Got our tickets in the mail last week. Jump Back Ball is almost here!

12 days and counting until the curtains go up on another Jump Back Ball.

Between now and February 22, when Scott and I aren’t celebrating Valentine’s Day, our fifth wedding anniversary, and going to work, you’ll likely find us on the fourth floor of the Idea Center at PlayhouseSquare — painting, cutting, pasting, and perhaps (but hopefully, not) glittering.

It’s Jump Back Ball Shop Night season. And, as always, anyone is free to stop by, help out, and get a sneak peek at this year’s James Bond-themed decor.

At last night’s Shop Night, Scott and I had a chance to paint a few of the cloth banners celebrating the different Bond films.  Kimberly and I painted “happy trees” on a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. And I even got to use a nail gun for the first time. Once I overcame my fear of accidentally hurting someone with it, it was easy and fun.

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As Scott wrote in last year’s Shop Night guest post, you don’t need to be crafty like Q to help out. The only requirement: have fun!

We’ll provide you with a light dinner. And in case you need another reason to attend, every Shop Night you go to will get you a raffle entry for an overnight stay at the Wyndham Hotel the night of Jump Back Ball.

You still have 3 chances to attend a Shop Night and be entered into the Wyndham Hotel raffle. Join us between 5:30pm and 8:30pm at the Idea Center on:

• Wednesday, February 12
• Monday, February 17
• Thursday, February 20

You can also join us on Friday, February 21 for Set Up Day. If you’d like to help assemble the event’s decor throughout the State Theatre, begin arriving at the State Lobby after 9:30 a.m. If you can only stop by during your lunch hour, we’ll be there all day.

Still need Jump Back Ball tickets? Although general admission tickets are sold out, a few Sponsor level tickets remain. Sponsorships start at $1,500 which gets you 4 VIP tickets to Jump Back Ball. That breaks down to $375 per ticket, plus $1,220 of the sponsorship is tax-deductible. Head over to playhousesquare.org/JumpBackBall/sponsor.html for more information.

Already have your Jump Back Ball tickets? Check out my post on James Bond costume ideas.

Disclosure: I’m on the board of PlayhouseSquare Partners, the organization that hosts Jump Back Ball. I also blogged about the event’s kickoff party as a Jump Back Ball blogger.

As a kid, I loved attacking anything I could with markers, paint and colored pencils. Still today, it’s an easy way to lift my spirits.

That’s why I get excited this time each year for Jump Back Ball Shop Nights.

I realize, though, I’m a little very weird. So if harnessing your inner Michelangelo isn’t your idea of a fun night out, why should you go to Shop Nights?

Well, I asked Scott – who I used to have to drag with me –  to share his story:

Fun with glitter at Scott’s first Shop Night in 2011

I’ve sung on stage in front of hundreds of people. I’ve performed improv and sketch comedy in a dozen bars. Through cable I’ve broadcast myself doing ridiculous activities for the viewing pleasure of the population of Philadelphia.

I say these things not as some sort of weird ego boost, but to give perspective; if after all that I was reluctant and a little scared to attend a Jump Back Ball Shop Night, then no one should feel like this trepidation is out of the ordinary. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t misplaced.

I know it doesn’t make any sense for me to fear a small group of people making decorations for Cleveland’s most awesome party. It’s sort of like how I know the little house spider is of no actual threat to me, but I still jump and shiver whenever I see one.

Part of it is undoubtedly the unknown. What if the spider isn’t what I think it is? What if, at Shop Night, I mess up? I cut the wrong thing? I glue the wrong part? I step wrong, or trip, or sneeze, and suddenly I’ve ruined someone else’s hard work?

Through repeated actions I’ve learned not to be so fearful of the little spider. And through repeated visits to Shop Night, and working with the wonderful people there, I’ve learned that my fears of it are also unfounded.

If it’s your first Jump Back Ball Shop Night, there are plenty of volunteers to help you

Shop Night is filled with friendly, helpful people, who are happy to be together making such wonderful things. And thus I learned that I couldn’t cut wrong, because someone would be there to show me how – or show me how to fix it when I deviated from the plan.

Glue can be undone, covered up, or creatively incorporated. And everything can be remade…sometimes better!

You’ll always have someone helpful nearby to show you whatever you need to know.

I’ve really come to enjoy Shop Nights. The people are welcoming and warm. The hum of the conversation and tools is comforting. Seeing things take shape around you is always amazing. There is an energy in the room, very similar to prepping and performing on the stage.

