2007 Boulder International Fringe Festival
03/09/07 14:24 Filed in: Performance
My experience of
performing at the Boulder Fringe Festival,
baby!
Six performances! I am pretty well stunned that I am
on the other side of having flown out to Boulder and
put on six shows. There is so much to explain about
how this year's festival went and felt. The shows
were Friday, Sat Sunday Aug 17, 18, and 19 and again
the following weekend on the 24th, 25th and 26th.
I had the most excellent hosts. A long time Boulder couple that I have known for only a few years accepted my request to put me up (or to put up with me) while I was in town for the Fringe. They were so friendly and supportive and comforting. We ate meals together, played guitars, took some excellent walks on some beautiful trails. I was able to stay in their basement bedroom, which was fortunately very cool and dark and made sleeping a great experience. They even let me borrow their car a few times which was a life saver with my guitars and stands to haul around town.
My venue was the Exhibitrek Art Gallery - a really beautiful intimate space. I was so excited to be in town and this is my 3rd time performing my music in Boulder. The first time I actually played at this same gallery, so this was like a bit of a homecoming for me. Also my one-man acoustic performance "Brave Open Love" is really in its infancy, so I was thrilled to have a chance to perform it in its pure intention, that is, as a theater performance concert. This was my first performance with lighting. So with my mind all a tingly from the excitement I showed up at the gallery and met Greg Tobo (a wonderful guy, and a magician). We met our technician Tiffany there who turned out to be fun, full of energy and an all around great person. When it came to designing the lights, we didn't have many choices within the gallery space, but there were a few basics we were able to arrange and design to enhance my show.
Opening night felt like a rush of wonderful energy. One aspect of putting on a show in a city like Boulder, when I live in Oakland is how to market the performance and get the word out. It was a challenge to be sure.
At one point I decided to go BUSKING! The Pearl street mall there is an ideal location with hundreds of folks passing by and frequenting all the shops and restaurants in a beautiful outdoor mall setting. I found a place that was suggested the night before - a Wells Fargo with an overhang that served as a natural amphitheater. As it turned out there were these two young men about 20 feet away. They looked kind of scraggly - wasn't sure what to think. One of them got a sour look on his face and said, "Man - don't play your guitar here... We're here begging!" and went on and on about why I was messing with their scenario. I'm not sure, but maybe it was my busking bravado, or maybe it was how I perceived his bad attitude, but I just said, "Listen. I'm not getting in your way - and I'm not competing with you, so I think I will just stay here and play guitar." So, I did stay. This kid was rather upset with me and showed it, but there was no physical threat. It made for a very electric and BRAVE busking session! I played for about an hour and a couple people did stop and look at my merchandise and give me some cash.
A couple days later I found a more isolated spot - at least away from beggars or other musicians. It felt very free and open to be playing my music outside like that.
I had a friend drive up from Albuquerque with his lover to hear me play. I was so thrilled and honored by that. And then a few nights later an old high school friend I hadn't seen in 24 years came rocketing across the room as I was setting up my guitars. He stayed for my performance and then we went out and had drinks and got caught up on each others lives. That was another highlight. I got some good reviews:
peggywrenn 5 Stars!
Daniel Mandel's original songs and beautiful acoustic guitar come directly from his heart to your's. Daniel's new performance was developed in collaboration with Boulder's extraordinary artists Paul Oertel and Nancy Spanier, who worked with him to sequence and choregraph his songs into an evocative and moving show. Don't miss it, in the intimate Exhibitrex!
Mary Belochi 5 Stars!
This performance is in my gallery, exhibitrek, but I feel the need to comment. Daniel is a very strong lyricist and his voice "aint bad" either. If you've ever been in love, had an unrequited love, confused, overwhelmed, passionate about someone...you'll not want to miss this performance. I thought it was wonderful. A little heavy for children, however, my 11 year son and his friend still enjoyed it and we discussed the songs afterwards.
Dale Tanis 5 Stars!
Inspiring!! Daniel Mandel sings and performs from his heart to ours, connecting to those human elements that many of us would rather not discuss. He does so in a way that brings forth a yearning to be heard, to be known, instead of making us feel uncomfortable. Share the human experience! Go see Daniel Mandel's BRAVE OPEN LOVE!!!!!
