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

Prologue: Though we both grew up in Ottawa, I didn’t officially meet Dan the One Man Band until I bumped into his show at the Edmonton Fringe Festival around the mid-1990s. I’d heard that he’d been performing in Japan (as had I) and at the end of his show I walked up and introduced myself. He seemed to know who I was which was interesting, but then again I had heard of him and felt like I already knew him too… Our mutual shared experience and mutual friends lead to easy conversation and a quick friendship. One of my fondest memories of working with Dan came at the 2006 PNE. At the end of every day I’d try and give him a hand bringing his props back to the green room. Somehow the walk back up the hill towards Pacific Coliseum seemed important.

STATS

Name: Dan Duguay – Dan the One Man Band
Birthday: August 25
Place of Birth: Toronto, ON, Canada
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1990
Discipline: Multi instrumental humourist
Website: http://www.dantheonemanband.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiPstGMHKRM
Venues Worked: Street Performer Festivals, Children’s Festivals, Fairs, Fringes, Street Corners, Parks, Pedestrian Malls, Shopping Malls, Boats, Airplanes, Trains, Comedy Clubs, Night Clubs, Theatres, Sporting arenas, Parades.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Tiger Tiger. Orange and licorice together in one hump, need I say more?
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • “The Mission” You have to get rid of everything to find what is truly important.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • G.I. Joe with the kung fu grip.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Pete O’Connell (aka: Pete the One Man Band), Bert from Mary Poppins, and I do remember seeing Checkerboard Guy in the Byward Market in Ottawa one Saturday afternoon. He had a huge crowd and I watched him collect his money after the show and I thought, “that’s a cool way to make a living”.  Must have been 1984 or ‘85.
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. • Needles.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Worked for a summer at the Regional Assessment Office in Ottawa.  My mom got me the job.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Ride an Elephant.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Being away from my wife and kids.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • You spent a lifetime making people smile, come on in.

The Nugget:

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

“Enjoy what you do cause one day it’ll all be over.“

–Dan Duguay

.

Where in the world am I today?: Victoria, BC, Canada aboard the GOLDEN Princess

Prologue: I’d heard stories of this guy who took a box and put laugher into it, who had skills but in no way relied on skills, a clown, a funny man, a source of laughter and entertainment and finally got to meet Rob Torres at the 2001 Windsor Busker’s Festival. Rob seemed to walk with a slightly different bounce in his step and have a confidence in finding the narrative in a show that allowed him to take tangents that inevitably lead back to the main story-line somehow, or didn’t. If the story of his show changed course though he seemed as happy to follow the new path as he did to steer it back to the standard story line. This enormous faith that everything would work out if you didn’t get in the way of things really impressed me and is something I continue to aspire to.

STATS

Name: Rob Torres
Birthday: September 10, 1973
Place of Birth: Suffern, New York. USA
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Spring 1990
Discipline: Clown
Website: www.funeeestuff.com
Video Link: www.funeeestuff.com
Venues Worked:
Freidrichsbau Variete, Stuttgart Germany
Grand Theatre, Blackpool England
La Roseliere, Montbeliard France
Nikulien Circus building, Moscow Russia
Costa Cruises
Favros Nagy Circus building, Budapest Hungary
Brick Theatre, Brooklyn NYC
The Comedy Store, NYC
The Palace of Variety, NYC
The Registry Theatre, Kitchner ON
The Waterloo Performing Arts Center, Waterloo ON
Suncoast Casino, Las Vegas
Teatro de La Ciudad, Puebla Mexico
Casa de La Cultura, Hermosillo Mexico
Disney Cruise Lines
Teatro Tanque, Guanajuato Mexico
Sun Plaza Theatre, Tokyo Japan
Tokyo Comedy Store, Tokyo Japan
Diamond Horseshoe Review, Maihama Japan
Walt Disney World, Orlando Florida
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus, DeLand FL

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Strataccella I like chocolate in my ice cream and the vanilla is creamier and not as sweet. Besides that it’s fun to say.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Finding Neverland
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • I had more fun building things than playing with toys.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Denis LaCombe, David Larible
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Wile E Coyote
6. Name something that scares you. • snakes
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I worked on a production line at a cassette factory.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Parasailing
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Hauling equiptment around
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • Not bad, come on in

The Nugget:

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

“Do what you love and share what you can and the other things fall into place.”

–Rob Torres

.

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada, Off to Ketchikan Alaska in the afternoon.

