Improving the World... One Interaction At A Time.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our next country: Bermuda
Territory: British Overseas Territory of Bermuda
Continental Location: North American Caribbean
What They Call Themselves: Bermudian
Primary Language: English
Prominent Cities: Hamilton [capital]
Famous Sites: Royal Naval Dockyard
Currency: Bermudian dollar
Cultural Notes:
-The Reigning monarch of Bermuda is Queen Elizabeth II. The territory is administered by a governor, currently Sir Richard Gozney. Probably a tough gig.
-Usually referred to in the singular, the territory consists of approximately 138 islands. The main island is often referred to as Bermuda.
-Bermuda was discovered in 1503 by a Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermudez.
-The urban legend of Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil’s Triangle, it is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean in which a number of aircraft and surface vessels are alleged to have disappeared in mysterious circumstances which fall beyond the boundaries of human error, piracy, equipment failure, or natural disasters. Popular culture has attributed some of these disappearances to the paranormal, a suspension of laws of physics, or activity by extraterrestrial beigns. Stories started surfacing in the 1950’s.
-The national sport of Bermuda is cricket. The team has participated in the Cricket World Cup.
-The Bermudian flag features the Union Jack and the Coat of Arms. The Coat of Arms of Bermuda depicts a red lion holding a shield that has depiction of a wrecked ship upon it. The red lion is a symbol of England and alludes to Bermuda’s relationship with that country. The wrecked ship is the Sea Venture, the flag ship of the Virginia Company. The ship was deliberately driven on to the reefs of Bermuda, by Admiral Sir George Somers, in 1609, to prevent it from foundering in a storm. All aboard survived, resulting in the settlement of the Island. The Latin motto under the coat of arms, Quo Fata Ferunt, means “Whither the Fates Carry [us]”.
-The nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about 640 miles west-northwest.
What to Avoid:
Sunburn. Flying through the Triangle.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our next country: Bermuda
Territory: British Overseas Territory of Bermuda
Continental Location: North American Caribbean
What They Call Themselves: Bermudian
Primary Language: English
Prominent Cities: Hamilton [capital]
Famous Sites: Royal Naval Dockyard
Currency: Bermudian dollar
Cultural Notes:
-The Reigning monarch of Bermuda is Queen Elizabeth II. The territory is administered by a governor, currently Sir Richard Gozney. Probably a tough gig.
-Usually referred to in the singular, the territory consists of approximately 138 islands. The main island is often referred to as Bermuda.
-Bermuda was discovered in 1503 by a Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermudez.
-The urban legend of Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil’s Triangle, it is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean in which a number of aircraft and surface vessels are alleged to have disappeared in mysterious circumstances which fall beyond the boundaries of human error, piracy, equipment failure, or natural disasters. Popular culture has attributed some of these disappearances to the paranormal, a suspension of laws of physics, or activity by extraterrestrial beigns. Stories started surfacing in the 1950’s.
-The national sport of Bermuda is cricket. The team has participated in the Cricket World Cup.
-The Bermudian flag features the Union Jack and the Coat of Arms. The Coat of Arms of Bermuda depicts a red lion holding a shield that has depiction of a wrecked ship upon it. The red lion is a symbol of England and alludes to Bermuda’s relationship with that country. The wrecked ship is the Sea Venture, the flag ship of the Virginia Company. The ship was deliberately driven on to the reefs of Bermuda, by Admiral Sir George Somers, in 1609, to prevent it from foundering in a storm. All aboard survived, resulting in the settlement of the Island. The Latin motto under the coat of arms, Quo Fata Ferunt, means “Whither the Fates Carry [us]”.
-The nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about 640 miles west-northwest.
What to Avoid:
Sunburn. Flying through the Triangle.