Jason Ng 4 Stars!
Good lyrics that hits the heart - and very beautiful guitar playing and chords. Delightful!
I had the most excellent hosts. A long time Boulder couple that I have known for only a few years accepted my request to put me up (or to put up with me) while I was in town for the Fringe. They were so friendly and supportive and comforting. We ate meals together, played guitars, took some excellent walks on some beautiful trails. I was able to stay in their basement bedroom, which was fortunately very cool and dark and made sleeping a great experience. They even let me borrow their car a few times which was a life saver with my guitars and stands to haul around town.
My venue was the Exhibitrek Art Gallery - a really beautiful intimate space. I was so excited to be in town and this is my 3rd time performing my music in Boulder. The first time I actually played at this same gallery, so this was like a bit of a homecoming for me. Also my one-man acoustic performance "Brave Open Love" is really in its infancy, so I was thrilled to have a chance to perform it in its pure intention, that is, as a theater performance concert. This was my first performance with lighting. So with my mind all a tingly from the excitement I showed up at the gallery and met Greg Tobo (a wonderful guy, and a magician). We met our technician Tiffany there who turned out to be fun, full of energy and an all around great person. When it came to designing the lights, we didn't have many choices within the gallery space, but there were a few basics we were able to arrange and design to enhance my show.
Opening night felt like a rush of wonderful energy. One aspect of putting on a show in a city like Boulder, when I live in Oakland is how to market the performance and get the word out. It was a challenge to be sure.
At one point I decided to go BUSKING! The Pearl street mall there is an ideal location with hundreds of folks passing by and frequenting all the shops and restaurants in a beautiful outdoor mall setting. I found a place that was suggested the night before - a Wells Fargo with an overhang that served as a natural amphitheater. As it turned out there were these two young men about 20 feet away. They looked kind of scraggly - wasn't sure what to think. One of them got a sour look on his face and said, "Man - don't play your guitar here... We're here begging!" and went on and on about why I was messing with their scenario. I'm not sure, but maybe it was my busking bravado, or maybe it was how I perceived his bad attitude, but I just said, "Listen. I'm not getting in your way - and I'm not competing with you, so I think I will just stay here and play guitar." So, I did stay. This kid was rather upset with me and showed it, but there was no physical threat. It made for a very electric and BRAVE busking session! I played for about an hour and a couple people did stop and look at my merchandise and give me some cash.
A couple days later I found a more isolated spot - at least away from beggars or other musicians. It felt very free and open to be playing my music outside like that.
I had a friend drive up from Albuquerque with his lover to hear me play. I was so thrilled and honored by that. And then a few nights later an old high school friend I hadn't seen in 24 years came rocketing across the room as I was setting up my guitars. He stayed for my performance and then we went out and had drinks and got caught up on each others lives. That was another highlight. I got some good reviews:
peggywrenn 5 Stars!
Daniel Mandel's original songs and beautiful acoustic guitar come directly from his heart to your's. Daniel's new performance was developed in collaboration with Boulder's extraordinary artists Paul Oertel and Nancy Spanier, who worked with him to sequence and choregraph his songs into an evocative and moving show. Don't miss it, in the intimate Exhibitrex!
Mary Belochi 5 Stars!
This performance is in my gallery, exhibitrek, but I feel the need to comment. Daniel is a very strong lyricist and his voice "aint bad" either. If you've ever been in love, had an unrequited love, confused, overwhelmed, passionate about someone...you'll not want to miss this performance. I thought it was wonderful. A little heavy for children, however, my 11 year son and his friend still enjoyed it and we discussed the songs afterwards.
Dale Tanis 5 Stars!
Inspiring!! Daniel Mandel sings and performs from his heart to ours, connecting to those human elements that many of us would rather not discuss. He does so in a way that brings forth a yearning to be heard, to be known, instead of making us feel uncomfortable. Share the human experience! Go see Daniel Mandel's BRAVE OPEN LOVE!!!!!
Jason Ng 4 Stars!
Good lyrics that hits the heart - and very beautiful guitar playing and chords. Delightful!
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