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BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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Monday, March 12, 2018
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BACK to my Sept. 6, 2017 show.
Grace Blair forced âa little something for my effortâ in my hand after the show.
I wasnât expecting a talent fee because I thought the bottle of red wine was already more than enough. And it was my farewell party!
But she insisted.
I relented, but I was also embarrassed to inspect what she gave me in front of her. It was folded money, I could tell. But I didnât look hard enough. She guided my hand to my pocket, and I pushed the money in there quick. Afraid that her hands would go any deeper.
*
When I reached home in Dumangas, I went out celebrating my sweet success with my entourage: my PA, my makeup artist, and my film crew. They captured my performance in their cellphones and videocams.
We did a post mortem of my show, and they made me feel so good. They sang me praises, and not only because I bought them beer. I really felt I did a good job.
From the videos, I relived the moments when the audience was doubled over with laughter.
And there was that moment when I read my âDear Zachâ letter that completely mesmerized the room, and kept it seriously silent.
*
No bullshit, my entourage told me, I am a great performance artist.
And nobody, nobody but Peter Solis Nery, can command the audience that way.
And then, I remembered what Ms. Blair slipped into my hand, which I pushed inside my pocket.
With fanfare, I took it out, and shared it with my crew.
And we were shocked. Because the boys have friends in Ilonggo bands, too; and they know very well how much the music bands are paid for their nightly gigs.
*
With Grace Blairâs âlittle somethingâ, Troi Oi has just made me the highest paid local performer (solo acts and bands included) in the Ilonggo restaurant/bar entertainment scene.
And my entourage, my film crew, makeup artist, and PA can attest to that.
Sure, mine is not a regular gig. But still!
And besides, I donât need a regular gig like that. Iâm Peter Solis Nery!
I only need a show once in a while to show whoâs on top.
*
Fast forward to four months later.
When I announced on Facebook that I was going to the Philippines to attend the 50th Dinagyang, Grace suggested that I could do something at Grace Blairâs resto to create more Dinagyang activities.
The idea of alternative and supplemental Dinagyang show got me excited.
Sure, people said they wanted to see more of my shows after my September show, but I also know that people can be fickle.
And in fact, I wasnât so wrong. Because for my Jan. 26 Dinagyang concert, it was entirely a different crowd that came.
And still, it was another resounding success.
*
I was warned that Dinagyang weekend could be very noisy at the Boardwalk with live bands in the common areas. So I designed a show for Dinagyang Friday, Jan. 26.
It was to kick off Dinagyang 50, all right. But I wasnât sure who were coming so I couldnât really see the whole show in my mind.
I was hoping 20-somethings and 30-somethings would flock to the show so I could talk about the Dinagyang orgies, and my recent grand tour of Europe.
I wanted to influence people into more travels (and more safe sex) before they turn 40.
*
It turned out, most of the people in my audience were themselves pretty well travelled. And mostly over 40, too.
There were a lot of foreigners and balikbayans in the crowd. To be fair, Grace Blairâs resto always has this very cosmopolitan vibe.
I mean, if you are an Ilonggo, or an Ilonggo balikbayan, and you want to show off the best of Iloilo past batchoy and chicken inasal, you bring them to Graceâs. Great food, authentic Vietnamese taste, excellent service, wonderful crowd.
If you are a foreigner, and you want a decent meal, excellent service, cozy ambience, and a greater chance to bump into other tourists and expats, this is definitely the place for you.
*
And if thereâs a Peter Solis Nery show at the resto, itâs all the more reason to go and check it out. Because these things do not happen everyday.
And as they say, a Peter Solis Nery show is more than just a show. Itâs a party, and I have a knack for gathering the best crowd. Always.
Itâs not the same crowd all the time, except for loyal fans, the âusual suspectsâ, but the vibe is always the same. Fun, entertainment, and a certain class and sophistication.
I am a most grateful performer in the world because people come to my show for love. Love for me, and love for adventure.
*
For my Dinagyang Friday show, Leocita Talanas-Sauter in Texas, USA made a reservation, and paid the cover, for 10 of her friends in Iloilo. I only met Leocita on Jan. 5 in Virginia, and she was convinced Iâm funny as hell so she made sure her friends watched my show.
But the first reservation (for a table for eight) was called in by Maria Rosea Bettler. Ms. Bettler is the sister of my former classmate Alexa Larsson. Alexa is now in Sweden, and I met her and her family for dinner in Stockholm last November.
From what I gathered, Alexa insisted that her sister watch my show. Rosea did better, and brought the whole clan!
My friend Romyleen Mitra from Los Angeles also cut her Boracay trip short to be able to catch my show.
*
Dr. Joemarie Jardiolin from Australia, a classmate of mine in Biology at UPV, also came with his significant other. My show made for a wonderful reunion for Joemarie and I, but the couple made for a great show material, too.
Alex de los Santos came all the way from Antique. And that made me teary eyed for a bit. Iâm sure Alex was there more to support the launch of Mel Turaoâs kickass book âInsatiable: A Literary Biography of Peter Solis Nery.â But he could have been there to throw support for me, too. Iâll say it again, Alex, Mel and Felino Garcia are my best writer-friends.
There was also in my show Dr. Ruben Gamala of UPV, who even dragged Vice Chancellor (for Research and Extension) Dr. Rolly Fuentes, and Mr. Delfin Aledro from UPV Tacloban, and my friend Juvy Janeo of UPV Iloilo. (To be continued/PN)
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