Walk-around ideas (special addition)

[Jolly Well]

The weekend of December 21, I'm going to be stiltwalking (as Abe Lincoln) for the promotion of National Treasure. Struggling with walk-around ideas as the atmosphere will change thoughout the evening.

During the earlier shows, I'm planning on doing some quick balloons and/or magic - as there will likely be a younger audience around then. Later te crowds get more adult - plus - some local historical groups may be coming as well (sons & daughters of confederacy, and their union counterparts, etc). So... I want to be respectful, as some of them take their outtings really seriously; but still be entertaining and give theater patrons their money's worth.

So far, Im thinking of doing some american flag silk tricks (vanishes, blendo, etc). I'm also going to be helping with a history trivia game, and saw a post somewhere about using a change bag - something along the lines of an adult v/s child in a trivia game; and making sue the adults get the near impossible questions via use of the change bag. At this point I'll take any "historical" ideas...

Other than those few gags, and some patter I'm working out - I'm coming up empty. Walk-around will 5 or so hours on Friday, and virtually all day saturday with breaks coming when patrons are in the actual movie - so it's going to be alot of time for entertainment.

So.... any suggestions?

[Nettie Belle]

One thing I saw in competition this year that I thought was really cute ... clown came out with a frisbee that said "round tuit". She said she couldn't wait to give it to her husband because when she asks him for favors he says when he gets a round tuit. And NOW, he will soon have his very own "ROUND TUIT" and all the chores she's asked him to do will soon be completed. You might want to say you were giving it to your wife instead of your husband ... just my guess.

[Fitzwilly]

Well, you might be rather vain and check to make sure that each of the patrons has your picture (a penny or a $5 bill) If is is a bill offer to autograph.

[Jolly Well]

Thanks for the ideas posted thus far!

I really like the money idea Fitzwilly, that one is in for sure...

Maybe work it into a 6 dollar repeat occassionally as well.

Keep 'em coming!

[Snugglesnort]

You could wander around with a loooong peice of parchment and a "quill" pen (read big feather) and try and loudly write the gettysburg adress. Use lots of puns, and malaprops, and keep correcting yourself or say absurd things and going "wait thats not write" thorw in commercials and sponserships in the middle of it and so on and on and on.

The problem you are going to run into is whether to be Abe Lincoln or a clown disguised as Abe Lincoln. If the second, then just have alot of fun and be silly with it. You could make up little known facts from my life, about a pet arrdvark, or your incredible ping-pong skills.

[Jolly Well]

pretty funny stuff - I'll probably use it for the matinee shows when the kids are around. Thanks!

[Fitzwilly]

Are there any references to the first movie that you could make that true fans would only understand?

[Jolly Well]

I'll rent it this weekend, it's been a while since I've seen it.

So far I have:

Penny/$5 Bill patter
Parchment patter
Going to pre-make balloon stove pipe top hats to give out
Going to pre-make balloon masonic pyramid hats to give out.
Patter about my experience at the Ford Theater
Balloon Eagles - maybe a giant balloon dollar bill with eagle and pyramid; maybe a giant 5 too
Balloon liberty set (crown and torch with glow sticks inside)
--- more to come later --- hopefully!

~ so not all of it has to do with Lincoln area; most of the balloon stuffs are going to be for kids who either don't care, or don't know about Honest Abe - maybe they'll at least get an inkling of a history lesson - I hope so!

Thanks for the ideas thus far.

[Fitzwilly]

Tell people you hope you are at the right theatre, you really didn't want to get directions. This is Ford's theatre isn't it?

[Miss Petunia]

Fitzy, I think Jolly Well wants to "kill" at the theater, not be killed.

(that was bad, wasn't it, sorry)
Carrie