Where in the world am I today?: Grand Turk aboard the Emerald Princess

Prologue: I first met Daniel Forlano at the 2004 Waterloo Busker’s Carnival. His was one of the few shows that I sat and watched from start to finish at that Festival. I made the effort because many of the other performers at the Festival had given me the impression that his was a show to see so I very specifically made the time to check it out. Really enjoyed the show and really like the stuff he did with his freestanding ladder… He had quite a slow deliberate pace that seemed in sharp contrast to the chaos of the street and the shows on either side of him, but the pacing totally worked and the show revealed itself very successfully in spite of the chaos that surrounded it. Didn’t get as much of a chance to chat with Daniel following the show as I would have liked, but such is often the case at these festivals. Attention gets distracted by the many shinny objects and interesting conversations to be had with fellow performers, oh, and it rained a lot that weekend and I think I was likely busy dealing with wet props for a chunk of my time… Still it was good to meet Daniel and we’ve been in touch many times since. He’s a stand-up guy I reckon!

STATS

Name: Daniel Forlano.
Birthday: August 8, 1975.
Place of Birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: Summer 1996.
Discipline: Clowning, comedian.
Website: www.danielforlano.com
Video Link: http://www.danielforlano.com/shows-theatre.php
Venues Worked: Krystallpalast Variete (Germany), Edmonton International Street Performers Festival (Alberta), The Comedy Studio (Cambridge, MA), Wellington Fringe Theatre Festival (New Zealand), Cape Town Comedy Festival (South Africa), Moisture Festival (Seattle)

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Mocha – Because I like chocolate and I like the taste of coffee.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Gattaca.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Lego.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Bill Irwin, Richard Pryor, Peter Sellers, Charlie Chaplin.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Muppets included? Yes? Cool! My answer is Beaker.
6. Name something that scares you. • Altitude sickness.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Paper boy.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Deep water soloing.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Promotion.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • I’ll save this answer for James Lipton.

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“Be absorbed in what you do and others will respond. What you practice is what you become. Practice now who you want to be.”

–Daniel Forlano

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Prologue: Jeff and I originally met down on Granville Island sharing the pitch back in the mid-90s but I really don’t have vivid memories of seeing him perform until the 1995 when I watched him work at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. I’ve always been impressed with his go-out-and-do-it attitude. This was a bit rough around the edges when I first saw him working, but I could tell right from the beginning that he had what it took to make it as a performer… Beyond just the desire to do it which is huge, there was a playfulness to his exchange with the audience which made his shows fun to watch. From Vancouver he migrated East to Toronto to work/study and learn and yet we still end up bumping into each other at Festivals across the country. Aways fun to get to hang and see what he’s been working on.

STATS

Name: Jeff Krahn – Scot Free – Fesso.
Birthday: January 1973.
Place of Birth: Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: Granville Island 1991.
Discipline: Variety entertainer/clown.
Websites: www.scotfree.ca and  www.fesso.ca
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mblrX2UH4Pk
Venues Worked: Street and stage, festivals and fairs.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • I prefer salty treats.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Buster Keaton’s “The General.”
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Lego.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • The Checkerboard Guy, Bill Ferguson, Rick Lewis, Alex Elixer, Charlie Brown.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Bugs Bunny.
6. Name something that scares you. • Winter.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Video game tester.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Scuba dive.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Paperwork and taxes.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Ladies and Gentleman, we have a special guest tonight in heaven, he comes all the way…..(pointing down to Earth) from right there, Please welcome the amazing, the spectacular, the wonderful Scot Free!!!“

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“I try to give the audience what they want to see in an act, not necessarily what I want to see in an act. Steve Martin put it well:  “I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you’re an idiot.”

–Jeff Krahn

Where in the world am I today?: Grand Turk, The Caribbean aboard the Emerald Princess

Prologue: I ran into Jonny O in the Byward Market sometime in the early 90s. I was back in Ottawa for Canada Day and he and his partner were working a pitch in the Byward Market. I stopped and chatted with them a bit after enjoying their show. The combination of juggling and percussion really clicked. I’ve always loved it when you put the two disciplines together and have great memories of watching the Waldo Woodhead Show when they worked with their drummer Witlo and even before that seeing the Amazing Fantasy Jugglers doing a great Ring Passing Routine while backed by a drummer. Junkyard’s additional environmental message and recycled/found props also created a really interesting dynamic. Since our first meeting we’ve bumped into each other at various festivals and events around the world including the Nanjing Clown Festival where I snapped the shot that accompanies this post.

