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

Prologue: Summer 2008… I show up at the dorms at the Kingston Busker’s Festival and run into these crazy guys with Pogo Sticks – The Pogo Dudes! They’re young, their full of energy and they sort of remind me of a super ball. Fully of energy but you’re never quite sure which way they’re going to bounce… Their show is just like that too! Ended up having a few conversations with Chad of the Pogo Dudes over that weekend that I really remember, but apparently we had had chats pervious years as well prior to him becoming a full time performer. Gave him a pair of CBG shorts I think it was in exchange for an orange Pogo Dudes shirt just like the one he wears… Unfortunately he didn’t have any left, so I ended up waiting a month or two before he was able to get on in the mail to me along with his promo… My kids loved the DVD so when extra spots came up at the 2009 PNE I jumped at the chance to get him out to play!

STATS

Name: Chad Deitz – aka Wacky Chad.
Birthday: October 20, 1984
Place of Birth: Syracuse, NY 2nd Floor at St Joesph Hospital at 11:03am.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Februrary 2005.
Discipline: Pogo Stick, Juggling, Unicycling you name it!
Website: http://www.wackychad.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/wackychadd
Venues Worked: http://www.wackychad.com/wp/?page_id=11 FOR RESUME

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Chocolate with Peanut Butter.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Disney’s Aladdin.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Nerf Guns and RC cars.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Whoever performed the Kingston Buskers 2005  and “Hilby“, “Wade Live” & “Funny Fred.”
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Aladdin.
6. Name something that scares you. • Hiking at night and looking behind me always scares me and makes me uneasy. Scary Thriller movies with the volume turned up. Not the blood and gore but the “jump” parts of scary movies!
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Chuck E Cheese Character.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Sky Diving, Flying a plane/Helicoptor.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Hired and “Fired” – not steady gig to gig.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You made me laugh & smile!”

The Nugget:

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

“Don’t worry about the money. Have fun! That’s what performing and life’s about.”

–Chad Dietz

Where in the world am I today?: At Sea aboard the STAR Princess in the South Pacific

Prologue: Summer of 2002 I believe it was when I first met Kim Potter… I had been hearing about him for quite a while from Phil Leconte of The Silly People who had gotten Kim to help him with some Silly People promotional videos, so when I bumped into him in the Byward Market in Ottawa I was glad to finally put a face to the name. I didn’t however get the chance to watch his show at that point and only really got to see and enjoy his work several years later in 2006 when we were both booked to perform at the Canada Day Celebrations in Spruce Grove, Alberta then both traveled on to perform at the Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival. Then came Kim’s alter ego ‘Vinyl Burns’ and regular updates via Facebook and Youtube featuring the latest Vinyl-isms. When I got a call to find more acts for the 2009 PNE Street Stars Program and one of the criteria was that the performers should be from outside of Canada it was a treat to be able to invite Kim to be a part of the program and his quirky comedy and fabulous diabolo skills did his home country of New Zealand proud!

STATS

Name: Kim Potter.
Birthday: October 25, 1972
Place of Birth: Wellington, New Zealand.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1995.
Discipline: Juggling/Comedy/Music.
Websites: http://www.kiwicomedy.com – http://www.vinylburns.com – http://www.kimpotter.co.nz
Video Link: http://www.kimpotter.co.nz/kiwicomedy/video-vinyl.htm
Venues Worked: Festivals, Fairs, Conferences, Events, Bars, Bedrooms, Boardrooms, Stadiums, Arenas, Trade Shows, Sideshows, Home Shows, Rest Homes, My Home…

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Rum & Raisin, cos it’s a little but risque…
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • “Ronan,” for the super tight car chases…
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My soccer ball and of course my collection of lego.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • I saw the film “Funny Bones” just as I was starting out… I watched the sway pole scene and it clicked… “I want that moment.”
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Penfold from “Danger Mouse.”
6. Name something that scares you. • Dentists.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Selling Juggling Equipment…
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? • Working when everyone else is on holiday… Not working when everyone else is at work… Never really switching off…
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “I have all your albums.”

The Nugget:

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

“Do your own thing.”

