#Songket Alliance's Ramshackle

[teeaah]

Ramshackle, 21 October 2017 Notes

8 performers

5 women

3 men

4 Crews

3 women

1 man

Problems:

-One performer dropped out two weeks before the show. That’s fine, ya’ll, I overbooked, until...

-One performer dropped out two hours before the show--lol.

-Another person who was supposed to be the Ethics Police dropped out a week before.

-We went over capacity (UNPRECEDENTED BERABIS).  BUT the show is meant for a small audience so if ya late, and ya complain, TRY NOT TO COME AN HOUR AFTER THE SHOW, ASSHOLES.

-ShaSha’s recording of El Domingo just not working that we had to pull Jeff in to do it live (YO, HOW TALENTED IS JEFF THO)

-Interns who wait for instructions (even though intructions were given)

All these dropping outs, I wonder if these people would have dropped out if this was the case with bigger shows/event they had done...?

Fav things:

Hariz’s first poem (what talent, much love, such amaze) and the reactions to it

“Tuan, which is your favourite performance” “Siiigh… mana satu yang nda banyak haramnya?”

Protecting Dzumira’s eyes i.e. the youngest person in the room (under 10 years old) from Izuana’s presentation that involves a sex related chat up line.

“Why go up when you can go down”-a story of eyeliner

“I was driving when the car suddenly…” “CRASHED!” “Uhm… we are here at the beggining of the story and there’s a whole page left of this…”

“I’ve never matched with anyone in this room, except… maybe a few” *knowing looks at the people she’s matched on Tinder

“YA ALLAH” “SUBHANALLAH!”-Hidayah in the audience

“ASTAGHFIRULLAH!” “You’re learning” *nods in approval*

“A DILDO”

“What is this? … Pore minimising primer… Uhm, NO THANKS.”

People swearing up to the skies and heavens

The Story of Ilham and Improv

The Ethics Police is a fucking silly idea we came up with during rehearsals when we noticed ShaSha’s performance had too much swearing. The idea started with a profanity bell, rung when someone swears.

We had an initial Ethics Police who dropped out the week before. We pulled Ilham in, because at 10pm—when the person told me he’s dropping out—Iman could only think of Ilham as a solution. Ilham is not a performer. We asked Ilham to come to rehearsals, told him of the role, in which he blatantly said he didn’t want to do it (“What is this show?!” he asked at the weirdness; i’m like, hashtag same.)

Despite saying no, he kept ringing an imaginary bell at the most opportune time during rehearsals—even though no profanity was happening but things considered sinful occurred on stage. We practically begged Ilham to do it because he did so well during rehearsals. He said yes with so much hesitancy. He did even better during the last rehearsals before the show that Nazmi said to me, “Where did you find him?!”

Ilham was such an integral part of the show especially in continuation of narrative throughout the two hours. He made Ramshackle into what it was this show—too many things happening at one go that a blink will make you miss something funny i.e. a different experience for everyone. Everything Ilham did was so funny—his ability to not laugh while in character, the movements he made when writing on the profanity counter, his sighs and snide comments. We made sure that Ilham starts off mild—which was why the performances were milder at the beginning—and goes haywire as we reach the end. You can see that with the increasing amount of aggressiveness in how the bell is rung during ShaSha’s performance.

The original Ethics Police was going to approach this character differently—sterner, and to be honest, more selfish towards getting laughs for himself to the point that he was planning to dictate where ShaSha’s performance would go. Ilham didn’t do that. He complimented my role on stage, making sure that he and I come out funny, interacting with the audience and making sure it was enjoyable for them too. He took up opportunities, such as with the presence of children in the audience and insisting the show should be rated G (in the profanity counter picture, he crossed out 18+ rating, which made me LOST IT). I am absolutely floored at how well he did, his improv skills, and how much fun he was having that it was absorbed by everyone in the room. I love Ilham so much, and everyone did too!

