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Thread: Being a Human Decoration: Atmosphere Mermaiding?

  1. #1

    Being a Human Decoration: Atmosphere Mermaiding?

    Greetings!!

    I'm looking for ideas to help pass the time as a human decoration.

    I have been asked to be an atmosphere mermaid seated at a black tie event. It is a "dry" gig. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this and could share what they have done other than sit and look pretty for several hours? I've done these before but not for this long---just for guest photo ops and such. I welcome any ideas to get creative juices flowing!
    "It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came."
    - President John F. Kennedy

  2. #2
    Senior Member Pod of Oceania Mermaid Jaffa's Avatar
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    Blow soap bubbles, make bracelets. I dunno, that's all I could think of!
    Formerly known as ireneho

  3. #3
    Moderator Pod of Cali Mermaid Wesley's Avatar
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    I'm jelly. I like being a pretty prop! lol. Bring a fancy mermaid comb to comb your hair, a hand mirror to be vain with, blow bubbles, see if you can learn some mermaidy songs, come up with some talking points to entertain adults, stories about your life, your reaction to humans, blah blah blah. Idk if you can talk or if theres like a show or speeches going on, but a solid backstory would help if you dont already have one. String pearls, unstring pearls, string pearls again. hum to yourself, take a mer-nap, dance moves, constant posing, idk... conceal an earbud in your headdress and listen to music lol

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Wesley View Post
    I'm jelly. I like being a pretty prop! lol. Bring a fancy mermaid comb to comb your hair, a hand mirror to be vain with, blow bubbles, see if you can learn some mermaidy songs, come up with some talking points to entertain adults, stories about your life, your reaction to humans, blah blah blah. Idk if you can talk or if theres like a show or speeches going on, but a solid backstory would help if you dont already have one. String pearls, unstring pearls, string pearls again. hum to yourself, take a mer-nap, dance moves, constant posing, idk... conceal an earbud in your headdress and listen to music lol
    The pearl idea might just work! I thought about the bubble and hair thing too, but I might be around food...I suppose I might be able to mock-comb my hair and just look like I'm fussing with my 'do.

    These ideas are great! keep 'em coming!
    "It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came."
    - President John F. Kennedy

  5. #5
    Member Chesapeake Pod
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    If you've got more bravery than me, you could learn some trad English song and sailor's shanties, even just to hum. And if you're good with a uke, then I've got the chords for a few. (I've found that if you want some shanties to sound more siren-y, then you can change the chords to minors. Very lilting if you want a creepy vibe.)

    I always thought it would be funny if a mermaid started to preen her tail. Pretend to shine her scales, brush off her fins, etc.

    Continuing along the line of vanity for a more food-friendly setting, maybe look vain in a mirror and adjust your makeup from time to time. Bring lots of fiddly jewelry!

  6. #6
    I like to blow bubbles! (Sometimes after awhile the mix gets frothy and won't work until it settles again).

    I also spend a lot of time lying upside down waving my tail in the air doing my "mermaid dance" (fabric tail), feels more like I'm underwater, shows off the tail for photos and gives a good core workout haha!

    My favorite for passing the time and interacting with an audience is to face paint them! This won't work for all gigs but for certain events like kids parties or costume/theme parties it adds a lot to the atmosphere and sometimes I get paid extra for painting or just keep a tip jar. I usually just do simple lines and dots with a small brush and white face paint, kind of a tribal style, with both masculine and feminine versions. For kids I'll do some simple sea creature designs too.

    One event I was in a hammock and entertained myself by swinging back and forth in all the poses I could imagine.

    I like the stringing pearls idea! I once made a Clamkini top with 6 strands of hand beaded pearls (w knots between each) and it took me 8 hours to bead. Would be great to basically be paid to bead my own tops haha.
    Lauren Chu ~ Mermaid Soluna
    HamptonsMermaid.com @HamptonsMermaid
    Miss Mermaid USA 2016/17, Miss Mermaid International 2016/17 2nd Runner Up


  7. #7
    Senior Member Pod of Oceania Mermaid Jaffa's Avatar
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    Get together a small cleaning kit so that you can take things out to clean your scales!

