These are some of the most unique settings we've performed in.
1) The city dump in Quito, Ecuador. People live there in order to find clothing, food, and shelter. Sometimes they find things they can sell in the street for a little money. We went twice with teenagers from Alliance Academy who visit each week to provide food, hygiene, and educational opportunities. One of our visits was Naomi's 12th birthday.
2) The women's prison, also in Quito. Women from five continents were there, mostly for running drugs. They serve seven year sentences often with their children having to live there with them. Many of the women have to prostitute themselves to pay their 'rent' on their cells. One of our shows was in the courtyard, where teenaged guards looked down on us from the watchtowers, armed with machine guns. I did not take my machetes out of my bag.
3) A cow pasture in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Some church members strung up some lights and made a makeshift stage. Cattle roamed around as the Dominican musicians played, I juggled, and a young seminarian preached. Watch where you step!
4) Weddings. We have been part of the 'entertainment' at three wedding receptions.
5) My brother's driveway. Many years ago, when I was just out of college, I was staying with my oldest brother and his family. I was practicing there when his daughter came walking home from school with a group of friends. Spontaneously, I turned my practice session into a show for the kids.
6) My father's kitchen. My father had neighbors whose little girl often came over to visit him. Once Sue and I were there when she and a friend were over. We talked about our show, and I told them, "Get some of your friends from the neighborhood, and I'll do a show here in 20 minutes." They did, and I did.
7) A ministers' conference on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. What was unique here is that I am 100% caucasian, but I was asked to be the closing speaker at a conference on a reservation for Indian pastors on how to minister to Native people! Good thing I watched all those episodes of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman!
8) A local grocery store. A store in Naples, ME. has a Christmas open house every year. Our church's music ministry, puppet team, and our family have performed there several years in a row.
9) Bars. Before we had children, it was common for Sue and me to go to bars that were having open mic nights. We'd get on the program and do our Gospel presentation when our turn came up. Sometimes we were heckled, often we were applauded, once we were threatened, but we ALWAYS had people come up to us after our programs to share their problems, tell us of the faith of their mothers or grandmothers or wives, and even book us to come to their homes and perform at family parties!
10) A corn maze. Locally, there was a corn maze that was a fund raiser for a program for battered women. As people lined up to enter the maze, we juggled for them, right there by the side of the road.