All my days are circus days..

Unfortunately, I’m doing my thesis for my BA in Communications studies at the moment. Fortunately for me, I won’t be spending my time in the library trying desperately to string together 12,000 words! I will be spending my time at one of the happiest places on earth – the circus.

Ya see, my group and I are doing our dissertation in the form of a 25 minute video documentary on the changes that the circus has underwent in Ireland! So, we get to travel the country looking at the circus from a unique and privileged perspective!

It’s been a completely surreal experience thus far. For one thing, the stuff I have always loved about the circus is still there; the crazy acrobatics, the buzz of the audience, the music and of course the clowns! However, the shows have almost become West End productions – slick, choreographed and ready for the 21st Century child. The only thing missing are the animals…which I have to say, I couldn’t be happier about. Its not that I think the circuses were mistreating their animals (having met several Irish circus families, I believe this couldn’t be farther from the truth), but I don’t think a field behind Tesco is the right place for tigers, hippos and elephants. The human acts in the shows certainly make up for the absence of these creatures!

The surreal part really is seeing the performers outside of the Big Top! They’re normal people with families, that just happen to be very talented at an unusual art-form. The passion for the art has been in their families for generations.

The performers of our age love to have a laugh after the shows and go for a few pints. They went to school and performed in the evenings and on weekends. The next generation have it even easier, with individual tutors coming to and from circus sites to keep kids on the road up to speed with the curriculum. They’ll learn about multi-culturalism from their fellow performers, confidence, and business skills all in addition to clowning, juggling and acrobatics! These children will see all this as normal. Its incredible!

So, do yourself a favour. Forget about being mature, relive a cherished childhood memory or be a circus-first timer. You know you haven’t grown up completely when clowns* can still make you DIE LAUGHING. I’d recommend Fossett’s, they’re truly magical.

*I apologise to those of you with a fear of clowns. I myself was a bit creeped out by them, but having met Ed Fossett (Otto the clown) and seeing him put on his makeup..I have been assured that there is nothing terrifying about them! Seriously. “It” was just a movie.

Havana Good Time!

The Bray seafront may not be the most exotic place to party, but that’s where the caribbean vibes were last night as Havana Son took to the stage. As part of the 2008 Bray Jazz Festival, the band is made up of musicians from Ireland, Cuba, Spain and Italy – all of whom make it look easy! The band represents “a pleasingly diverse snapshot of Irish multiculturalism at work” – showcasing something truly new and different in the Irish music scene.

The venue, the nightclub behind Katies was packed to the brim with an eager audience of all ages and nationalities. Sitting at the back of the place I was able to have a chat about the music and listen contently, however the real fun began when we decided to move closer to the action! The bongos and cowbell provided the perfect backdrop to some impromtu “spanish” dancing from people of all shapes and sizes, individually and in couples or groups! You couldn’t help but shake your hips, or your invisible maracas, whichever was handier! This is one example of the music completely taking control.

If you get a chance, definitely check them out. They are a total blast to watch and dance to.

How to screw it up royally…

So…as a continuation of my last post…

I began thinking about first dates – and first impressions. They really are paramount to the “dater”. If you don’t act yourself around someone it could go horribly wrong. This idea seemed hilarious to me. So I subsequently came up with some ways to FREAK OUT your date….try these at your own risk.

- Show up with your undies on the outside of your trousers. Tell them you just wanna be their “superhero”.

- Text before you arrive and say “drumroll please…….” then walk in making modest gestures to the “audience”.

- Take at your camera, snap a picture and scream “SMILE FOR BEBO!!”

- Bring a friend, “oh…this is a DATE?!”

- If he/she asks if you’d like a drink say, “ok…but just to be clear, Im saving myself for marriage”

- If your date is drinking alocohol with a head on it….dip your little finger it and make a smiley face. Look proud.

- chew everything. Your straw, your hair, your handbag, your dates’ face.

- Profess your complete and utter devotion to either God or Star Wars. One or the other should work.

- Ask your date to dance. If they say yes, do your best rendition of “the worm”. If they say no, scream “DANCE BITCH DANCE”

- Begin a very long winded speech about how your ex is an asshole who deserves to die in hell, along with all your other asshole exes. Tell your date how you would like to torture these exes…in very graphic details.

- At the end of the evening, say goodbye to your date and say “see you soon!..I’ll be watching”…and wink.

- If (miraculously) your date wants to kiss you at the end of the night, lick their nose and say something saucy like, “rarrrrrr” or “Meow”

So there you have it – the best ways I could think of to freak out a potential date. Just in case.