Blue Man Group Ticketing Coupon Codes

You don't have to shave your head to be a Blue Man. You don't even need to be a man to be a Blue Man.

But you do need to attend Blue Man boot camp, an eight-week training course in New York where recruits learn to drum, spit paint and act without speaking a word.

"They have music sessions and character sessions; blocking sessions and a throwing and catching session," said Blue Man Group casting director Deb Burton. "Then there is the spin-painting session. That takes place in a room covered in plastic tarps."

The hours are long, the lessons difficult. Classes average three to six students and only about half graduate. The ones who do make the cut are dispatched to Blue Man Group theaters in seven cities across the globe or hit the road with the "How to be a Megastar Tour 2.1," which stops in St. Louis on Friday.

"Not everyone makes it," Burton said. "They can't quite grasp the character or maybe they can't wrap their head around the music. It does take a level of musicianship."

About 60 Blue Men perform worldwide. They all stand between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-1 and maintain lean builds. One woman has performed as a Blue Man and more are welcome. However, Burton said few meet the physical requirements.

The Blue Man Group started nearly two decades ago in New York. Part party, part performance art, Blue Man Group shows feature drumming, physical stunts and paint splashing. Though the performers are interchangeable, each offers his own take on the quizzical Blue Man character.

"They bring their own vibe," Burton said. "It's very difficult though because we take away a lot of the tools actors are used to using, like dialogue."

The job does come with some occupational hazards, like spitting paint onto a blank canvas. That's one stunt no fan should try at home.

"There have been years and years of research and development," Burton said. "The paint is nontoxic but it tastes a bit funky."

The paint pellets are nothing compared to the latex skull caps a Blue Man must glue to his head.

"It takes an hour to put one on," Burton said. "They sweat a lot during a show so they have to use the glue. ... And taking it off is worse. It's like pulling off a Band-Aid."

Burton tries to make it up to her crew by allowing them to move among cities. "We try to accommodate their wishes," she said. "It's so hard to find a Blue Man."