From the Cave vol. 3

From the Cave

Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

(Save Paper. Try to Recycle… You will have the pdf file on your cirque account)

“From the Cave” 3rd edition - Happy One Year Anniversary: Is it already one year in arena? Really!

Really for the past 12 months, we changed cities, hotels and work areas every week! When we started this tour, that was almost unbelievable for most of us. I think we were all like bats, a bit blind by not knowing what was coming with the new arena adventure. But like bats, we adapted even if it was a bit dark, and we found our way to enjoy our new life.

With this edition of “from the cave” it is time to remember your first year with ALEGRIA ARENA. As usual, thank you to all collaborators. Without you we would not have these fine memories of our 53 party (Why 53 and not 54? Because everything is faster in arena!!!)

Enjoy!

Claudine

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From the Cave

18,171 miles driven by 18 trucks est consuming 52,200 gallons of fuel

16 new Artists

309 Highbar Performances

342 Shows

756 Trailers loaded in 144 hours (approx. 12 minutes a trailer)

173 Manipulation performances

81 ‘Normal’ Shows

Fastest Load-out: 2hours 20 minutes

11 new couples

3050 lbs of snow for the Storm

6 Weddings

42 Air Horns 672 Fumex burned 3360 Balloons 504 gallons of Coleman fuel used in fire

Highest altitude performed (data from Google earth)

4 Tour Breaks

June 2010

2 Countries

88 Juggling performances

16 Chartered Flights

Vol 3:

41 Cities

204 Roue Cyr performances

20 Bus Transfers

Alegria Arena Tour

5637feet = 1718.16meters Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho NM

4244 feet = 1293.57meters E Center, Salt Lake City UT

5000 laundry loads 250 bottles of soap 100 of baby wipe boxes

63,562 Pages

printed on tour

100 paper towels rolls Treats earned: 38!

1 Computer stolen

751,117 tickets sold (2196 per show average) 2023 complimentary tickets

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From the Cave

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Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

From the Cave

Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

A week in the life of…

Jon – P. Med Tuesday I usually start around 5 pm, setting up the

During the rest of the first half I try to finish my notes on the

office and the backstage area. I unload the Toy Box (that is how we call the gym equipments), pump up the ball, check if the safety equipment is put backstage, test the defibrillator and the oxygen cylinder, install the timetable for treatments and the massage schedule. Once the office is set, I get in contact with the local emergency team and locate the room closest to the arena to check what they are able to accept in their facilities.

Wednesday I start by watching the Lev (High Bar) training and

computer and prepare the daily medical report for that day while being on standby.

Intermission usually involves treating the artists who got hurt during the first half or those how are going on stage.

Second half, I get ready backstage at the end of flying man and shake the hands of the entire Russian bar team then hand out the gargoyles for all Angels running on stage for the Russian bar cue. At the end of the

act is the mad run off stage trying to make sure I don’t get hit by a Russian bar being lowered to get through the back stage curtain. For the high bar guys I make sure all the guys are ok by a hit of the knuckles. I watch them perform with my trusty blue bag and radio turned up to max volume so that I can hear any calls over the bass of the speakers that I stand behind.

discuss with the coach’s for any current injuries that could affect the act and check if the exercise programs in place are working. Following that is putting in my first load of washing of the week and restocking the tape supplies, making sure there is enough tape cut up for the power track training later on. After I go back on stage to watch Russian bars rehearse. As soon as they finish training, I rush back to the office for the first taping of the week for the Power-Tracker’s. I have to get my hand slapped by Misha after he has been tapped and hope it passes his sound test because if doesn’t it is always down to my poor technique and it continues till I get it right or till my hand is too red and painful to continue.

During the day involves; treatments, taping and completing projects

For the rest of the day it is catching up on paper work and treatments as well as preparing the massage room for the next day. I also meet with Isabel, the venue guy, head of security and the ushers to discuss what would happen during an emergency situation for both the artists and members of the public and find out what type of paramedic team is onsite.

Sunday is load out day. I email the massage therapist and doctors for

Thursday to Saturday, 2hrs before show I meet with Kim to hand

As soon as I know that certain equipment is not used for the day, it gets packed into the toy boxes before the end of intermission where we go on for a the big hunt for any toys that have rolled away from the blue carpet. 15 minutes before second half, I join Misha and An for the abs session where Misha tries to make it as hard as possible.

over injuries that have been treated during the day and prepare the information needed so that Brooke knows who is available and who can do what during the show. Before show, I take a quick run to catering to get something to eat and back on time to tape people.