Got a call out of the blue a while back from a production company that was looking for someone to teach one of their actors some hat manipulation moves. The actor, Andrew Lee Potts, is playing the role of the Mad Hatter in a show that’s taking it’s cues from the Alice in Wonderland mythology and having the Hatter being able to manipulate his hat seemed reasonably important.

Now anyone who’s don’t much hat manipulation will realize from the picture that the hat that they hat selected for the role wasn’t the ideal hat to be manipulated. I got the picture that accompanies this post to help me get a sense of what the actor was going to be working with.

Long story short, I hooked up with Andrew yesterday in his hotel and spent a bunch of time  discussing how the hat was being used in the show and which basic tricks would be good for him to learn. The basic routine went something like – I demo a trick, he’d say yes or no to whether he wanted to learn it and how it might be used. I’d then walk through the mechanics of the trick with him, get him to try it a number of times, then he’d film me doing it both at slow speed and at regular speed and then we’d move on to the next trick.

I figured he’d need about a half dozen moves to pull off the appearance of knowing how to manipulate a hat and by the time we were done he had 5 – 10 things to work on which seemed about right. We didn’t actually use all of the time that had been scheduled for the session, but Andrew admitted to having a bit of a hang-over and after getting what he needed from me, he seemed content to work on the moves himself…

It’s a bit insane to think you can become a master of a skill in one teaching session, but I think the trick for me was to figure out which tricks were going to be easiest to learn reasonably quickly and would have the greatest effect on-camera. Also a lot can be cleaned up in the edit, so hopefully the Hatter will be able to pull it all off when the director calls “ACTION!”

Working as a coach for the Film or TV industry isn’t insanely lucrative, or wasn’t this time around for me, but it was an interesting way of spending a couple of hours on a Tuesday. Vancouver is a hotbed of work for Film and TV production and along with opportunities like the one I had yesterday I’ve also been called and asked to come in and work as a special skills extra on shows that require a circus/carnival sort of feel. My friends Peter Boulanger and Ninon Parent from the Underground Circus often get hired to work in the Stunt Industry which does pay better and often offers really interesting challenges.

So… Depending on where you’re located and whether there are any Film/TV productions happening in your area, getting the word out that you’ve got a set of skills that a production company might need may lead to some time coaching or woring on Set. Just remember to bring a book because the expression ‘hurry up and wait’ is pretty synonymous with being involved in this industry.

.

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

Prologue: Roll the wheels of time back to the 1995 Kingston Buskers Rendezvous and you’ll see me watching this guy starting his show with a tug of war contest where each contestant had to stand on a milk carton. The one to come off of the milk carton first looses. This was my first exposure to Bob Cates and the memory stuck for what ever reason. Perhaps it was because it was such a playful and fun way to start a show that invited the audience into his world of play and encouraged them to be a part of it, or perhaps it’s because I wanted to try it out myself to see if I could beat him… Hard to say, but Bob’s gone on to great things and his show still invites the audience in to come along for a ride in his world.

Stats:

Name: Bob Cates
Birthday: Nov. 11
Place of Birth: Sarnia, ON, Canada
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Full Time in Summer: 1993, Full Time Always: 1995
Discipline: Comedy Juggling, Pate Spinning, Unicycle, Dance Dance Revolution Expert
Website: www.comedyinmotion.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiY_762AufA
Venues Worked: Cruise Lines, Corporate Events, Festivals, Churches or Para-Church Ministries, Private Events

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • I don’t really eat enough ice cream to have a favourite – I’m more of a salty crunchy chip kind of guy. Salt and Vinegar Chips or Ketchup chips are my Kryptonite.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Any Pixar Movie could make it. But I’m going to say “Chariots of Fire.” I remember seeing as a kid when it came out with my parents and being completely bored. But now I’m inspired by the true story of the talented Eric Lidel and his commitment to his faith at the Olympics
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Lego, definitely. I liked to build and create a lot with Lego.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • In the very beginning, after I’d been juggling for just a year or two, I was encouraged by the late Michael Carl O’Neil. I also saw Greg Tarlin at a busking festival, as well as David Cassel at another festival. I couldn’t believe that you could make money doing something that looked so fun! Going to the IJA festival in Montreal in 1992, and having a 3 day workshop with Kitt Summers exposed me to not only to all kinds of amazing juggling but many performers and performances which kick started me very far. I still remember seeing your Checkerboard Cab there Dave!
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Wall-E. I’m just a simple dude doing my thing, and It’s taken me to some pretty cool and unexpected places.
6. Name something that scares you. • Even just the thought, of Hell. (kind of makes spiders seem tame)
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I was a teller at the TD bank for several summers.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Kite Surfing is on my life To do list.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • No Benefits (like Dental/medical etc), No Paternity (or maternity) leave, no unemployment insurance. UI really gets me. I mean, if I don’t work, I don’t eat. As a self employed person, the concept that I can get free money because I don’t have a job doesn’t really compute.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy prepared for you.”

