I saw Robin Williams at Scotiabank Place on November 19, 2008

I have two things to blog about before 2008 ends. Two events I went to and didn't get a chance to post my images. One was Robin Williams at Scotiabankplace in Ottawa on November 19th.
I brought my sketchbook to see what I could get with it. Each sketch is about 10 seconds, some were much longer, well anything where he isn't onstage. That was all pre-show either from the screens near the stage or just the empty stage.

The show was sold out in minutes when the tickets went on sale in the summer.


It was the middle of midterms and getting final assignments done plus Christmas sales and an excellerated firing schedule in the kiln room where I also work and I was exhausted. I was looking forward to laughing so hard that I couldn't breath and I wanted it to STOP STOP NO MORE NO MORE...

That didn't happen. Was it me? was I too stressed to relax? Probably partly yes, but I think Robin Williams had low energy. He said he had just returned from doing shows in the UK. Maybe he was tired? I got that feeling but I couldn't tell if it was him or me or what. I did laugh, don't get me wrong, it was fun and I was glad to go and everything, but I didn't get to lose all my stress there on the floor of Scotiabankplace. Given how I was feeling I probably needed three more hours to feel better. So take all that with a grain of salt.


We had floor seats, row 25. Best seats we've ever got for anything. My guy said the tickets were "stupid expensive" but I didn't want to know. I just wanted to go and we haven't had to move or anything for the cost of those tickets so...
His set was surprisingly plain. I realized that it's not about the stuff, it's all about him. That really amazed when when I took it in. He can fill an empty stage.


There were these weird scaffold-like structures and a row of potted plants on the floor at the base of the scaffolds, a round cocktail table draped in black cloth, a white stool (I don't think he ever sat down on it), two bottles of coke and some water on the table with the mic. He also had a head-mic.



Mostly he did everything within a five foot area in front of the table. He had his hands on his hips a lot. Drawing him wasn't that interesting... he was very static. But then he'd do/say something and I'd be laughing and not drawing.

I found it very tough to draw where we were. My neighbours were practically on top of me and I just wanted to listen and watch. So every once in a while I'd try to get something but it seemed I would start when he was in a lull. I think this is why my impression of him is that he's a lot more still that I imagined he'd be or than I'd seen on TV.

I'd go again though given the chance.
Robin asked the audience not to take pictures during his show. I only saw a very rare flash go off. I was dying to but didn't and then at the end of the show, during his encore, he gave us premission to take his picture and I wasn't going to but figured I might as well, so I had a few for the blog and for me to compare with my drawings. This is what I got


Wonder who I'll get to see next year? This year it was Wayne Newton, Don Rickles and Robin Williams. I hope I see more than three acts next year. Crossing my fingers.