lots to catch up on writing… but i’ll start with last thursday (25).
yes, it was thanksgiving but no one here cares about that.
we went to see bebel gilberto at the forum theatre. when i went to book it, it was giving a seating assignment but everyone i talked to said it would be general admission.
the bldg is very cool. built 1929, gothic. the roof is painted dark blue with lighting that made me feel like i was at epcot taking that ‘boat ride’ thru the mexican city. i wish i would have brought my camera.
it turned out there really were seats. the big dance floor had chairs. there were also tables with chairs. and our seats were in a booth. nope, not a booth like opera or where lincoln was shot. picture one of those big booths at dennys, village inn, bob’s big boy, etc where u can fit like 10 people. when we walked over the people in the booth got up to let us in (ie caged in btwn all these people w a table in front so u couldnt even stand up). instead we went to the bar. where i complained to one of the bartenders who said he had never seen the place set up like this. great.
there were also bars on either side of the venue. picture a room a little bigger than irving plaza but with a bar on both sides near the front. we stood by one of those bars. looking around there was 1 couple on the other side standing & slightly swaying. there were a few guys standing at our bar – perfectly still. great. how in the world was i going to manage to get people to rush the stage & dance when no one was even moving??
finally this 1 girl got out of her seat & stood about 5 ft away from me & danced. so that made 2 of us.
about 3-4 songs in, bebel encouraged people to get up & dance. even to (shudder) come up front. excellent. now i wouldnt be escorted out by security when i went up there. the girl dancing near by said she wouldn’t come up with me (i didnt want to be the only one). great. but then a couple got up & i went up with them. during that song maybe 4 more people came up. but then more & more til the whole area was packed by the end of the show. by the end i has almost leaning on the stage b/c it had gotten that crowded.
interesting crowd dynamics. i was v surprised the aussie crowd didnt get up right away. my past experiences have been they’d dance & sing but i guess they need a big of encouragement. and maybe there’s some tall poppy syndrome going on where they didnt want to be first up…
it was a great show. go see her if u get a chance (fyi, she was in nyc like 2 wks ago). but be prepared to dance!