STATS

Name: Jonny Olsen aka Junkyard Jonny – Junkyard Symphony
Birthday: October 29, 1972.
Place of Birth: Ottawa, Ontario.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: 1992.
Discipline: Circus/Percussion.
Website: www.junkyardsymphony.org
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq6xwshBPkQ
Venues Worked: http://www.junkyardsymphony.org/performances.html

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Cookie Dough, because it tastes like cookie dough.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Big Trak.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Stompin Tom, Bob Marley, Neil Peart, Sam Malone, Hawkeye Peirce.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Shrek.
6. Name something that scares you. • Paris Hilton.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Artist see – www.jonnyolsen.com.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Ski Jumping.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Volunteers that just don’t get it.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You’re not done yet…go back. You can take my car, it’s a Porsche of course. Oh and tell Tiger Woods to stop pretending he’s me.”

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“Life is like a trampoline, the harder you fall the harder you bounce back up. The height you reach is determined by whether you land on the trampoline on your feet or on your ass.”

–Junkyard Jonny

Where in the world am I today?:

Prologue: I met my wife while working for ArtLand a Japanese company that brought over a ton of performers to perform in Japan from the late 80’s through the late 90’s. I met Peppi through this company too. Actually I have pretty specific memories of hanging out at Peppi’s place in Tokyo back in 1995 when I went to Japan for most of the Month of November to visit Emiko (my now wife) and figure out if we’d be able to live together. At the end of the month I ended up proposing to my wife, but during the month I got to enjoy just hanging out in Tokyo. Peppi and I have done several gigs together in Japan but another one I remember very clearly was the Canal City Circus Festival in 2002… The group show at the end of every night was one of the best I’ve been a part of… Just a great mix of talent, the right length, and a really cool venue… Always a pleasure being around when Peppi is working!

STATS

Name: Chris Foster – Peppi The Clown
Birthday: December 8, 1969.
Place of Birth: New York City.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: I started Performing at the age of 9. Performing at Birthday Parties, Department Stores, Festivals in New Jersey/New York City.
Discipline: Clown – as a side bar I am a Graduate of the High School of Performing Arts (FAME SCHOOL) class of 87. Jennifer Aniston and I were in the same class.
Website: www.peppizaclown.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FydIjbWTE4Y
Venues Worked:

In Japan – Tokyo Dome, Base Ball Cafe, Korakuen Amusement Park , Laqua Spa, Toshimaen Amusement Park, Sunshine City Ikebukuro, Ebisu Garden Place, DECKS Odaiba, IKSPIARI Maihama, Harumi Toriton Square, Tokyo Motor Show, Yokohama Daidogei Festival, Shizuoka Daidogei Festival, Okinawa Club Med Miyako Hotel Okinawa, Hokkaido Fantasy Dome, Marine Park Hokkaido, Fukuoka Canal City, River Walk Kita-Kyushu,The Marina Shopping Center Fukuoka, Tobu World Square, Tivoli Park Okayama, Super Circus Tokyo Japan 2004-2005 Nagasaki Holland Village.

Performances Abroad: New York City. Juggler and street Performer. Broadway District. Also Performances at Washington Square Park. Paris France 1987. Mime and street Performer/Juggler Philippines. Numerous performance for birthday parties. Korea. 2005 World Performance Festival, Madangkuk Top Festival 2007 Mokpo New Wave Nowon 2008 Seoul International Performance, Festival Ansen Performance Festival Seoul, Korea , Yangpyeong Dumulmeori Open-air Artys Festival Seoul, Korea , Geoje International Comedy Festival Seoul Korea. China Aqua City, Thailand Street Performers Festival Bankok

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Hummmm chocolate. I used to love chocolate cake when I was a little boy but for some reason now I just can`t eat it! reminds me of pimples every time I see it.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • American Gangster. Just a cool movie!
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Juggling clubs.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Marcel Marceau.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • I see my character as a Disney character up there with Donald Duck.
6. Name something that scares you. • Car accidents.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Waiting, dish washer, cook, janitor. The fun jobs!
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Riding a unicycle.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Wondering when the work will come in.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Can you make a balloon for me?“

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“I have worked with many performers from around the world in my years, the one thing I can say is always try to be modest in your performance and working with other performers. Have fun and enjoy what you do! And always keep in mind that you are creating all the time and each performance isn’t the same. Work hard and all your dreams will come true!“

–Chris Foster

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:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Coffee.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Mr Saturday Night.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Frisbee.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Locomotion Vaudeville, Avner the Eccentric.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Oggie Doggy.
6. Name something that scares you. • Drunk drivers.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Cook.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Violin.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Schlepping.
10. 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

Where in the world am I today?: Dominica aboard the GRAND Princess.

