On this day six years ago, only two things of note took place around the globe: I turned 22 years old, and the Instruments of the Now performed our first official show together in Huaraz, Peru. Please don’t be offended by facts, I’ve done my research on this one…
Before sponsors and donors, there was an idea: performances can educate about life and my life can educate about performance art. When the Instruments of the Now began Tour Now & Then, we founded it on the radical and potent idea that any dreams could be achieved by focusing on the present moment. As far back as our South American start, we incorporated this idea in our public performances, proving its validity by dreaming up international tours that bridged cultures using circus arts.
The simple “any-dream-is-possible” concept is widely preached, but while brewing a dream, small sacrifices bubble up, almost imperceptibly dissolving sharp, radical edges. Budgets, calendars, contracts, and comments can all take small pieces of our idealism from a vision until it vanishes completely or becomes generic, bite-sized, and marketable. This new dreamy product might taste marvelous to a wide audience, but products like Now-&-Then-Bars and Instrument Bits weren’t why my brother and I started down a performance path… although our Vanilla Fireball flavor is to-die-for. ;-)
The potency of my performances, articles, and speeches was founded on being real and addressing hard truths. If we had diluted our method this would have been glaringly apparent to our loyal audiences. Instead, as our efforts matured in their tangibility, like-minded sponsors and donors had a cause they could grasp and generously helped bring our tours into reality. Regardless of a recession, promises, or popularity, the only time we ever had to put our dreams into motion was in the moment.
Popularity is the opportunity cost of being unique and having a voice…a small price to pay when compared to the flipped equation. This has been the governing credo for my role as Executive Director. Tour Now & Then irreplaceably fills a motivational performance and education niche, and we will continue to do so while settling for an “Honorable Mention” in popularity contests.
2010 was a return to the original ideals of sharing our passion and mission, not because it made financial sense, but because it was right and it was NOW. Ryan Reeves, from our 2008 tour joined me on a month-long run averaging more than one show a day up and down the West coast. This is the only way I know how to do tours – completely overbooked.
Our duo performed and taught at diabetes camps, a circus camp, children’s hospitals, street performances, public fundraisers, festivals, and a radio show. We brought live music, juggling, clowning, circus education, audience participation, pipe-cleaner-superheroes, laughs and inspiration through four states, free-of-charge. A written account of our tour would not be as entertaining as the radio show that my musician and I did on the Diabetes Power Show towards the end of our tour. It is a very humorous and interesting account of some tour shenanigans while tying in performance, inspiration, and most importantly… ME!
As always I humorously allude to a lack of funds that is very real. The other concept that is just as true, is that all our tour costs would be covered if everyone reading this donated $5-$10. “Pocket change!” you scoff, “I thought this was a legitimate cause requiring large donations!” This statement couldn’t be truer.
Tour Now & Then’s operations don’t stop with the summer tour. When we manage to cover our costs, the remaining funds will immediately go towards funding the HICCUP Youth Circus Winter Camp that I am co-directing in Hawaii. Please continue to send in your donations of every size without fear of judgment. Even small amounts will go a long way in TNT’s endeavors… plus you get a free tour sticker. Thank you for all of your support over the years, the moment, and the future.
No matter how wealthy we are, we can’t afford to give up our dreams.
+ Amazing TNT 2010 Radio Interview +