The Nugget:

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

“Get Really good at something. Become an expert at least one thing that you can call yours, and that people will come to you for help or info. And if could add one more: Raise your prices! You may have heard “double your price and work half as much.” The bonus is, if you’re actually REALLY good at what you do, you can double your price and NOT lose half your work. I under charged for YEARS. Heck, I probably still do!”

–Bob Cates

.

Where in the world am I today?: At sea aboard the STAR Princess heading towards Victoria, BC, Canada

Prologue: Flash back to the 1989 Edmonton International Street Performers Festival and a rather wide-eyed, new-to-the-festival-circuit, upstart Checkerboard Guy full of youthful arrogance, ignorance and enthusiasm. A spirited young performer who was taking the world by the horns and getting anything he could out of it… Enter Hokum W. Jeebs, long time veteran of variety circuit with performance chops galore. I watched and enjoyed Hokum’s show at the festival, but didn’t fully understand it’s greatness at the time… Actually I didn’t really understand him at the time either… Not sure I fully do now, but I do have an enormous respect for his encyclopedia-like knowledge of the variety arts and the contribution that he has made to it.

Stats:

Name: Professor Hokum W. Jeebs
Birthday: June, 16, 1923 June 16, 1950
Place of Birth: Syracuse, New York, USA
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1960
Discipline: Music/history/showman
Website: http://www.hokumshows.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q38R0MtNHY
Venues Worked: Here there and everywhere

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Neopolitan– three great flavors one convenient slab
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • The Music Man
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Cape Canaveral rocket launching set
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Victor Borge, Spike Jones and The Syracuse Symphony
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Mighty Manfred the wonder dog
6. Name something that scares you. • ignorant people in positions of authority
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Produce wholesaler
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Owning a Jag.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • The intrinsic non-stop BS coming at you from all sides and Hidden agendas.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • Nice to see you again!

The Nugget:

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

“Be honest and real; it almost always works. If it’s not working, step away gracefully. And never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time, and it annoys the pig.”

–Professor Hokum W. Jeebs

.

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

Prologue: I met Geoff Cobb at the 2002 Edmonton Street Performer’s Festival where I was performing as part of “The Executives.” Geoff seemed to approve of the fact that we were using the original Japanese version of the Speed Racer Theme song in our show which I believe is where the conversation started… We see the world through much different eyes Geoff and I, but on some weird gut level we connect. Geoff was one of the first performers to be involved in the Street Stars Program at the PNE when I took over as manager of the program back in 2005 and in 2006 we performed together as “The Juggling Sherpas” an experience that just about killed our friendship, but like the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and I know I’ve got a lot to be thankful for in our friendship.

Stats

Name: Geoff Cobb
Birthday: March 11, 1968
Place of Birth: Highland Park, Illinois, USA
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Started performing at the Michigan Renaissance Festival in 1992, but my first professional work was as a clown on the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus in 1987.
Discipline: Sword Swallower
Website: www.swordswallowing.com
Video Link: http://www.swordswallowing.com/video%20files/Thom%20Sellectomy%20Promotional%20Video%20Med.wmv
Venues Worked: Festivals, Colleges and Corporate Events

