When I was in my early 20’s, I was really into performance art. I had recently discovered Andy Kaufman and wanted to perform in shows that weren’t traditional in the sense of what the audience expected.
Because I played in a variety of bands, it wasn’t too hard to book a show in the Syracuse area so I booked one and I’m sure they didn’t expect what they got. When it was time for our band to take the stage, I got in a wheelbarrow and my Dad wheeled me through the audience and dumped me out in front of the stage. He had on a tuxedo and this great American flag bow tie.
Because I played in a variety of bands, it wasn’t too hard to book a show in the Syracuse area so I booked one and I’m sure they didn’t expect what they got. When it was time for our band to take the stage, I got in a wheelbarrow and my Dad wheeled me through the audience and dumped me out in front of the stage. He had on a tuxedo and this great American flag bow tie.
After I got up, I dusted myself off like nothing happened and looked around and could gather that the audience had no clue what was going on but they seemed be be interested. This was a club that was known for jam bands and we weren't going to be playing Grateful Dead and Phish covers so this was a bit of an experiment.
When I got to my feet, my friend Jaime approached the stage in a Syracuse Chiefs uniform pretending to be an athlete and started making fun of me. We made a few jabs at each other and when our encounter was done, I took off my shirt and my pants and underneath I was wearing a dress.
When I got to my feet, my friend Jaime approached the stage in a Syracuse Chiefs uniform pretending to be an athlete and started making fun of me. We made a few jabs at each other and when our encounter was done, I took off my shirt and my pants and underneath I was wearing a dress.
I smeared lipstick all over my face, grabbed a guitar, and a drummer and bassist took the stage and we tore through 5 Nirvana covers as I screamed my heart out in typical Cobain fashion
At the end of our set, my mom, wearing a bathrobe made her way through the audience and she was yelling at me. She was screaming in a stereotypical “mom” fashion about it being late at night and was furious that I wasn’t home and in bed because I had school in the morning.
After she pulled me off the stage, she dragged me through the audience and we left the club. That was the whole show. I don't have a pic of my mom from during the performance but I took this one below before we left for the show.
After she pulled me off the stage, she dragged me through the audience and we left the club. That was the whole show. I don't have a pic of my mom from during the performance but I took this one below before we left for the show.
My mom always embraced these creative impulses and I'm so thankful for that. Although I'm not into performance art in the same way that I used to be, I miss doing things like this with my mom.
As I look back at these memories, I see that it was times like these when we would really bond. She had never taken an improv class in her life but always supported my ideas, made me feel comfortable and we used to have so much fun going back and forth, making it all up as we went along.
As I look back at these memories, I see that it was times like these when we would really bond. She had never taken an improv class in her life but always supported my ideas, made me feel comfortable and we used to have so much fun going back and forth, making it all up as we went along.
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