–Kim Potter

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

Prologue: (Project Dynamite – Part 2) I met the Project Dynamite boys on June 30, 2009 in Ottawa in the Byward Market. Through the wonders of Facebook I was headed down to the Market to meet up with Al Millar who was also in Ottawa to perform on Canada Day (July 1) and when I got down to the Market there were somewhat of a pow-wow going on with performers from all over all descending on the Nation’s Capital to do street shows on the Nation’s Birthday. I was totally impressed that the boys were traveling with their own video-grapher and ended up checking out a bunch of their on-line offerings. This eventually lead to them landing a 5-days gig as part of the 2009 PNE Street Stars Program. Great guys, full of youthful energy and the determination to make their show the best it can be.

STATS

Name: Alexander Gregory Clark .
Birthday: February 1, 1985.
Place of Birth: Virginia, USA.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Started as a balloon twister and stilt walker for Fly By Night Entertainment
Discipline: Comedy entrepreneur.
Website: http://www.projectdynamite.com
Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/projectdynamite
Video Link: http://www.YouTube.com/projectdynamite
Venues Worked: This week alone we’ve done gigs in Ontario, Wyoming, Ohio, New York, and Iowa. Anywhere that people like to laugh. Colleges, Art Festival, Fairs, Fringes, Busker Festivals, The Streets, 1 synagogue (never again).

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Cookies and cream. But ice cream is my addiction so it was hard for me to pick.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • The only one I can remember was an oval shaped koala bear that had a pouch in the front to hold cool stuff in.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • The first acts I ever saw were Alakazam and Gazzo in Faneuil Hall. I vividly remember Gazzo saying he didn’t get paid like all the other jugglers there. I believed him.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • When I was little I wanted to be a Disney animator. Then I found out you had to draw naked people all the time and I didn’t want to do it anymore.  I’m going to have to say Max from a goofy movie. Just because I loved that badass dance routine prank he does at the beginning of the movie.
6. Name something that scares you. • Heights.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I sold digital cameras at Best Buy for a few months in college.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Skydiving.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Meeting great great people and then having to say goodbye the very next day. I hate that.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “FINALLY! I’ve been waiting forever for this. Can you sign my poster?”

The Nugget:

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

“I was doing some work for an old lady and when it came time to pay me she asked would I like check or cash.  I was being indecisive and so she said “People don’t know what you want unless you ask them for it.”

It’s 100% true about everything. If you want gigs, ask people for gigs.”

–Alex Clark

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

Prologue: (Project Dynamite – Part 1) I met the Project Dynamite boys on June 30, 2009 in Ottawa in the Byward Market. Through the wonders of Facebook I was headed down to the Market to meet up with Al Millar who was also in Ottawa to perform on Canada Day (July 1) and when I got down to the Market there were somewhat of a pow-wow going on with performers from all over all descending on the Nation’s Capital to do street shows on the Nation’s Birthday. I was totally impressed that the boys were traveling with their own video-grapher and ended up checking out a bunch of their on-line offerings. This eventually lead to them landing a 5-days gig as part of the 2009 PNE Street Stars Program. Great guys, full of youthful energy and the determination to make their show the best it can be.

STATS

Name: Dave Kaplan.
Birthday: January 24, 1985 (I expect presents from everyone).
Place of Birth: New York City, NY, USA.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: At age 15
Discipline: Anything for a laugh.  More specifically stunts, comedy and skill.
Website: www.projectdynamite.com
Video Link: www.YouTube.com/projectdynamite
Venues Worked: Hmm. There have been a ton. My favorites are arts festivals, food festivals, and pretty much anything in Canada.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Rocky Road because it’s textures range from really soft to crunchy. Marshmellows make life worth living.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Forrest Gump; It’s epic.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Believe it or not, it was a stick. Just a regular 3 foot varnished broom stick. I had a lot of toys but to a kid with a good imagination a stick is pretty versitle.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Keith Nelson from the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Tyler Fyre, the Raspyni Brothers, and of course the one and only Checkerboard Guy! .
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • I have always felt a strong connection with Rocko from Rocko’s Modern Life. Check it out if you have never seen it.
6. Name something that scares you. • Swimming with fish. Snorkeling and scuba are out of the question. No other fears though.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Candy man. Seriously. I worked in the gourmet candy industry for years.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Sky Diving.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Being away from the people I care about for long periods is by far the worst part of the job.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • I would most like him to simply say, “good job” and pat me on the back.