Prologue: I first met Phil and his partner Colin back at the 1999 Ottawa Buskers Festival on Sparks Street. Right from the get go Phil really impressed me with his drive and love of the art form. The Sillie’s Show was a bit rough back in the day, but they quickly figured it out and Phil spear headed promotional efforts that quickly make The Silly People regulars on the Festival Circuit. Phil and Colin also joined the fold as part of the C.A.M.P. family, and it was at a C.A.M.P. wrap party that the initial musical challenge was delivered. I told Phil I wanted him to create a mixed CD full of cover tunes of famous 80’s songs. Phil has one of the largest music collections I know of, so I figured this would generate an amusing mixed CD… He sent me two… He also gave me a challenge in response. Mixed CDs flew back and forth in the mail for about a year and were a hoot to not only receive but also create. Smart Cookie that Phil! Looking forward to making it to the Arts Festival he produces coming up in June 2010.

STATS

Name: Phil LeConte from The Silly People.
Birthday: September 8, 1974.
Place of Birth: Kitchener aka K-Town, Ontatio.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: 1993.
Discipline: Comedian, juggler, producer and international shit disturber.
Websites: www.sillypeople.com – www.waterlooartsfestival.com – www.waterloocomedy.com
Video Link: http://www.sillypeople.com/video/SillyEpisode2007.wmv
Venues Worked: Living Rooms, Back yards, side streets and a few festivals.  Please see resume http://www.sillypeople.com/about.shtml#resume

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • I actually do not have a favourite…I like em all, well maybe not Aloe Vera or Wild Mushroom, but most normal flavours.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Die Hard.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My Star Wars action figures…Darth Vader or Yoda.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • I guess Street Performers in general…at one time there used to be a great festival in my town and I guess those performers were somewhat inspiring.  As far as the Producer in me, the blame is mostly Neal Rempel’s.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Cartman, but a little thinner.
6. Name something that scares you. • Heights.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Music Retail.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Deep Sea fishing.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Rolling coins.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Your poker seat is ready.“

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“It’s not about the money.“

–Phil Leconte

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver then eventually Brazil

Prologue: Lucky me… Cathy actually wrote out a prologue for me on this one… It’s quite similar to the one that I wrote for her performing partner Heather Pilkington but I’ll let her use her own words to describe how we met…

We first met at the Edmonton Street Performer’s Festival in 2009. He was wearing some fetching black and white outfit..I was in blue serge After much socializing I found it impossible not to instruct him to ‘Check yourself before you wreck yourself …check check board in homage to some natty hip hop.

STATS

Name: Cathy Peace.
Birthday: 14th of January.
Place of Birth: Bristol, England.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: December 1984 ( I was a very young actress)
Discipline: Comedy characters..clown I suppose.
Website: http://www.swank-streettheatre.com
Video Link: http://www.foolsparadise.co.uk/fools07html/swank.html.
Venues Worked: Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury Festival, Edmonton Street Performers Festival, Singapore Buskers Festival, Woodford Folk Festival,(Australia) Christchurch Buskers Festival (N.Z), Halifax Buskers Festival, Peace and Love Festival (Sweeden)…where I hung out with Hanoi Rocks!!! And way to many more to mention…though twice we were at the launch of Harry Potter Books and nearly met J.K imagine?.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Ben and Jerrys New York Double Chocolate Fudge… and they don’t seem to make it any more. I like it because its very chocolaty and makes me feel luxurious.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • ‘It’s a Wonderful Life‘…of course.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • A big red Fire Engine.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • The Clown Jewels,who I worked with during the beginning of my career in street theatre a really innovative company who toured  the highlands and Islands of Scotland , traveling to gloriously remote places in a large double decker bus, with wonderful shows.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Tigger … and the wonderful thing about Tigger is that Tigger is a wonderful thing!
6. Name something that scares you. • Spiders and snakes in the outback of Australia.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Waitress (of course).
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Skiing/snow boarding.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • The overweening egos..though I have to say that is more in the world of Stand Up Comedy…whereas street theatre has more generous lovely souls.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Your too early go back down and come back up when you’re ready.”

