Wednesday 6th December, 2023
If I don’t do this now, I won’t do this. So I’m doing it!
Hey. Hi. Hello. What a lovely & weird week it’s been. Through the Boost circus course, I’ve been giving interviews for the newspaper, riding a clown bike on national television, & chatting to my favourite childhood media figures on the radio. Not only that, but I’ve been singing with my tongue full out of my mouth, while doing chin ups, & while burning the heck out of my thighs. Without full context anything can sound crazy… & yet all of this is true. Being an artist is an odd journey… but hey, that’s what we’re all here for right?
Only a few days now, before I make my way to the stage, to perform my debut circus routine, & become Ireland’s first ever singing aerialist. I love getting minute & digging in my heels as the ‘first’ Irish anything. I made Irelands first ever circus musical film after all. Now I’m becoming the only artist to combine the oddly niche skills of aerial & singing. (in Ireland at least)
In preparation for this weekend, on Monday I ran through my performance about 7 times with the wonderful Monika Palova guiding & nudging me in different directions. I tried to tire myself out with a skipping rope in between runs… If I can apply intense pressure during rehearsals, I’ll have absolutely no issue on the night. Or at least I’ll be able to mitigate the issues that come about from the chaotic nature of live performing. The primary issue I’m facing is that of equipment & costume. Not only do I have to sew my shirt to my underwear so that it won’t slip over my head when I’m upside down, but I’ll need to sew my vocal transmitter & in ear monitor pack to my body.
Tomorrow I’ll be in my usual aerial studio with my whole get up, trying out my performance again, & again, & again, until I’m 100% confident in my equipment not breaking apart or ripping my skin open, etc… My excitement is getting the better of me at times. I can’t wait to perform on Sunday… but if I give in to this excitement, & let it take me over… I’ll rush through the performance. Tomorrow on the rope I’m gonna tale it slow & enjoy the heck out of each second in my routine! (maybe I’ll sing quietly though… if I go too loud I’ll interrupt everyone’s class.) :P
It’s gonna be strange leaving this course… I’ll need to keep training sure, but it’ll be nice to regain my ability to stay awake when I want. I’m on the way home now, & I know that I’m just gonna collapse in the door. I’m barely able to write this on the bus… hopefully I don’t sleep past my stop!
I’ll be back next week, triumphant & reflective.
Hope that I break a leg.
Nathan