The Nugget:

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

“Everything you do no matter how small it is, has the potential to effect someone else’s life forever. Sometimes in a profound way.“

–Dave Kaplan

Where in the world am I today?: Headed towards Victoria, BC, Canada aboard the Golden Princess

Prologue: My first ‘Official’ face to face encounter with Jay Gilligan came in 1997 at the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival. Jay was traveling with his then girlfriend and her family and just happened to be at the Festival. I had heard of Jay before this first face to face encounter and knew a bit about his work, but ya never know how personalities will mesh before you actually get the chance to spend some time hanging out. Jay endeared himself immediately to me by offering my wife Emiko (originally from Japan) and I ‘Pocky Sticks’ (a chocolate covered cookie snack from Japan). Our time together at that Festival proved to be so much fun that we decided to put a show together the following year and performed as “The Instigators” about a year after having first met. The goal that we set was to try and mesh or performance styles together and also wear shorts made out of Fake Fur. In hind sight it might have been fun to set slightly different goals, but we did achieve what we set out to do and have been friends ever since.

STATS

Name: Jay Gilligan.
Birthday: February 18, 1977.
Place of Birth: Arcadia, Ohio, USA.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: First show at the age of 8!
Discipline: Started with unicycling which lead to juggling.
Websites: www.renegadesignlab.com •  www.buildingweight.com • www.shoeboxtour.com • www.instantjuggler.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYxDgzMWqQE
Venues Worked: My favorite place to perform in the whole world is The Pirate House in Patreksfjordur, Iceland!

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Chocolate – because it tastes like chocolate and also this flavor contributes greatly to the existence of chocolate milkshakes…
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • How about three: Lost in Translation, Waiting for Guffman and True Stories
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Lego.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Anthony Gatto, Dana Tison, Michael Moschen.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Jack Skellington – from the world of stop motion animation.
6. Name something that scares you. • Train tracks.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Sleeping?
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Play professionally in a band.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Not enough time to do everything in the world!!!
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You get to go back down and do it all again!”

The Nugget:

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

“If you can’t make it good, make it big. If you can’t make it big, paint it red!”

&

“Pro gear, pro attitude. No drugs, no ego.”

–Jay Gilligan

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

Prologue: Normally I write a little prologue about how I know the person being interviewed, but this time around Lee provided the following –

I met Dave in 1993…I was working at the Edmonton Fringe, trying to earn enough to marry my wife later that year in December. That was my hat line…bragging about how I couldn’t afford to blow it with a PMOY and how bad I was at asking for money. Dave came in, repositioned my show for more audience comfort, and worked on a few hat lines with me. He encouraged me to go even further and bolder, as he always does, and then he gave me a rare and treasured insider’s collectible–a hand made by Dave black and white checker bag! He did the exact same ‘formatting thing’ when I ran into him at Universal Citywalk several months later that year…He took a five second glance at my arrangement, and then changed my staging area ever so slightly; he bought me four extra feet of crowd space and the ability to LOSE a piece of gear, my despised and unnecessary ladder. That guy rocks!

STATS

Name: Lee Zimmerman.
Birthday: December 30, 1963. (People who were also born on December 30th include: Bo Diddley, Sandy Koufax, Tracy Ullman, Tiger Woods, Rudyard Kipling and TWO of The Monkees, Michael and Davy!)
Place of Birth: Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: July 3rd, 1983, at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, while at was still at Art School in Philly. First hat? Eight dollars and twenty-three cents (US); just enough for the 2 sheets of Matte Board I needed, and one game of “Joust“!
Discipline: Puppetry/Etch-A-Sketch/Stand-Up Comedy.
Websites: http://www.myspace.com/leezimmermanthepuppetguy and coming soon: www.etchasketchguy.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVZ386vCQYg
Venues Worked: Philadelphia’s Head House Square, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Pier 39 in San Francisco, Venice Beach, Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, Universal CityWalk at Universal Studios
Then–
The Impro in Santa Monica, LA and at the Riviera in Las Vegas, The Viper Room in Hollywood, Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion, Frank Zappa’s studio/home and many more celebrity homes and functions.
Many TV shows, including “The Drew Carey Show“, music videos for Lisa Loeb and Flea, and three films including the cult classic “Eddy Presley“, co-starring Quentin Tarantino.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Things with things in it. Ben and Jerry offers a wide variety of fare this area, perhaps Chubby Hubby is the best, with chocolate covered pretzels and a special jizbo goo sauce of darkness wrapped around many things with other things.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • ONLY ONE?! Are you mad? True Romance, Hope and Glory, Shawshank Redemption, Perfume, Being There, Groundhog Day, Amadeus, L.A.Confidential, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, The Man Who Would Be King and True Romance again.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Is there any better toy than the original lap-top, Etch A Sketch?!
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Jimi Hendrix and my brother Drew.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Krusty The Clown. Please just leave it at that…
6. Name something that scares you. • My nightmare is the same every single time I have one…with just a few minor script and staging changes. I have it often…I’m expected to perform somewhere right now and I am not prepared…the whole dream is of me moving from place to place, carrying my gack, trying to sort out a stage, trying to untangle the puppets, finding an MD player that works with these faceless useless stage crew wankers doing nothing to assist…the occasional ex girlfriend appears in a cameo for the mocking… sometimes it’s all of my gear floating underwater. REALLY. Somehow though, I almost always pull it off!
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I managed an art supply store in Philadelphia right after I finished art school.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Just once, I’d love to perform on stage as a lead guitar player…WELL.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • GEAR.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You are hilarious!” ~ A treasured memory and in the very top ten moments I ever ever ever experienced, like ever. In 2003 I won the “Performer’s Choice Award” at the Halifax International Buskers Festival! My peers actually really really loved my show, man! I am very proud of that!

