The Show Approaches Debut!

The new LEGACY shows are underway to debut on April 19th. This time it’s an “on our own” production. Were talking insurance, liabilities, employment of some artist to do costuming and lighting as well as managing and direct the stage etc. For these shows, I’ve taken on choreography, marketing, music editing as well as the business side of the production which includes production financing and handling whatever comes my way from any of the areas mentioned above. It’s a BEAST of a project. On top of that, in the background I’m working on the second set of shows at L’Homme Deu Theatre in Alexandria which hit in July. Needless to say, I’m exhausted!!  

What’s NOT exhausting is the kick ass show this one in turning out to be. I must say that this show will be different than others in the past.

I’ve been told by several theatre directors that I need to condense LEGACY to something SOLID and "stable". I always like to play around with the songs and dance numbers in terms of variety. I always like to throw in something completely random like “Blood on the Dance  Floor” or “Ghost”. This is something other MJ impersonators are not doing. For the most part, they stick to the classics which is great but I like to add something different to our show in order to stand out from the hundreds of MJ impersonators there are out there.

In taking advice from directors in this business, I'm working towards making this show to be “the best of LEGACY” if you will. I’ve taken people’s favorite numbers and turned this show into what it’s becoming; solid, dance PACKED and high energy. There are still some surprises in there that I know I didn’t see coming until it was brought to the table. 

LEGACY has promo-shows scheduled in various places such as the Winter Carnival, The Saloon, the Landmark Center and other locations in order to push promotion for LEGACY at SteppingStone Theatre. You might notice that LEGACY isn’t naming times and dates on many shows that come to light on YouTube or Facebook and that’s because I'm targeting brand new audiences. I want our current audiences to go to the show and see everything as brand new and not something they saw at a promo-event.

The toughest challenge at this point has truly been hiring a Lighting Designer/Technical Director. We started with six candidates and now were down to two. One we’ve worked with before and the other one is new. Both are great and it’s difficult choosing who’s going to light this show. As a matter of fact, this year’s budget is geared to the lighting design. I told every potential designer "I want your design to be inspired by MJ, the music and this image (the promos). It's full of color, saturation and movement. 

I am very happy where we are at this point and I’m looking forward to opening the doors to this incredible piece if work. Michael Jackson gives us SO MUCH to work with and I am in awe when I really dive in, deep and get to experience his work from a completely different standpoint that the listener. 

LC 

P.S. Yes, you will see “Remember the Time” in this show. I know that was a big mistake last year (leaving it out). Many of you were not so fond of that decision. Well, it’s back!!  And better than ever!  

Promo Cards
Photography- Xavier Tavera
Design- "LC Jackson"

LEGACY Media Kits are DONE AND OUT!

I’ve spent literally months working on the media kits (also known as press kits) for the LEGACY show. When it comes to the image of LEGACY I am very particular and PICKY on how things should look and feel. Therefore, decided to take on designing the entire kit. I edited the video for the DVD, made all the visuals and wrote it out from the first word to the last period. With the help of some peer editing, we ended with a fabulous product and I am VERY pleased. Also, I found a printing press here in the cities that did an AMAZING JOB (Ideal Printing, St. Paul, MN). It looks extremely professional and I could not be happier with the final product (s). 

I spent about three months working on the design, the concept and content.

The kit itself consists of an eight page, full color pamphlet, DVD cover, DVD printed design and content about the show and “LC Jackson”.

The kit serves as a promotional tool but more so, as a way of pitching the show to venues that book live entertainment.

The content in the pamphlet outlines LEGACY (the show), LC Jackson (The Impersonator) and is complemented with reviews from some of our previous clients.  The pamphlet is full of imagery that captivates the eyes. There are two whole pages dedicated to the spectacle that LEGACY is through a magnificent collage design of photos ranging from the LEGACY debut at the MOA to the most recent summer shows.

