay? just visualize this.) and there have always been at least a few "smalls," or little children, whom we keep our distance from. our purpose for the bellydancers is to provide light so they can be seen by the audience, so we don't need to be that close. at the end of it all, i introduce the bellydancers one by one to the audience, and the children are grouped together and also introduced... it's priceless to hear 450 people say "Aaaaaaaaawwwww....!"

these are just a few of the many priceless memories i have of being a fire performer, and there are a great many more... and NOT ONE OF THEM IS ONE I WILL EVER TRADE... biggrin

what are some of your greatest moments, people? i am sure that quite a few people here would find this thread fascinating.

i am positive i will.

beerchug

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