Our guest is Louie Foxx, a comedy magician who discovered his knack for playing tricks when he was in kindergarten. It’s the very first time in our show that a guest reads a long introspective entry from his personal journal. Louie read a lengthy entry and I’m thankful for his childish candor. In his journal, he admits to himself that he’s scared of the audience, most likely, his audience’s reaction. He also struggled to keep his speech slower and more coherent.  In high school, he got really serious about making people laugh. He built and carried with him a rickety table and rode the bus into downtown to perform magic tricks on the street corner and got paid by “passing the hat”.  

In 1996, the Society of American Magician voted Louie as the Best Stage Magician and Best Close-Up Magician in Minnesota. He has also been featured twice in the prestigious Linking Ring magazine which is a magazine for the 13,000 members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Louie has also written several books about magic tricks for professional magicians.

He keeps a journal about what he did, how the audience reacted and reviews it to figure out what worked and what didn’t work. In addition, he and another performer watch each other’s shows and exchange notes. He’s come a long way since then. Today, his daughter Ella travels with him and lately also performs in his shows. He has appeared on New Day NW, Tru TV’s Guinness World Records Unleashed, Otra Movida TV in Spain, the Nationally syndicated television show How ’bout That or on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. He is also a  2-time Guinness World Record Holder and has been on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, the nationally syndicated television show How ‘Bout That, Evening Magazine, and New Day Northwest.

Louie is indeed living his childhood dream of being a magician.

Show Notes:

• What Louie’s biggest challenge is
• How he keeps up with the competition
• How he keeps himself sane by just inventing magic tricks
• What he thinks is missing from the fair industry
• Why it’s important for the fair entertainment
• We all need a variety of entertainment
• Quote: At the end of the day, we need to connect with people, not with the tricks. 
• Advice: Come up with as many original tricks as you can, invent one a day, be creative.

Resources

Website

Facebook:

Download Louie's One Sheet 

Wow! It’s the 26th episode of Tailgate Entertainer! I’ve gone this far, more than halfway in meeting my personal commitment to the show. My personal commitment is to deliver a show every Tuesday of every week. It’s not an easy task for a guy like me, 52 years old, who works 12-15 hours a day on my regular job; and I have to add more work hours talking to our guest performers and scheduling their interview, preparing interview questionnaires, setting up the hardware, recording the actual interview, editing the audio to be able to share with you the tips, advice, strategies, and secrets of talented performing artists in the fair & entertainment industry. At this point, it’s not a revenue generator for me and I spend a couple of hundred bucks each month to produce the show so I can present the colorful lives  and career of fair people.  I learned I have been able to spend quality time and collect wisdom from them and how they succeeded in the fair industry; and I happily shared everything with my audience.  This is one way of contributing advice to the people who may want to enter the industry to preserve and perpetuate this form of entertainment for future generations.

In this episode, I share with you:

• The reasons I created this podcast
• My life history – the role played by my stepmother Irene in making me rethink what I wanted to become as a grown up
• Why I chose the fair industry in my podcast
• My role in the fair industry - What I do for a living
• My audience – approximately 30,000 kids attend these shows
• A new product that is coming soon which is actually a by-product of this show
• How much doggone work this podcast is-- I don’t earn any revenue from it yet I spend about two hundred bucks each month to produce it
• Sometimes I go hungry or fall asleep with fatigue while working on the show
• The difference between a podcast and a live show – in a live show, I get instant feedback and see the immediate reaction of my audience. I know what they like and what they don’t like whereas, in a podcast, feedback isn’t immediate and sometimes I don’t even get your feedback. I don’t know if you like my show and what you want to listen to and know. Although the show is downloaded in 9 different countries, unless I get your feedback, I won’t know how you like my show.
• Society has benefited positively from the entertainment provided by the fair industry –it helps build one's sense of self, country, belief system, and culture.
• Fair and circuses today present acrobatic performances and exhibitions of skill, strength,  and daring
• Fairs often require immense numbers of performers and even complicated and expensive machinery.
• The importance of the fair industry - Fairs are unique in our country. They are a reflection of our Communities--a place where people  can be entertained, educated,  and experience new things

• Fairs can teach children valuable skills, even life skills
• Fairs can teach children how to raise animals, care for them, and train them tricks
• The fair serves a great purpose-- a positive impact on our society, county, and state fairs
• I’m not quite sure I could continue maintaining this show but I do want to keep it going
• I love the fair industry for a lot of reasons. Do you?

