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Post by SnicketFires on Aug 31, 2005 15:13:25 GMT -5
In past years, I've usually been able to talk to just about anyone after the shows, especially the comedians and authors. However, with a new Snicket book on the horizon, I expect his appearances at Bumbershoot to be standing room only and meet and greet opportunities to be limited. I plan on lining up pretty early. I'm glad that there's a chance at seeing him after the show. Only three days left. I'm excited.
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Post by idiotj on Sept 2, 2005 12:02:19 GMT -5
SARAH VOWELL, TOO?!
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Post by SnicketFires on Sept 2, 2005 20:33:41 GMT -5
Indeed. McCaw Hall Smart: Dave Eggers, Sarah Vowell, Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket), Mike Doughty, and The Transatlantic Orchestra in a Benefit for 826 Seattle Saturday, 8:00 pm
On 826 Valencia Street in San Francisco, a small storefront has revolutionized the cultural landscape. A youth writing center and pirate supply store, and also home to McSweeney’s Books, 826 Valencia has spawned other youth writing centers, including the brand-new 826 Seattle. The artists on this bill are all generously donating their fees to support the 826 project.
Not for nothing did Time Magazine call Dave Eggers one of the “100 Most Influential People” in the world in 2005. What has Eggers done to rank with George Bush, Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey, and the new Pope? Eggers started 826 Valencia, a progressive writing center for youth (and independent pirate supply store) located in San Francisco. The author of A Staggering Work of Heartbreaking Genius founded and runs the most culturally influential press in the nation (McSweeney’s), and in the past year has released the short story collection How We Are Hungry, co-edited (with Jonathan Safran Foer) The Future Dictionary of America, and co-wrote “Teachers Have It Easy”: The Big Sacrifices and Small Salaries of America’s Teachers.
Meanwhile, 826 Valencia has become the model (and organizational parent) of other 826 projects around the nation. 826 Seattle, the newest of these, will be opening this fall in the Greenwood neighborhood. Visit www.826seattle.org for information.
Bumbershoot has teamed up with Eggers and 826 Seattle to present this special benefit for the project. All artist fees are being donated to 826.
Artists feature Eggers, plus Sarah Vowell (author of Assassination Vacation; co-producer, “This American Life,” and also Board President of 826 NYC), Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket), and Mike Doughty (of Soul Coughing, in a special spoken-word solo performance). In a special addition to the writers, the program will also feature the band The Transatlantic Orchestra, which includes members of Death Cab for Cutie.
This can be viewed here.
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Post by The Wicker Man on Sept 4, 2005 14:09:04 GMT -5
Well, due to logistical problems, my friend and I missed Snicket's appearance @ 2:30, however we caught the 826 Seattle benefit which was in a word, BRILLIANT. I'm scouring the net for at least an audio recording of the show. I'm off to Bumbershoot again today, but here's how the night went, in brief:
Handler was the MC of the evening. Unlike the others, he didn't have a specific "bit" but he had plenty of stage time, was incredibly funny and quite unrestrained compared to his Snicket persona. Dave Eggers read hilarious letters written under a psuedonym supposedly channelled through a dog named Steve. Then Mike Doughty (ex lead-singer for Soul Coughing) sang a few songs. Next, Sarah Vowell taught us all the history of the "Battle Hymn of the Rebublic" with Death Cabe for Cutie backing her (yes, Death Cab was part of the show, performing under the name "Transatlantic Orchestra"). Then Daniel came out and staged a "rigged" trivia show where three contestants were asked questions about the performers and the show. The winner was, of course, the director for 826 Seattle, who won $10,000 for her favorite charity...that being 826 naturally. The catch? They passed around envelopes and asked us to pony up the dough.
While the money was being counted, Death Cab played four songs, with the promise that they'd play a special encore if we raised the money. If not, Sarah Vowell would come out and read 8 high school poems, which Handler insisted were actually quite dreadful, even if we all thought that the camp value would be worth it.
Luckily we raised about $18,000 for the program, so the grand finale consisted of Death Cab, Daniel (on accordian) and Mike doing a cover of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf".
The crowd was HUGE so I didn't attempt to meet any of them after the show. I'd be curious if anyone stuck it out, or better yet, if anyone was able to record the show or get better photos.
