The Buried Life

I remember one day over the summer I was bored and hot, so I decided to turn on the TV. I normally don’t watch MTV but there was a show on called The Buried Life. It happened to be a marathon of this show that day and I literally sat on the couch for hours watching it. It was fascinating and so intriguing to me. If you have never heard of it before this show is about four young men who journey around the country trying to cross things off their bucket list. And for every dream they conquer they help someone else conquer one of their dreams.
Two things struck me; one, the fact I had spent a whole afternoon completely lost in this show and two, the fact this show was on MTV. Whenever I think of an MTV show I think of the Real World and Jersey Shore. Neither of which I find appealing. MTV has actually broadcast a show that is doing some good for the world.
I came across this article called, “MTV’s ‘The Buried Life’ vs. ‘Jersey Shore’”. To sum it up it basically says even though The Buried Life if a feel good more suitable towards life show, the ratings are poor, while Jersey Shore is a must see for many every week. The article states: “Just wish a show about fulfilling your dreams and inspiring others could have a larger fraction of the impact as a show about chasing hook-ups and getting into bar fights.”
I know I would rather watch a show that gives me inspiration and ideas of things I could potentially want to do with my life than watch a show where girls pull each other’s hair and everyone is super, super tan . I have never watched an episode of Jersey Shore and I never plan to. Not that the show is bad by any means it just simply doesn’t interest me.
I wonder why this is? Why do ratings go up with clubs and Jacuzzi’s but not for people getting to accomplish amazing dreams and changing the world. I know the world isn’t always rainbows and butterflies but neither is this show. They have had their downfalls. They have been arrested for trying to do outrageous things, like streak at a championship soccer game. But these make for great stories and give us the power of having an adrenaline rush. Plus it is funny. I just hope more people discover this show and realize the humor and intrinsic message it portrays.

Article website: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/mtvs-buried-life-jersey-shore-34611

Baton Twirling: My Story

So in my first post I told you all I was a baton twirler. Please check out this video an Emerson student (Meredith Constant) put together of me. It is a well done story and you will get to see some of my twirling along the way. Hope you enjoy it!

T Mobile Commerical- The Making

I figured it took a lot of work to get 400 people dancing the same dance but I never knew how it was done until I checked out this video. If you are fascinated by the T-Mobile commercial you need to check out this video to see how it was done. It took 10 hidden cameras, 10,000 auditions, all cut down to the final 400 picked to dance together in the Liverpool train station in London. They were looking for all types of people to get in on this phenomenon. But the best part about the making of this video was the sound bytes at the end made up of the complete strangers who witnessed this miracle. For some it made a bad day brighter and gave hundreds of smiles.

Mark Salling Album Release Party

I am an intern at E! News and this past Thursday night we covered Mark Salling's record release party for his new album called "Pipe Dreams". It was at the BBM Louge which is a very chill place. I'd say it's classy meets modern, if that makes any sense. Salling  for those of you who don't know him he is also known as Puck on the hit show Glee.
The carpet started at around nine and Mark and his band arrived and stood in frong of the glaring flashes that overwhelmed the scene. Everyone wanted to ask about the GQ magazine scandal with his co-stars on Glee but the publicists shot that idea down very quickly. So it was all good natured questions about their music. It was their first live performance off of their new album. It was amazing. It's rock mixed with every type of instrument you can think of. The crowd was loving it

The violinist, Peter Lee Johnson, is incredible. You have to check out this youtube video. He is brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7jBX4DdXIw

This is My Dream!

Please please check this youtube clip out. I've always wanted this to happen in my lifetime. Just everyone bust out into the same dance in a public place. This is awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM

I've heard through the grapevine that it is a group of people and they practice in a huge warehouse and then they head to a public place and put on a performance. If anyone involved in the video is reading this, please please please get back to me. I want to be apart of it so badly!

A list of Street Performers in the Order I want to See Them

I came across this article, 7 Famous Street Performers and Where to Spot Them. So I've come up with a list of the street performers in this article, in order that I would like to see them.

1. The Bushman (Because it is so clever and just seems so funny.)

2. Baton Bob (Because I am a baton twirler)

3. Johan Lorbeer (Because seeing a floating man would be amazing! )

4. Larry Wright (Drums are awesome I'd dance!)

5. The Naked Cowboy (He is pretty good looking folks)

6. Costumed characters on Hollywood Walk of Fame (This is lower on my list because I know the real Mickey lives in Disney World and Disney Land, but it would still be fun to see none- the- less)

7. Dog, Cat, Rat, (Not interesting to me)

Please post if anyone has seen any of these street performers. Do you agree with my list?

SHAQ the SHAMROCK? A Street Performer!?

(Photo Credit: Celtics.com)                                 

I saw this article today, "Shaq to be a Boston Street Performer." You all HAVE to check it out. For those of you who don't follow up with sports, Shaquille O'neal plays for the Boston Celtics now. It seems to me he is enjoying the change from sunny California to seasonal Boston for two reasons. 1. He wants to be refered to now as Shamrock, and 2. He is going to do a little street performing in Harvard Square. The article says he is going to sit on a bench for an hour and be a statue. He is allowing people to take pictures and put their arm around him, but he will not have any conversations because he is, well, a statue. Take a look. AND... don't forget to tell me what you think!

From the Streets to the White House

Hey guys! Just wanted you to check out this article I found, "Naked Cowboy" wants to be US President. The Naked Cowboy is exactly his title. He walks the streets of New York mostly naked and takes pictures with the tourists. Even in the dead of winter he just wears his skivvies!
He is pretty well known, as a street performer, but yesterday he stated he was going to run for president. He officially announced his canadacy at a press conference last week. This is way too bizarre! .
What do you all think! I want feedback =)

Could I Possibly Be a Street Performer?

Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog Passing the Hat! For my first entry I wanted to talk about what sparked my interest in street perfomers. I have always been facinating with street performing, mainly because I've always wanted to do it myself. I am a baton twirler. I have been for the past twenty years, which means I started when I was three. I know right!? What were my parents thinking?? Actually, I am quite glad they put me in it because at a young age I was able to find my passion, which is performing.

Throughout my twirling career I have won seven national titles and have performed all over the world. It is truly a unique talent and I feel very blessed to have aquired the skills. This is why I have such a love for street performing, because all of the talent is raw and unique. They go out to the street day after day because of that passion I was talking about earlier, the passion to perform.

Let's dig a little deeper into this talent! Shall we?
Also if you want to take a look at this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7aVlEVFJis. It was an Emerson College student that did a package on me. Check it out =)