Where in the world am I today?: Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Prologue: I think my first exposure to Robert Nelson was at the 1983 International Juggler’s Convention in SUNY Purchase New York. I’d only been juggling and performing for a couple of years and at the age of 14 was wide-eyed and drinking in everything that the convention had to offer. Robert’s larger than life persona left a real impression on me! In the years that followed we shared pitches around the world and Robert even acted as the Marriage commissioner at a performance wedding that my wife and I had at the 1997 Edmonton Street Performers Festival. The Butterfly Man really is a living legend in the industry.
Stats:
Name: Robert Nelson – AKA The Butterfly Man
Birthday: September 16, 1949
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: First Tip Collected in NOLA 1973 with Henry the Fiddler
Discipline: Sister Maria Goretti’s Ruler (or Comedy Juggler)
Website: http://www.butterflyman.com
Video Link: I have cable if that’s what you’re talking about. (see website)
Venues Worked: Pieces of my performer DNA are everywhere.
Hot 10 Questions:
- What’s your favorite color? • All/None (B/W)
- What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream • Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey …. Ben & Jerry asked Murph & Benji to attract them a crowd when they 1st started out selling ice cream on the Burlington mall … that one chance encounter led to so many of us working for their “Traveling Show” for years.
- Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Seven Samurai
- What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My Hopalong Cassidy Gun
- Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Bounce & Cyrus, Philippe Petit, Jango Edwards, Leo Bassi
- From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Jiminy Cricket
- Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Making Carboxy Nitroso rubber for NASA
- What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Fly a Draganflyer X6
- What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Going onstage
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You can come in but the butterfly stays.”
The Nugget:
Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.
“Laugh or spill your brains on the ceiling”
–Robert Nelson, The Butterfly Man