Thank you for listening. Thanks for your time.  Please help support this podcast by subscribing to Tailgate Entertainer on Itunes . The show’s life is in your hands. Do pick your favorite episode and share it with your family and friend. Send me your feedback, too. You can contact me directly at Tailgate Entertainer website.   Join our Facebook group: Facebook

Thanks again. :)

This week’s guest is Karen Quest, a cowgirl performer born in St. Louis, Missouri, raised in Studio City, California, studied and taught in New York City, and now based in San Francisco, CA. After earning a B.A. in Theatre Arts from California State University at Northridge, she moved to New York City to join the No Elephant Circus and taught with Circus Education Specialists.  She continues to blaze a trail with her one-woman act which she calls “Cowgirl Tricks”. Karen trained at the Dell' Arte School of Physical Theater, Ringling Brothers and Barnum. She is an instructor at the San Francisco School of Circus Arts. She has performed to audiences between the size of 5 to 10,000 persons. Did you know that her grandma sent her to a modeling school?

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Where she had trained
• What tricks are included in her show
• What else she does while stilts-walking
• What she calls her 8-foot tall cowgirl (herself, on stilts)
• Why she is the perfect choice for your events – fair, festival, corporate, private,or special events

• Her age (yes she says how young she is)
• Countries she had performed in
• Movie stars she had trained
• Historical personality whom she would have wanted to meet
• Circus bands she had joined
• Characters she had portrayed on stage
• The book she recommends for reading
• The shows she recommends for watching
• Her tips to those interested in the same career
• The awards she has won
• Her secret dream

Resources:

Website Cowgirl Tricks 

Facebook, Personal: https://www.facebook.com/karenquest

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CowgirlTricks

 Email: kq(at)cowgirltricks(dot)com

Tailgate features Alan’s best friend, John Dunnigan, a most amazing musician who is of the same caliber as the legendary musicians that generations have applauded.  He learned to play the guitar as a child because his dad played well and the guitar was always in a corner waiting for him to play it.  He writes his own fine music and keeps his albums acoustic and loose-sounding. The highly humorous album “Censored” has 12 songs of which half was written by John. He lives in Montana with his family and spends his leisure time fishing, his favorite pastime. He performs throughout Montana and the Northwest mostly at  fairs, and at corporate events, weddings, schools, and other venues.

His voice and his instrument blend in perfect music. Indeed, John Dunnigan can sing a song so beautiful he can make you cry; and he can blurt out a joke in another moment to make you laugh. His music can make you think, laugh, and sing or dance along.

 John has 5 music albums and he sang excerpts from about 7 singles in this episode. You’ll love  the fine, heart-warming music of John  and more:   

• His humorous anecdotes
• Listen to him sing his fine songs
• Listen to him sing his humorous songs
• John shares his life with you
• John sings his cover tunes
• His hospitalization changed the way he played his guitar and music…but the quality never changed.
• His advice to fans: 1 ) Play the game a little bit, but be true to your own soul and your music, and 2) Work hard, stay late, but have fun doing it.

Resources:

johndunnigan.com

For the first time, we have a co-host-- it’s John Dunnigan! Our guest is the only one of its kind, Eric Haines, a classic one-man-band entertainer, stand-up stilt walker, artist-illustrator, comedian, juggler, unicyclist, guitarist, and variety artist.  Eric has a bass drum slung on his back, a banjo over his shoulder, and plenty of bells and whistles everywhere else! Kids and adults have the chance to play along on maracas, spoons, and a special washboard equipped with a cowbell.

Eric began his career as a corporate entertainer in 1985.  Then he went full time as a professional comedian in 1995.  He now has over twenty-five years total experience working as an all-around entertainer, both as a comedian and in the professional fields of theater, children’s theater, school assembly programs, fairs and festival entertainment, school workshops and corporate entertainment. 

Listen to Eric’s  story, music, and comedy.

Show notes 

• How Eric became a one-man-band
• When clients regard him as a great value,
• How he markets his shows
• That he becomes a multiple personality “disorder” when he transforms into multiple personalities by means of his various costumes
• He has hurt himself many times during his comedy shows
• His plan when he gets too old and weak to carry his 60-pound musical equipment
• When his body parts wear out for his physically-straining stunts, he plans to evolve into something else.
• Juggling is the most wearying
• What makes him different from the rest of the comedians
• He composes his own music and plays it while he’s walking on his stilts
• He draws pictures of himself
• He has a very strong drive to learn new things, a strong compulsion
• His secret to being multi-skilled and multi-talented
• His advice to young people who want to follow his footsteps
• He has learned to package his art
• His biggest challenge is how to market his shows