The Nugget:

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

“To be on time is to be late. Always always always arrive EARLY.”

–Lee Zimmerman

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

Prologue: I first met Kevin 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. Great to reconnect with Kevin again and this time around talk more about adventures in fatherhood rather than the size of our hats…

STATS

Name: Kevin Hunt.
Birthday: February 7, 1964.
Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: In 1984, after working at a Renaissance Festival as a member of the performing company I teamed up with Rob Williams and started building a show that would become the Flaming Idiots.
Discipline: Just enough.
Websites: The Flaming Idiots on Facebook
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2MhDXeAVi4
Venues Worked: New Victory Theater, Zachary Scott Theater, Comic Strip Live, Today Show, Numerous performing Arts Centers, Colleges, Renaissance Festivals, Comedy Clubs, Street Performers Festivals and Fringe Festivals. Mostly, but not exclusively, around the North American continent. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Pistachio Pistachio. I obviously like pistachios. My wife also makes me a Pistachio Pistachio Cake for my birthday.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • One? I’ve got at least 15 top ten movies. Of course I love Star Wars. It was the first movie that I went to that the line snaked around the block. That’s how old I am. I saw it when it first came out in the theaters. Funny Bones is the move that I can think of as similiar to my experience. Not plotwise necessarily, but a move about performers and some of the issues that they may face. I also recently saw the movie Fur, which I found quite compelling.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Either my electric train or my Hot Wheels.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • As a kid I watched a lot of Laurel and Hardy and Abbot and Costello, The Marx Brothers were also always appreciated.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Is this some sort of Facebook quiz?
6. Name something that scares you. • The deteriorating geopolitical economical juggernaut.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I brew beer at Abita Brewing Company (abita.com). Drink up.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Wing Suit Jumping – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHlOvhlKPvs
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Separation from the family.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “How did you do that?“

The Nugget:

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

“Money is the least expensive way to pay for knowledge.”

–Kevin Hunt

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

Prologue: I had an awareness of Roman Danylo for years as we travel in similar circles, but it wasn’t until I arrived in Grand Prairie on my way up to the 2009 Peacefest that I actually really started to get to know him. Over the course of the weekend we ended up hanging out a lot and I got to watch his work MCing the main stage and laugh with him a lot of stage. Our main contacts for the gig North Darling (former member of the three canadians comedy improve troupe) and AJ Demers were great hosts an the hang was spectacular. Mind you there was something a bit odd about going from an event called “Peacefest” to the gun range to shoot hand guns, but I think that was all part of the Northern Alberta charm.

