In the first and second installments of my story, I describe my plan to dress up as a friendly, mythical creature and make myself available for photos with tourists. I aim to provide a deluxe experience, so I craft a pocket-sized list of services.

I am excited to get started. A week of rain stymies my debut. When a clear morning finally dawns, I decide that today’s the day. Here’s a video of me waiting for my ride to the pier.

Click photo to see the video.

General transcript: I’m at the bus stop. My planning has worked really well in terms of what I’m bringing. So I have my backpack and one bag that can easily just balance here. And that’s the whole – the whole performance can fit in three items: the Jean item, the backpack item, and the bag item. So we’re about ready to take the 18 Big Blue Bus instead of walking. I’m testing out that because it’s a shorter journey and to save my energy for the experience. 

Once at the pier, it’s time to change into my costume. The public toilets at the pier have two wonderful qualities. They’re private and clean!

I’m quite satisfied with my dressing room.

My plan is to draw a blue circle on each cheek – like a clown. This proves difficult to do with neither a mirror nor a steady hand.

I find the place on the pier where the buskers gather. It’s south of the merry-go-round. This is where we participate in a lottery for a place to perform.

I get lucky and am able to pick an auspicious spot with lots of foot traffic. I fast-walk to my sanctioned little area and set up:

Unpack my stool.

Cover it with the orange fabric.

Place my decorated tip basket on top of the stool.

Put my home made, wearable sign on my back.

Hold up the other sign.

Or balance it on the stool.

Or hold it up.

I’ll try it both ways.

Okay, I’m ready.

I don’t invite any loved ones to witness this moment because – in a sense – I want privacy. I appreciate anonymity as I feel my way into this experience.

I begin.

A few hours go by, and now it’s time to pack up.

I record this video immediately afterwards to describe it.

Click the photo to watch video

In a nutshell: I like it well enough to try again!

General transcript:

I just finished my first shift as Jean the Magical Unicorn at the Santa Monica Pier. What a fascinating afternoon and late morning. I am exhausted. I’m too tired to even care that I have smudgy teal circles on my cheeks. I do not care. I didn’t have the energy to leave the pier. I’m just going to sit here for a while reflecting. 

So much good. So fascinating. I joined a group of other performers waiting for the lottery, the daily lottery to be selected. I learned who the City of Santa Monica person is to leave my name with. Whom to leave my name. It was like being the new kid. That was fascinating – just like I was in this group of people waiting around to work. It was really, really interesting. 

I was able to select which spot – between two spots – that were both absolutely what I had hoped for. I got spot #8. It has a star. I didn’t know; I’ve never noticed this before.  But these stars are on the wood of the pier itself so I can know exactly. (I thought I’d have to use a map to try to figure it out.)

Some performers walked by. I gave them a nod like, “Yeah.” And then I said to somebody, “What number are you?” And they said a number, and I said, “Great!” 

It’s pretty quiet here on a Tuesday afternoon even though the weather is gorgeous. I’m going to learn what does quiet even mean? Because I was excited just to see anybody on the pier. But I have a feeling on the weekend it’ll be such a different experience. 

I love this idea that I have the best boss ever. Because I’m considering this a part time job, and I gave myself some hours. I love that. I have to show up by a certain time. That helps me stay accountable to show up. It’s got to be by 11:30am.

I had some really peak moments – like absolutely lovely peak moments. In one case – this was the goal for the whole enterprise –  somebody just came up to me ready to buy:

They want to take a photo of me. They wanted to give me a tip. They wanted to chat. It was just fun and easy. They were from Austin. They were around for a wedding. There was another group that came just to go to Harvelle’s in Santa Monica and see some music. So it’s just nice to talk to people.

Anyway my boss, which is me, is so kind. When I feel like playing music, I played music. And when I felt like it to be quiet,  I just was like, “You can turn off the music now.” Instead of being committed to some particular way of doing this. 

I don’t know what’s going to be the most effective. I stretched. I danced, I did a lot of dancing, Apparently, I’m a dancing unicorn. That’s the natural place for me to go. And the happy place for me would be to dance only when I’m feeling it. And to not dance when I’m not feeling it – to not push. And sometimes I had a seat that I bought that I could have a seat on. And I brought snacks. But the there were some, I mentioned, some peak moments.

This man came up to me and just said, “What is this?” He was just kind of ready to hear anything I had to say. I showed him my Magical Menu. He asked what each item was and just laughed. He was just delighted that I had a menu. 

Then he got to pick. He asked, “What does Calm Magic mean?” I said, “let’s look at the ocean. I’ll guide you in some breathing. So we went over there, and I did what I do very often for so many other things with clients and Cuddle Sanctuary. We looked at the beauty and took some breaths. I asked him what was most beautiful. He said, “The mountains and the movements of the waves.” He was just so pleased. He gave me twenty bucks. I felt really joyful about that interaction. He might have asked me how much it was. I said whatever feels right for you. 

I was upstaged by a bird. (The bird would probably just say I was in no competition with it.) I was looking adorable in my unicorn outfit. But people and kids were like, “Look at that bird.” The birds are amazing. The seagulls are so cool. I’m looking at them right now – flapping their wings but staying in place. They’re basically hovering. It’s really great. 

Anyway, the other absolute peak moment was when a few men – very muscle-y, athletic men on bicycles – thick tired bicycles – rolled up. One of them asked me a question, just seemed interested. I showed him my menu. He said, “What’s Energy Magic?” I said we would dance together. He’s like: Let’s do it. I said “you pick the music.” 

So he picked Around the World by Daft Punk. I put that up on Apple Music and queued up the Bluetooth. I copied them. They copied me. It was ridiculous. I wish I had video of what they took. But I was twerking – you know – fake twerking. They were obviously very cool people, and I was you know trying to dance like them in a way that I think was just so silly. I felt like absolutely like a, like a circus clown. and I just couldn’t believe it like how silly that I was being and how much fun I was having. I think they gave me give five bucks.

My goal is to not make any assessments today, but just let it just sleep on it. I might have some good ideas about you know other fresh ideas about how to create delight quickly, how to have fun here, how to make the most of the time or enjoy it. I’ll take it light. Such a solid first day, I’m quite proud of myself. I expect – my schedule says – according to my boss – that I’ll be back on Thursday.