Like Eric on Facebook

and browse his Website 

More entertaining podcasts on Tailgate Entertainer 

Welcome! My guest today has been a friend of mine in the fair industry for over 15 years. I’ve always been intrigued at the way Matt Baker dissects and analyzes his performance after every show. He never lacks the discipline and determination to improve his craft. His comedy stunt show is funny, original, and very impressive. Join me for a great conversation with Matt!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• From Eugene, Oregon to Western Samoa to Europe
• Performing in schools and then on the streets
• Matt’s challenges at being raised as a conservative Mormon in a hippie town
• Rebellion, drugs, and living out of control
• Matt’s terrifying experience at wilderness camp
• Living on the streets at age 15
• How Matt was hunted down by a bounty hunter---for REAL!!
• How Matt became a professional hacky-sack player in Europe—(yes, there is such a thing)
• Why Matt hates his shows and says they are horrible!
• Matt’s struggle in the development of his show
• Matt’s worst gig ever? A track and field meet in Midland, TX, and the death of many doves
• Why it’s OK to say NO
• Why Matt lives with purpose and with NO regrets
• A big fear? “Am I making an impact?”
• How Matt is inspired by old vaudeville comedians, Steve Martin, and the Smothers Brothers
• Matt’s favorite books? Born Standing Up by Steve Martin and Fields for President by W.C. Fields
• Matt’s advice for young people entering the fair industry? “Practice your craft and be a student of your craft. Study others who are successful, but don’t steal their material. Find out why they are successful. Don’t be afraid of practicing. Continually create.”
• Find out more about Matt at comedystuntshow.com.

Listen to more of these shows on 

our resource center:  http://www.tailgateentertainer.com/

My guest today is a super busy person from the management side of the fair industry---for her entire career! Judy Carrico knows the importance of developing business relationships and developing trust. She is the fair operations manager at the Alameda County Fair in California. Judy is also the author of How to Plan, Pay For and Put on a Wildly Successful Fair Without Losing Your Mind, Your Family or Your Friends. From her 30+ years of fair management, Judy has lots of wisdom and LOTS of great stories. Join us!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How Judy stepped out of college and into the full-time fair life
• Why Judy followed a friend into the fair industry, leaving her dream of becoming a veterinarian behind
• The best ways to learn the fair industry
• Judy’s job and duties: “I plan a party for 450,000 people and spend other people’s money to put it on!”
• The biggest problem facing fairs? Funding for infrastructure for small and medium-sized fairs
• Why fairs are so important as a gathering place for communities and a way to preserve local history
• Competitive exhibits: they are what sets fairs apart from other entertainment industries
• Judy shares about the commitment to education and youth competitions at most fairs today
• In addition to the normal agricultural exhibits at fairs, engineering and robotics exhibits are skyrocketing in popularity.
• The NEW target audience for fairs
• “Alameda County’s largest classroom”
• Commitment to funding
• The importance of collaborative projects
• Why fair managers need expertise in figuring out WHAT WORKS and what doesn’t
• Why networking is the KEY!
• Judy shares some stories and experiences from her unusual career and with a unique perspective on fair life.
• Find Judy on Facebook!

My guest today is a 22-year old Cale Moon, a Nashville recording artist, singer, and songwriter. In 2013, his parents sold their home and hit the road to promote Cale’s music. Cale’s terrific support team went to over 300 shows last year. He has an inspiring story of perseverance and determination. Join us!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How Cale is inspired by Roy Rogers
• Cale’s team and the story of his music career
• At age 15, began playing guitar, along with singing and acting
• How guitar made him more of a people-person
• Learning to tell others’ stories
• Hitting the road/lessons learned
• Cale’s biggest surprise? “How much life on the road in a bus costs-just to keep going!”
• Satisfying life
• One of Cale’s most important mentors? Marty Davis
• What Cale truly desires
• Sleepy Little Town—one of Cale’s first songs
• Learning to market yourself at a young age
• Cale’s advice to young performers: “Be humble, be approachable, and always be willing to learn.”
• How young performers undervalue themselves and sell out for too cheap
• Cale’s brand new song about a rare day off (Hear it here!)
• Why time management is Cale’s biggest struggle
• Not allowing himself to get distracted and waste time
• Self-evaluating: Why it’s important
• Find Cale on most social media or at calemoon.com. You can email Cale: cale(at)calemoon(dot)com.

Welcome to an episode I’m calling “Mid-Season Madness,” because we in the fair industry are at the midway point of our season. Most of us have been out on the road, away from home, for a LONG time now. I’m currently in Missoula, Montana, after recent stays in Great Falls, Bozeman----and the list goes on and on. What makes it different for me right now is that I’m traveling with my son, which is terrific for me. Today’s episode is a Tailgate Talk, which means it’s just you and me, talking about some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of the fair life. Let’s talk about some important refreshers---some things for all of us to remember at this point in the season.

