Lightbulb Moment

So, I was in town on my way to a physio appointment and along the way, I wandered by a Festival of Perth event which was some street theater done by a French street performance group. Well, group, it was two women who sew the clothes of passers by while they are waiting, alterations, additions whatever but the women have their sewing machines on the back of their bicycles.

The cool thing was that when someone wanted something done to their clothes, they had to hop on the bicycle and peddle to provide the power for the machines to work!! It was very interactive, visual and a fun idea that had gathered a big crowd of people in Forest Chase ( downtown Perth CBD). No mean feat in a place that usually is too paranoid to embrace public art in any major way, much less show tacit acceptance or a public display of approval. Don't get me wrong I'm not bitching about this city. I'm an exile here and I love it. But generally the locals don't go gaga in public over anyone except a movie, music or sports star.

What's this got to do with light bulb moments? Well, not long after I left the peddlers and sewers(with a bit of a puzzle). I hadn't seen what happened to somebody on the street who wanted their dress sewed. In as much as, what did they wear while they were generating power on the bike? And, I did see dresses having lace added to them and riders wearing, presumably, not their own dresses. Perhaps the French seamstresses gave each participant a stunt dresses to wear.
Anyway anyway... Back to Tawdry and the light bulb moment. Tawdry as a nail technician, does people's nails in exchange for secrets, however, it's mostly (but not exclusively) women and girls. And if I wanna hit the streets with this little performance/instillation/website thingey after the relative safety of a risk taking fringe theatre audience and interact with the general public, then how do I make it more engaging for men who may also have secrets they want to get off their chest? For in Australia certainly, a lot of men would find it next to impossible to sit down at a table in a public place and have their nails done and then be expected to write or type a secret to give to a virtual stranger. This is even more critical if I want to take the show to country and remote areas of Australia (and maybe other countries eventually)

So, it's summer here, it was hot in the mall (Forest Chase) and I was late for my appointment, but as I left the street performance and made my way through the crowds the idea popped into my head. Shoe Shine... What if I alternated? One time Tawdry would do free nails for secrets and the next time I would do free shoe shines for secrets. Hmmmmm I can see the possibility. Given the ubiquitous nature of trainers, I may have to make it shoe cleaning. But...out in the country, men and particularly older men wear shoes or boots. Old men with secrets to get off their chest!!!
Yes... I think I can work with this idea... Stand by for more. I'll keep you posted.

For now, here are some secrets from last Tuesday's gig 24/02/09 at the Blue Room theatre in James Street Northbridge Perth WA...
Cya soon TH!