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Vanilla because it is full of possibilities. I love it with a tiny bit of ground coffee sprinkled on top.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Star Wars (And I mean the real one and I don’t feel I should have to say which episode that is.)
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Playmobile, I had a cavalry set and to this day I can remember clearly one specific day of play and the story that I created with the little figures. It involved a lieutenant that had to prove himself after a big mistake. Good stuff.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • The Flaming Idiots, a juggling trio from Texas. I first meet them in 1985 they made me think that I could make a living as a performer. Good thing that I met them when I did as I had just begun the process of enlisting in the United States Marine Corps.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Goofy; long and tall and not very sophisticated and often flustered by the obvious.
6. Name something that scares you. • This would be a shorter list if I tried to name things that don’t scare me. But let’s go with birds; I was attacked by a goose as a child and have a full blown phobia of any kind of bird. They fly, they can come at you from any direction, they are like sharks in the air.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Because my wife was tired of me sitting around the house, I spent on winter working as a grease monkey at a Jiffy Lube and really enjoyed it, and so did my wife.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • I would like to learn to sail and then take a trip that would involve being far enough at sea that I couldn’t see land for more than a day.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • The tedium of travel. Seeing new places is always nice and having favorite restaurants all around the world is nice. But being with my children home and sleeping next to my wife is the greatest thing in the world.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • I am sorry I had you take the long route. (I have had a pretty rocky life.)

The Nugget:

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

“I am blessed to have never worked a day in my life in the sense that I love what I do. I do not have everything that a 41 year old man “should” have. But I am so rich in personal happiness. I think people should strive be much less concerned with the things think they need to have, and that would allow more people to spend their life’s energy doing things they love instead of something that will just “pay the bills.” There is no need to work the extra time to have the microwave that saves you the time so you can work the extra time to afford the microwave.”

–Geoff Cobb

.

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

Prologue: Kingston Busker’s Rendezvous 2008 I’m back for my 10th time in 20 years of the Festival’s Existence… From out of nowhere pops this no nonsense, take control of the situation firecracker of a performer full of enthusiasm, vim, vigor and life… We didn’t talk much that weekend, but Miss Becky Priebe certainly left an impression… It wasn’t until we had a bit more time to hang out at the Nanjing Clown Carnival that we spoke much and became better friends. With out a doubt it was her ‘anything is possible, lets make it happen’ approach to performing that won me over and continues to endear her to my heart. She’s a keeper!

Stats:

Name: Becky Priebe – Becky Hoops
Birthday: 18 August
Place of Birth: Whitecourt, AB, Canada
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 2003
Discipline: Clown/Hoops
Website: http://www.beckyhoops.com
Video Link: check out website… there are lots
Venues Worked: uh….lots

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Chocolate fudge….because…isn’t it obvious??
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Frida
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My brother
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Violet Morrison
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Wonder Woman, Marilyn Monroe and a Fraggle (i know its hard to imagine… but I am a weird mix of a girl!)
6. Name something that scares you. • Centipedes
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Page at the Alberta Legislature
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Biking across Canada
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Ugly hotel curtains
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • Welcome

The Nugget:

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

“Breathing on stage is important. It lets the public breathe and enjoy.“

–Becky Priebe

.

Where in the world am I today?: Aboard the Serenade of the Seas which is docked in Vicotria, BC at the moment.

Prologue: It’s a bit of a blur really, but I have vague memories of seeing David Lichtenstein at the 1987 Juggling Convention in Saints, France… Though I could be wrong. I do however remember that our paths crossed at the Festival D’été De Québec in 1993. We were both hired to perform at the gig and I remember bumping into Dave and chatting with him between shows. I was struck immediately with not only his impressive repertoire of skills, but also his easy going nature with his audience. The combination of these assets and the cowboy theme to his show made him an obvious choice for the Street Stars Program at the PNE, and it was great to have him be a part of the program in 2008.

Stats:

Name: David Lichtenstein – “Leapin‘ Louie Lichtenstein the most explosive Lithuanian Jewish Cowboy Juggling Comedian to ever come out of Oregon.“
Birthday: 6/5/1960 please update every year starting 2010 to keep me perpetually 49
Place of Birth: Michigan
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1983
Discipline: Cowboy Comedy Show
Website: http://www.comedytricks.com
Video Link: http://www.comedytricks.com/Leapin_Louie/Leapin_Louie_Promo_Videos.html
Venues Worked: 22 countries around the world

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Coffee almond fudge. The greatest juggling feat of my life was when I was 11-years old. I was riding my bike with a double scoop of jamocha almond fudge and coconut when both scoops fell off the cone separately. My hand came off the handlebars, scooped one scoop, the other, back on the cone, and back to the handlebars without crashing. (I could not ride without hands at the time.) It’s been down hill ever since that juggling peak of my life. Perhaps I’ve never faced that degree of life or death need in a moment again.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Funny Bones
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • GI Joe doll. Play ranged from domestic scenes, eating cereal with GI Joe, to torture.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Oregon Country Fair performers like The Flying Karamazovs and Waldo– Paul Burke.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Gaston LaGaffe, a french comic book character is a favorite influence.
6. Name something that scares you. • Scared of snakes even though we have two in the house.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Treeplanter. There’s a good hard Northwest job. Busboy, disherwasher, line cook, bean canner, strawberry picker, school teacher; bad jobs.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Scuba diving, surfing, parachuting, novel writing, kiwi farmer, sailing.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Always looking for work, for the next job.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Good try.”