Here are Five Tips to help you get through the rest of the season:

• What we’re creating for fairgoers are EXPERIENCES
  • They are paying for wonderful, impressive experiences
• Give of YOURSELF
  • Magical things happen!
  • Do something out of the ordinary for someone else
  • Shhh! This is one of life's  secrets! (but it shouldn’t be a SECRET!)
• Get a different perspective
  • Sit in a “different chair” and look around
• Have a little compassion
  • Help those who are a MESS
  • Don’t make people feel STUPID
• Let life HAPPEN
  • Don’t get frustrated with what you can’t CONTROL
  • Your ATTITUDE is all that you CAN control
  • Attitude determines ALTITUDE
  • My personal story: Why I believe some things happen for a REASON

You can listen to more podcasts here: http://www.tailgateentertainer.com/podcast/

Welcome! I’m excited to introduce you to my friend, Mike Parsons. Mike has an authentic “rags to riches to rags to riches” story to share about his life and his work. I have a hilarious story to share about how Mike and I first became friends; it involves a joke I played on him that made him mad, but I soon gained a friend for life. Mike owns and operates Black Tie Extreme, a full-service professional DJ and Entertainment company. Join us as Mike shares his amazing story!

 What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Mike’s early life:
  • “The ONLY child of 11 children”
  • Working in construction at age 13, but laid off repeatedly
• The ups and downs of employment
  • How Mike became a medical assistant ($1200/month)
  • Becoming a DJ: making more in a weekend than in two weeks as a medical assistant.
  • Starting a custom closet company
  • Becoming a mortgage broker and financial success ($30,000/month!)
  • An upgraded lifestyle of unnecessary things
  • Losing it all when the banking industry tanked
  • A downsized life, washing cars for money
  • Back to working as a professional DJ
• Finding the fair industry
  • Working street carnivals with a gyroscope
  • Working fairs, sleeping in his car
  • Working as a fair vendor: What does that mean?
• What has kept Mike going through the ups and downs? “My wife and kids. I know there are many people less fortunate than me. I never wanted to be a burden.”
• Mike’s biggest mistake in the fair industry? “Picking the gyroscope to begin with.”
• Mike’s worst fair gig ever? “When a drunk gyroscope passenger fell out and got hurt!”
• Mike’s biggest surprise? “The closeness of the fair industry”
• Mike’s skill set in making money? “My drive. I want to be THE BEST.”
• What does Mike do for self-improvement? “I go to church.”
• The future for Mike? “Another 5 years or so in the fair industry, then building a house (with NO credit), and serving in missions.”
• Mike’s #1 takeaway from the fair industry? Honesty
• Words of wisdom from Mike: “Be honest, be nice, help others out, and you’ll be taken care of.”
• Find Mike at blacktie.biz.

Welcome! Picture in your mind a little boy in the 1930’s growing up in rural Arkansas. With his horse, Midnight, this boy never aspired to anything other than the cowboy life. At six years old, he would ride the train alone to Wyoming to live and work on a ranch for the summer---year after year after year. Bunky Boger grew up to be a rodeo competitor, bullfighter, and circus performer.

At age 64, his journey took a new path when he entered the fair industry as a promoter of hands-on, interactive agricultural activities for kids of all ages. Along the way, he met his girl, Connie, with whom he built his life, family, and business. It’s a beautiful partnership that has endured the test of time and the ups and downs of life. Today, they travel to fairs with 225 animals housed in 4 tractor trailers. They’ve appeared in several TV shows, commercials, magazines, and newspapers. Listen in as Bunky and Connie share their favorite stories about their unusual life’s work. Join us!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Bunky’s story: The theft of three chickens trained to play tic-tac-toe
• How they secured a 3-year stint at an Atlantic City casino with people paying to “beat the chicken”
• How Bunky started out in the rodeo business and was introduced to bullfighting
• What it was like working on a ranch as a 6-year old boy
• Catching gophers for a penny each!
• How Bunky ended up in the circus—for $3000/week
• Buffaloes, horses, and circus stories
• Transition to the fair industry
• How they handle finances in their unique business
• How he knew in three days that he should marry Connie---43 years ago!
• The multi-talented cowboy, Connie
• Financial hardships, bankruptcy, and losing it all—except ONE buffalo!
• Why their kids rode horses at one day old!
• The story of one bothersome employee
• Connie’s advice for younger people in the fair industry? “Have a passion for what you do.”
• Find out more about Bunky and Connie at fairanimalspecialties.com and www.casinochicken.com.

My guest today is one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. Ryann Boeger Newman grew up in the fair industry since her family ran pony rides at fairs. Growing up in the fair industry, Ryann learned to cultivate her entrepreneurial spirit, always looking for ways to improve the business. Following in her father’s footsteps, Ryann has gone from vendor to fair manager. Her wise, hardworking, and ambitious spirit is evident to all who know her. I hope you’ll understand what it’s like to walk in her shoes.

