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The Tailgate Entertainer | Performers | Performance Business | Creatives | Artists | Talent Buyers

Tailgate Entertainer is a podcast about the fair industry and the exciting people involved in it. The goal of the show is to help those involved in the industry succeed by sharing years of collected wisdom. You will not find a more eclectic mix of people in the world than those that work at fairs. Their exciting journeys, lessons, and humorous anecdotes are woven together here to provide encouragement, education, and support for the industry.
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The Tailgate Entertainer | Performers | Performance Business | Creatives | Artists | Talent Buyers
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Now displaying: September, 2018
Sep 25, 2018

Creating a concrete platform in a saturated market is no easy task. In order to do so, you have to be innovative and original, two characteristics that perfectly describe Robert Smith. Robert Smith is a magician and creative content speaker who struggled to find his way into the fair industry until doing exactly the opposite of everyone else, staying inside the box. Robert Smith is most recognized for his fortune-telling act, which has come to be known as the Conjurer Fortune Machine. Check out this episode of Tailgate Entertainer with Alan Bruess and Eric Haines if you’re interested in learning how to adapt and expand your own creative career. 

Show Highlights:

  • Starting street magic
  • Recognizing the pivot point in a career
  • Figuring out how to live with a disease
  • The importance of reaching out
  • Getting buyers attention
  • Becoming the conjurer
  • Creating a unique way to perform in a saturated market
  • Trusting the audience
  • Organically developing an act
  • Explaining a nontraditional career to others
  • Training people in your profession
  • Expanding a personal act and avoiding stealing ideas
  • Only working jobs that fit your brand
  • Building relationships
  • Changing how you perceive no
  • The drive behind creating content and marketing
  • Using social media to provide value
  • Building equity with the community

Resources:

Art To Market

All social media handles: @meetrobertsmith

Podcast: Fair Game

Meet Robert Smith

Robert Smith Presents

Sep 18, 2018

Finding your passion can be difficult especially if it isn’t a traditional path but Greg Frisbee always knew he wanted to perform. Overcoming his shyness and fear of failure, Greg took a leap of faith and has become an incredible juggler and comedian. He has performed in all 50 states, over 30 countries, and does over 300 shows a year. His show is fun, goofy, and creates a family-friendly environment for everyone to enjoy. Tune into this episode of Tailgate Entertainer with Alan Bruess and Eric Haines to hear more about how Greg utilized obstacles to establish his career.

Show Highlights:

  • Taking the plunge as a full-time performer
  • Marketing to fairs
  • Breaking news to close family
  • The journey of establishing a show
  • Struggles with putting a show together
  • Trial and error
  • The importance of treating others with respect
  • How a performance can be a form of meditation
  • Being present in the moment
  • Struggling with being insecure as a performer
  • Alternative pursuits if performing fails
  • Creating healthy relationships with fair managers
  • Not taking work personally
  • Being in tune with the crowd and creating a magical atmosphere
  • Finding human connection through travel
  • Accepting people for who they are
  • Utilizing skills from worldly experiences
  • How performing effects those closest to you

Resources:

Bring Your Art To Market

The Rubber Chicken Show

Frisbee Show

Sep 11, 2018

The fair industry has some jaw-dropping and mind baffling acts but some acts set the bar higher than others. Marco Landín and Heather Hyde de Landin are creative and talented performers. From costumes to technique, this power couple has raised the bar for all stilt walkers and performers. Their acts are exotic and bring a sense of newness through their full fire performances and stilt creatures. They have perfected the art of embodying whimsical characters and creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Join Alan Bruess and Eric Haines in this episode of Tailgate Entertainer to learn more about creating a magical world. 

Show Highlights:

  • Being introduced to variety entertainment 
  • Sharing the miracle of newness 
  • Bringing something new to the table 
  • Creating art to be proud of 
  • Being an influencer through personal art 
  • Creating opportunities for others 
  • Finding ways to speak without words 
  • Design techniques and creating unique shows 
  • Creating blueprints and refining details 
  • Finding balance 
  • How passion pushes you forward 
  • Building a bubble of wonder 

Resources:

Dream City Vegas

Macro Landin

Art To Market

Sep 4, 2018

Alex Zerbe has been performing for more than 15 years. He is a master of physical comedy, juggling, and magic. Alex is known as “The Zaniac” which was an idea from his wife. Many love his high energy throughout his performances and his super kind soul, and intelligence. He is a two-time Guinness World Record holder who was voted Seattle's Funniest Prop Comic. He performs in fairs, schools and special events. He is a fantastic entertainer and loves his job as an entertainer.

More in this episode:

  • Physical issues that can be challenging in his performances in the future.
  • The First Fair that he worked at.
  • Lessons that he learned during his first fair job.
  • Advice he would give about working in the fair industry.
  • How has his marriage dealt with all the traveling associated with performing?
  • How much he loves his job and performing.
  • He would love to mentor and help other entertainers
  • Where he goes for mentoring and guidance?
  • When and how he began performing.
  • Some of his beats!

Resources Mentioned in the Show:

Art To Market

Tailgate Entertainer Podcast

1,001 Tips on Practicing, Perfecting and Performing Your Act: For Jugglers and other Variety Artists Entertainers by Daniel Holzman

Alex Zerbe

The Zaniac

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