Welcome to the Penn and Teller show!

Last night I attended a Penn and Teller show.  It was an exceptionally fun evening.  It was started when my buddy James posted on Facebook that he wanted to attend the show in Mesa.  I had been wanting to catch P&T live for a while now but couldn’t find the time when I had been in Vegas.  Too much booze and gambling I guess.

Anyway, back when I worked for isocurve in New York, my production manager and friend Ephraim Kehlmann had told me that he used to be a sound guy for the P&T show and that he still kept in contact with everyone there.  “Just send me an e-mail,”  he says.  “I’ll see what I can do to get you some tickets,” he says.

So I do.  I say, “Hey old buddy, old pal.  You surely remember me.  Indeed the wildest PHP slinger in the wild west. How could you forget? This guy with amazing skills is in dire need of your direct assistance: for your previous employers Penn and Teller are coming to Arizona and I must obtain entry to this event.”  Or something like that.

A few days later the infamous EK replies, “I was able to get you 4 tickets.  They are waiting at the will call window.” Hooray, hooray indeed.  The week of  James told me he could not procure an escort for the evening.  I chose to invite my friend and distinguished colleague Peter to join us in the festivities.

I picked a restaurant across the street for a 6:00 dinner before the 8:00 show.  Thai food at Nunthaporn where Jasmine and I shared Pad Thai and some Tofu Jungle Curry and good conversation.  I hadn’t spoken to James in quite a while so it was nice to catch up.  We hopped next door and grabbed a cookie at Sweet Cakes and headed to the show.

The show was amazing.  The tickets were great.  We were 4 rows back, smack dab in the middle. I was smirking the entire time, if not laughing out loud.  It was quite a release and relaxation.  The absolute best tricks and jokes were the ones that the audience assistant had no idea what was going on, and wouldn’t know until the end of the show.  Also, the trick I thought they were playing, was indeed not the trick they were playing. My only regret, was that since we had such great tickets, in the middle of the aisle, we were never going to be picked to go up and perform an act with them.

I spent the time to wait in line for a picture with Penn and Teller afterwards.  Asked Penn if he was sweating his balls off in his full suit since it was 98 degrees out.  He replied, “You kidding?  I’m from Vegas.” then we snapped a photo and he was off to the next adoring fan.  I saw one guy have Penn sign a copy of The God Delusion and a very large woman had Teller sign her boob.

Teller seemed like there were fewer people mobbing him when I saw him.  The circle surrounding him was also much wider.  There is a presence that people put off when they are naturally quiet, or still.  It is a little eerie.  Anyway, he asked me what I wanted, I said a photo.  I had no idea what I was in store for.  The photo was actually quite a bit better set up than I thought it was.  Mainly because Jasmine was having a tough time taking the picture, and I thought the picture was already taken.  So my huge smile was replaced with a half-smile and looking somewhat away from the camera.  It made the Teller-staring-at-me that much more entertaining.

The entire process of meeting them was well worth it. I also think that more entertainers should take the time to meet the fans.  It took them a whopping 45 minutes before the crowd had nearly completely dissipated and every one of us has a little story to tell.  Did you know I had a conversation with Teller?  I mean, not really, he asked what I wanted and I replied that I wanted a photo.  But to me, it was a conversation. I am sure other people will create their own fishing story of it.

On a side note.  The pictures I took with Penn and Teller made me realize that I have a ways to go before I am at my fighting weight again.  Kinda sad. I also learned that I should probably shave when I go out in public.  I can’t grow facial hair.