Show starts and following the end of trapeze it is the high five ritual

with the Power-Tracker’. It consist of doing a brief pole dance for An, sniffing both feet for Steph VB and high five the rest before they go on stage. As they go on stage I walk behind the speakers on stage left and watch the act looking at their take off and landings making sure that all is well till they all run off stage.

Quest Center, Omaha NE

that have been set and planning the emergency session for the next few weeks.

Besides that, there is the meeting with the massage therapist discussing their contract, giving them on a tour of back stage and discussing the treatments that they can perform. When the massage therapist leaves, I go to the room to collect the vast amount of towels and sheets that they have managed to use during the day and discuss any problems or any concerns they have had with the treatments sessions. And then it is back to the washing machine to carry it all out before Wardrobe uses the machines.

the following week to confirm our arrival and check up on the medical facilities close to the arena and near the hotel. Load out starts as soon as first show begins by packing up the massage room and completing the weekly medical summary for that week.

During the second half the line gets packed away, beds put back in the road cases and before they go off to the loading dock. High bar starts and I help BSM dismantle the low bar unit before the show ends. As soon as the high bar act ends, all emergency equipment is taken back to Pmed to be stored in the road cases then rolled out to to be shipped off to the next arena.

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Wolstein Center, Cleveland OH

From the Cave

Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

A week in the life of…

Sheryl-Lynne – Assistant to Artistic Director On Monday I look for the best shopping mall and the closest Starbucks. I usually shop for 7 hours, then go to the gym.

On Tuesday, I have a lighter shopping day (3 to 4 hours) by visiting smaller shops or if there is something cultural to do in the city, I will sightseeing or go to the theater or a museum.

My week starts on Wednesday morning, usually around 11am. I start by checking with everyone in the artistic department and seeing if anyone needs any kind of help. My job on Wednesday is to be a trouble shooter and a helper. I wear my radio and go where needs my assistance. I deal with things that no one else has time for or I act as the information relay between departments and staff. It can get quite busy and I run around a lot in order to pass on solution and information.

It is high energy and a lot of fun! It is important to be able to think and react quickly because there is often no time to make a decision. The best part of my job is that every week there is a different set of challenges that need to be resolved. Sometimes these take a couple of hours and sometimes they take 2 or 3 days. I never know what’s my day is going to be like. It is always an adventure!

As the week continues, Thursday to Sunday I finish whatever that was leftover from Wednesday, which usually takes at least part of the day.

Sometimes Brooke will ask me to watch a show, to look at or listen to something specific. I also film parts of the show including close ups of characters, acts and artists for Montreal’s archives department. I also update the Rotation Schedule for the artists on a regular basis. This is the schedule that we all follow and also that determines which acts are in the show and which artist does which role for the performance. It can get very complicated and tricky puzzle to work out especially If someone is sick or injured.

I produce a weekly Artistic Assistant’s report that captures the highlights of the week from Wardrobe, PMed, Stage Management and our Head Coach. I also create a document to let the Artistic team knows the hours that each of us that will be on site for the week.

Brooke and I meet regularly to look at what we need to work on for the following week and to discuss any ongoing challenges that have not been fully resolved yet.

Lastly, a large part of my job involves organization of people, things and activities. I spend a lot of time running around coordinating schedules and activities so that we have the most efficient use of everyone’s time.

This can also be a challenge as not everyone is on site at the same time and with so much constant change in the arenas, our schedules need to be always flexible.

April fool 2010

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From the Cave Satnaam – 54 Party

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Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

From the Cave Satnaam – 54 Party

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Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

From the Cave

Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

What were you doing before joining Cirque?

Match names with jobs! (answers in the next page. Do not look it before you guessed all!!)

Was Prince Charming on Disneyland

Crystal

Worked on a Museum

Zaloa

Production Accountant on TV show

Shannon

Domestic Violence Counselor

Edouard

Worked in the Army

Lars

Delivered Hot Tubs

Sheryl Lynne

BBQ Chef in Puketutu Island

Claudine

Worked in a Make Up store

Adam

Door Man in a Bar

Luke

Pop Corn seller

Zoe

Restaurant Owner

Amanda

Carpenter for a TV show

Malika

Family Therapist

Sylvie

Math Teacher

Jon

Sales Assistant in a Chocolate Store

Mikey

Worked on Constructions

Michel

A&W Root Bear

An

Usher

Donick

Ballerina

Tony

Worked in Tobacco Fields

Sheldon

Gas Station Cashier

Rasmus

Wood Artisan

Amy

Waiter on Colonial outfit

Micah

Business Man

Mikee

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From the Cave

Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

Now picture it!

