TECH RYDER FOR MEXOTICA
A "Walk-through" performance installation with
Guillermo Gómez-Peña & Michéle Ceballos or Associate
Duration: 1.5-4 hours (depending on site)
INTRO
The following technical requirements for La Pocha Nostra's performance Mexotica involves a minimum of 2 performers and a maximum of 6. Please keep in mind that all items below are negotiable and replaceable. We are willing to work with what the site has to offer. We also wish to encourage creativity and a collaborative spirit with the Tech team. If they have interesting ideas inspired by the performance, please do not hesitate to share them with Pocha's team.
SPACE DESCRIPTION
This project is a "walk through" performance/installation. There are no seats for the audience as in a traditional performance piece. The site should be either a museum gallery, a "black box" theater or an outdoor courtyard (provided the weather is good). The site could also be an interesting building, old church, ballroom, or old industrial space that can be adapted with lights, slide and video projections, and a sound system. There should be a few discreet seats for the elderly or the physically impaired. An adjacent bar/lounge area where audience members may go and reflect over tropical drinks is desirable, though not mandatory. (Extra design and installation motifs to enhance our outrageous robo-baroque aesthetics depend entirely on budget, resources of the presenting institution, existing architectural features and time).
EPHEMERAL TROUPE
Mexotica consists of a minimum of two Pocha performers (Gomez-Peña, Lewis and/or Ceballos) and what Pocha calls an "Ephemeral Troupe" of local artists and/or students. The ephemeral troupe provides supporting images and/or performative assistance to the performers. If La Pocha Nostra teaches a workshop in conjunction with the performance, some of the workshop participants could be part of the troupe. The troupe could also be composed of local artists and/or local eccentrics (supermodels, bodybuilders, exotic dancers, folk dancers, drag queens, mariachis, BODYPIERCERS, etc.).
PRODUCTION TEAMS
In our experience, the best way to facilitate a Pocha production is to divide tasks (outlined in the Tech Ryder) between two teams: the Props/Costumes Team and the Technical Team:
Props/Costumes Team
The On-Site Producer may choose to designate a person or a team from his/her institution to lead the scavenger hunt of gathering props, costumes and design motifs.
q Need to have local knowledge and connections
q Should start process approximately 4-6 weeks prior to La Pocha's arrival
q All props and costumes need to be available no later than the day of Pocha’s arrival, or the first day of workshop (when applicable)
Technical Team
q Begin dialogue at least 3-4 weeks before La Pocha's arrival
q Handles sound, lights, video, and set items. Further description below.
If you have any further questions or concerns please Alison Wyper:
TECHNICAL TEAM/SCHEDULE requirements:
q Technical Director / q 2-hour Tech Meeting on the first or second day of Pocha’s arrival with all teams present. Go over tech rehearsal schedule.
q Lighting Designer/Technician / q Minimum of 2 (ideally 3) days of tech rehearsal from 1pm-6pm each day with exclusive use of space during this period
q AV Technician / q Performance assistants must be present at 1pm on the day prior to opening night, and for the duration of every performance.
q 2-3 Stage Hands for assistance in installation / q Dress Rehearsal occurs on the evening prior to the performance
q Strike occurs after performance by crew. La Pocha Nostra’s strike must take priority and be completed before strike of the venue’s equipment begins.
*****IMPORTANT NOTE*****
Presenter agrees to make the performance space and all required facilities and equipment available for the exclusive use and direction of La Pocha Nostra during the entire period from load-in until the completion of the strike. If other activities should cause a delay in the technical preparation of the show, the presenter shall be responsible for the time, personnel, and cost required to complete the technical preparation of the show.