STATS

Name: Roman Danylo.
Birthday: (Not included for security and vanity reasons.)
Place of Birth: Calgary, AB, Canada.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1987.
Discipline: Improv, stand-up and sketch.
Websites: http://www.romandanylo.com
Video Link: http://www.romandanylo.com/romanvideo.htm
Venues Worked: Favorites? Aspen Comedy Festival, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Urban Improv at Chivana in Vancouver

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Vanilla. I like to keep it simple. Start getting fancy and I usually regret it.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Fearless… But don’t watch it on a plane.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • I really wanted a Light Bright but my mom bought a set of replacement pegs without the thing you’re suppose to put them in. I was holding the pegs up to light-bulbs one at a time going… oooo purple.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • SCTV. Letterman.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • I’m Batman.
6. Name something that scares you. • Things I don’t know. Like did you know that chocolate can kill cats. I didn’t know that. What else don’t I know, ya know?
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • At 16 I sold guns at Canadian Tire in Calgary. That doesn’t seem right does it?
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Traveling in a customized Van.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Anxiety. About 5 mins before every show I say to myself I’m never doing this again.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You made the cut… but barely.”

The Nugget:

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

“The goal in show biz is the same as in life… To be immune to praise or criticism.”

–Roman Danylo

Where in the world am I today?: Vacationing in Peru

Prologue: I had heard about Murph early on when I was getting started in the early 80s, but I think the first time I actually sa2 Murph perform was at a performance festival in Burlington, Vermont back in 1986. I had wanted to get to a juggling convention in San Jose, California, but when that fell through I made every attempt to make up for it by getting myself to other events that were a bit closer to home (I lived in Ottawa at the time). Flash forward to February 1989 and the Calgary Winter Festival and Murph and I got to work side by side Murph with an amazing cast of performer… Most recently I got to work with Murph at the 2009 Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival and had the most wonderful surprise happen while we were on our ladders on stage together… For some reason we started what looked like a high-speed chase, but on ladders the speed that we were moving at was ridiculously slow and incredibly funny… It was one of those comedy gems that we hadn’t planned, but that’s I’d love to explore some more.

STATS

Name: Tom Murphy – Murph.
Birthday: February 27, 1952.
Place of Birth: Pottsville PA, USA.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1976.
Discipline: Slapstick comedy, Physical comedy.
Websites: http://www.murphclown.com
Video Link: http://www.murphclown.com/video.html
Venues Worked: See List below

Performance venues:

• Streets
• Theme parks
• Schools of every kinds
• Renaissance Festivals
• Performing Arts and Comedy Festivals around the world
• Cirque de Demain – Silver ’87
• Just for Laughs ’91
• New Victory Theater – Broadway ’98
• TV appearances in Germany, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Israel , Japan, Chile
• Varieté Theaters throughout Europe for the last 15 years

Teaching venues:

• Boston University
• Aarhus Theater Academy, Denmark,
• Festival der Träume in Innsbruck and Comicideon in Kapfenberg, Austria,
• Haus in Stuttgart, Germany
• Ecole Nationale du Cirque in Paris
• Three years at Ringling Brothers’ Clown College.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Crema di rizo  – It is actually gelato which is actually ice cream in Italian. It is so very creamy and it will always remind me of the town of Como and a fantastic week of rock climbing nearby.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Would have to be a six shooter and holster!
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Bounce from Locomotion Vaudeville, Fred Garbo, Fantasy Jugglers and Slap Happy ( all east coast variety acts in the 70’s) then later Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and The Three Stooges.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • A cross between the Road Runner, Popeye and Bambi.
6. Name something that scares you. • The greed in America and especially in politics and growing old without a partner.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Counting and cleaning diapers for a diaper delivery service.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Heli skiing in Alaska.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Anything to do with air travel!
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You’ve tried your humanly best! Good on ya mate!“

The Nugget:

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

“To performer want-to-bes and some who already are; honesty is invaluable in your performance. Don’t ask the audience to believe anything you wouldn’t believe. . . and the audience is smarter than you think.“

–Tom Murphy

Where in the world am I today?: Vacationing in Peru

Prologue: I met Clinton W. Gray many moons ago at the Cariboo Hotel in Quesnel, BC and was fascinated by the stories he told of being a rodeo clown before he got into comedy magic. We’ve since run into each other at a number of events and always seem to get into interesting conversations about how we both do business. Always nice to have someone to bounce ideas off and talk shop with.