.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Her family has done pony rides in fairs since 1961!
• How her dad encouraged her entrepreneurial spirit
• Growing up on the fairgrounds
• Beautiful memories
• The draw of the fair life—it’s home for 5-1/2 months each year
• The family business, being passed down to Ryann’s brother from her father
• Loves the variety, positive interaction, and family time of the fair life
• At age 21, she bought her own pony ride business
• Why Ryann’s pony rides are different from others you’ve seen
• Working with children and animals?
• Ryann became a food vendor (shaved ice) for awhile, but then returned to pony rides
• Develops relationships with people through pony rides
• Husband, Mike, diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013
• Mike’s attitude: He chose NOT to be sick
• The shift for Ryann: hired as CEO of the Glenn County Fair
• How she continues the family business, too
• Why Ryann now has empathy for fair manager and their jobs
• The difference in working for a board vs. working for self
• The need for grass roots fundraising
• Bureaucracy and paperwork!!
• “Hire good people and get out of their way!”
• Ryann’s advice for new people in the fair industry? 
• Goal is to make more money on the vendor and manager side
• “It’s getting harder and less fun, with all the fees and regulations.”
• Criticism hurts when you care so much!
• Will Ryann’s children follow in the family business? She hopes so!
• Hear what Ryann’s daughters, Mason and Hayden, think about the fair life!
• Connect with Ryann: www.happydayponyride.com. 

Welcome! Today I want to introduce you to an amazing friend, fishing buddy, and colleague. Brad Tylman’s curiosity has led him to a vast knowledge of reptiles, ecosystems, education, and the fair industry. His commitment to education has prompted his travels to over 38 countries, researching, filming, and educating himself further. His attitude is, “How can I be a teacher if I’m not a student?” He is the owner of Brad’s World of Reptiles, and appears at 25-30 fairs each year. Let’s find out more about Brad!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How his love of nature and animals was fostered by his grandparents as he grew up in Wheaton, IL
• Turtles! They have always been a favorite!
• How Brad grew up with his constant companions of fish, snakes, turtles, and bugs
• Brad worked as a deckhand on a fishing boat after moving to Oregon.
• Dream job! At age 18, he became the full-time curator at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry).
• Other unusual jobs included working on a turkey ranch, EMT, and volunteer fireman.
• How every “job” Brad had blessed his growth and fueled his passion for wildlife
• 1991: Brad’s first fair exhibit expanded his passion for animals, nature, and education, while providing hands-on animal interaction for kids.
• Why Brad is a “professional deprogrammer” about the irrational and impractical fear of snakes
• 1993: Brad travels the world to learn more!
• “You can’t understand the place where you live until you look at your village through another village’s eyes.”
• Why humans must respect the world and its resources
• How Brad creates “maximum contact with minimum conflict” in his large-scale exhibits
• His thoughts on the recent alligator attack in Orlando
• How policy is made concerning animals and habitats
• How he restored an ecosystem on his property in Corvallis, OR
• “Saving a species means saving its habitat.”
• Why Brad is committed to teaching conservation and biodiversity
• The criteria for Brad’s animals: captivity-born, lower metabolic rate, and sedentary nature
• “Stereotypic behavior”—What is it?
• His thoughts on the life and impact of his good friend, Steve Irwin
• What can we do for the future?
• Brad’s “Lucky” life: “Luck is simply the combination of preparation and opportunity.”
• Find out more: bradsworldreptiles.com and find him on Facebook!

Welcome! My guest today is FULL of fun and laughter. Danny Kollaja, aka Lanky the Clown, is original, funny, and approachable. He knows his business and knows how to work hard. He’s here to give us a glimpse into the life and work of a professional clown—which may not be all fun and games.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Coulrophobia: Have you heard of it? The irrational fear of clowns
• Danny’s home base: Corpus Christi, TX
• How a high school production launched Danny’s career as a clown
• Danny’s first “clown alley” of all older women
• “This might be interesting.”
• Danny was in his late 30’s before clowning became his full-time profession.
• Now, 90% of his income is generated from the fair industry.
• Danny sees himself as an “ambassador of goodwill.”
• He brings “attitude adjustment” to people by helping them escape for a moment.
• Have you ever seen a clown driving down the road? Danny drives in full costume!
• Danny shares his worst clown experience, why you should pay attention closely to a child’s eyes, and how it feels to be thrown up on!
• How Danny loves bringing joy to people of ALL ages
• Danny loves the opportunity to perform at children’s hospitals across the world.
• “Stage acts bring people to your fairgrounds, but the ground (strolling) acts are what keeps them there.”
• Danny shares his struggles as a clown
• How he performs as multiple characters all in one day!
• How he performs in other countries, “speaking the international language of laughter”
• Bodily functions: They ARE the universal language!
• The do’s and don’ts of performing in other countries
• What do clowns do when they socialize with other clowns?
• A challenge for Danny is having to be “on” all the time that he’s in makeup and costume
• Want to know more? Visit www.clownone.com or call 361-852-5696.