The Nugget:

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

“Time is the only coin of your life. Dont’ let others spend it for you!”

–David Lichtenstein

.

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

Prologue: Master Lee has legendary status as one of the best acts to perform in Washington Square Park in New York City. Though he bills himself as a Kung-Fu Comic, my first encounter with William came at the 1987 International Juggler’s Association’s Annual Juggling Convention. Inevitably in the evenings at the convention a game of ‘combat’ would start – the juggling equivelent to a smash up derby where jugglers all start with three clubs but attempt to knock each other’s patterns apart while keeping their pattern together. I was particularly impressed with Will’s technique. Saw him again at the Halifax Busker’s Festival in 1988, and many many times since then at festivals and events across Canada. Had a ball watching him at the 2008 PNE as part of the Street Stars Program because his stage presence captivates a crowd in a way that few other performers can.

Stats:

Name: William Lee – “Master Lee”
Birthday: March 30, 1964
Place of Birth: New Mexico
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1980 I think…
Discipline: Kung Fu Comic
Websites: www.kungfucomic.com, www.talkingstick.us
Venues Worked: Showtime at the Apollo, Washington Square Park and Sesame Street.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Ginger, because it tastes Chinese, one of the few Asian deserts that taste good. And, it’s from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Hearts of Darkness: The documentary of the making of Apocolypse Now. Filmed by Coppola’s wife who was divorcing him at the time.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • A bicycle, because it was freedom! Wheels, dude!
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Bruce Lee, Martin Luther King Jr, Richard Pryor, Johnny Carson, Charlie Barnett, Phillipe Petit, Albert Owens, Butterfly Man, Lee Ross, Chris the Piss, Brian Reid.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Silver Surfer
6. Name something that scares you. • Death and indifference.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Professional poker player.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Being a woman.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Performing the same show over and over and over because you’re getting paid “Good Money.” There’s what something costs and what it costs your soul.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “I don’t exist. I’m sorry about these idiots the distorted my words.”

The Nugget:

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

“Do what you love to do and the rest will follow.“

–William Lee

.

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

Prologue: The Dung Beetle… That’s how John Ullyatt was billed at the 2000 Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival. He was dressed up in a odd looking get-up which semi-looked like he was a giant cockroach and was pushing around a huge ball covered in little bits of tape… The concept was that people could right down their shit on some tape or paper and he’d add it to his ball of ‘dung.’ I believe it was his first venture into the world of Street Theatre. At the time he had already established himself as one of the leading stage actors in Edmonton, and this was just a fun little jaunt off the beaten track it seemed. We hit it off right away and when the opportunity came to join forces in 2002 with another friend from Japan, Iori Mikumo, and formed ‘The Executives.’ Flash forward to 2007 John brings his Human Fountain out to the PNE Street Stars Program and becomes “Johnny Rains” a nicknamed coined by Glenn Singer. I have an enormous respect for John’s work and a deep appreciation for his friendship. He never lets me take myself too seriously and is enormously encouraging and generous with is support for my crazy ideas.

Stats:

Name: John Ullyatt
Birthday: May 10, 1966
Place of Birth: Montreal, QC, Canada
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Singing in several rock bands in high school. And a couple of dares. That was smart.
Discipline: Human Fountain/Actor/Inventor
Websites: www.johnnyrains.com, www.fireflytheatre.com, www.johnullyatt.com
Video Link: http://www.johnnyrains.com
Venues Worked: Edmonton International Streetfest, Street Performance World Championships, Banff, PNE, Waterloo Arts Festival, Fringe

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Chocolate. Because it’s freakin’ chocolate AND it’s ice cream.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Blazing Saddles, Gates of Hell
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Tonka!!!
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Steve Martin, Peter O’Toole
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • A cross between Bugs Bunny, Droopy Dog, and The Tasmanian Devil
6. Name something that scares you. • Dying alone in a puddle of my own urine.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • The Post Office
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Eating fire.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Bad pay.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Well, you fucked that up didn’t you? Go back. Try again. Here – be a doctor. A really good, absurdly wealthy, profoundly happy and wise doctor.”