STATS

Name: Clinton W. Gray
Birthday: October 1973
Place of Birth: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Summer of ’86
Discipline: Comedy magician
Websites: http://www.vancouvermagician.ca
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp4706-aths
Venues Worked: let’s do this in reverse… I’ve never worked a funeral.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Rainbow Sherbert.  With 1/5 of the fat of regular ice cream I can eat the whole bucket and not feel guilty.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Brain Donors.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • The Sandbox.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Shawn Farquhar, Paul Daniels, David Aiken.
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. • The dark.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • McDonalds manager.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Ventriloquism.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • The Confirmation Call: that phone call a week before the event that you make just to “touch base.”  Invariably the client says, “oh, sorry, but we’ve changed a few details. The start time is now midnight, there will be no stage, no sound system, and the band needed the dressing room to be private, so you’ll have to change your clothes on the loading dock.  That’s okay isn’t it?
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Are you finished?“

The Nugget:

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

“Travel with Tupperware and cutlery.  When the client offer to “Make sure you get some dinner”, you can pack it up and take it back to your room and enjoy it after the show.”

–Clinton W. Gray

Where in the world am I today: Vacationing  in Peru

Prologue: I just met Dana recently while performing at the Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival. She and Rick Kunst were working as ‘The Privy People’ catering to festival goers needs to use ‘the facilities.’ Dana’s infectious enthusiasm for performing and creating were a lovely shot of adrenalin to my spirit and the fact that we were both exposed to the Improv Games in the Ottawa area during our high school years (about a generation apart mind you, but still) gave us lots to talk about. I’m pretty sure that she’s under the mistaken delusion that I’m a half decent improvisor, but I have no immediate intention of waking her up to the reality of my skill level. Why spoil such a lovely delusion.

STATS

Name: Dana Fradkin
Birthday: March 19th
Place of Birth: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Started performing at 14, professional 7 years.
Discipline: Actor
Websites: comediccatastrophes.com, keystonetheatre.net
Video Link: http://www.privypeople.com/Privy_People/Movie.html
Venues Worked: Edmonton, Red Deer, Grand Prairie, Toronto and Dundas Busker FEstival, Waterloo Arts Festival, Luminto, Toronto Renaissance Fair, Toronto Fringe Festival, CNE, Misouri, Nebraska and Arizona State Fair, Kennedy Space Center, Canadian Opera Company, Sony Center, Second City Comedy Club, Bad Dog Theatre, and many Theatre Companies across Canada.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Gold Medal Ribbon, I don’t know why, I like the caramel?  Close second Cookie dough and mint chocolate chip.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Apocalyse Now.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My stuffed puppet dog Wrinkles.  I still have her.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • The Seniors at my high school.  In Theatre School in was the third year students.  Now it’s unique people in the industry who have a curiousity about the world.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Buffy the Vampire Slayer (she is a comic book character, I think it counts).
6. Name something that scares you. • Dying.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I worked at McDonalds for 3 years.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Make a documentary film.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Grumpy people.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You make me proud.“

The Nugget:

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

“Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do.  People saying that to you is usually about their issues, not yours“

–Dana Fradkin

Where in the world am I today?: Red Deer, AB, Canada

Prologue: I had heard about Fraser Hooper from friend and fellow performer Jon Hicks. Upon Jon’s recommendation I had checked out Fraser’s website and gotten a bit familiar with the nature of his work. He had also provided some inspiration for some logistical challenges I was facing with my soon to debut “Hot Dog Show,” but I hadn’t actually met the man until I arrived in Edmonton for the Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival. The fact that we’re more or less the same age, both are married with two kids and both love performing gave us plenty to talk about and we quickly became friends. I’ve long been a member of the hype school of performing and I loved watching the success that Fraser has in his show by taking a completely different approach. His slow deliberate clowning style wallowed in moments far longer than I’ve ever feel comfortable with, but it was amazing to see how well he was able to sculpt these moments into pure comedy gold!

STATS

Name: Fraser Hooper
Birthday: August 10, 1967
Place of Birth: London, England
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1990
Discipline: Clown
Websites: – http://www.fraserhooper.com
Video Link: http://www.fraserhooper.com/showreel.htm
Venues Worked: Theatres, Street Festivals, Galas, Cabaret, Cruise Ships, Parks, TV.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • I usually have at least one ice cream a day, there are so many to choose from that it wouldn’t be fair to pick a favourite.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Toy Story 2.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Scalextric.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Chaplin, Nola Rae, Avner, Jacques Tati.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Woody from Toy Story.
6. Name something that scares you. • Cheese and loosing my glasses. 
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Menswear manager.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Making hats.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Being away from my family.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Tickets please.“

The Nugget:

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

“When I first started a friend saw my show and for me it went really badly which I expressed to him as soon as I had left the stage. He said “never ruin the audiences experience by rubbishing what you did”. It was obvious but a great lesson to learn early on.”