    Things could be, a super soft make up brush, small tweezers, puffer thing with brush on one end (the kind to clean camera lenses), cotton bud sticks, small bottle of spray.
    Formerly known as ireneho

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Mermaid Lanier View Post
    If you've got more bravery than me, you could learn some trad English song and sailor's shanties, even just to hum. And if you're good with a uke, then I've got the chords for a few. (I've found that if you want some shanties to sound more siren-y, then you can change the chords to minors. Very lilting if you want a creepy vibe.)
    Ooh I'd love to learn some uke shanties if you have any to share!
    Lauren Chu ~ Mermaid Soluna
    HamptonsMermaid.com @HamptonsMermaid
    Miss Mermaid USA 2016/17, Miss Mermaid International 2016/17 2nd Runner Up


  9. #9
    Moderator Pod of Cali Mermaid Wesley's Avatar
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    Yes please share the shanties lol

  10. #10
    Member Chesapeake Pod
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    Sure thing! So first I'll post the ones that I play as originals, so you can google the songs and hear what they sound like traditionally. (This post won't keep my spaces. -_- I apologize. The chords are still in order, but you'll have to ear where to play them. *sighs* Darn kids and their technology.)

    The Fields of Athenry


    [G] By a lonely prison wall
    I [C] heard a young girl [G] ca- [D] alling
    [G] Micheal they are [C] taking you [D] aw- [D7] ay
    [G] For you stole Trevlyn's [C] corn
    So the [G] young might see the [D] morn
    Now a prison ship lies waiting in the [G] bay


    Chorus
    [G] Low [C] lie the [G] Fields of Athen- [Em] ry
    Where [G] once we watched the [C] small free birds [D] fly
    Our [G] love was on the [C] wing
    We had [G] dreams and songs to [D] sing
    It's so lonely 'round the Fields of [G] Athenry


    Verse 2
    By a lonely prison wall
    I heard a young man calling
    Nothing matter Mary when your free,
    Against the famine and the Crown
    I rebelled they cut me down
    Now you must raise our child with dignity

    Chorus

    Verse 3
    By a lonely harbor wall
    She watched the last star falling
    As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
    Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
    For her love in Botany Bay
    It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry




    Maid of Amsterdam


    (This one I suggest looking up from Assassin's Creed: Black Flag.)


    Intro (like last line of verse) = C F C G C


    [C] In Amsterdam there lived a maid
    [C] Mark well what I do say
    In [F] Amsterdam there [C] lived a maid
    And [Dm] she was mistress [G] of her trade
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving with [C] you [G] fair [C] maid
    A [F] roving a [C] roving
    Since [Dm] roving's been my [G] ru-i-in
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving
    With [C] you [G] fair [C] maid




    [C] Her eyes are like two stars so bright
    [C] Mark well what I do say
    Her [F] eyes are like two [C] stars so bright
    Her ]Dm] face is fair her [G] step is light
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving with [C] you [G] fair [C] maid
    A [F] roving a [C] roving
    Since [Dm] roving's been my [G] ru-i-in
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving
    With [C] you [G] fair [C] maid




    [Cm] Her cheeks are like the rosebuds red
    [Cm] Mark well what I do say
    Her [F] cheeks are like the [C] rosebuds red
    There's [Dm] wealth of hair up-[G] on her head
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving with [C] you [G] fair [C] maid
    A [F] roving a [C] roving
    Since [Dm] roving's been my [G] ru-i-in
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving
    With [C] you [G] fair [C] maid


    [Cm] She placed her hand upon my knee
    [Cm] Mark well what I do say
    She [F] placed her hand up-[Cm]on my knee
    I [Dm] said young miss you're [G] rather free
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving with [C] you [G] fair [C] maid
    A [F] roving a [C] roving
    Since [Dm] roving's been my [G] ru-i-in
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving
    With [C] you [G] fair [C] maid