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Post by Dante on Sept 4, 2005 14:43:54 GMT -5
Aside from the huge crowds, which would make me uncomfortable, that sounds like it must have been great.
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Post by s on Sept 4, 2005 15:19:34 GMT -5
*sigh* I wish I was there. Anyway, it sounds like it was great.
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Post by SnicketFires on Sept 4, 2005 19:53:52 GMT -5
Well, due to logistical problems, my friend and I missed Snicket's appearance @ 2:30, however we caught the 826 Seattle benefit which was in a word, BRILLIANT. I'm scouring the net for at least an audio recording of the show. I'm off to Bumbershoot again today, but here's how the night went, in brief: Handler was the MC of the evening. Unlike the others, he didn't have a specific "bit" but he had plenty of stage time, was incredibly funny and quite unrestrained compared to his Snicket persona. Dave Eggers read hilarious letters written under a psuedonym supposedly channelled through a dog named Steve. Then Mike Doughty (ex lead-singer for Soul Coughing) sang a few songs. Next, Sarah Vowell taught us all the history of the "Battle Hymn of the Rebublic" with Death Cabe for Cutie backing her (yes, Death Cab was part of the show, performing under the name "Transatlantic Orchestra"). Then Daniel came out and staged a "rigged" trivia show where three contestants were asked questions about the performers and the show. The winner was, of course, the director for 826 Seattle, who won $10,000 for her favorite charity...that being 826 naturally. The catch? They passed around envelopes and asked us to pony up the dough. While the money was being counted, Death Cab played four songs, with the promise that they'd play a special encore if we raised the money. If not, Sarah Vowell would come out and read 8 high school poems, which Handler insisted were actually quite dreadful, even if we all thought that the camp value would be worth it. Luckily we raised about $18,000 for the program, so the grand finale consisted of Death Cab, Daniel (on accordian) and Mike doing a cover of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf". The crowd was HUGE so I didn't attempt to meet any of them after the show. I'd be curious if anyone stuck it out, or better yet, if anyone was able to record the show or get better photos. You're in luck. I went to the 2:30 show, met Handler after for book signing, and also went to the 826 performance and met everyone after for book signing as well. The best part: I taped it (excluding the first Dave Eggars and Mike bit, since my recorder was almost out of room) and the 2:30 show. I could send it to you. They're a bit hard to hear in parts, though. I'm also typing up a transcript of the 2:30 show, and will be posting it. If there's interest in the 826 show, I'll post the transcripts of what I have for that too. No media was allowed at this, naturally. (Incidentally, my mother has threatened to disown me if she catches me posting the pictures or the transcripts, which means that I'll have them up when she forgets about that.) The 2:30 show was a full house. Lemony, of course, didn't show up (this time, an alligator bit his armpit, and paralyzed him) so Daniel ran the show as usual. He preformed "Scream and Run Away" on the accordian, as part of the Three Moral Lessons he was trying to teach us (One: Never raise your hand. The alligators, you know. Two: If you see Count Olaf, scream and run away - also: Kitchen work is bad. The third one has slipped my mind at the moment.). He read out a portion of some boy's TBB, and got the audience to do EAP along with it ("Eurythmic Auditory Participation...duh."). He took questions at the end, and I was chosen (!) I asked if Fernald and Fiona (by the way, he pronounces it "FERN-ald") were literary references. He said "Yes, in the Grim Grotto." (later, he fully answered the question. "Condsider the novels of Simon Raven.") 826 was horrorshow. Truly.
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Post by Gigi on Sept 4, 2005 20:09:11 GMT -5
Wow! You are so FORTUNATE to get to meet him! I can't wait to read the transcript (if you can sneak it past your mother).
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Post by The Wicker Man on Sept 5, 2005 3:30:32 GMT -5
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Post by Mary on Sept 5, 2005 15:38:24 GMT -5
I am so jealous of you both. It's too bad you didn't get to show him your tatoo, Wicker Man. I would mail him a picture though.
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Post by SnicketFires on Sept 5, 2005 20:06:12 GMT -5
My pictures are available here.
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Post by Dante on Sept 6, 2005 2:35:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the pictures and information, everyone. So now we know we have to look into the novels of Simon Raven. Has anyone read anything by him? Here's his Wikipedia page.