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“As the play-write John Godber told me when he directed me years ago… “If you cant be funny be fast, if you can’t be fast, f..k off!” …A great piece of Yorkshire charm for you there“

–Cathy Peace

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Prologue: Rob and I first met while working a gig for a company from Japan on a contract in Korea… The year was 1993 and we were both working at the World Expo in Taejon, Korea. I arrived a couple of weeks before Robb and left a couple of weeks earlier than he did… Also there at the time was Tuba Hetherton and Glenn Singer… Oh the parties, oh the laughs, oh the custom tailored suits… The flood of memories is amazing! We were all pretty much struggling to communicate as the language and culture were a big change from what any of us were used to, but Robb’s silent work really seemed to connect and by the end of the run he was a performing like a ROCK star! That quote from Mr. Saturday Night “See what I did there?” is one we use when ever we see each other… Great guy! Definitely a fan of his work!

STATS

Name: Robb Zeiser – AKA Mr. Robb
Birthday: July 23, 1965.
Place of Birth: Long Island, New York, USA.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: December I consider the first day of rehearsal with Ringling Bros. Circus to be my first day as a full time professional entertainer which was January 6, 1986.
Discipline: Clown/Silent Comedian.
Website: http://www.MrRobb.com
Video Link: http://www.MrRobb.com/video and http://www.YouTube.com/silentcomedy
Venues Worked: Circus, Nightclub, Film, Television, Festivals, Theaters, Hospitals, Operas, Mental Institutions, ….. you name it, I probably worked there.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Mint Chocolate Chip. Always liked it, always will.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Mr. Saturday Night (“See what I did there?”).
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • GI Joe with kung fu grip.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Charlie Chaplin. His work is timeless. It’s still socially relevant and has stood the test of time.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Charlie Brown.
6. Name something that scares you. • Owning a house.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I had a job delivering caskets to funeral homes.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Owning a house.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Being alone in a hotel room after an awesome show.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Welcome home. You’ve answered your call. Job well done!“

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“Never go on stage without your wallet! and…… if you stop loving it, quit! (and let someone who does love it take your place)“

–Robb Zeiser

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Prologue: I think I might have first seen John Park at a Juggling Convention back in the 80s, but the first chance I remember really talking to him came at the Victoria Busker’s Festival in the Spring of 1994. The American Dream Juggling Team (John’s former duo-act) has split up by this point and John was figuring out what it took to do a solo show. We had several chats that weekend about what he was doing an how he might improve upon it, and he eventually came to Vancouver for a visit the following winter and we jammed out ideas for his Funny Waiter Character. Less than a year later John also had the distinction of becoming one of the few client for the long defunct “Beaver Street Tour Management Company” that I started up to help build tours for world class street acts. Over the years we’ve bumped into each other at various festivals and events and continue to grow the memories that make up the fabric of our friendship.

STATS

Name: John Park.
Birthday: August 5, 1962.
Place of Birth: Alexandria, VA, USA.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: December 1978
Discipline: Juggling
Website: http://www.johnpark.biz
Video Link: See website.
Venues Worked: Vegas revue shows, company parties, festivals and fairs, libraries, schools, bar mitzvahs, Pier 39, renaissance fairs, cruise ships, colleges, etc etc.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Moose Tracks because a moose is quintessentially canadian!
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Midnight Run.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Slinky.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Greg Dean, Ray Jason, Whitney Brown and Mike Davis.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Sponge Bob.
6. Name something that scares you. • Drowning.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Worked as a office assistant in a Law Office.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Disposable lighter repairman.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • When the client doesn’t make eye contact after the show.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “One seat left for texas hold ’em.”

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

–John Park

Where in the world am I today?: Grand Turk aboard the EMERALD Princess

Prologue: Around the mid-1990s I started to hear about this guy… This Yo-Yo Guy who had started making the rounds at various street performers festivals, but it wasn’t until I ran into John at the Edmonton Street Performer’s Festival in 2000 that I actually got to get to know him. I have vivid memories of enjoying a team show that he did with Mike Battie and his tutelage of a young yo-yo player named Jensen Kimmitt who was a pretty accomplished player at a very young age. John’s good natured ways seemed to encourage collaboration and creativity. I also learned that he was a pretty gifted cartoonist and a couple of years later he produced a series of cartoons for me that I still use to promote my show. Great guy and now glowing from having recently become a father.

