David in Sanya!

Believe it or not (after my last experience) I agreed to provide the Holiday entertainment for another five-star Resort in Sanya.  This time it was for the new Hilton Resort.  Again it was a last minute request (these people do not seem to plan ahead).  Three weeks in advance, they ask me if I can provide “some magic and otherwise activate” their New Year festivities.  Right up my alley but short notice.

Luckily I was able to get two of my best magicians (the amazing Ukrainian who does the incredible bird production and the Chinese magician I have worked with many times before).   And I talked the Hilton into the idea that I, with a dancing partner, posing as ordinary guests, would guarantee “an active” party.

The plan was for the three of us to do close up magic walking around the premises (Restaurants, Lobby, Poolside….etc) during the days before and after New Years and to pull out all stops for our stage performances on New Year’s Eve.  The theme for New Year’s Eve was the  “Magic of Dance.”  Throughout the lavish dinner, the floor show included the house band playing, a local dance troupe doing a variety of numbers in between our two segments of the stage magic — first the lovely Erica dazzling them with cards and discs and then the grand finale with Sergey, the “Amazing Fox.”

My partner (a dancer I brought down from Beijing) and I were seated and eating amongst the other guests.   And just at the opportune time it was our task to jump up and “activate” the other guests into full participation with the evening’s festivities.  This was carefully calculated to build up to the New Year’s count-down crescendo.  First it was just the impulsive act of dancing to the performing house band on stage (of course, this was filmed and projected onto the large screens throughout the ballroom) to implant the idea in the guest’s minds that it was alright to become more than just an observer.  As the evening progressed more and more others joined us (initially with our prompting) and before the evening was over the entire ballroom was pulsating in a limbda line on its way to the beach where the fabulous Latin Project from Shanghai would ring in the New Year. — We had done our job!

All in all, it was a great success.  The Resort and its guests were quite pleased and we all got paid without even any mention of the standard after the fact “renegotiation”.
(for visuals see http://picasaweb.google.com/suttonleming/DispatchFromChina71)

THINKING OUT OF THE BOX

Wholistic thinking, what I used to call “systems thinking” can help clarify your way and create obstacles on the path at the same time.  What I am learning now is that I am not very good at overcoming these self-imposed obstacles.   My impatience with tunneling vision derails me every time.

It is always a mixed blessing for me to be asked to broaden a project’s thinking.  While, I love the intellectual challenge I now know lurking
over the horizon of an expanded vision is a whole new series of obstacles that dwarf those circumvented by the new broaden view.  Time and time again (whether it be the Internet concept above, the Wine Company, Shanghai English Program or the Entertainment Productions before it) I am stopped by barriers of my own making.

Now I have been asked to help expand the mission of a hospital — to help create a vision of a hospital delivering “Integrative Medicine.” I began with creating the piece below on “Integral Thinking” to stimulate some “out-of-the-box” thinking among the staff.

SHERATON SANYA RESORT

presents

“Special Events for 2007″

M.A.G.I.C. Productions, Sanya’s new International Entertainment Events Company is proposing to help create several special events for the National Holidays in 2007 for the Sheraton Sanya Resort.

Initially two Holiday weekends are being proposed:

Weekend of May 4-6, 2007 –  “Special International Labor Day Celebration” –

A weekend commemorating the value of labor and pride in work.  The backbone of China’s prominent position in the world today is its valuable labor force.  Here we celebrate those who ‘get things done’ in China.

Throughout the world music and song have supported, even led, various social movements. This is especially true of the international labor movement.  In the United States, ‘folk songs’ (those ’songs of conscience’ sung by the common people) have inspired the peace, environment and labor social movements.

International Labor Day, May 1st is the common festival of all the proletariats and working people of the world.  It began with a great workers strike in Chicago of the U.S. and has been accompanied by grand songs of the people ever since.  Here we present a mix of traditional and international singers and entertainers who represent this musical legacy. We can, of course, continue a “Magic of Work” theme throughout.

Weekend of October 5-7, 2007 — “A Gala National Day Celebration”  –

A weekend celebrating high culture in traditional and modern China as it mixes with International culture today. Elegant evenings of National Pride would feature the Classical orchestra from Shanghai with the two excellent singers (see attachment) along with an array of International performers and beautiful models modeling traditional gowns and the latest in high-fashion.  And, of course, the “Magic of Culture”….

POSSIBLE PERFORMER LINE -UP (In addition to those we have used before in entirely different contexts)

A number of different International Folk Singers

Shanghai’s Classical Orchestra and Prize -winning Classical Singers(see attached)

Classical Chamber music Quartet

Australian Dance Group

High-wire and fire act.

African Dance and Music troupe

Sanya Dance Troupe, Traditional Local Dance Ensemble

MARKETING AND PROMOTION:

M.A.G.I.C. PRODUCTIONS and its performers expect to have these performances and their talents duly promoted on and off the Sheraton premises. Bios and background information will be furnished well in advance so that promotional materials can be produced and distributed.  With the proper lead time, M.A.G.I.C. PRODUCTIONS can assist in creating the kind of “buzz” that could position the Sheraton and its offerings above all others in Sanya.