PLAY. 7 great ways to connect & have fun!

After all these years driving distances to gigs - I am FULL of ideas. Between singing and djing incredible full-length musicals I also drive in silence concocting incredible - but potentially realistic - and REMARKABLE ideas. In the spirit of sharing - and a great desire to have more joy joy joy joy down in my heart - I will now share some ideas with you - go ahead. deliver them unto the people in your world.  Let me know how it all went! send photos.

1) Idea #1: shared with D. Michael Dobbin of Alberta Theatre Projects whilst drinking at the Auburn Saloon - circa 1994.   A life-size Snakes and Ladders Game.  Have F&D build it - at the time I thought the old Sorrenti's restaurant/bar would be terrific. Today on Twitter - @mummymorphisis suggested Olympic Plaza, Millennium Park, Bowness Park, empty skating rink at Patterson, etc.   Could be built of bales to climb. what young engineering team wouldn't mind making this happen. At the Calgary International Children's Festival in May 2012? or maybe a longer standing creation?  financial literacy, physical fitness, fun for all ages, slides!  email me - we'll make it happen!  cory at corymack dot ca

2) Idea #2: shared with D. Michael Dobbin of Alberta Theatre Projects whilst drinking at the Auburn Saloon - circa 1994. CAR-e-OKE.  Rent a drive-in screen. Everyone comes. lyrics are on the screen with a bouncing ball, piped into each car.   OR large bar aka Pulp Fiction - with full cars; now you could have itune-enabled or you could plug in your  own ipod. drinks delivered to car ala A & W rootbeer on trays - bench seats all face each other inside the car -and you SING your hearts out.

3) Idea #3: skype screen/cameras at the end of tables in nursing homes, hospitals or senior's residences - or tables that come with a place for a skype screen/camera at the end - so that no one has to eat alone. Have them in schools and workplaces so that kids and adults and seniors could interact at mealtimes.

4) Idea #4: with the no distraction law in place - my latest idea is to have a velcro pocket that attaches around your shoulder strap seat belt coming over your left shoulder. phone rests on your shoulder. answer call, hit speaker, slip phone into the "cell" and talk.

5) Idea #5: like many small town communities have down - re-assign empty schools and classrooms as artisan/small business communities  - each classroom rented by a different company or artist. cafeteria is the coffee shop; gym is the showcase, theatre, public gallery; bathrooms on site; etc.   OR have a combination of folks living there and artists/businesses co-sharing spaces - so these buildings become "communities" where instead of living above the store - you are living beside the store - or the artist. Affordable housing option?

6) Idea #6: Storyline - years ago in a theatre for young audience class - I remember the prof talking about a New York City Library program where latch-key children could call a phone number and someone would read them a story or stories. Rumour has it that the story hours in libraries are fill to brimming in Calgary - Again - skype screens and capabilities could be linked to classrooms (around the world depending on timezones) to other classrooms - or to seniors' programs - or to ESL programs - to classrooms that speak the language you're learning - etc. - to increase literacy and inter-generational learning and relationships. connectivity. and phones could be used. or a radio station could have a story hour. Anyplace with a smartboard could have video capabilities. Ipads in classrooms and seniors homes to tell stories.

7) Idea #7 - this one we did at our house a month or so ago - invite a bunch of friends to a potluck extravaganza - they have to bring one main dish to share - and they have to bring a celebrated or hidden talent to share - show & shine - call it what you will!  we had a blast - great anticipation for the "show" -ages 6 through teen through adult - everyone there did something.  We had yoga moves, songs, readings, puppets, guitar, kazoo, magic, hand tricks, eyebrow tricks, ab-rolling and a really really good time.  there's something magic in being together and cheering everyone on  - just watching someone hold their breath and take that leap of faith is magic. inspired & delightful and puts the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Do you have some ideas you'd like to share? we could collect a zillion and add to our homes, families, communities - just a bit of fun.