Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Prologue: James called me out of the blue asking if we could get together in about 2006 I think it was. We hooked up at a Tim Horton’s near where I live and discussed performing. I think the basic question that came out of that initial conversation was – how do I become a successful performer. My answer? Just keep doing it. Do it a lot! Do it every chance you get. Apparently he listened because I kept hearing about him on gigs here and there but it wasn’t until the Nanjing Clown Carnival in 2008 that we really spent any time hanging out… Had a hoot performing with him in China, then got to hang out with him again in Miami in December this past year. He had a gig in Miami for about a month and I came through on a couple of Cruise Ship gigs. Gave us the chance to hang out and have him tell me about his passion for powered para-gliding. He keeps threatening to get me up flying at some point and I sure do hope that it works out that I get the chance to play because it looks like a hoot!
STATS
Name: James Johnson (was Jamie Biggar)
Birthday: April 14, 1975
Place of Birth: Richmond, BC, Canada
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: 1999 as “Baxter” the clown
Discipline: Variety Comedy and climbing inside a giant balloon.
Website: www.biggerballoon.com
Video Link: http://www.biggerballoon.com/video.php
Venues Worked: Most fairs across Canada, some state fairs and special events in China, Saudia Arabia and Fiji.
Hot 10 Questions:
- What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Soy Chocolate Chip mint-perfect combination of cold chocolate chunks to chew on and an awakening minty flavor that has a good after taste. Almost good enough for a meal!
- Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carey.
- What was your favorite toy from childhood? • G.I. Joe F16 tomcat fighter plane.
- Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • David Aiken – first street performer I ever saw perform.
- From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • The Ice man surfer guy.
- Name something that scares you. • Drowning.
- Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces.
- What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • BASE Jumping.
- What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Loosing my voice.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “Why the heck are you here so early?”
The Nugget:
Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.
“The audience is everything. If there is no one who wants to watch your show then the whole purpose of performing is pointless. I am grateful that people actually want to take the time out of their lives so that I can share my idea of entertainment with them. To me this is an honour so I like to perform my very best every time.”
–James Johnson