–Fraser Hooper

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

Prologue: Rick and I became friends on the Canadian Fringe Festival Circuit in particular the Edmonton Fringe Festival where Sak Theater had legendary status. For some reason be it deserved or not I seemed to acquire a bit of that sort of status as well and as we often shared the pitch and certainly the audiences of Edmonton we had a nice commonality of experience that lead to a quick friendship. In the years since Rick has always impressed me with his ability to articulate his ideas about what performing can be and how to get the most out of a theatrical setting. He’s also a heck of a nice guy…don’t let that cheesy mustache throw you off.

STATS

Name: Rick Kunst
Birthday: March 9, 1960
Place of Birth: Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Fall of 1980
Discipline: Clown, Acting, Improv, Metal smithing
Websites: www.privypeople.com – www.menintights.ca
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GBu6lxyL04
Venues Worked: Every state except Alaska, Most Provinces, Various shows, Festivals and corporate events

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Natural Chocolate
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Big Trouble in Little China
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • James Bond Finger Gun
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • The Pythons, Bill Murray, Buster Keaton
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. • Extreme Heights
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Jeweler
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Get to Everest Base Camp.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • The hours
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Good show Rick”

The Nugget:

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

“It’s an actor’s (performer’s) job to justify.“

–Rick Kunst

Where in the world am I today?: Edmonton/Peace River, AB, Canada

Prologue: I first met Guy Collins at the 2008 Kingston Busker’s Rendez-vous. Because we knew so many of the same people and were of a similar vintage it somehow seemed easier to talk to Guy than to some of the younger performers who were in Kingston that year. It made for an easy hang to be with someone of the same generation and similar life experience… Wife and kids? Yep. Similar list of friends? Yep. Heck he even played Ukulele (better than I do I might add). We went from being friends to virtually brothers in the span of a couple of days…

STATS

Name: Guy Collins – Groovy Guy
Birthday: August 12, 1967
Place of Birth: Marietta, Georgia, USA
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1987 busking in Paris, France
Discipline: Mostly Juggling
Website: http://www.jugglerguy.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxS2Tes5C58
Venues Worked: The streets of the world, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Covent Garden Market, London, Edinburgh Fringe, But for the last 7 years Westin Hotel, Key West, Florida. (Next to Mallory Square).

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Neopolitan, I can never make my mind up, but I normally eat the chocolate first.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Star Wars.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My bike.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Airjazz, Frank Olivier, Paul Morocco, Sean Gandini (before he started dancing), Kris Kremo and Archaos (Ledgendary French anarchist circus).
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. • Spiders.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I was a travel agent for a year when I first left school.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • A paracute jump.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Being booked as corporate eyecandy.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You were wrong I do exist, come on in and enjoy the party.”

The Nugget:

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

“It does not matter what you do as long as you are confident and positive when you do it. The most basic trick will get a great reaction if you present it with confidence.”

–Guy Collins

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Where in the world am I today?: Edmonton, AB, Canada

Prologue: Met Tony Daro recently while working on the STAR Princess or actually met him at the Airport in Juneau when we flew in on the same flight and got picked up by the port agent. Somehow we fell into a straight man funny man schtick where I’d inadvertently set him up and he’d deliver the punch line. Over the week on the STAR I figure I set up jokes for him in day to day conversation a half dozen times a day and he was quite happy and able to bend a joke or two out which was a constant source of amusement. Thanks for the laughs!

STATS

Name: Tony Daro
Birthday: February 17
Place of Birth: Bronx, NY, USA
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: At a tender age.
Discipline: Zen Buddhist/Stand-up Comedian
Website: http://www.myspace.com/tonydaro
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFsnlTswDvc
Venues Worked: Indoors…outdoors.  Everywhere, anywhere you could  possibly imagine.  Have even done shows on a train and a helicopter.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Coffee.  Because it tastes like coffee.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • The Godfather – Part 3.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • The yo-yo because of its simplicity and beauty. Also the fact it can used as a weapon.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Woody Allen, George Carlin and Jack Ruby.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Superman. Obviously.
6. Name something that scares you. • Kryptonite.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Raconteur.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Independent wealth.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Morning radio.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You again?”

The Nugget:

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

“Don’t poop where you eat.”

–Tony Daro

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