Guo Nam Lion Dance

March is here and Lunar New Year festivities have come to a close. In February, I had the opportunity to watch Guo Nam perform a lion dance at a town center. While I’m glad I got to see the performance, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about some particulars of this Lunar New Year event.

Attendees that purposely came for the Lunar New Year event were probably aware of the lion dance performance and kiddie booths but only repeat attendees would be privy to where the performance would occur. Sure, I had an idea where the performance would be happening but I was clueless as to where specifically. I think it would’ve been a nice gesture on the event planner’s part to have a sign with information on it OR even cautionary tape around the performance area so that your average attendee would know where to hang out to see the front of the performance.

By the time I figured things out, it was basically a bit too late to move to where I could see the front of the lion dance performance. Had I just hung out where there were a decent amount of people hanging out by a restaurant, I may have been able to snag a really nice view. (I’m sure the people hanging out there were in the loop as they were most likely repeat attendees.)

The performance itself was overall good but I saw the back of it… lol

The lion dancers never came to wherever I was because it would’ve been impossible for them to come over. Lol

Honestly, I don’t know what to think of this venue. Was that specific spot really the best spot to do a lion dance performance? I personally feel the area where the red lanterns were at would’ve been more spacious and more accommodating to attendees and less restrictive to the performers but it’s probably a space that’s not ideal since it’d block at least two business’ entrances/exits and be in the way of anyone that wasn’t here for the Lunar New Year event.

That aside, there was someone affiliated with Guo Nam that was just either very moody or prickly. I kid you not that I heard this person be unnecessarily loud and bossy to attendees when they were in the way. Like, if that’s how you are to strangers, I really hope you’re not like that to your team as well? I suppose it’s none of my business but with it being a celebratory event, I was like wtf. Fortunately, I was not in anyone’s way to incite unnecessary ire but can you imagine? Like, what? I’m just going to assume that this person missed out on celebrating a personal Lunar New Year event or something.

Post performance, you could approach the lion dancers and give money if you wanted to. The interesting thing here is that only the red lion dancers were available. The gold one disappeared into the abyss post performance and I found that weird. (I’m sure many would’ve liked to approach the gold one as well but maybe they needed to rest as they were to perform again later.)

Had I stayed around, I would’ve been able to grasp front row seats for their second performance but I had other things to do.

I didn’t even bother to que up in this super long line to get red envelopes which contained some type of gift (beaded bracelet). And I think it was the right decision because I feel that it originally was meant for people that came with their children but whether it changed into something where adults also received a red envelope is a different story.