Review: The JellyVision Show

The JellyVision Show

On the long list of things that I've been meaning to make it out there.  Right up at the top, with Clown Cabaret is JellyVision.  Let me start off with, I love The Soundry.  I consider it one of the main places around DC that has the potential to be a strong nerd focal point (Game Parlor and Labyrinth Games are other good examples).  They do lots of art based stuff, have shows, and sell coffee.  Well worth checking out on it's own merits.  That's not fully what this diddy is about, so let's move on.  (yes, I said diddy. And stop smirking, your face might get stuck like that)

So on my way back home I realize this is the first Thursday I've had free in quite a while, so, what the hell, I'll make it out and see what the live cast of The JellyVision Show's like.  I mean their ad is purple and toasty, how could this go wrong?  I didn't know a whole lot about what JellyVision was about at the time.  Hadn't seen any of their casts or gone to watch any of their archives.  So, a pretty blank slate here.  I sat down near the back, where nerds belong (in a comfy lounging chair no less, dark corner, and donned my wizard's staff and robes... wait... scratch that) and drank my orange italian soda(this does not make me a hipster... right?).

I spent most of the time that their first guest was on stage trying to figure out, well, what is this.  There's talking, a casual air, and just people hanging out.  I didn't quite get it.  Then it struck me.  This is what it must be like when me and my friends hang out and randomly BS about stuff (our BS leads to some Tens of Dollars moments, hit the link if you need examples).  Well with guests added for flavoring.  Don't take that the wrong way,  that's the entirety of the beauty of it.  Conversations were organic, laughs were genuine, and occasionally random stuff just happened.  It Felt Raw.  It felt like you were experiencing something living and breathing.  Like you tickled its under belly and now it's stampeding towards your village.  Jelly and Tim both came across as genuinely likable people (I caught them for a bit after the show, and they are, so it definitely wasn't stage magic). I could have sworn at any point it could have transitioned into, "Ok, lets go play darts now."  Or Scrabble, I like that better anyhow.  Just not Diplomacy.  That ends friendships and lives.

I could spend whole articles talking about the guests.  I'll list the ones I got a chance to talk to, however briefly.  Mab Just Mab and Nate Lewis were pretty cool.  Both of them seemed to have no issues being in front of the camera.  Both were relaxed and collected.  That sort of comfort in front of strangers makes my nerd core sort of jealous.  Mab is a sideshow gal while Nate runs the interesting shirt site Somaphony.  Check out their stuff.

JellyVision was fun.  Worth checking out the live cast or seeing the webcast as well.  I think it's the start/part of part of The Soundry's mission.  Building a proper community for us nerds and freaks and artists and fringe people (I'm liking the term Fringe instead of Alt or Indie).  And that's kinda awesome.