STATS

Name: John Higby.
Birthday: May 26, 1975.
Place of Birth: Bellevue, Washington.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: December 1992
Discipline: Practice any open moment, the yo-yo is in my pocket!
Website: http://www.yoyoshow.com
Video Link: http://vimeo.com/2942037
Venues Worked: Disney World, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Disney Cruise Lines, festivals in 18 countries.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Ice cream is okay but my wife Rebecca got me a culinary torch so I can now make my favorite, Creme Brulee!
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Just saw Gus Van Sandt’s Paranoid Park and it is genius my favorite movie of the year.  My dad was a film student so I am hardcore film buff.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Grandpa gave me a Duncan Tournament Yo-Yo when I was 11 so that would have to be it!
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Performing?  Zip Code Man was the first street show I saw and I was blown away.  Reid Belstock, The Jim Show, Hilby, Lee Zimmerman, Glenn Singer, Big Nazo there are so many that I am in awe of.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Bugs Bunny is a wizard and is still funnier than anything ever especially Chuck Jones episodes.
6. Name something that scares you. • Religion.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I got a really sweet job right out of high school as a sign maker for a natural food store and I did that for a few years while I did street shows in the summer time.  When I’m not performing I do a lot of painting and my canvas have been a success for me… www.johnhigby.com
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Hot air ballooning!
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Checking in at the Airport with all my gear.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • I don’t believe in god, I believe in Art.

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“My grandpa said something to me that really stuck.  He told me to pick something I really love and stay with it and after a period of time you will be rewarded.  He tuned and installed pipe organs for 65 years and was so passionate about music and sound.   Also, the bigger the company you work for the harder it is to get paid on time even though they have the most money.”

–John Higby

Where in the world am I today?: Aruba aboard the ISLAND Princess

Prologue: The year was 2008 and I found myself back at the Kingston Busker’s Rendez-vous for the tenth time in the last twenty years… Some performers question why I’ve gone back so many times to this particular festival and there are a variety of reasons. A). I enjoy performing for the crowds in Kingston who seem to come out to see my show no matter how many times I take it back – how fabulous is that? B). There’s a great post show social scene with the performers who show up for this festival with parties almost every night and a great hang. C). I inevitably meet new performers every time I got to this festival and I love seeing new acts and different approaches. This is where I first met Brent McCoy. In a festival that was dominated by huge sound systems and people stomping on each other volume-wise here was Brent doing a silent clown show. It was refreshing to see something different in the group and fun to get to know him a bit. We ran into each other again in the Airport in Shanghai, China in October of 2008 as we had both been performing at festivals (not the same festivals mind you) there and just happened to be passing through the airport on the same day. Great guy, nice take on performing and a really fun show.

STATS

Name: Brent McCoy.
Birthday: June 27, 1981.
Place of Birth: Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: December 2005
Discipline: Street Performer, Physical Comedian, Clown.
Website: http://www.brentmccoy.com
Video Link: http://www.brentmccoy.com/promo.php
Venues Worked: Numerous Buskers, Clown, Fringe, and Vaudeville festivals around country and the world,  Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA. Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, VT.  Theaters all over the East Coast, NYC, and mainly Vermont and Maine.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Ben and Jerry’s Vanilla with maple syrup or pie. Needs no explanation.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill Jr.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Legos.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Fritz Grobe, now of Eepybird.com.  Danny Frank, a former Ringling Clown.  Clark Mcfarlan, aka, Mario Queen of the Circus.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Appa, from Avatar.
6. Name something that scares you. • The thought of my dad passing away.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Waiter at John’s Pizzeria on Bleecker Street in Manhattan.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Ummm… scuba diving.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • All the driving.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Everyone’s waiting!“

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“Good shows come from who you are more than what you do.”