The Nugget:

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

“Be nice to people.”

–John Ullyatt

.

Where in the world am I today?: Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Prologue: I had my first opportunity to work alongside Jon Hicks while I was working at the Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival the Summer of 2002. For some reason I recall a group of performers heading to the West Edmonton Mall because someone wanted to ride on the indoor Roller Coaster… I opted out so I could take a picture of the event from a strategic vantage point, but light was low, the coaster was fast and the image I captured was more blur than anything else… Ran into Jon again again at the Waterloo Busker’s Carnival (Summer of 2004) and Jon came out to Vancouver for the 2008 PNE Street Stars Program. It’s been really fun watching Jon’s show develop and his onstage character really come into it’s own. Great guy, great show, good times!

Stats:

Name: Jon Hicks
Birthday: November 4, 1962
Place of Birth: Blackheath, London, UK
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Started in the industry in 2000
Discipline: Artist in Action – started as a speed painting act, has developed to include all sorts including visual comedy, (see new Elephants show)
Websites: http://www.thejonhicks.com and http://www.artistinaction.co.uk
Video Link: http://www.thejonhicks.com/page2.htm • http://www.thejonhicks.com/page3.htm and New show ‘Elephants’ – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBoYApwRjxg
Venues Worked: lots of street stuff, UK, Canada, Japan, New Zealand some of my favourites. Corporate gigs all over. Recently quite a bit of Variety/Cabaret in UK, there’s a boom, The Grand Theatre in Blackpool in February, which was home to many old variety music hall acts, very exciting.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Chocolate, because it’s the best, just an instinctive thing.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Brassed Off
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Not one, but liked action man, toy soldiers and my teddy bear toffee.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Rolf Harris ( a TV presenter/performer who did very quick paintings). Fraser Hooper as a contemporary street performer.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Not sure but always liked the Pink Panther cartoons.
6. Name something that scares you. • Getting too old to perform and play football (soccer).
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Scenic painter.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Go to Australia.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Shopping centre Gigs when you travel miles, the people who booked you don’t care and there’s no changing room. but you are told you can use the toilet (bathroom).
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Annie will be with you later and there’s a five a side football(soccer) game every day.”

The Nugget:

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

“Walk your own path.“

–Jon Hicks

.

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

Prologue: I always sort of joke that my buddy Glenn is a one trick pony because much of his success has been built on a hilarious routine with his mighty steed Sigfrido his wearable zebra costume, but I first met Glenn before he got involved in his equestrian antics. We both worked at the 1988 Halifax Busker’s Festival and I remember bumping into him a few times there, but it wasn’t until the following Summer that we spent some quality time hanging out together. Actually it was Glenn, myself and Derek Scott who hooked up like the three musketeers at the Waterloo Busker’s Carnival in 1989 and Glenn and I were happily driven around to cool spots where we went swimming and cliff jumping – Guy Stuff! Amazing to think all of that started over twenty years ago.

Stats:

Name: Glenn Singer
Birthday: November 2, 1957
Place of Birth: Boston, MA, USA
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1985
Discipline: Orchestrator of elaborate sight gags
Website: http://www.horseguy.com
Video Link: http://www.horseguy.com/video/index.html
Venues Worked: International Street Festivals, Schools, Theaters, Corporate Events, Hospitals, Cruise Ships, Weddings, basements…

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • You won’t believe this but if you want to know what my experience is eating ice cream, serve yourself up a nice bowl of your favorite flavor then let it sit at room temperature for an hour. Then try and eat it. It’s hard for me to get past what it’s going to be in my system: a bowl of elmers glue. I do like my friend Al’s homemade lime sorbet made in an ice cream maker with fresh limes, sugar and a little buttermilk. I might be an old man.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Amalie
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • A Mighty Mouse Doll
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Avner Isenberg, Robert Nelson, Mr & Mrs. Jones on Holiday.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Chicken Hawk
6. Name something that scares you. • The Unknown. (I’ve learned to try to relax in the face of that thanks to Jonathan Kaye)
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Short order cook.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Tickertape
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • The Paparazzi
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “What took you so long?”

The Nugget:

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

“Avner told me that the show is just an interesting way to spend time while you’re waiting for what’s really going to happen. I still like that.”

–Glenn Singer

.

