The Beginning of the new year

Well the holidays is now completed and it's time to begin the new year that is 2013 and I would assure I have lots of plans awaiting. 2012 was just the beginning and I really the beginning for me in terms MerPalooza, my first gig, and the tail making and of course the fan page from facebook. But I said to myself I don't want to remain a rookie this upcoming year, first off I'm a performer and always have, I always have a theatre background maybe yes, I didn't shine like I use to but you know what it's time to go back doing what I love doing and this time it's gonna be a FULL time act. In 2013 I promoting my merman creation that is Angel to the fulliest and also I planning to hire a manager to help get more bookings also in the acting business, one of my dear friends is working with me on musical project which I will not give away at the moment, I'm getting for my online shop and video blogs, which WILL have restrictions all due to those lovely trolls. Working on new tails and planning to return to Mer-Palooza this upcoming year. Gosh so much to do but at the end I feel it would be worth it so far everything has been a blessing for me so I'm greatful for that. Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year, can wait for 2013!

Looking Back on Halloween and the event behind it.

This past week was Halloween and during this festive holiday I was in the middle of doing a local appearence at the local grade school in my area,t how I landed this was mainly because of the fact that after appearence at the Mer-Palooza I became well know for that convention so one of the PTA staff who is also a dear friend of my told me I should do a appearence at the school's Family Fun Night on the week of Halloween and of course I feel I have to do this to live up the future of this title I created. So in my whole month of September and October I spend working on this one event making a new costume buying tons of props and LOTS of candy all for one night it was very long and very daunting cause as a artist I feet I should take of time in my hands.

On October 30th I finally let the people in my neighborhood to give a taste of what Angel is, it was clear that the reaction I was expected was indeed what I was thinking of most of the people and their children were in for the ride already asking questions about gigs and making tails, and the whole idea of performing as a mermaid/merman and of course there were some, SOME mixed reactions and I feel this art form is so misunderstood when people see someone like me dressed as a merman they take it a complete gender confusion but in fail to see their everyday life has mermen around them: King Neptune, Mermaid Man, Aquaman, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and that Nick JR show with the Mer-kids, lol. What I hope is to let people know more about the art form and myth behind the merman and of course mermaids, I don't think it should no longer be a shock factor since we been shock so much now, unless if someone is a complete skinhead or just close minded.

I think from this gig people would show more respect to the artform and maybe would get into it more, overall looking back at my Halloween was something amazing cause I feel I finally let people see the real me and what I love to do as a living if I'm call a freak and such then so be it cause I know I'm not the only one and hey, I get paid for doing this! Lol. But you know what I love every moment of it.

The laptop issues and the lessons and tails behind it.

In the middle of the month September I had a sudden issue with my laptop computer which in my part is a tragic moment since I use it as my main source but instead of me moaning about it I choose to go further of doing what needs to be done, which means prop shopping and more tail making. Halloween is coming up which means costumed theme events and most of the ones I'm attending requires me to appear as my merman counterpart Angel, so durning the never ending journey of putting the laptop issue together I was working on two fabric tails one for swimming and one for walking (harness accepted) and while I was working on my tails I exploring another a somewhat related artform, the world of sideshow. Freaks, human oddities, taboo performers, and it got interested of exploring the art form more so I decided for every Halloween I will set a mock up sideshow display as a living Fiji Mermaid! For those who don't know what a Fiji Mermaid is, they're what we would call a Gaff freak which means a fraud and they would take the skeleton of a fish and a monkey and form them together and present them as a proof of a lost mermaid, it's always something that amuse since I was a child but I use these past weeks to explore the art form. The laptop issue is that it's old, it's five years old and when I call the company they just flat out told me to buy a new one and you know what they are right so everyday I always think of it as a new beginning and that's how it should always be. The tails that I'm making are works of pure theatrical art, the fabric water tail explores the art form of mermaiding of the early years of the 50's and it does still being use but seen very rare now due to popularity of silicone and latex tails so I chose to explore this art form and let me tell you it's a test alright when I think I'm finish it turns out I'm not and the walking tail is in fact inspiried by the costumes of Bob Crowley for the new revamp production of Disney's The Little Mermaid which I fallen in love with equal. Just to put this short durning these past weeks I did felt I've been learning more about this art form and it's alright to get out of the Cyberworld every now and then, and that's how I feel about it all.

The tail that started it all!

For anyone who knew me should know by now my favorite mermaid of all time is Ariel, from the classic Walt Disney animated classic The Little Mermaid and of course since the film's original release the character of Ariel have created an impact of fans young and old even I myself was inspired by the headstrong red headed mermaid and as the time when by people decided to dress as Ariel in homemade costumes or ones brought from the Disney Store, then of course you see her appear at the Disney Parks many times every costume I see are all beautiful and different in every way but none of them didn't really give me an impact until the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid open to the public and they way how they present their mermaids was beyond different than what I expected.

The director of the Broadway production Francesca Zambello didn't want to create a realistic undersea world but a more abstract vision with the help of projections and lighting and costumes that depend on physical movement and all of that was gonna be done by costume designer Tatiana Noginova the whole idea was to use a movement without using wires to give the illusion of them swimming for the mermaids they were given mermaid skirts however attach to the skirts is a moving puppet fish-tail to help create the action of a mermaid swimming and it did work out beautifully on stage. There was something about that awe-struck despite they were skating on heelys and I know I wasn't going to be the only one that's going to try to follow the Broadway costume design  but I was still up for the ride.

I use three different blends of green and aqua to create the color patterns since there's always this large debate over the colors of Ariel's tail so in this case I choose to play around with those shades which I still do, the tail itself is made out of rod wires (the kind you use for cargo boxes) what made the shape of the tail and help out with the movement as well  and the fabric was use layer upon layer for the main detail and of course to hide any flaws and it was hand painted with sequins added and a hint of glitter glue. And to top it all that I also have my own hand painted heelys.

The first time I actually attempt to make an earlier version back in 2009 and I debut it at a convention called JACON in Orlando and the reception was ratter lukewarm, and instead of crying over it, I went back and try again, and this at the Manor Masquerade event in my town back in 2011 and the reception did got better but it still was personally a let down for me, it wasn't until the Mer-Palooza event was announced I decided to go back and rework on it again, and this time I was able to shape the appearance I want. On the beginning of August the Mer-Palooza had begin and right then and there it was pure heaven, I met everyone that I admire were not only in the same room but they all admire the hard work I put into it, and after that the next thing I know I was the "talk about" among the guest who attended the event. I did what I said I would out to do and I do blame on this dry land tail for making everything that's going on for me happening.

Look! It's me with Traci Hines! One of the many people that I admire who said many wonderful things about my costume.

Welcome!

Welcome all to the site of Angel the Little Merman! 

In this page I share with you all of my insights about upcoming information and all things Angel from gigs and bookings, photo shoots, crafting, and tailmaking. 

In the mean time you can also find me on facebook at www.facebook.com/angellittlemerman

Thank you for your support!