Welcome! Today’s guest is John Allgaier, the owner of BC Characters, an entertainment company that started as a strolling fair act. If you think “slow and relaxed” defines a strolling act, then you’ve got the wrong idea here. John and his performers use body puppetry in costumes at a frenzied and energetic pace. Let’s find out more from John!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• To get an idea of John’s characters, think Fraggle Rock meets Captain Caveman, in full-size body costumes.
• Each costume is made of foam and metal, weighing 30-50 lbs.
• The fair industry IS John’s source of income.
• A physically demanding test of endurance
• Why your performance must be STRONG
• John’s business started in 1990, with only one costume. (The 12^th one is in process now!)
• Why John has NO regrets
• “You will always learn more from your mistakes than from your successes.”
• John looks forward to stepping aside and seeing his “guys” carry on the business.
• What’s important to be successful in the fair industry? Be flexible to change, adaptable, and understand your customer.
• The patrons are your #1 boss!
• There is a power in the costume.
• Why families trust a character in costume
• Be aware of interaction and contact with patrons.
• John’s biggest fear? Keeping his image and his quality of service
• Balancing family life, marriage, and life on the road
• John’s biggest mistake? Trying to push and grow too fast and losing quality in the process
• People have to know about your act and you have to be good enough to be invited back.
• John’s advice: Listen more than you speak, be flexible, and keep your demands low.
• Find out more about John: www.bigmouthe.com.

Welcome! My guest today is Michael Hilby, known as “Hilby, the Skinny German Juggling Boy.” He is a really great performer who was born in Germany and became a social worker. Soon he transitioned to becoming a street performer who traveled the world. He now lives in Ithaca, NY with his wife and kids. His act is in high demand and is one of the best comedy acts to ever perform. 

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Hilby learned to juggle at age 23 in India.
• He traveled with his wife to Hong Kong and Japan, but then settled in NY, where her family lived.
• For five years, he flew back to Japan once a year for six weeks to be a street performer.
• This was his full-time income for the entire five years!
• He learned to speak Japanese to help with his performance.
• He soon stayed in the US and worked at Busch Gardens in VA for six months each year and transitioned to performing in English.
• On his one day off from Busch Gardens, he would go work as a street performer and was amazed at the money.
• Soon he left the amusement park and began full-time as a street performer.
• Why a tagline for your name is important
• He learned to connect and engage with people.
• He has no regrets for leaving his social work career. “Why? What’s the point?”
• Hilby shares the uniqueness of this kind of performing and some of his venues.
• The worst gig ever was a college stint that was barely promoted and scarcely attended.
• The unexpected challenges make you a seasoned performer.
• Hilby has performed in 68 countries!
• Hilby loves to see performers who are committed and have a spark for what they do.
• His biggest fear is the age and physical limitations that will inevitably come to him.
• For young performers: practice your act, do all the work you can (NOTHING should be beneath you!), and take workshops.
• Performing can be a GREAT income!
• How learning to speak Japanese helped his performance there
• Hilby speaks Spanish, German, Japanese, and English—and will become a US citizen soon!
• Differences and surprises when he first came to the US
• Hilby still does cruise ship shows for German passengers.
• The hardest part of street performing is convincing them that it’s a job you are CHOOSING to do!
• “When you are training to be a great performer, the first thousand shows don’t really count.”
• Find him at www.hilby.net.

Welcome! Today we’re talking to Alyssa Daire Nelson about maximizing your strengths. The introduction to this episode was in last week’s Episode 10. Please listen if you haven’t! Alyssa is a personal strengths coach and the owner of Daire Success Coaching. She helps businesses and solo entrepreneurs maximize their innate strengths. Her greatest joy is seeing breakthroughs occur when people maximize their strengths instead of fixing their weaknesses. I met Alyssa at a podcast conference, where we were both learning about all aspects of our new journeys into podcasting. I was on her show recently and took her strengths test. She’s here today to talk about her work and to analyze the results of my test. 

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Alyssa shares her “Aha” moment in her early 30’s.
• The Strengthsfinder Profile test is the product of 40 years of research.
• The profile test has 180 questions, mostly based on “Would you prefer _____ or ______? It takes about 30 minutes to complete.
• The profile test helps you identify triggers about others that may “drive you crazy.”
• Why people are not meant to be well-rounded!
• We lean into our top 10-15 strengths ALL the time.
• Each strength has a need, and when the needs aren’t honored, we experience frustration.
• Alan’s top strengths are positivity, maximize, learner, individualization, and achiever. Alyssa explains each strength and the danger in its overuse.
• “Two-thirds of our weaknesses are just strengths misapplied.”
• In maximizing our strengths, we take care of many of our weaknesses.

