Sectional Healing: Secrets of the Live Shows
WRITE SECTION
As you may or may not know, The PMG is in the middle of a live show tour that has taken me away from this newsletter for the last month. In two weeks, we wrap up our tour in Dallas and to promote this last hurrah, we contracted out the creation of this very, very slick video to encourage people to either join us in person in Dallas OR in the comfort of your own home via livestream.
This video does a really great job capturing the look and feel of a live-show, but I wanted to provide a director’s cut commentary for some of the parts and scenes including YABOI.
THE PREGAME ROUTINE
Big muttering energy. For me, it’s important to soullessly and uncomedically go over all my talking points so that I don’t do the entire show like a deer who has been lost in the warming glow of oncoming headlights. Typically I try to work this in between moments of dry-heaving and hyperventilating into whatever bags I can find.
Also, this is my favorite shirt that I inadvertently smoothie tucked and lost as a result of the chaos after the show. I guess I now understand what Vietnam was like.
2. THE LEAGUE OF SHADOWS
EXTREME BANE VOICE: “Ahhhhh you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark etc etc”
Another very important part of my process is to loom silently amid the shadows in the backstage before we go on while also intermittently sprinting back to the green room for unsubtle shots of whiskey. Everyone loves this eccentricity of mine and it makes no one else uncomfortable and unsure of my preparedness.
3. THE OLE “WHERE WAS I??” PANIC MOVE
IT ME. 30 seconds into the show and I’m looking at my notes because I forgot what comes after, “HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE POPCAST LIVE.”
Also, Ashley told me not to wear a sweater over my button down because it would be unflattering. here is EXHIBIT A that she was right.
4. THE COMPULSIVE HYDRATION
Four minutes and thirty seconds in, I’ve smashed 1.5 bottles of water because I’m a nervous consumer of beverages. At these shows, I request a handheld microphone so that it give me a physical constant to tether myself to, otherwise I 10000% would become Ricky Bobby in not knowing what to do with my hands.
(Also, Aquafina: NOT A SPONSOR.)
5. THE EMPHATIC REGRET OF FASHION CHOICES
Erin, Jamie, and myself during an audience segment. Also, the moment I realized that as much as I love bowties, I do have a head the size of a hot-air balloon so OF COURSE a bowtie will look more like a launchpad than it will a stylish affectation.
I think it’s just that if you learn to tie a bowtie, you are always looking for an opportunity to opt for the bowtie look even if it makes you look like a big-headed supervillain from the Mario Brothers video game franchise.
Regardless, if any of this looks interesting to you, click it here to learn more about joining us in person or via livestream. I promise you one thing: it won’t be boring.
PICTURE SECTION
READS SECTION
The Shaming Industrial Complex…
My High School’s Secret Fantasy Slut League…
Activist Publishes Redacted Version of Classified Military UFO Report…
This Isn’t A Vibe Shift; It’s A Permanent change…
The Rise of the Recliner as a Male Social Space…
SUBSCRIBER SECTION
Most recently, subscribers of this here substack received my Secretly Sacred chapter on “LOST and Certainty” in both the written AND audio book form.
What’s this?? AN EXCERPT??
GOOD DOG SECTION
I was at the Birmingham show and I LOVED your bow tie and sweater. 😂😂
Also loved this essay on your process.
Would someone kindly explain the Baskin Robbins picture to me? I don't get it, maybe because I'm too old, not from the South, or ???