Where in the world am I today?: Shanghai, China

Prologue: I first met David around 1998. He contacted me and asked if he could meet with me and ask me some questions. He had apparently seen me performing in Ottawa on Canada Day (July 1) some years earlier and it had inspired him to pursue performing as a full time career himself as “The Rubber Chicken Guy.” So he came over, we talked and soon became friends. We’d check in with each other on a fairly regular basis and I was continually impressed with how well he crafted his image and marketing materials. We traveled together on a ProTel Performance Tour in BC and Alberta in 2001 then just a few year’s later he decided to take everything he’d learned from performing and comedy and apply it to a completely different career as a humanitarian photographer. He shoots regularly for World Vision Canada and is about to publish his first book – “Within the Frame” which talks about the journey of photographic vision.

Stats:

Name: David Duchemin
Birthday: Dec. 24. Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday.
Place of Birth: Montreal, Quebec.
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: 1991 – retired (from performing) in 2006
Discipline: Former Rubber Chicken Guy/Current Humanitarian Photographer
Website: www.rubberchickenguy.com, currently www.pixelatedimage.com
Video Link: http://www.rubberchickenguy.com/generalmov.html
Venues Worked: Seriously? I can barely remember where I went for lunch yesterday. Lots of them. Here and there. More there than here.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Depends on my mood. But overall most favourite? Tiger Tiger. Why? If you need to ask you clearly do not know the joy that is synthetic orange flavour mixed with synthetic licorice flavour.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Apocalypse Now. Or Casablanca. Possibly Monsters Inc. And Muppets Christmas Carol at Christmas. Always.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • I remember a Star Wars lightsaber with great affection. I also liked trees.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • The Checkerboard Guy! And then it would be the Cos’
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Hobbes, from Calvin and Hobbes. Does that count? If not, then, uh, the ant voiced by Woody Allen in Antz.
6. Name something that scares you. • Bureacracy. Ever seen the movie Brazil? Yeah, exactly.
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Current gig as a humanitarian photographer. But I also did a stint at KFC.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • High altitude skydiving. Seriously. Oxygen masks and 5 minutes of freefall.
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • The creeping feeling that I was beginning to believe my own PR.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Well done, kid.”

The Nugget:

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

“Be you. Be the best You that you can be. So good that other people want to be you. And if you find something you love more, follow it. Too many performers identify too closely with their persona, or the fact that they’re a “full time professional…” Whatever. Life’s too short.“

–David Duchemin

.

Where in the world am I today?: Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Prologue: Sonia and I met in a Hotel in Bridgetown, Barbados the morning we were heading to the GRAND Princess without the normal silence of… “Is that or is that not another act?” from a few feet away because as Sonia puts it –

“you had a blummin big sign all over your luggage saying “Hey I’m The Checkerboard Guy!”…..Bless ya, what made it even better was that you were half as mad and jolly as I!”

Ms. Selbie is quite simply stated, a hoot! So glad to have met her and gotten to know here a few weeks back!!

Stats:

Name: Sonia Selbie
Birthday: August 16^th I’m 17 years old LOL
Place of Birth: Manchester, UK
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: At the age of 7
Discipline: Tea Connoisseur and Song Stylist
Website: http://www.soniaselbie.com/
Video Link: http://www.soniaselbie.com/Video.html
Venues Worked: The local tea shop, me mum’s lounge and far too many church Halls to name.

Hot 10 Questions:

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • URGH!.I hate Ice Cream but I am partial to a Banana milkshake.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • Calamity Jane
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My Sindy Dolls
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Mmm at age 7?….Doris Day in Calamity Jane “Make mine a sasparelli”
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Wahoo…Tinkerbell!
6. Name something that scares you. • Drowning, THAT’S WHY I WORK AT SEA?
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • The Milkman’s daughter!
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Paragliding…I just wanna fly!
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Being away from my family so much.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Hiya Chicken! Are ya alright?”

The Nugget:

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

“Come on…Let’s have a cuppa tea and a natter….There is nothing more precious in this world of fruitality in which we live than just keeping it REAL.”

–Sonia Selbie

.

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

Prologue: I’m not exactly sure how they found me, but a few years back (2003 I believe it was) I got a call out of the blue from these guys calling themselves Brothers from Different Mothers asking if I’d come down to Seattle and host the public show for the Seattle Juggling and Footbag Festival. Went down, found Matt and his brother Alex and had a blast with the show. Didn’t end up spending much time hanging out with them as I wanted to get back to my Family, but had a good enough time that when they asked me to be a part of the show the following year I went down and did it all again. Good fun!