Let’s talk about me now: I tried writing my material four months ago when listening to a podcast about making pacts with satan (i hated the last Ramshackle so much that I prepared super early this time around). I abandoned the material, finding it difficult to write. Leading up to the show, so many things were going on in my life that I couldn’t write anything: I was in Taiwan for 2 weeks for work, I had to finish my PhD proposal and an interview that went with it. I had a massive exam last week that might change the course of my life of which I had only three weeks to prepare for so I was studying ALL THE FUCKING TIME. My brother got married last week too. And the problems didn’t stop when my brother’s wedding ended because of a family emergency that just DID NOT STOPPED. I only had lunch time and before work hours to do actual writing, so I went around asking for opinions from people about women hantus. With the busy schedule, I did managed to work things out, but I kind of had to cut a lot of things that I wanted to say in order to continuously make it enjoyable. I practised in my room nightly, occupied my thoughts with women hantus and Brunei culture to put jokes in. I decided to bring the pact with satan material in a week ago and decided on a fast pace approach (my comedic timing usually relies on slowly building things up) I was forced to make it punchier, relying on one liners. I also had to pull out old jokes from my pocket, INCLUDING the STD joke that went down SO WELL after being in my pocket for SIX FREAKING YEARS because it won’t work as a Tweet.

I hate rushing, I hate rushing, I hate rushing. And I also hate performers who do not tell me what they’re doing up to the last day because ffs, COOPERATE. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU’RE GOOD, IF YOU DON’T FIT THE FEEL OF THE SHOW, YOU’RE OUT NO MATTER WHAT. 

I always tell myself not to work on stuff last minute, but with more responsibilities under my belt and continuously being in charge of highly incompetent people, I’m finding it harder to write stuff well ahead of the deadline. My role in the show is crucial—other than organising everything, dealing with incompetent interns, and making sure everyone’s on the right track—I have to warm the audience up in order to provide the performers with the best audience they can get. It’s SO hard. I got SO sick the next day after the performance because is2g, this is the first time I’ve felt free in 5 months.

-----

After doing Songket Alliance for 4 years, I finally made my first dollar! That was the most amazing sensation I have ever felt. We also made enough money that I don’t have to worry about a month of writers payment for the website.

We also sold out the zine, of which we took 6 months to work on.

Big up to Manisha Dhalani all the way in Singapore, for pulling through an essential part of the show when people who were in the same room as us, whose job was to ensure we have everything we needed and find solutions when we want something else, did not.

[songketalliance]

From Songket Alliance’s live show, Ramshackle--Fanfiction Night (21 January 2017)

Voices: Awang Idelle - Zulfadlhli Rahman Alai Jimat - Zulfadhli Rahman Dayang Maya - Iman Murni Jollibee - Jay Johar

Written by Teah Abdullah Visuals by Teah Abdullah Sound by Iman Murni

[happybrunei]

Another packed weekend! . #repost @progresif_cellular - Café Night @rysentertainment Sunday Fun-day @bandarkuceria Retro Rides @bigbwncookout Charity gigs by the Council on Social Welfare Night Walking @rysentertainment Live music galore @ks.bn @itsagrindbrunei Classical compositions @toyotabrunei Laugh out loud at Ramshackle by Songket Alliance Think Pink @bigbwncookout Hot Wheels @motoringbn Art and Hidden Treasures at Seri Qlap Mall . #thatsprogresif #progresifweekend @visit_brunei #happybrunei http://ift.tt/2gJUt39

[teeaah]

Ramshackle, 25 March 2017

Admittedly, this is my least favourite so far. This isn’t a jab at the performers, I think they were great.  I was more disappointed with myself, and the lack of receptive response from the audience I could muster. I’m trying to find the variables that may have caused this. It could be my material weren’t good, might be because our energy was drained from the moving of furnitures and equipments we had to do an hour before the show--which I recommend talents shouldn’t do, because wow, what energy draining bull that was in retrospect. It might also be the room, our biggest one to perform in yet, but IT FAILED TO REPLICATE THE MOOD OF A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. Anyway, guys, let’s just 

Note to self: Don’t do surrealism, stick with a smaller room.

