Who is Seth Bloom?
I’m one of the creators of Air Play, which I made with my performing partner, Christina Gelsone She’s also my wife. We live in New York City, but spend much of our time touring and performing worldwide.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Our company just loaded Air Play into a theater for the 100th time. That’s A LOT OF THEATERS. That means I’ve spent 800 hours over 8 years just setting up the show. We’ve performed Air Play over 380 times on 5 continents. Next up I want to get outside and have more adventures in nature. I’ve also been lucky to have the best physical therapists fix my injuries so I can keep performing – My plan is to go for training and help keep other artists in good shape.
Who inspires you and why?
Chuck Jones, who created Bugs Bunny of the Looney Tunes – he showed that you could pair zany cartoon comedy with classical music.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I spent 7 years off and on working to help build up a circus project in Afghanistan and help kids in the worst situations find laughter and play. Currently touring Air Play post COVID has been profound. People have always loved the show, but now we get audience members in tears coming up after to give us hugs. We’ve all be collectively holding our breath since COVID – Air Play lets people breathe, relax, laugh, feel and it seems to be very cathartic for many folks.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I rarely take destination holidays since I travel so much. Best tour destination for time off is the “city of eternal spring” Kunming China and the region around it known as Yunnan. It borders Tibet, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. We’ve been there twice on tour, and on a week break went hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge and visited incredible terraced rice fields that fill with water. The food in this region is DELICIOUS. Big spicy bowls of soups with all kinds of noodles.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Biking through the 5 boroughs of New York City. Biking is fantastic way to experience New York City and you pass through so many different neighbourhoods that you see how truly diverse the city is. The whole world lives here. Plus it is a great reminder that Manhattan is really an Island.
What are you currently reading?
I love fiction and recently finished Strange Beasts of China by Yan Gee. Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen is next on the list. And I just downloaded a book called Winter Swimming by Susanna Soberg – about swimming in very cold water. Is there an icy lake I can jump in anywhere nearby?
What are you currently listening to?
I always have This American Life cued up on podcast. It’s great true to life storytelling. Musically it’s all over the place – I like to work out to Dua Lipa and Lizzo, and drink coffee to quiet classical music. Vacuuming is best done to Astor Piazzolla, might as well tango while you clean up.
Happiness is?
Chili oil on eggs in the morning. Swimming in any body of water. Coffee. Traveling and performing with my wife.
What does the future hold for you?
Lots more touring. Next up back to the USA for an April tour, then South Korea, Taiwan, Sweden, Saudia Arabia, and a long gig in the state of Texas.
Seth is the Co-creator and Performer in Air Play – which will be presented at the Pavilion Performing Arts Centre, Sutherland: 3 & 5 March; and the Adelaide Festival Centre: 15 – 19 March. For more information, visit: www.acrobuffos.com for details.
Image: Seth Bloom – photo by Florence Montmare