Stats:

Name: Matt Baker
Birthday: Historians place it somewhere around the time of 11/09/1981
Place of Birth: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: My current show started in 2001, but I started performing in 1999
Discipline: Comedy, Hackysack, and Awkward social moments
Websites: www.differentmothers.com (Show)
www.mattbakercomedy.com (Me)
www.comedyskills.com (My blog)
www.varietyartsforum.com (A project)
www.digitface.com (My art project)
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/comedyskillsdotcom
http://www.youtube.com/user/footslug
Venues Worked: Corporate, Cruise, College, and Theatre

Hot 10 Questions

1. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Peanut Butter me up. In 1998 I wrote Ben and Jerry’s a letter and asked them to make chocolate ice cream with peanut butter, and caramel. They said it was an interesting idea, and if enough people asked for it they would make it. Sure enough in 2002, they came out with my recipe, and called it Peanut Butter Me Up. I was shocked to see the name because I was sure they would have gone with my name for it, Bake’s Funk Deluxe.
2. Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films • I am going to name two. The first would be La Strada. How can you argue with one of the greatest directors ever, making a film about street performers? My other favorite is the movie Limelight. It is the only movie Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton appeared in together. It is a talkie, but fascinating in the sense that it is sort of the real life story on what caused Chaplin to fade away. Two classics for any film buff/performer.
3. What was your favorite toy from childhood? •
   1. My pee-pee. Boy, we had fun together. It seems like yesterday when we would enjoy long walks down imaginary beaches, and intense wrestling matches.
   2. We were pretty poor as a kid, which forced us to use our imagination. It was hard for me because as a kid I didn’t have a great imagination. I had to pay $10 just to play with my brother’s imaginary friend.
   3. It wasn’t really a toy, but we played a lot of games as kids. My favorite was tag. The only time tag wasn’t fun is when my dad would play. He cheated! Anytime he was it, he got to use his car.
4. Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Being in a comedy/juggling duo I always strived to be like the best in the industry, the Raspyni Brothers. They were like stand up comedians who just happened to be doing cool tricks. Because of them I always strived to be a comedian first, and juggler second. Another inspiration would have to be the Smothers Brothers. Aside from Burns/Allen and Martin/Lewis there was no one who’s onstage banter was better. There straight man goofy man was executed to historical perfection. There simplicity in getting solid laughs really inspired me to establish a rapport with the crowd. Last, my biggest comic influence would be Rodney Dangerfield. The master of the one-liners keeps me laughing today, even though I have heard his material 1,000 times.
5. From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • It would have to be Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin sums me up perfectly. An imaginative kid, who does stuff just for the fun of it, has problems with authority and no one seems to understand him.
6. Name something that scares you. • Regrets. I don’t want to look back at my life and wonder “What if?”
7. Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I have only had one other job in my entire life. For two weeks, I worked as a barista at a coffee shop. They fired me because they said, “Coffee wasn’t my forte.” Shortly after my firing I moved to Europe, and played hackysack professionally. If the sitcom I am writing ever gets picked up, I am going to send them the pilot episode, and a thank you card.
8. What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Catch someone talking about me in another language. Traveling a lot I run into the situation when people assume I don’t speak there language, so they will talk about me while I am standing right there. It’s a safe assumption, because I don’t speak a second language. Although, some day I will catch someone, and I will have a field day!
9. What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • It’s hard to have any complaints about being a performer. It is an awesome livelihood and lifestyle. If I had one, it’s the assumption people have that since I am a performer, I like being in front of people. Although, I am fine on stage, it is not something I want to do when I am not working. I like to shy away from the limelight.
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Matt, you are one funny motherf*#^*&! I love your god jokes.”

The Nugget:

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

Here are a few:

• There is enough work for everyone. Don’t worry about people taking your gigs. Work harder!
• Be original. It is weak to be a performer and use other people’s material. There is nothing more gratifying then getting laughs and applause for things that are your creations.
• You are never to good to get feedback. Some of your biggest strides as a performer can be the ability to not be so full of yourself that you can’t accept feedback.
• Always have a backup plan. Put at least 10% of everything you make away. You never know when you will get hurt or the economy takes a turn for the worst. All you can do is be prepared for that time. 10% will help
• Be working on something else. Always diversify your interests. Just working on different projects open’s your mind to different things you are not exposing yourself normally.

–Matt Baker

.