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Post by The Wicker Man on Sept 6, 2005 12:51:00 GMT -5
I am so jealous of you both. It's too bad you didn't get to show him your tatoo, Wicker Man. I would mail him a picture though. He'll likely be back for the book 12 promotional tour, I'll show him then. I forgot to bring a crucial artifact that I wanted signed anyway. I just wasn't thinking at all on Saturday.
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Post by SnicketFires on Sept 19, 2005 20:28:40 GMT -5
I haven't forgotton about this thread; but my mum has forgotton about the transcript, so here is the first part:
Transcript for Lemony Snicket show 2. 30 – 3. 30.
ANNOUNCER: …Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Snicket. [audience applauds]
[stage remains empty, audience claps, and becomes slightly confused]
[Keep in mind that the audience is laughing throughout the show]
LS: [at the back of theatre] I’m most terribly sorry for what you just heard. I don’t know who that man is, or why he would lie, especially to children . I know how it said that Lemony Snicket would be here today, it was on the schedule, it was a scheduled thing, it was written on the schedule [has walked to the stage by the left aisle, jumping up onto the stage, since there are no stairs] he was to be here, but I’m afraid Mr. Snicket is not here after all. [audience makes disappointed noises] There’s no reason to laugh. It’s not funny at all! In fact it brings to mind the opposite of funny, which is sad. It’s very sad. [wipes eyes with handkerchief] I’m afraid Mr. Snicket could not be here today, but for good reason; he has a good excuse, unlike you, madam. I’m afraid Mr. Snicket underwent some terrible misfortune when he went on a picnic. Now I suppose most of us know what a picnic is, but in case the Seattle school systems are the travesty that I’ve heard, perhaps one of the brighter people in this beautiful synagogue could tell me what a picnic is. Could somebody give me a definition? Yes? You know what a picnic is? Tell me.
BOY: One definition, one definition is when you lay out a blanket and you eat outside?
LS: Yes, one definition is that you lay out a blanket and you eat outside. That was, in fact, the definition I was looking for. Say that about 98 percent, well, about 60 percent, well, about half of the time, I would say, that nothing really dreadful happens at a picnic. I’m afraid this was one of the other halves of the time. Does anyone have a guess to as what went wrong, on the picnic? Yes, madam? With the “future” shirt, you, you can see the future? But perhaps you can also see the present, what went wrong? What is your guess?
GIRL: The food was poisoned?
LS: THE FOOD WAS POISONED! Excellent guess. I’ve lost track of the number of times that I, to use one definition, laid out a blanket and eaten outside, only to find arsenic, or cyanide, or my favorite, ground glass in my food. But no, your guess also is wrong. You have a guess, madam?
GIRL 2: Hit by lightning?
LS: HIT BY LIGHTNING! Another very, very common occurrence. Just the other day, I went on a picnic with about nine friends, and by the end of the afternoon, there were only three left. I-, I- don’t know, but once again, you are entirely wrong. Yes, you have a guess?
BOY 2: Invaded by ants?
LS: INVADED BY ANTS! Ants, just because they are well-organized and somewhat socialist in their appearance, there is no reason to befriend ants, the most vile creature to move in a straight line, exactly towards the person they want to devour. Another very excellent guess, but you are wrong, but you are warm, but by which I don’t mean the air in this synagogue is uncomfortable – although it is, - I mean that you are warm because it is a member of the animal kingdom. Ants belong to the insect kingdom, which is nevertheless right next door to the animal kingdom, so perhaps someone else has a guess. You, yes, you?
BOY 3: They get eaten by lions?
LS: THEY GET EATEN BY LIONS! Another excellent guess. [pauses] No, no, I can see you’re not going to guess. It is true, [incomprehensible] but luckily, you don’t have to guess, it has been captured the way so many wild animals have been captured, for display. And this creature is displayed inside a bag, inside another bag. Yes, that bag. [looks at satchel]
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I'll post more soon, perhaps next week.
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Post by Dante on Sept 20, 2005 12:19:12 GMT -5
Handler's really humorous. It must have been great fun to watch him. Thanks for the (first part of the) transcript.
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