–Brent McCoy

Where in the world am I today?: Limon, Costa Rica joining the Island Princess

Prologue: I first met Rob and the other members of The Flaming Idiots at the Edmonton Street Performer’s Festival in July of 1989. Through the early 1990s we seemed to bump into each other regularly at the Edmonton Fringe Festival during what I like to refer to as the ‘Golden Era’ of that particular event. For what ever reason it just felt like a magical time which seemed to last for about five or six years. It was a regular pilgrimage to Edmonton for the Fringe for many performers and I always loved seeing what new bits and pieces the Idiots had come up with in the year between our meetings. Eventually the Flaming idiots shifted their focus towards doing more stage work and we stopped running into each other as much, so it was a treat to run into them this past Summer at the very same event that we had first met at. Following the work did in Edmonton with his fellow Idiots, he took his solo show to a couple of other events ‘Centrefest‘ in Red Deer being one of them. We met again there and took an idea that he and Rick Kunst had and turned it into a couple of video shorts – Clown v. Mime 01 and Clown v. Mime 02. My role in this collaboration was to shoot and edit the video. I was brought in again for the editing on Clown v. Mime 03, 04 and hopefully 05 though I haven’t gotten around to editing that last one yet… At any rate… Rob’s a great guy. Really creative and it’s always a pleasure working with and around him.

STATS

Name: Rob Williams.
Birthday: August.
Place of Birth: Texas.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: 1984
Discipline: Juggling mostly. Some whip cracking. Some tricks with the feet.
Website: http://www.robsho.com/
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/clopshop
Venues Worked: Way to many to sum up easily. Comedy clubs, colleges, television shows, corporate events, festivals, fairs, and theaters. Big and small. All over.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Stephen Colbert’s “Ameicone Dream” because it comes with a full days supply of irony.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Groundhog Day
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • G.I. Joe. The old ones that were pretty big. Loved my Joes.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • George Carlin. Richard Pryor. Steve Martin. Saturday Night Live. Python. The Flying Karamozov Brothers. Before that, when I was a kid, my Mom would let me stay up late to watch old comedies with her. I saw all the old vaudeville guys. The Marx Brothers, Martin and Lewis, Hope and Crosby road movies. They really were the foundation for my life’s work.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • My favorite animation might be Wallace and Grommit. I don’t know that I identify with them, but I love them so. My favorite voice to imitate though is Ren Hoek, from Ren and Stimpy. I do it way too often. Still.
6. Name something that scares you. • Not getting a laugh.  A failed moment on stage seems to stretch time and space. Everything becomes a slow motion, pressing silence, except for the crushing of my eyes and the sound of my heart smacking my ribs. I desperately claw for the next joke like I’m slipping down a cliff face. If it comes loose, I plunge down, but keep doing the show. That’s what makes me a pro.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Oddly enough, I made sandwiches at a bakery. Odd because, if you’ve seen my show, you can see that I still make sandwiches.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Write a play.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • I love most of it. The friends, the little adventures, those moments of flow when you’re really having a great show. Least favorite thing? At times I might say the travel. I like to cook, to read, to be with loved ones. Travel is hard on the simple pleasures.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Wow, hey, I’m God, and uhm, look, I’m really sorry about the crap down there on Earth. I can’t really control things. All that violence, racism, hatred, all the abuse and ugliness, the destruction, the suffering, the poverty, the hunger, the greed, the pious posturing and the willful ignorance, Fox News, I’m really sorry. It’s all perfect here in heaven, Ella is about to sing and we saved you a seat at the table with Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce, and your Dad.“

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“Don’t give up.“

–Rob Williams

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Prologue: My first encounter with Ms. Heather Pilkington was at the Edmonton Street Performer’s Festival in 2009…  Her and her partner Cathy Peace were performing a number of different characters that were somehow bridging the gap between the traditional set up and do it circle show and standard roving character work… Somehow the shows were a bit shorter and comprised of less ‘Ra Ra Ra – Hype Hype Hype’ to a finale tricks and more work based on character – Their roving sets were a bit more engaging and in your face than a typical roving act. Again they seemed to bridge the gap ever so nicely in what I would describe as ‘Street Theatre’ of a more European lilt. Anyway, at some point over the week I was in Edmonton the two SWANK girls started doing this sort of wrap performance at me based on a song from the 80s that had been popular in England and my performance character… Went something like – ‘Check yourself before you wreck yourself… Check Check Check Check Checkerboard Guy.’ Their performance of this little wrap number was done with such enthusiasm and love that they quickly endeared themselves to me!