Resources:

www.daire2succeed.com

www.strengthspodcast.com

Maximize Your Strengths podcast

Truth & Daire weekly email newsletter

Welcome to this Tailgate Talk episode! There is no guest today; it’s just you and me, and we’re talking all about YOU! We’ll focus on your relationships with others and maximizing your strengths in this two-part episode. Next week, we’ll be joined by Alyssa Dare Nelson, a strengths coach and host of the Maximize Your Strengths podcast. Visit www.strengthsfinder.com to find out how to take the online assessment test to identify YOUR strengths.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The analogy of “the toolbox,” birthed from my own experience working in my little corner of my dad’s workshop, with child-sized tools and scraps of wood
• How each of us is given an individual “toolbox” in life, but many people don’t know what tools they have or how to use them
• The mark of a successful person is someone who KNOWS what’s in their toolbox and how to use it.
• The problem with school environments is that often we are put in places with no tools, with tools we don’t understand, or with tools we don’t know how to use.
• “Knowledge without action is useless.”
• Success means taking your toolbox knowledge of strengths and applying it for maximum result in all areas of life.
• We have to learn to apply strengths without OVERUSING them. (That’s our main focus for next week’s show!)
• The more SELF-AWARE that we are, the better we become at developing relationships with others.
• I’ll explain the self-awareness tool called the Johari Window—developed in 1955, using four “panes” to identify areas of strength and weakness.

On last week’s show, I asked for listener feedback about the future direction of the show and what you’d like to hear. I still want to hear from you, so let me know your thoughts. Thanks for listening!

Welcome, and thanks for joining me! We’ve made it to Episode 9, which is a milestone that most podcasters don’t achieve. Many start with a bang but quit before this point. I’m dedicated to bringing you quality content, but I want to give you what YOU want to hear. To this point, I’ve brought you  stories from performers in the fair industry, but you know there are many more people with amazing stories as well.  We call these people our “fair family,” and they are a cross-section of grass-roots Americana—wonderfully talented people with stories that need to be told.

So, here’s the question: Do you want the show to continue to highlight only performing artists? Or do I turn the spotlight on the huge variety of people that make up the many other aspects of our industry? I need to hear from you! 

Let me know what you think and what you want to hear. Email me: tailgateentertainer@gmail.com or ask to join our private Facebook community. Look for Tailgate Entertainer and ask me to include you so you can comment. Thanks!

I hope you’re ready for a fun time with my guest, Amanda McDaniel! Amanda is the co-owner of Friendly Farmer’s Barnyard Review, a music, magic, and comedy production. Amanda and I performed next to each other for a couple of years, and I’ll always think of her as someone whose stories WILL make you laugh. Join me to hear more of Amanda’s crazy story!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Amanda describes herself as a variety show entertainer who also owns a production company.
• She books variety entertainers for special events, spends four months each year as a fair entertainer, and has spent about ten years in the fair industry.
• She and her performing partner, Zakari Asiago, developed the idea of the farm-themed show.
• She and Zak are married, but NOT to each other! They are good friends who travel and perform together and are co-owners of the show.
• Although Amanda went to school to be a teacher, she has always loved the technical aspects of theater and started performing at a young age.
• While working at a fire department for 14 years, Amanda used her clown act to teach about fire safety, but she never dreamed of using her entertainment talent to generate an income!
• When she started doing paid entertainment at kids’ parties, she felt empowered and fulfilled.
• The thing she enjoys most about entertaining is being on stage, playing a character, and interacting with kids.
• The biggest struggle in the entertainment lifestyle is being away from home, away from her husband, and from her elderly parents.
• Amanda, a relative newcomer to the fair industry, estimates that it provides 75% of her income.
• Amanda likes the fact that there is a clear off-season during spring and summer, when she can work at resorts near her home.
• She shares her worst gig experience about being in the magician’s box when a severe thunderstorm hit in Hickory, NC.
• A big frustration for Amanda is agents who are unfair and charge more than the agreed-upon rate.
• Her advice for young entertainers? Put your show together and perform locally---A LOT! Talk to others in the fair industry, gather information, and ask questions. Be flexible and don’t undersell yourself. Don’t roll out your show until it’s a complete quality product. Be professional and be impressive.
• Common mistakes made by entertainers are being too demanding of fair managers and having a generally “crappy” attitude.
• Remember that everything is about relationships, especially between performers and fair managers.
• For more information, visit www.barnyardreview.wordpress.com and join the Tailgate Entertainer Facebook group! 

Today's guest is Shanae'a Moore. At only 23, her resumé eclipses her age. Shanae'a started in early life as a ballet dancer and expected that to be her career path. And injury changed her course, and eventually went on to study theater and drama. Her Mother was a drama teacher, so the process of simply growing up, Shanae'a was able to amass extensive theater credentials. Shanae'a graduated with a BFA from Sam Houston State University. She's mature beyond her years and doesn't fit the mold of how society thinks of millennials. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did!

