The Ancient Astronomer

At the end of a show, kids often ask if I built the Planetarium projector in the middle of the room.

This happened this morning, and this is how it went...

Kid: "Did you build that machine?"

Me: "Well, I was one year old when that was installed, so I was no help at all in building it!"

This NORMALLY gets a little chuckle. Not this time. This time the kid's eyes just got all wide... "WOW! That thing must be OLD!"

I got kind of quiet and said, "*-sigh-* Yup. Really, really old."

One of the teachers thought that was hilarious.

I had a group this morning. When they arrived, I was just sitting outside in the shade. I was feeling pretty unmotivated, and just sort of grunted a hello. They asked if they could go in (they were very excited!), and I said, "I suppose so."

So I ambled inside, and sat them down.

I got into show mode pretty quickly (screaming at them, getting them all laughy and wound up), but I think my earlier attitude stuck with some of them. About half way through the show this one kid, with no humor in his voice whatsoever, said to me all sorts of matter-of-facty, "You know. You are a lot funnier than I thought you were going to be."

I'll take it as a compliment!

Gutbusters

I do a lot of screaming at children in my planetarium shows. It really gets out a lot of frustration. If you haven't screamed at the top of your lungs to a room of 65 seven-year-olds, you have not lived. Trust me, it's awesome.

What happens is this: I ask a stupid question ("Mercury is hotter than your oven. If the oven is on is it a good idea to go inside?"). They yell out an answer. Sometimes they answer appropriately, sometimes they get all wise-assy and answer a stupid question with a stupid answer. No matter how they respond, a second later I scream at the top of my lungs in a horribly annoyed tone: "NOOOO! Stay out of the oven!! What're'ya crazy!!?"

The kids, in general, go wild. They laugh and laugh. Soon they get into it, and whenever I ask a stupid question they respond stupidly, just so I will scream louder. And everytime I do, they laugh harder.

I had a girl who laughed harder than anyone I've ever seen. It actually didn't matter what I'd say after a while she'd just be there cackling away.

At one point, through agonized breaths, she pleaded: "Please. Stop. No. More. Please. My guts are gonna fall out!"

OK, that got me laughing. The teacher next to her got laughing.

Not sure if there are any stand up comedians out there reading this, but if so, please vouch for me when I say: When you're killing, you don't back off. No presenter is going to say "Oh, they are enjoying themselves WAY too much, I'd better stop doing such a good job." Oh, no. I just POURED it on thicker than ever.

I thought the girl was going to die. Literally. Just stop breathing and die. That doesn't mean I backed off then, either -- hey, I have to give them a good show!

After the group left (she could hardly walk... still laughing on the way out) I realized that I could have made a horrible, horrible mistake. But I checked the seat she was sitting in. It was dry.

A Year and a Half?!?

Holy moley -- I haven't posted in a year and a half. Amazed the blog is still here. Glad Blogger doesn't kill off unattended Blogs.

So, why have I come back? Well, we are moving forward quickly in upgrading the Planetarium... I was in Chadds Ford, PA on Monday and got to experience a Digistar 3 digital projection system. And I was blown away.

And then, yesterday, a guy came to give us estimates on redoing the seats.

This process can only lead to chaos and hilarity. And, hopefully, a whole new theater!

I won't get too excited until the new system is actually installed, because I've been horribly, horribly let down before...

But, fingers are crossed.