Well, it’s the last week of my Cancun tour diary with Cirque Dreams Rocks. I much prefer the adventure of a traveling tour but an extended stay like this 7 week tour at the Moon Palace has its advantages as well. I’ve experienced some unique things I’ll probably never do again. It’s not often one gets to perform on stage with jugglers, roller skaters, contortionists, and other circus-style acts. But it was off the stage where some of the cooler stuff went down.
I’m sometimes asked whether or not it is difficult to perform on stage with circus acts. The answer is “yes.”
The first time I ever performed with Cirque Dreams I walked out on to the stage which was hidden behind a curtain. There was myself, the band, a curtain, and hundreds of people on the other side. I could hear them but not see them.
I remember telling myself, “if you fuck up one note you have no business being here and no right to take part in this business.”
That one performance was probably one of my most perfect performances. I didn’t miss a note and I didn’t get lost in the arrangements. I’ve tried to keep that mindset through each performance.
So when that curtain first came up I just looked at the spike marks on the stage floor. Spike marks are little colored marks on the stage that let some of the performers know where to put certain props or where to stand. I never watched the acts and I never looked at the audience. Instead, I would look up and past the audience. This gives the illusion that I’m looking at them without seeing them.
After that initial shock of playing in front of that many people and playing along side circus performers I’m more comfortable now with my job.
So yeah, trying to play this music and having all these incredible acts go on in front of you can be a distraction. To this day I can’t really watch what’s going on in front of me. I still look down at the spike marks on the stage and the lights above the audience.
But I also got an opportunity to go to a local recording studio called Rock174 in Cancun. They’re also a center for musical education for kids. It’s a great place and we had a chance to record some original songs by Cirque Dreams drummer/vocalist Armando Gutierrez.
I brought my 7-string bass, plugged into a little amp, and we ended up getting some great tunes in a couple of takes.
I also got an opportunity to go visit a cenote while in Cancun. These are basically pits in the Earth due to limestone collapsing and exposing fresh ground water beneath. So you’ve got these big pits of water and underground caves you can swim through.
So this should be the last week of my tour diary before I head back home to Louisiana.
Check out the following websites of my Cirque Dreams band buddies:
www.christianarodi.com
www.thegimmickgutierrez.com
www.ptmaudio.com
I’ll update one more time when I get back to reflect on all things Cirque Dreams Rocks. See ya…
