I came to New Orleans in 2009. I lived in Florida for 27 years and I left when the economy shut down. I have worked in film and haunted houses and became a street performer because it was the only way I could make a living. I came here and tried for five years to find a regular job, but I am overqualified or too old. Street performing is not just putting on an outfit. It is demanding. This outfit takes about an hour to put on and I started making it in 1999 for a metal band show. We were called the Wicked Screaming Squirts. It was Rob Zombie meets horror. It was a rock opera from outer space with God, demons and aliens and there were characters for each song. This character was in the show and then I took it into the haunted house and film industry. He is a goofball space monster named Arkicide Demonicus from the Sombrero Galaxy who blew up half of his home world throwing a party and was pursued through 12 galaxies to this one. He is hiding out on Earth and is here for the chicks. His appearance alone has started wars. I have a whole story and eventually want to make a movie of him. I take on a different personality in the suit and become the character. I do it for a couple of hours every day on Bourbon and St. Peter. If you are self-employed, there are no days off. I am always working on improving it, adding lights, making it better. On the street is the good, the bad and the ugly. Ugly is when people randomly attack you. It happens all of the time. The character makes them a little crazy. I have had my life threatened several times. The reward is phenomenal. I get to entertain thousands of people and I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I did the 9 to 5 most of my life and it was complete misery. This is all up to me now. There are kingdom days and pauper days. November is pretty lean, but it picks up in December, then you have to start dealing with the cold.”
Good enough isn’t an option. It’s got to be the best I can do.
“I even make my sandwich backwards. I put my bottom piece here and my bun here. And then whenever I eat it, my bottom...
I truly wish Arkicide Demonicus much success and peace of mind. I believe most of the Sombrero Galaxy occupants (who survived his party), actually settled in Mexico. I am thinking that had to be quite a journey…the Sombrero Galaxy is 29.35 million light years away….but settling in New Orleans seems appropriate. However, if he came here looking for chicks, beware Arkicide, humans are not always honest about their gender!
This funny. I wanted to go see him at work, but I couldn’t take Jake on Bourbon Street. Had to draw the line there.
Completely understand that,that’s too bad..maybe one day we do run into each other,sounds like a great guy…
I usually come up Royal to get to Bourbon,and I do use St.Peter usually to gain entrance to Bourbon..if that helps at all…you can also find me around Rev.Voodoo gift shop taking a break,or cooling off at the fan from the restaurant on the corner from Bourbon and St.Peter…
It’s getting warm again,so I hang by there,lol…like A/C for me,lol..
The only one of my kind to come here is me.
Your section of your galaxy is under quarantine.
Primarily..Earth system.
Had to jumpgate 12 galaxies to get here..the Virgo Cluster is…complicated.
So nobody but me came here…but me.
Human women are a perk for certain…you don’t want to know what half the universe looks like.
Earth women are the finest in the Cluster…
Another reason for quarantine,lol…for their safety from scoundrels like me,hehehe…
I remember seeing The Wicked Screaming Squirts at the Culture Room back in the day, one Bella good show!
Dude,can’t believe somebody called a shout out on the Squirts show,so you know how epic it was to see,12 song twisted adventure that it was to do…
I’m still family tight with lead singer Wicked Queeny to this day,my most best friend in life,my Queen to the end.
We do talk about those days with bittersweet memories,love,thanks for the mention!
Arkicide is the best! I love watching him interact with the tourist and always say hi to him. Best demon ever.
Joe, are you still around? It’s Melissa from Florida, you helped me with the bat wings