Lighting/AV REQUIREMENTS:
LIGHTS / AUDIO/VIDEOq 3 Lights per platform: 1 front light and 2 side lights (lekos preferred) / q Sound System with mixing board and CD/cassette player
q 1 light for hanging chicken / q 2-4 high quality speakers
q 1 light for hanging skeleton / q 1 microphone with stand
q Lights for any other elements that could be incorporated into the show. / q Boom box with CD player for all rehearsals.
q Gels: Front lights w/ Bastard Amber, Side lights with Saturated Blue, Pink, Red, Green, Orange / q Sound for the video projection should not come through the main speakers but through localized speakers. (Optional)
q House lights must be independent of stage lights / q LOCAL DJ (optional)
q There are no lighting changes once the performance begins. / q 1 DVD video projector system
q 1 Screen (Size depends on the space/venue)
STAGING/PROP REQUIREMENTS
q 4 platforms at 6.5’x6.5’x3’ (2mX2mX90cm) or wider. Must be at least 2' high. Black top. If metal legs, no skirting. If wooden legs then black skirting. / q Realistic looking weapons (as realistic looking as possible): at least 1 handgun, 1 M16 automatic rifle replica, and 2 small machine guns
q 1 3'x3'x3' (90cmX90cmX90cm) platform for mic with stand / q 1 empty Mr. Clean bottle, sterilized with rubbing alcohol and water
q Step units for each platform / q 1 large aerosol spray can of deodorant
q 1 wheel chair with lots of character / q 1 battery-operated megaphone (the bigger the better)
q 2 sturdy wooden or metal chairs with no arms / q 2 large knives or daggers with lots of character (unsharpened)
q 5 small interesting looking tables or display boxes, approximately 4'x2'x2', to be used during performance to hold small props / q 1 can of water-based black hair spray paint per performance
q 3 tables with chairs for make-up/costume changes (or one per platform) with small clip lights / q 2 bunches of bananas per performance
q 2 clothing racks with hangers / q 2 food trays
q 5 music stands / q 1 wooden crutch w/character
q a noose (inclusion to be determined by the height of the space) / q Baby powder (1 bottle per performance)
q 1 gurney/surgical table / q Thin black Crayola markers
q 1 metal rolling cart / q 2 walking crutches
q 2 large pickaxes
q silver/chrome spray paint to touch-up props
q 40 medium sized Acupuncture needles
q 1 iron
q For the "Performance Karaoke": We will need a small but interesting selection of props and costumes to dress audience members during the performance including (but not limited to) ethnic hats, masks, and wigs—any kind of props and costumes of political and ethnic nature.
HIGHLY DESIRABLE BUT OPTIONAL DESIGN ELEMENTS AND PROPS
(If budget and resources allow any of these items can "enhance" the performance)
HIGHLY DESIRABLE / OTHER DESIRABLESq Life sized replica of human skeleton hung in a crucified position / q Any interesting looking “retro-technology” and useless machines from the past
q 1 fog machine / q Large taxidermied animals
q Large wooden cross (attached to one of the platforms, secure enough for a performer to periodically crucify him/herself). Diagram available upon request. / q Large sculptural pieces depicting ethnic stereotypes: cigar shop Indians, sleepy Mexicans, over-sexed Latinos, subservient African Americans, etc.
q 3 hanging chickens: gutted with head, feet, and feathers still attached. Other animal symbolically relevant to the area also acceptable. / q A kneeler (as found in a church)
q Fishing line to hang the skeleton and chickens / q Local tourist or ethnic kitsch
q Old fashioned medical pincers
Dressing Room/AMENITIES:
DRESSING ROOM REQUIREMENTS / AMENITIES1 DRESSING ROOM AND BATHROOM SHOULD BE: / q During set up, rehearsal, and preparation time, the Presenter shall provide: fresh fruit, cheeses, cold cuts, bread, good coffee, milk, and sugar sufficient for artists, local troupe, and crew.*
*Bottle of Meyers rum (optional) if the Presenter wishes to excel
q Not accessible to public
q Accessible to Pocha at least 3 hours prior to performance
q Well lit, secure, near stage, with make-up lights, mirrors, tables, and wardrobe racks
q The artist may eat, drink (and smoke if permitted by local ordinance) in the dressing room.
q Safe & lockable for artists to leave props, costumes, etc.
PRINTING MATERIALS
q Libretto/ program for audience (Gomez-Peña will provide text 2 days prior to opening night)q Placards of taxonomic information (Optional)
THE EPHEMERAL PERFORMANCE TROUPE:
MANDATORY / OPTIONALq 1 Acupuncturist willing to perform acupuncture during the performance / q When the performance project takes place in conjunction with a workshop, workshop members selected by La Pocha. (See workshop prep guidelines)
q Minimum of 3 performance assistants / q Traditional and/or special effects make-up artist
q Costume Designer
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