After all, we are creating a set – a set hundreds of people will be a part of, and I will be able to grin, point and say, “I helped make that!” to anyone who will listen.

If you come to Shop Nights, you may have the inclination to celebrate at Jump Back Ball like this

And it is all for the good of Playhouse Square!

After a few years of Shop Nights I now look at my fear and know it is baseless. Just like I will never lose that uncomfortable feeling for spiders, I do still get butterflies when going to Shop Nights. But now I know that once I walk through the doors the butterflies will be gone, replaced by all the good will and energy overflowing from the work being done.

And if you’re not too full from that, there is always the free food.

Where else can you help make the Alice in Wonderland Caterpillar?

Shop Nights will be held throughout February on the 4th floor of the Idea Center (accessible off of Dodge Court). Join us on the following dates from 5:30pm – 8:30pm and bring your friends:

• Monday, February 4
• Thursday, February 7
• Monday, February 11
• Wednesday, February 13
• Monday, February 18
• Thursday, February 21

You can find out more about Jump Back Ball Shop Nights and how you can get involved at playhousesquare.org/jumpbackball/involved.html.

This is part 5 of my Jump Back Two Spaces series. Check out my previous posts:

• Part 1: Getting into Character
• Part 2: Jump Back Hair-spiration with ONE Styling and Dino Palmieri
• Part 3: Upcoming Events – Jump Back Ball Edition
• Part 4: Jump Back Ball Fashions and My Dear Friend Etsy

Join PlayhouseSquare Partners at the next Shop Night to get a behind the scenes look at decor and learn more about the organization.

Although Jump Back Ball has sold out, the work has just begun for PlayhouseSquare Partners.  One reason I love Jump Back Ball is that even before Scott and I get to party on February 25th, we’re having fun throughout February at Jump Back Ball Shop Nights.

Shop Nights are a unique opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look and play a part in PlayhouseSquare’s biggest fundraiser.

Throughout the month leading up to Shop Nights, volunteers are creating and building all of the decor that guests will enjoy at Jump Back Ball. From painting to glueing to hammering decorations together, there is a lot that needs to be done.

I'm not great at cutting or glueing, but I do love painting which is where you'll likely see me during JBB Shop Nights

And everyone is welcome to help out.  You don’t need to be a part of PlayhouseSquare Partners to show up and volunteer, nor do you need any artistic skills. There are plenty of projects to work on, so you won’t be lacking for something to do. 

Last Monday we started our first week of Shop Nights and things are already starting to come together. So far you can catch a glimpse at the early stages of the Caterpillar and its Hooka, the Red Queen’s Castle and the Tea Time Clocks, among other decorations.

After only 2 Shop Nights, construction on the Red Queen's Castle is underway

But there’s still a lot to do, which is where you can come in.  Over the next three weeks, there are 7 more opportunities to join us at Jump Back Ball Shop Nights:

• Monday, Feb. 6 (Tonight!)
• Wednesday, Feb. 8
• Monday, Feb. 13
• Thursday, Feb. 16
• Monday, Feb. 20
• Wednesday, Feb. 22
• Thursday, Feb. 23

All Shop Nights start at 6pm and go til around 9pm (you can come late or leave early if you want). We work out of the  Hanna Building Annex in downtown Cleveland, which you can enter through the main doors between Prospect and E14th St. You can also join us Friday, Feb. 24 starting at 10am for all-day set-up in the State Theatre.

If this is your first time attending a Jump Back Ball Shop Night and you have any questions, email Molly Franz at PlayhouseSquare at franzm@playhousesquare.org. When you show up, we’ll have dinner waiting for you and our Decor Committee Chairs will be sporting neon green shirts to point you in the right direction.

Volunteering at Shop Nights is just one way to help out PlayhouseSquare Jump Back Ball

Can’t make it to a Shop Night, but want to help out Jump Back Ball? We’re still accepting sponsorships from local businesses and donations for the Jump Back Ball Silent Auction.  

Check out the Sponsorship Guide here or email franzm@playhousesquare.org if you’re interested in donating a gift certificate or other service to help raise money through the Silent Auction.

This is part 3 in my Behind the Looking Glass series. Want to learn more about Jump Back Ball? Check out:

• Part 1: An Introduction to Jump Back Ball 21
• Part 2: Jump Back Ball Fashions
• A First Timer’s Guide to Jump Back Ball

And come back next week to learn more about the entertainment at this year’s Jump Back Ball.