STATS

Name: Heather Pilkington.
Birthday: 01 October in the year I am reliably informed was the hottest summer on record in England in the 70’s.
Place of Birth: Lancashire, England.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Dressing up down the back street with my sister making plays, and I’ve been showing off ever since.
Discipline: Character actress.
Website: http://www.swank-streettheatre.com/
Venues Worked: O2 London, The Lowry Manchester, Birmingham Rep. and others…

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Neapolitan. A little bit of everything to keep you going.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Just one? Toss up between “Back to the Future” and “The Princess Bride.”
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • A milk float that I used to race down the front street whilst my mate Stephen rode his Go-Kart, Suffice to say Stephen always won.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Julie Walters is and always will be a massive inspiration along with Les Dawson.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Wile E Coyote. I’m always chasing something.
6. Name something that scares you. • Shadows.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • A brief stint in a toilet paper factory.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Haven’t been in a hot air balloon or eaten snails. Perhaps could do both together?
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? •  What’s not to love? Making people laugh and meeting cool people. Just wish there was more work!
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “The bar is open!“

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“Don’t be afraid to fail. Take chances.”

–Heather Pilkington

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Prologue: Scotty and I met at this past year’s Pacific National Exhibition. He and Rick Kunst made up the Men in Tights troupe and although I’ve known Rick for years, it was my first chance to work with Scotty and quite frankly he made me laugh, a lot! He also seemed to covet both my Digital Still Camera and Video Cameras… Thankfully he didn’t get off with either of them which allowed me to take the picture that accompanies this post. Here for your edification is a bit more about the man they call Scotty Watson, though if you’re to believe the rant he got into at the PNE one night he is actually Randy Bachman…

STATS

Name: Scotty Watson.
Birthday: April … some time in the mid sixties.  That’s all you get.
Place of Birth: North York… at the time, Canada’s largest borough.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: I was in a play at the ripe old age of 10.
Discipline: Light Comic Actor
Website: http://www.scottywatsoncomedian.blogspot.com/
Video Link: http://www.scottywatsoncomedian.blogspot.com/
Venues Worked: The Royal Alexandra in Toronto, The Minetta Lane Off-Broadway in NYC and others…

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Tin Roof.  Among lots of other cool features it has these long chocolate twig-like thingies that look for all the world like DNA strands… now here’s the weird part… Tin Roof was around WAY before we knew what DNA looked like… so what’s up with THAT?!
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Number 1 favorite movie of all time is, “Some Like it Hot.”  I would say that at least 3, (and possibly 5), of my top 10 were made by Billy Wilder. In fact, I changed my stage name from, “Scott,” to, “Scotty,” in homage to 2 people.  Johnny Carson and Billy Wilder.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • I had this tin robot that took 2 D cell batteries.  It had a robot’s body and a big square head with a visor.  Inside the visor was a human face.  The face was kind and gentle… which was weird because as soon as you switched the robot on the machine gun on his chest started spraying everything in front of it.  Budda, budda budda.  But the guy inside seemed so nice, I used to think it was some heroic astronaut that had been caught and swallowed by this evil robot that used his kind face to lure unsuspecting aliens into range so he can blast them to pieces… budddda budda buddda…. Should I call my analyst now?
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Red Skelton, but then I did some research and found out he was a bit of a nut.  But then again, who am I to talk?  I’m weirder that he ever was. Never look too closely at your heroes.  I can still do most of his routines.  In fact, I wrote a one-man show, (Red – The Life of An American Clown), about his life and routines.  I was researching it in NYC at the Museum of Television and Radio.  This was before streaming video on the ‘net don’t cha’ know.  So I’d study Red Skelton vids from 8am until the museum closed at 4.  I’d meet my wife Carol at a theatre and see a play every night, so I’d have 4 hours to kill, so I’d use the sidewalk as my free rehearsal space.  You see, there’s a quiet spot on NYC sidewalks, on the opposite side of the subway entrances, there’s a cement wall, (to keep people from falling into the subway), that blocks the traffic.  I’d set up there and practice Red Skelton routines, (I still use this free rehearsal space on occasion to work my own original pantomime pieces).  Anyway, a crowd would sometimes gather to watch, and everyone recognized Red’s routines.  One classic New Yorker reaches into his pocket and pulls out a buck, but I hadn’t set out a hat, (I wasn’t busking… I was just taking advantage of free rehearsal space), and this guy literally SCREAMS at me. “Ya can’t make any money unless you put out a hat, ya fuckin’ BONEHEAD!!!!” I learned a valuable lesson that day… AND I fell in love with New York.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Wishful thinking… Bugs Bunny.  In real temperament… Daffy Duck.  We’re talking Chuck Jones versions of these characters of course, (is there any other?).  Yeah, I WISH I were as cool and calm under pressure as that Wascally Wabbit… but the fact of the matter is that I let my passions run away with me a LOT and lose it Daffy Style.  I tend to be the one who has, “pwonown twouble,” and ends up taken home and shot in the face.
6. Name something that scares you. • That’s a tough one, because I tend to do the things that scare me until they don’t scare me anymore.  I used to be afraid of sharp knives, so I learned to cook. I was scared to sing so I did some musicals, (one of ’em Off-Broadway), now I love to sing.  I guess my biggest fear is everyone finding out that I’m a total sham.  But that probably won’t happen, because everyone else is too busy being worried that THEY’LL be out-ed as a sham to ever take the time to find me out.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I’m ashamed to say that for a couple of years I worked in a stock brokerage.  This was just before, (and a little bit after), my time with The Second City.  Yes… I do understand short selling and credit default swaps.  No, I do not play the market.  In bad times, (like now), the big companies throw us small investors under the bus without hesitation.  In good times we treat the little guys like we love them as clients, but when the bus ain’t got no brakes we use ’em as speed bumps and then buy up their portfolio for pennies on the dollar.  It ain’t pretty and I’m sorry to say that I’ve been a part of it.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • I’d like to be on Broadway.  This year I started auditioning for Broadway shows, and I’ve come close… but I’m still waiting.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • I hate it when other performers engage in catty behavior.  The business is hard, but we can make it easier if we support each other.  If we back-stab each other we’re playing into the hands of the evil accountants.  Let’s be concrete about it… we’re keeping our own prices down through this insane competition.  Look, competition in the market place is a good thing, but every time we say something catty about another performer we’re undercutting them in terms of income.  “Oh, Bob, he’s… ok,” is going to get Bob a smaller paycheck than, “Bob!  Great guy!  Hell of a performer!”  That’s what I loved about my experience at the PNE this summer.  It was a great group of people, who were supportive, watched each others performances, laughed, joked, brain-stormed… I wish it was a year round event.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • I’m not sure I want to go to heaven.  Look, if heaven exists, then most of my friends will be in hell.  I’d like to hear Mephistopheles say, “We’ve got Del Close down here, and he wants to run an improv set with you, Gilda Radner and Belushi… John, not Jim.”