The “meat” of the kit is the DVD which has customized video to sample LEGACY at it’s best. I selected the most visually pleasing footage and created a professional DVD with a customized menu and “eye candy” features to make sure the viewer is stuck to the screen wanting more after each video.

I’m excited to see the feedback and reaction of the recipients that will receive a copy.

These efforts have paid off!! I couldn’t be happier!

NOTE:

Photos from the Xavier Tavera shoot were used to create this kit. Xavier did an amazing job and this kit would not be what it is with his stunning work. 

The Xavier Tavera Shoot for LEGACY Live

Hello readers! I've not been blogging so much lately because I’ve been extremely busy with work (my day job), daddy duties and LEGACY Live. I’ve had little time to sit down and gather all the things I want to talk about and share.

I’ve done so many things involving LEGACY. I’ve been pushing for growth, networking with people in the entertainment field and learning so much from them.

I have SOOO MANY things I want to share with you all. I won’t do it all in a single blog because it would be a LOOOOONG read. However, I’ll start with the following: The Xavier Tavera Photo Shoot

In August, we did a show at “Heart of the Beast” theatre in Minneapolis and I had the pleasure of meeting a photographer by the name of  Xavier Tavera. Xavier had his 

"LC Jackson & Xavier Tavera"

studio equipment set up upstairs in the theatre where the show took place. He was there doing photography of the different performers and he did a few photos of myself as well as the LEGACY cast that was there that evening to perform.

Xavier is an extremely professional photographer. His work is very interesting and eye-catching. Some of his collections have been featured at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Weisman Art Museum and he has exhibited his work nationally. I learned that some of his work has gotten censored and even banned because of its controversial content. He is true to his work and I admire that in anyone who has the nerve to put something out that might offend some people, yet bring out opposite feelings in others. I Love that.  

After the shoot at the Heart of the Beast theatre we chatted for a little bit and he was interested in knowing more about what I do etc. I told him a quick summary of my story and he asked if he could shoot photos of me (as myself~ Luis) in my “LEGACY” room at home. I suppose he wanted to shoot photos of me in my environment not as “LC 

Jackson” but as Luis. I said I would love to and that’s where that conversation ended. Then I had to leave to perform with my peeps. He too, had to go since he was also doing the shoot for the live entertainment that night.

Shoot at Oxford Studio

A month and a half later we reconnected again and we did a longer shoot at Oxford studio (where we hold rehearsals). He told me he was doing a series on myself which I was surprised by. I didn’t realize he was doing a series on me but then it all made sense! That’s why he wanted to shoot at my home, in my environment. Then it clicked! We had a successful and fun shoot. Two days later, we shot the ones in my downstairs living room with all the costume racks, props, hats, mic. stands~ you name it. He arranged it all very nicely and took the photos. At the last minute, he changed his mind and had me get into hair and makeup. While I got ready, he sat and we chatted for a good hour or so...

Tavera's work is simply jaw-dropping

 We had good conversations about our art, music, family, even Juan Gabriel (a Mexican songwriter/singer). There was everything and it was such a good experience. I was surprised by the fact that he entrusted me with his raw files of the photos he took and said I could use them commercially (in press kits, posters, website etc.). That is something he said he never does (give someone his unedited work) and I was very honored by the fact that he trusted me with his work. I promised I would not release anything he wouldn’t want people to see. I treasure those photos and his work so much that I put the disc in a safe and will have the final drafts password protected on my workstation.

What I got out of this whole entire experience was being reminded that your work has to mean something to not only you but others as well. Xavier said something that will stick with me forever. He was describing what he felt when he saw people at galleries looking at his.  He said:

"The worst thing that can happen is for someone to walk away feeling indifferent about seeing my work”

THAT was priceless to me and it was the biggest lesson/reminder that I took from my time with Xavier. This had more impact on me than all the other tangible things that I got from this experience. I got a reminder of how important it is to convey any kind of emotion in others through your art. If you don’t achieve that you may as well not do it.

 -LC