Worked in Tobacco Fields Family Therapist

Production Accountant on TV show

Carpenter for a TV show

Pop Corn seller A&W Root Bear BBQ Chef in Puketutu Island

Sales Assistant in a Chocolate Store

Gas Station Cashier Math Teacher Delivered Hot Tubs

Ballerina

Worked in a Make Up store

Domestic Violence Consoler

Wood Artisan

Was Prince Charming on Disneyland

Restaurant Owner Waiter on Colonial outfit Usher Worked in the Army

Door Man in a Bar Worked on Constructions Worked on a Museum 9|P a g e

Business Man

From the Cave

Alegria Arena Tour

June 2010

On average, women say 7000 words per day. Men manage just over 2000

The best recorded distance for projectile vomiting is 27 feet Лучшый рекорд по блеванию на растояние 27

среднем женщина говорит около 7000 слов за день,когда мужчина чуть больше 2000!

The average person grows up to 6 feet of nose hair У человека в среднем вырастает в носу около 6 фит волос!

Vol 3:

There are 333 squares of toilet paper on a roll

Termites eat wood twice as fast when listening to heavy metal music

В одном рулоне туалетной бумаге 333 квадрата!

Canada imports approx. 822 Russian‐made hockey sticks on an average day

Термиты едят дерево в два раза быстрее когда слышат музыку хеви метал!

The average human head weighs about eight pounds Голова человека весит около 8 паундов!

В России за один день делают 822 хокейных клюшек!

A spider`s silk is stronger than steel Паутина сильнее чем железо!

2/3 of the world’s eggplant is grown in New Jersey 2/3 кабачков от всего мира выращивают в New Jersey

The United States spends more money on its military than the next 13 countries on the list combined США тратят на свое вооружение больше чем 13 стран взятых вместе!

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From the Cave Arena challenges

Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

by Mikey

There is a famous saying: “When in Rome do as the Romans do” meaning “Don’t set your own rules when you are someone’s guest”. But sometimes you wish you were able to, especially when you are working with different local organizations that manage each arena that we go to.

Since the start of the Alegria arena tour, we have encountered several challenges that make you go hmmm…

Here are some interesting examples that we have had.

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In Augusta Georgia, truck loaders were only allowed to load 3 trucks every 4 hours. Our show has 18 trucks and takes about 3 to 4 hours to load‐out. Lucky for them (local Union truck loaders) they got paid for 20 hours of work.

In St. Louis, the fire marshal followed Micah from the audience through backstage to the loading dock, just in case his knives might somehow reignite even though he saw the technician spray the knife with water.

A Fire Marshall made Sheldon spray the fire extinguisher on one of our hazer’s. (A hazer is a machine that blows smoke that makes the arena look like a “haze”). He thought it was on fire.

In some venues, even though our technician knows how to drive a forklift, we had to find and ask a union member to do the job for us. This results us waiting around for someone else to do our job.

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And of course everybody remembers what happened in Hoffman Estate where we had to use moving lights to replace the spot lights. We were only allowed to use local staff for the spot lights for our show. It would not be safe for the artist if they had only one day of training before the first show so we had to figure a way to present the show without spot lights.

Little update… in Hoffman Estates; both for Saltimbanco and Alegria, Michel stood his ground and said safety for our artists was the most important and we could not jeopardize it.

After the second show without having spots, they understood and the next Cirque du Soleil show will be able to use our own crew.

We do get good people to work with as well; like in Omaha from the end of the show until the last door closed we finished in 2 hours and 20 minutes which is our fastest time yet.

In the end, we need the help of each local crew to help us build our show in such a quick time for our fast paced tour. The challenges can be frustrating and the quality of each crew can vary from highly experienced to just plain annoying. But we need them so we adapt each week and our patience either grows or shrinks. It’s a good thing that we have good tech’s that accepts these challenges and compensates for the difference of lack of experience.

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From the Cave

Sprint Center, Kansas City MO

Alegria Arena Tour

Chafeitz Arena, St-Lois MO

Bank of Kentucky Center, highland Heights KY

E Center, Salt Lake City UT

The adventure of Khalifah Zalopino

Did you know that in California a law created in 1925 makes it illegal to wiggle while dancing?

Well in Fresno, when Malika was dancing at a bar, she was asked not to…

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Vol 3:

June 2010

From the Cave

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Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010

From the Cave

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Alegria Arena Tour

Vol 3:

June 2010