As part of Melbourne Fringe, Brian Feldman performed #txtshow (on the internet) via Zoom. He live streamed the event from Washington D.C.
The show was described online as: “This completely immersive multiscreen performance features a mysterious character called txt (pronounced “text”) who recites a script written anonymously in real-time by a live audience (on the internet).”
“As the content is based entirely upon what audience members write in anonymity, this limited capacity show may contain mature themes, profane language, and explicit sexual content. Happening on Zoom, audience members must keep their camera and microphone on the entire show.”
I have sketched live TXT shows many times in the past when Brian performed in Orlando. It was a nice change to see the audience reactions by seeing them on the computer screen.
It was late here in Orlando when the performance began, so I had the bright idea of enjoying the show from the hot tub. I hadn’t considered the logistics of having to do a watercolor sketch while in the tub. I sank down mid chest and had to raise my elbows to try and keep the sketch pad above the water. Another thing I hadn’t considered was that the lights might not be on while I sketched. I worked with the ambient glow from the computer screen and balanced the sketchbook on the edge of the hot tub. Another thing I hadn’t thought about is that the moderator wanted us to keep our camera on. The problem was be were not wearing bathing suits. Modesty forced us to keep the camera off for part of the performance but then we went ahead and turned it on. Since the lights were off, it didn’t matter. The flesh tones didn’t appear in the darkness.
Pam started typing a complex text for Brian to perform and in her haste, she dropped her phone in the hot tub. She pulled it out immediately and dried it off with a towel but the damage had been done. She turned it off and ran to the kitchen to put it in a container of rice. She explained that turning it on with water inside might short circuit it. She did sent off some more texts via computer as the show went on. She had Brian do some physical performances like pretending he was stuck to the back wall of his set.
His set was surprisingly stark. I love sketching from Zoom since people don’t usually think of the camera angles and they often have the camera pointing up a the ceiling. This creates some fun sketches of people in their homes from strange angles. Brian must have hung a pure white sheet behind him because his dark black suite stood out from a pure white backdrop. One woman was laughing with delight the whole show. We scrolled to her several times to watch her laugh. Another woman frowned the entire show, she never seemed amused. This made for a fun performance. Since I was sketching live, I discovered I couldn’t spend much time sketching each audience member since Pam was enjoying scrolling through the faces to watch reactions a swell. As in a live performance people on occasion remarked about each other, like when someone complimented one audience members hat. TXT made such a seamless adaptation to the new technology offered by Zoom. This was a fun night with absolute social distancing.
The next day several buttons stopped working on Pam’s phone, but over time the features returned and her phone made a full recovery from its dunk in the tub.