Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Prologue: Scotty and I met back in the mid-1980s at a juggling convention in Burlington, Vermont. I was part of a fledgling juggling club in Ottawa and one of the members of the club had his pilot’s license. We flew down for the convention then flew back… Crazy fun. Met Scotty there and also ran into a couple of my other heros like Waldo and Murph… Great times. Scotty and his wife Joan moved to Montreal and were working the street in the Summers to follow and I have great memories of watching Scotty riding his unicycle into the wall of a open café then leaning in, grabbing a glass of wine off of a table and having a little sip before riding back into the circle. Several years later I also remember watching him and Joan at the Halifax Busker’s Festival. Scotty had perfected an acrobatic move that made it look like he was pulling himself up by the seat of his pants… Incredible… Oh, and I should also mention that he’s got one of best impersonations of Popeye I’ve ever run across… Great guy! Fabulous Skills! Big Funny!
STATS
Name: Scotty Houghton.
Birthday: February 18, 1958.
Place of Birth: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: Started street performing in 1981. Some of my first shows were at Covent Garden, probably not a great place to start, but I learned a lot by watching the other acts, especially The Amazing Mendezies (Dave Spathaky, Chris Adams) They had a funny,tight act and a generous vibe.
Discipline: Dog act, but started as a juggler/unicyclist.
Website: http://www.Muttsgonenuts.com
Venues Worked: Festivals, Fairs, Theatres, Schools.
Hot 10 Questions:
- What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Coffee.
- Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Mr Saturday Night.
- What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Frisbee.
- Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Locomotion Vaudeville, Avner the Eccentric.
- From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Oggie Doggy.
- Name something that scares you. • Drunk drivers.
- Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Cook.
- What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Violin.
- What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Schlepping.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “I’ve got someone here who’s been waiting for you”
The Nugget:
Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.
“Be nice on your way up, because you’ll see the same people on your way down.”
–Scotty Houghton
