About Us
We are HOTDOG HOTDOG
Step into the steam and sizzle of HOTDOG HOTDOG, an all-senses, all-beef, audiovisual takeover that could only happen in Chicago. Smell the mustard. Hear the snap. Feel the bass rattle your buns. From the Loop to Logan Square, this is a night for anyone who knows there’s no ketchup in art.
This is no ordinary show. It’s a fully-loaded 4D experience where you can see, taste, smell, and hear the humble Chicago-style hot dog in glorious, ridiculous excess. Digitally rendered dogs (created by slinging real glizzies at high-speed cinema cameras) collide with live performances by Chicago's best musicians and comedians. Each act remixes the visuals in real time, turning every bite and beat into a one-of-a-kind sensory feast.
Arrive early for a dog-forward pre-show: eat real Chicago-style hot dogs (vegan, too!), shop artisan-made hot dog merch, and immerse yourself in the visuals. It’s part concert, part cookout, part hallucinogenic condiment dream.
How the Sausage is Made
All our visuals are crafted by hand. We are proud to say no generative AI is used here!
First, hot dog ingredients are flung around and filmed in slow motion using professional high-speed cinema cameras. After the videos are processed, we bring them into a custom VJ program we built in TouchDesigner. Finally, we add in visual distortions and audio reactivity to bring the dog to life!
Visuals are played back and layered in real-time using a five-octave MIDI keyboard. We integrate live camera feeds and multiple sources of external media during a show to create a visual collage that honors the dog and includes the audience in the experience.
We partner with local Chicago venues, businesses, musicians, artists, and performers. We perform at our own variety shows as well as at karaoke nights and open mics around the city. Interested in performing at a HOTDOG HOTDOG show? Send us a note!
We are also available for brand partnerships. Inspired by what we do? Do you have a crazy idea that evokes the energy of HOTDOG HOTDOG? We’d love to work with you and make some custom content!
Meet the Team!
We are a group of professional entertainers, theater artists, experiential designers, and filmmakers, bringing together our collective skills in the name of live hotdog art.
Joel “Top Dog” Ruby
Executive Director, VJ Extraordinaire
Kate “Big Dog” Milleker
Executive Producer, Technical Director
MacKenzie “Hush Puppy” Shapiro
Director of Stage Operations, Talent Booking
Callum “Dog God” Grant
Creative Director, Performance Consultant