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“You have to have enough money stashed away that you can afford to be out of work for 6 months or more.  The best way to manage your money is to manage your wants.  If you want that new car, it’ll eat at you.  If you want your career more than you want that new car, you’ll know that that beat up wreck is good enough.”

–Scotty Watson

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Prologue: The year was 2002, the city was Osaka, Japan. I’d been in touch with Jonathon Tardif aka Jonny Flash prior to this, but this was the first time we met face to face. We decided to hook up at Yodobashi Camera in Umeda and grabbed a drink at a shop in front of the electronics super store and yacked away for an hour or so… He also indulged me as I had a few things to pick up in the electronics department and helped encourage my lust for technical gadgets as we walked the aisles of Japanese Tech Heaven… Funny that we should hook up in Osaka as I knew that Jonny had been in Vancouver for quite a while, but circumstances just sometimes work in the strangest of ways… Often there’s some sort of meaning behind it all, sometimes it’s just chance, but it was good to finally put a face to the name.

STATS

Name: Jonathon Tardif aka Jonny Flash.
Birthday: July 26, 1976.
Place of Birth: Cranbrook, BC, Canada.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1998.
Discipline: Juggler/unicyclist/comedian.
Website: http://www.jonflash.com
Video Link: http://www.jonflash.com/en/video-street.htm
Venues/Cities Worked: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle, Portland, San Salvador, Osaka, Chiba, Okayama, Fukuoka, Kobe, Edinburgh, Victoria.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Turtle Trails cuz of the toffee in it.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Ravenous with Robert Carlyle.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My Incredible Hulk doll.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Byron Bertram, Tom Comet.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Robin Hood.
6. Name something that scares you. • Canadian complicity with US torture protocols.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Doorman.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Have a radio show.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Some other performers who fall into the trap of letting positive audience reactions to their character overfeed their egos.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Granpa has been waiting for you to get here.”

The Nugget:

Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.

“Over-emphasis on competition wrecks peer solidarity and holds performers back as a group.”

–Jonathon Tardif