To be fair, the disasters happened beforehand with fairy lights falling on our faces, the initial room’s air conditioner being broken, and technical difficulties happening when the audience couldn’t witness it. And Joshua dropping the noodles.

SIGNIFICANT THINGS:

-4 female performers and 2 male performers

-A crew of 7 women and 1 man (”Yeah, Happy Women’s Month, this is feminism. Go, women...” Said Lisa as we carried the heavy stage down the stairs.)

-First paid show.

5 Things I like:

(I didn’t pay attention during Khai’s performance because we were figuring out the technical difficulties. To be fair, I never listen when he speaks. So let’s leave him out of this.)

-ExCo 2017/2018

-PAPER PLANES. BUT DAMN YOUR HANDWRITINGS ARE DIFFICULT TO READ

-The convoluted science answers in the papers like damn, ya’ll so smart, why are you at this stupid show haha

-Someone’s paper plane falling on Manisha’s head

-Curi Ceri

-Izuana’s crazy upbeat personality both on and off stage.

What I don’t like

-That big ass room

-Me

[teeaah]

My Favourite Parts of Ramshackle, 21/01/2017

1. My sister’s reaction upon seeing my mother’s flowers making an appearance in the romcom trailer.

2. Jay’s reaction upon hearing his voice in the romcom trailer, which we recorded three weeks before without telling him what it was for. 

3. Keryn losing her composure on stage.

4. Faiq stumbling and going, “I’m just really excited about this subject!”

5. The whoops and hoots people shouted when Wira did the Maya monologue.

6. Waiz coming to the rescue when I asked for volunteers.

7. Nazmi going, “OH NO, I think I know what he’s doing!” upon hearing Faiq on stage, complaining that the room is hot.

8. “Is that black? Just imagine it’s black.”

9. “Message B.A.N.T.U J.I.S.”

10. The intake of breath when I failed to land the grass cutting joke, which apparently isn’t a joke, but like... guys, seriously. what was that reaction. 

I cannot explain to you how difficult organising this show really was compared to the last two. I had three performers dropped a few weeks before and couldn’t find replacements. I had one performer who expressed strong interest not replying to my emails and messages. I had one performer dropped out hours before the show. I only knew what Faiq was doing, but not the other three. 

But what I am proud of is that this show still maintains its alternative-indie bullshit approach that I am adamant on. It is still me finding a footing as a host and comedian.  It still reminds me of the Alternative Comedy Memorial Society. It is still an organised mess. It is still 20 percent improvise. It is still based on trust and witnessing whether that trust was misguided or right. It is still an environment that draws in a different crowd compared to the other shows in Brunei, a crowd that is up-for-it despite their shyness, a crowd that surprises me, and a crowd that would whoop at anything. It was a crowd of friends not yet introduced to each other. It was a ramshackle.

Thanks to the Faiq, Jay, Keryn, Nadia and Raymeen. Thanks to Iman and Manisha for doing tech and support. Thanks Rovina Jaya for providing carpets. Thanks to the people who came, because I still think three shows in that people won’t. Thanks to Kaleidoscope, especially the interns, for being such joys to work with and for being such quick thinkers whenever I present them with a problem.

Thanks to Roti friends for finally coming as a group, because they knew about “a live show with storytelling, I think?” first a year before it was even going to happen. 

PS: I can’t believe we actually pulled off character comedy.

Picture from Hidayah

[songketalliance]

Fanfiction—stories, music, videos and other creative outlets created by fans of things. You get heaps of Harry Potter ones online, but you don’t really get anything about Awang Budiman or Tabung Amanah Pekerja’s mascot, Alai Jimat.

