Welcome! This page is dedicated to helping us to serve you, the Armed Forces customer! It contains information on how best to promote and present the show. Please email us at mail@hackandslash.com if you have any question or concerns and let us know if there is any information that would be helpful for us to post here on the page. We're looking forward to seeing you and making you laugh!

We will now take questions about the show.
Yes, you in the back...

What is it?

Hack and Slash is a two-man, comedy and sword fighting show that has entertained audiences all over the world for fifteen years at more than 3000 performances. They combine rapier wit with flashy swordplay, bullwhip tricks and ludicrous comedy in a show that pleases audiences of all ages. Think of it as Shakespeare meets Robin Williams in a dark alley with swords. The show culminates in a finale with a bed of one thousand spikes that can only be described as 'cruel and unusual'. Come prepared to laugh!

How long is it

The show is about 45 minutes, although we can go as long as an hour and as short as 30 minutes, as needed.

Is it funny?

Yes.

Is it a clean show?

We consider Hack and Slash a family show, as we perform for family venues such as renaissance festivals and so forth. There is some double-entendre but the show doesn't go beyond a PG-13 rating. I am told that AFE chose us because we can entertain the whole family. Is it a "kid's show"? No, it's geared toward adults but kids love it. Does it get a bit crazier when we're out in the desert with a bunch of Rangers? ...sometimes.

How do we bill it? (that's showbiz talk for "What do we call it when we advertise it?")

"Hack and Slash, Comedy Swordfighting Show" or,
"Hack and Slash, Comedy Show" or just,
"Comedy Show" is great.
Or "Family Comedy Show" is fine, if that's your need.

Please don't bill it as a "Adult Show" - we don't mind whole families coming, and if it's billed that way people end up expecting cursing and nudity... and dear God... believe me... you don't want to see us naked.

Can you do something for our base school?

Schedule permitting, we can do a lecture demonstration on stage combat for elementary through high school. Small groups of 20 or less can actually participate in a 30-90 minute workshop. Workshops on comedy improvisation are also available. Demos average about 30 minutes. Please email us at mail@hackandslash.com ahead of time if that's the kind of program you're interested in.

Is it really funny?

Yes. You'll laugh until you pee.

Transportation:

We do have a bit of equipment including: a large sword case, a bed of spikes and two containers of costumes, a trunk of giveaways, some cement blocks and our personal luggage - so we'll need at least a van or small truck with room for equipment and four passengers (one of us is extra-large!). We were once picked up in a small European station wagon and rode for seven hours with our luggage in our laps and our bed of spikes and swords precariously strapped to the top. It makes a great story now but, oh my, what a trip!

Lodging:

We are accustomed to tents, barracks, flight-line noise, and sand. We are not opposed to sharing our lodging. In hotels, we prefer separate rooms when the room rates are reasonable but will share when the double room rates are more practical.

Promotion/Advertising:

We love performing for a big crowd. The bigger the crowd, the more fun the show! We are happy to do whatever we can to help you promote the event.

  • You can download a show poster to hang up around the base.

  • We have an AFE radio commercial available by request. Please let us know early so we can mail it to you on CD

  • We will come with free giveaways and autographed pictures!

    Are you easy to book?

    Yes. Hack and Slash keep an current database of all of our personal info, printable passport photos, AFE show posters, autograph cards, immunization records etc. so that we are ready to assist Armed Forces Entertainment when they have a need. We also try to get our final paperwork in immediately upon returning to CONUS. Our goal is to make hosting our show easy.

    Staging:


    Hack & Slash has performed in all kinds of conditions and at many forward operating bases that have never had entertainment before! We can adapt our show and will endeavor to do our best to provide you excellent service. However, some conditions may limit what skills we can perform. Here are a few staging preferences for your convenience and to assure we can give you the best show possible:

  • As we use swords and bullwhips, we prefer at least 12 foot ceiling, free from low-hanging objects like hanging lamps or party decorations.

  • Performance area should be at least 24x16 feet, to best serve the safety of the audience. Also, please choose a performance area that people will not walk through during the performance. (An actual stage is usually best. Dance floors can be very good too.)

  • Please allow one hour prior to the show for setup of props and sound.

  • Sound: While we are capable of performing without sound system, especially in smaller spaces, the show works best with a sound system. We bring our own wireless microphone system and can usually plug into whatever system you have. For you technical types, we can plug in with ¼ in stereo or XLR. We will need an electrical outlet to plug into, to power our wireless microphone receivers. We also have music available for before and after the show on iPod (RCA, 1/4 or 1/8 input plug). We also bring our own mixer in case there is only one input into your system.

  • Lights: We are a very visual show and it always helps to make sure the audience can see us. Small or large halogen work lights seem to do the trick (four or five lights usually cover the stage).

  • As we are a comedy show and rely on spoken word and audience interaction, please see that TVs, jukeboxes, and other music are turned off during the performance.

  • At Dinner shows (in Officer's Clubs, for example), we are best featured during desert.

  • Fire Routines: We often bring jugglers with us, who perform routines with juggling torches. The fuel on the torches is minimal and the flames are small and controlled. We understand safety issues with tents and can do the show without fire, however we have found that after a brief chat with the fire chief at each base (over 100 bases to date) we can usually include these very exciting and safe routines in our shows. Our juggling partners have made their living entertaining for corporate clients for over forty collective years without incident and use excellent judgement with regard to safety. As such, we always request two extinguishers be present at each show.

    Staging:

  • We need a concrete block to smash in our finale, and usually procure a few at the bigger bases that we use as a staging areas. For example, we did a lot of shows at small FOB's in Afghanistan by flying UH60's out of Bagram. We were able to get all our concrete blocks in Bagram and carry them out to the FOB's. We know that concrete blocks are different all over the world and can usually work with what is available.

  • We usually need Zippo lighter fluid for our juggling routines, but have found it easy enough to grab at the PX/BX. See above for flame-oriented issues.

    Thanks for hosting us at your base, and thanks for your service to our country! Please let us know if you have any more questions or concerns by emailing us at mail@hackandslash.com

    Learn more about us by visiting our main webpage (click below).
    All rights reserved. Webmastering services by Just Adequate Media.