File puptcrit/puptcrit.0905, message 288


From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 11:57:01 -0400
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] First Puppets



On May 12, 2009, at 10:11 PM, Hobey Ford wrote:

>   Christopher also has a good point in that it really must be a hassle 
> and perhaps not a performance to look back on and think how great a 
> venue was that, But then think of what it would mean to your grand 
> kids to know that we performed there in an historical sense?

   Okay, the gig was a hassle in some respects. But it was also a good 
time and something for the personal history book. As I said before, not 
only did I perform there, I met a lot of great people (some of them 
stars/celebrities, some not) and have photos of me at the White House. 
Some were photos I took, others were official White House Photos.

   Let me frame it out for those who are unfamiliar with the gig. It is 
the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. If I recall correctly, it is 
the Monday after Easter. We always had to be there VERY early in the 
morning - like 4:30 or 5:00 - to go through security and such. That was 
the time to be at the security gate - you had to leave extra time for 
parking and the treck to the gate, so you had to be there even earlier. 
Then, once you cleared security, there was a LOT of standing around 
before anything actually happened, as the event didn't start until much 
later - after 8:00, I think. Easter is typically March/April, so it is 
still pretty chilly in DC, particularly at the crack of dawn. 
Performers are scheduled to do a spot on one of the stages and/or 
roving entertainment. Over the years I did both. When the gates open 
for the public, THOUSANDS of people flood in. There are lots of 
entertainers, greats and unknowns, amateur and professional alike, and 
lots of things going on. It is a HUGE event. As an entertainer there, 
you are only one of dozens (if not hundreds). There are costumed 
characters/mascots, clowns, puppeteers, magicians, singers, high school 
bands, etc. And stars and celebrities. And all of the entertainers are 
second fiddle to the main event - the Egg Roll and the Easter Bunny. 
This is not the event that focuses or revolves around you and you 
alone. But even after all of that, it is still THE White House you're 
performing at, and that's pretty cool.

   I don't know if any of the performers get paid, but I know many did 
not - myself included. Except for the fact that some of us were being 
paid as entertainers from another source, and this was considered a 
publicity event. Several times when I was there I was on the payroll of 
the Circus and we were playing DC at the time, so while I was not being 
paid by the White House, I was being paid to be there. Same would be 
true of others like Willard Scott and the Today Show crew, Ronald 
McDonald, etc. They were paid, but not by the White House. Others, 
particularly those who were not professionals, did it for free for the 
honor and "bragging rights" of performing at the White House.

   Sometimes someone in the current First Family would watch you 
perform, and maybe even meet you in person. More often you would never 
know if they did. Sometimes you would be a part of a photo opportunity 
with any level of Government official or family member. I have a photo 
of me with Nixon, and a photo of Reagan that I am in, and a photo of my 
wife with Tipper Gore. I also have event credentials and/or memorabilia 
from many other times there.

    Anyway, I'm getting off on a tangent. My point is that you may or 
may not get paid to perform at the White House or any other 
governmental event. It would depend a lot on what the event was, if it 
(or you) were sponsored by someone or an agency, what you were doing, 
your negotiating abilities, and so on. Some events that I worked, I was 
first requested to do for free, most I was able to get paid for or 
politely turned down. I recall the event at the Vice President's house. 
It was connected to a charity of some kind. When I was called for that, 
they asked me to donate my services. They even told me that Maya 
Angellu (sp?) and Barbara Streistand (sp?) were going to be there. I 
wanted to say that, when I made as much for one appearance as Babs, I'd 
gladly donate my time, but until then I had bills to pay. I didn't say 
that, but I did get paid - though I gave them a bit of a discount.

   I would imagine that if you were to do a private event for the 
Obamas, you would probably get paid. It's not like the guy doesn't get 
paid to be President, and he seems to have a pretty realistic idea that 
people need to make a living, so I kind of doubt you'd be asked to do 
the gig for free. A big, public function? Well, that's handled entirely 
differently, and you may be asked to donate your services.

   Would I do the White House and/or Easter Egg Roll again if the 
opportunity arose? It a strong possibility, paid or not. Would it still 
be a hassle? Yeah, but like all of life, some hassles come with the 
package. It's kind of like that chocolate bunny at Easter - you gotta 
tear through the cellophane, open the box, and peal back the foil to 
get to the chocolate. Kind of a hassle, but it's worth it every once 
and a while.

Christopher

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