Well, we’re filling in that void. Songket Alliance’s Ramshackle presents FANFICTION, but with a local twist!

In this show, you will witness people writing stories about local things from mascots to locations. Zombie apocalypse? We have it. Where’s Awang Budiman now? We’ll try and find him. Romantic comedy based in Brunei? We’ll do that, and we’ll make sure to bring in the LOLs.

Part comedy, part spoken word, mostly experimental—100 percent a complete ramshackle of a night.

When? 21 January 2017 (Saturday) Where? 1st floor, iCentre Doors open at 730pm FREE entrance (this economy is RUBBISH!)

[songketalliance]

An echoey recording of Songket Alliance's live show, RAMSHACKLE, from 21 January 2017. The theme of the night was FANFICTION. 

Hosted by Teah Abdullah, with performances by Jay Johar, Keryn Ibrahim, Faiq Airudin and Nadia and Raymeen.

[songketalliance]

RAMSHACKLE IS BACK! Our theme is Fanfiction Night, and we have a great line-up for you.

Email us at hi@songketalliance.com or pop a message on our Facebook to get details of the next show!

[songketalliance]

Our annual Halloween Ramshackle is coming up this Saturday at Avenue 41! (Link goes to map location of the venue.)

No RSVPs, tickets are available from 7pm outside the venue on the night itself.

Costumes are encouraged but not compulsory.

We hope to see you there for LOLs and giggles!

For queries, message Nur at 8267910.

[songketalliance]

You can find Najeehah’s poem and Hazirah’s slideshow on their Twitter accounts.

[songketalliance]

Ramshackle’s Designated Friend System

Interested in going to Ramshackle but have no one to go with?

DON’T WORRY! We have a Designated Friend System (DFS; not to be mistaken with ‘Duty Free Shop’). DFS is a system where we have one person from our team designated to be friends with people who are not comfortable going to Ramshackle by themselves. We understand how daunting it is to go to shows alone, and we want to make sure that you do not feel lonely or unsafe while attending Ramshackle.

E-mail hi@songketalliance.com, message us on Facebook, or Tweet us if you want to take part in DFS. There’s a code on what to say at the front desk and everything!

[songketalliance]

Our live variety show, RAMSHACKLE, is soon! We have comedy, storytelling, poetry, and... a survey finding of the most ridiculous survey ever to be carried out in Brunei. Message us on Facebook, Tweet us, or e-mail hi@songketalliance.com to get details!

[songketalliance]

Faiq Airudin asks: Where is Awang Budiman?

From Songket Alliance’s live show, Ramshackle, 21 January 2017

[songketalliance]

A recording of Songket Alliance's live show, RAMSHACKLE. The theme for the night was CERITA HANTU or GHOST STORIES. Hosted by Teah Abdullah, with performances by Nadia Shaikh, Najeehah Hamid, Franz Lanzaderas and his violin troupe, Khairul Anwar and Iman Murni. Recorded at iCentre with support from Kaleidoscope Studios.

[songketalliance]

Ghost stories—you either hate them or love them. In this edition of Songket Alliance and Kaleidoscope Studio’s Ramshackle, our performers and presenters will explore the realm of the scary and monsters—what we grew up with, how we rationalise them, why they are what they are, and asks the question: should we be scared of these ghosts?

There will be games and poetry; there will be spooks and laughter; and there will be live violins.

Part comedy, part spoken word, part cultural exploration, but mostly experimental—100 percent a complete ramshackle of a night!

Free entrance (because ya’ll Bruneian, we know what you like, boo). No RSVP, but seats are limited!

Dressing up for halloween is WELCOMED!

[iCentre on Google Maps]

[songketalliance]

Our live show RAMSHACKLE is later this week! Rehearsals are underway, and we are excited for you to join us!

Want to pop by? Drop an e-mail at hi@songketalliance.com and we’ll send you the details. The show is FREE!