We catch up with Big Dipper before the Digital Bear Weekend House Party!
Digital Bear Weekend starts tonight with the Beers & Bears Launch Party at 8PM (EST) on the Digital Bear Weekend homepage! And tomorrow at 5PM (EST), we are pleased to present the Digital Bear Weekend House Party, hosted by one of our favorite furry Bears, Big Dipper!
We had a chance to catch up with Big Dipper ahead of the big House Party to discuss how he’s been coping through the current times, and what to expect this weekend!
Kyle Jackson: Hi, Big Dipper! The world has been going a little crazy recently. How have you been working and coping during these crazy times?
Big Dipper: Hey! Yeah it’s been pretty nuts…and not the balls kind of nuts….which I miss in my face….cause I’ve been isolating pretty seriously, and I’ve been celibate since March! Whew!
Sorry, sex is at the top of my mind right now. Generally speaking, I’ve been okay. I’m very lucky that I’m still able to work from home, recording my podcast, Sloppy Seconds with Meatball, and producing a few other podcasts.
I’ve also been working on new music and getting ready to release another music video this summer. I had a bunch of pride gigs lined up for this summer that all got canceled, but I’m hopeful I can play in those cities at some point in the future.
The news is really overwhelming at the moment. The corrupt and incompetant leaders with power give me no hope for the future. But I’m incredibly inspired and excited by the momentum surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement and how so many young people and artists are being vocal about systemic racism and the injustices upon which this country was built. It was also cool to see how the BLM energy really helped re-focus the idea of Pride month and shine a brighter light on the racism inside the LGBTQ+ community.
So, lots to think about and digest, but I find if I take a walk everyday, break a sweat, drink a bunch of water, and talk to a friend on the phone, I can go to bed more easily without the crushing weight of the world on my shoulders.
Photo by Bryan Whitely 
Photo by David Hawe
KJ: Do you have a “COVID bubble” — or a close group of family and friends that you can visit?
BD: No. I’m all by myself. I had to see two people to film the footage for the Digital Bear Weekend House Party this weekend, but we kept our distance and I wore a mask when we weren’t recording. Plus we did the whole thing outside…so the breeze was blowing and it felt safe.
Aside from my roommate, I haven’t been in close proximity with anyone without a mask on in months. I understand the need, and I want to create a bubble or pod and I totally think it can happen in a safe and responsible way. But I’m just flying solo here.
KJ: Creatives like us have had to get really creative during this time. Because I’m mostly a theatre artist, I’ve had to learn a little more about video and digital media. What are some new skills you’ve picked up during lockdown?
BD: Totally! I’ve been learning more about lighting for zoom calls, and staging my backgrounds a bit better so my apartment doesn’t look like a shithole. And I’ve even been learning about some audio engineering as I’ve been recording new music from home, which is something I normally do in the studio.
Also, I’m managing and producing a lot more projects now, so I’m learning about google calendar and how to keep my to do list more organized. I used to do everything in person in this sort of chaotic yet charming (I thought) fashion. But now I have to plan ahead more and I’m trying to be more organized.
It’s so hard when your work space and your living space and your sleeping space all sort of become that same space. Oh, and I’m really getting a handle on different time zones…PDT, EDT, ETC.
Photo by Gabriel Gastelum 
Photo by Rene Rodriguez
KJ: What did you like most about the creative process when recording your material for both the May Digital Bear Weekend and the July Digital Bear Weekend House Party?
BD: I hate it! I miss the energy of a live show! I long to be in the same room as a crowd again and feed off that energy.
At a live show you really get to be in the moment, and I love the sort of unplanned nature of that vibe. But I will say, the most challenging and exciting thing about filming my performances for the House Party was emulating a live performance.
I love making music videos…but I’m pretty adamant that these digital shows are not an opportunity to show off your music video directing and editing skills…I love a single-shot sustained live performance.
And that’s just what I made for the livestream on July 25th. It was fun to challenge myself to get it right in just one take. Also, I was so out of breath — I haven’t gotten off my ass in months, and then tried to do a whole show stopping number!
KJ: What 3 words would you use to describe the Digital Bear Weekend House Party for someone who doesn’t know what to expect?
BD: THICK. HAIRY. TALENT
Photo by Dusti Cunningham 
Photo by Fred Attenborough
The Bear World House Party is being broadcast at 5pm EST (10pm UK) on the Bear World Magazine Twitch channel – twitch.tv/bearworldmag. Go to Twitch today to sign up!
Twitch streams can be viewed on the official Twitch website and via one of the many official Twitch apps which are available for iOS and Android, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Sony’s PlayStation 3 and 4, Amazon’s Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Roku.
Head to the app store on your preferred device to download the Twitch app. Once installed, search for ‘BearWorldMag’. Watching broadcasts and videos on Twitch is completely free and doesn’t require viewers to log in.