    [Cm] I love this fair maid as my life
    [Cm] Mark well what I do say
    I [F] love this fair maid [Cm] as my life
    And [Dm] soon she'll be my [G] little wife
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving with [C] you [G] fair [C] maid
    A [F] roving a [C] roving
    Since [Dm] roving's been my [G] ru-i-in
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving
    With [C] you [G] fair [C] maid




    [Cm] And if you'd know this maiden's name
    [Cm] Mark well what I do say
    And [F] if you'd know this [C] maiden's name
    Why [Dm] soon like mine 'twill [G] be the same
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving with [C] you [G] fair [C] maid
    A [F] roving a [C] roving
    Since [Dm] roving's been my [G] ru-i-in
    I'll [C] go no more a [F] roving
    With [C] you [G] fair [C] maid



    The next two are sung by Nancy Kerr and James Fagan.

    Anderson's Coast

    Chorus
    [G] But Annie dear, don't wait for [D] me.
    I fear I [C] shall not return to [G] thee.
    There's [G] naught to do but endure my [C] fate,
    And watch the [G] moon, the lonely [C] moon,
    Light the [G] breakers on [D] wild Bass [C] Straight. [G]


    Now [G] Bass Straight roars like some [D] great mill- [G] race.
    [G] --and where are you, my Annie?
    And the same moon [Em] shines on this lonely [C] place
    As shone one [G] day on my [D] Annie's [C] Face.

    Chorus

    We stole a vessel and all her gear
    --And where are you, my Annie?
    And from Van Diemen's we north did steer,
    Till Bass Straits wild waves wrecked us here.

    Chorus

    And somewhere west Port Melbourne lies
    --And where are you, my Annie?
    Through swamps infested with snakes and flies.
    That fool who walks there, he surely dies.

    Chorus

    We hail no ships, though the time it drags.
    --And where are you, my Annie?
    Our chain-gang walk and our government's rags.
    All mark us out as Van Diemen's lags.

    Chorus

    We fled the lash and the chafing chain.
    --And where are you my Annie?
    We fled hard labour and brutal pain,
    And here we are and here remain.

    Chorus



    Locks and Bolts

    [C] I dreamed of my true [F] love last [C] night,
    All in my arms I held [G] her,
    But [C] when I [G] woke it [C] was a dream,
    I was [F] forced to [G7] lie with- [C] out her.

    Her yellow hair, like strands of gold,
    Come rollin' down my pillow,
    Her yellow hair, like strands of gold,
    Come rollin' down my pillow.

    I went unto her uncle's house,
    Inquiring for my darling,
    The answer was, "She is not here,
    I've no such in my keeping."

    Her voice came from the roof above,
    Came straightway from the window,
    "Oh, love, oh love, it's I'd be yours,
    But locks and bolts doth hinder." (I put the most emphasis on this line, and just do a single downstroke for each chord.)

    Oh, passion flew, my sword I drew,
    All in that room I entered,
    Oh, passion flew, my sword I drew,
    All in that room I entered.

    I took my sword in my right hand,
    My love in the other,
    Come all young men that love like me,
    Fight on and take another.




    SONGS I'VE MODIFIED

    These I've changed to a minor. You kind of have to make up a tune of your own, although I plan on putting these on YouTube once I learn to record something that doesn't sound like total crap on my sad little laptop.


    Fathom the Bowl

    Fathom the Bowl is from AC: Black Flag as well. You might want to look it up just to get a feel for the rhythm of the shanty.



    Intro:
    Am Am Am Em / Am Dm Em Am


    Come [Am] all ye bold heroes, give an ear to me song
    We'll [Em] sing in the praise of good [D] brandy and [Am] rum
    It's a [Am] clear crystal fountain near Ireland doth [Em] roll
    Give [Am me the punch [Dm] ladle, I'll [Em] fathom the [Am] bowl


    I'll [Am] fathom the bowl, I'll fathom the [Em] bowl
    Give [Am me the punch [Dm] ladle, I'll [Em] fathom the [Am] bowl




