So, Jeddah is done and I'm now in Rhiyad. It's been an interesting week, to say the least.
Boundaries have definitely been pushed in what I thought I could do and
what I thought I was capable of and I've seen some cool things and
met somc great people.
The show itself is hard but rewarding. The costume is hot and the head is
uncomfortable, bulky and weighs, well, about as much as a giant fibreglass
cat head would weigh. Fortunately I'm getting further into each show before
I start to feel sick from the physical exertion. There's no slowing, its
all done to a backing track so you have to be on the little cross in time
to get to the next one or else it looks wrong and based on the video I've taken
for reference, "wrong" means "really shit". My memory has had a workout
too, as I said in the last blog. I've basically got the steps in there now
which is good so now it's time to focus on the director's request to really
get the movements big and strong - everything in the costume looks smaller
so steps have to be bigger and arms stretched. There's a real knack and
skill to skins (see glossary) work and I'm only scratching the surface
really. Some of the guys are awesome. In the way that you only understand
how difficult something is when you try it.
Overall though, its incredibly enjoyable. Its a new experience and the
people l'm here with are wall-to-wall brilliant. It's more than enough of a
laugh when we're relaxing to make up for the tough days. The show seems to
be going down really well, we're the stage show which is part of a larger event
for kids with games, stalls, etc. Huge event and by all accounts a fairly
rare thing and a big deal. I've had a blast just walking around and
enjoying how grateful they are, even getting mobbed in the Smurf costume
yesterday couldn't dampen it. Seriously, it was metal. Made doing
walkabouts or photo shoots in the UK look like nothing. It's good though I
suppose, one of the reasons I love this industry is being part of the thing
that makes people happy and giving smiles that wide by just posing for a
photo to me is a wonderful thing.
The last day in Jeddah saw us at a fancy private beach where I got to SCUBA for the
first time since getting my certification in Turkey last spring. Red Sea.
Tropical. Coral. Massive fish. Awesome. Jeddah itself is a pretty cool city. We
managed to find some good local places to eat and have a shisha which is better
than the constant mall-based existence that this part of the world can bring.
So now, a bit more rest and then another crazy few days of shows here in Riyadh.
I'll hopefully manage a post from each city. Anyway, some pics. See Facebook
album here for more :-)
Ax
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