    From [Am] France we do get brandy, from Jamaica comes rum
    Sweet [Em] oranges and apples from [Dm] Portugal [Am] come
    But [Am] stout and strong cider are Ireland's [Em] control
    Give [Am] me the punch [Dm] ladle, I'll [Em] fathom the [Am] bowl


    I'll [Am] fathom the bowl, I'll fathom the [Em] bowl
    Give [Am me the punch [Dm] ladle, I'll [Em] fathom the [Am] bowl




    (instrumental)
    Am Am Am Em / Am Dm Em Am


    Me [Am] father, he do lie in the depths of the sea
    With no [Em] stone at his head, but what ]Dm] matters for [Am] he
    It's a [Am] clear crystal fountain near Ireland doth [Em] roll
    Give [Am] me the punch [Dm] ladle, I'll [Em] fathom the [Am] bowl


    I'll [Am] fathom the bowl, I'll fathom the [Em] bowl
    Give [Am me the punch [Dm] ladle, I'll [Em] fathom the [Am] bowl




    Come [Am] all ye bold heroes, give an ear to me song
    We'll [Em] sing in the praise of good [D] brandy and [Am] rum
    It's a [Am] clear crystal fountain near Ireland doth [Em] roll
    Give [Am me the punch [Dm] ladle, I'll [Em] fathom the [Am] bowl


    I'll [Am] fathom the bowl, I'll fathom the [Em] bowl
    Give [Am me the punch [Dm] ladle, I'll [Em] fathom the [Am] bowl








    I Wish I Had Someone to Love Me



    I Wish I Had Someone to Love Me


    [Am] I wish I had someone to [Dm] love [Am] me,
    [Dm] Someone to [Am] call me their [Em] own,
    [Am] Someone to stay with me [Dm] al- [Am] ways,
    I'm [Dm] weary of [Em] being [Am] alone.


    [Am] Meet me tonight in the [Dm] moon- [Am] light,
    [Dm] Meet me [Am] tonight all [Em] alone;
    [Am] I have a sad story to [Dm] tell [Am] you,
    I'll [Dm] tell by the [Em] light of the [Am] moon.


    [Chorus]


    [Am] I'll be sent to the new jail [Dm] tomor- [Am] row,
    [Dm] Leavin' my [Am] darlin' [Em] alone,
    [Am] With the cold iron bars all [Dm] around [Am] me,
    And [Dm] my head on a [Em] pillow of [Am] stone.


    [Chorus]


    [Am] Tonight is our last night [Dm] toget- [Am] her,
    The [Dm] nearest and [Am] dearest must [Em] part,
    [Am] For all that has bound us [Dm] toget- [Am] her,
    Is [Dm] quickly being [Em] torn [Am] apart.


    [Chorus]


    [Am] I have a large ship on the [Dm] o- [Am] cean,
    All [Dm] laden with [Am] silver and [Em] gold,
    [Am] And before my poor darlin' will [Dm] suf- [Am] fer,
    That [Dm] ship will be [Em] anchored and [Am] sold.


    [Chorus]


    [Am] I wish I had wings of a [Dm] spar- [Am] row,
    For [Dm] those prison [Am] walls I must [Em] flee;
    [Am] I'd fly to the arms of my [Dm] true [Am] love,
    And [Dm] bring her home [Em] safely to [Am] me.


    [Chorus]
    [Am] I'm [Em] weary of being [Am] alone.



    Attached Images Attached Images  
    Last edited by Mermaid Lanier; 02-22-2017 at 11:54 AM. Reason: Reformatting.

  11. #11
    Music! I could totally do that! I wonder how these would sound on my harp!

    Thanks for the great idea!
    "It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came."
    - President John F. Kennedy

  12. #12
    Moderator Pod of Cali Mermaid Wesley's Avatar
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    <3333
    wait I want a harp *u*

  13. #13
    Member Chesapeake Pod
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    Mermaid Lanier's Avatar
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    I redid the songs so that the chords'll stay in place, and I wrote out Anderson's Coast and Locks and Bolts from the images I tried to upload. Hopefully that's a little easier to read! Best of luck!

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