In this episode, Shanae'a also discusses:

- Why she doesn't make plans

- What learning as much as you can, will do for your career

- Why writing a play is something she wants to do.....but not now

- How her "Social Justice, Warrior" personality can sabotage her

- Her secret to success! Let's just say, many people twice her age don't get this one

- The lessons she learned about connection from another actress and how it changed her

- The understated beauty and art that we miss every day

- Why she gets mistaken for a 14-year-old

- Why she coaches people more than twice her age

- Being around people her own age is difficult and why she avoids it as much as possible

- How just working on her is hard enough, so she's not stuck in the "competitive" phase of her career

- Strategies for "shutting off" in order to preserve her heart

- You are not your industry

- How her faith in God sustains her through tough times

- The world is so much bigger than music and art - it's a multi-verse, not a universe

You can connect with her website at:

www.shanaeamoore.com

Welcome! My guest today is Ken McMeans, an entertainer with many great stories to tell. Ken isn’t afraid to open up his life and his heart with total transparency so you can learn from his experiences. He has been in the entertainment industry for his entire life. He now performs and owns an entertainment company. Ken is a living example of someone who never quits, no matter what curve balls life throws at him. Join us!

What you’ll hear in Ken’s amazing life story:

• Ken grew up in a family of thoroughbred horse trainers in Washington, but spent his young adult years trying to get away from that to do something else.
• A creative writing teacher in high school awakened Ken’s interest in journalism and writing.
• He started playing guitar at age 17 and was enthralled by the country music scene.
• The bars and clubs he played, the record industry, and some harmful influences led to Ken’s drug problem.
• Through the 80’s, Ken was wheeling and dealing in the music industry, but became discouraged and left Hollywood in ’91 to enter rehab for his cocaine addiction.
• Interestingly, Ken joined the Screen Actors Guild and became a stunt rider and actor, doing small parts in over 200 movies and numerous TV shows.
• Even though acting provided his living for six years, it was not his passion; he knew there was “something else out there” for him.
• Ken, his brother, and a few friends put together a traveling cowboy comedy act to perform at small fairs.
• The popularity of his act exploded and soon he had multiple performing units traveling the fair circuit across the western US.
• Laugh with us as Ken shares a few of his “nightmare” stories about bad hires over the years!
• As a performer, Ken’s intention is to provide a “surprise” for every fair-goer around every corner.
• He loves interacting with kids and families and touching lives on a daily basis.
• Ken started playing music again a few years ago, and started his entertainment business because he saw the need to bring country and western artists to fairs.
• “My life is surreal in the last few years.”
• With a huge roster of artists, Ken’s company is now the largest country music agency in the western US.
• Later this year, Ken and his wife (The Stereo Chickens) will release a new album, produced by fellow artist/songwriter Travis Meadows.
• Ken’s advice for young performers:
• • No matter who you are, you’ll be playing fairs throughout your career.
  • Fairs are a gold mine for entertainment ideas.
• You can reach Ken and learn more at www.kenmcmeanspresents.com.

Welcome! Today’s guest is Steve Hamilton, aka Steve the Pretty Good. Steve is a magician originally from Prince George, BC, but is now a US citizen who lives near Seattle. Steve has performed his magic all over the globe and is very well-known in the fair industry. He is best known for his Flying Carpet! Let’s catch up with Steve!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Steve tells the story of the origin of his Flying Carpet,” necessity being the mother of invention.”
• After high school, Steve was a Marine and later worked as an EMT.
• Steve loves the left-brain/right brain component of magic.
• Steve started street performing with card tricks, which he calls “the best training for fair work.”
• A friend suggested that he go to China to do his show, even though it seemed impossible.
• His boss would not give him the time off to go to China, so after 25 years as a firefighter and paramedic, Steve turned in his resignation.
• Steve didn’t want to look back on his life with any regrets or questions like, “Could I make a living at magic?”
• Steve went to China and performed with over 80 performers from all over the world; it was amazing, inspirational, and scary at the same time.
• Steve shares the funny story of how his wife became involved in his magic show, even though she was at first adamantly against it.
• Steve shares about the loneliness of traveling the fair circuit when his wife isn’t able to travel with him.
• Steve’s worst gig ever? A small fair with a small stage where he and his wife attempted the “substitution trunk” act
• After 30 years, Steve still spends a great portion of his day saying, “How can I make my show better?”
• It takes skill to make the audience feel like a part of the show—to connect with them.
• How did Steve become known as “Steve the Pretty Good”? Listen in to find out!
• Steve’s advice to a younger person starting out in the industry? “Know the history of magic and appreciate your craft.”
• As a performer, you should always dress like you have somewhere better to go after the show. (i.e. dress better than the audience!)Dress like you respect your craft!
• Some younger performers are overconfident, which is a turnoff.
• Reach Steve at www.funnysteve.com or www.prettygoodmagic.com. 

Today’s guest is Washboard Willy, also known as Larry Hiskett. He is the person who changed the direction of my life and taught me some valuable lessons. Back in the mid-90’s, when I was learning to be a performer and run my business, I would run into him everywhere I went. He was a “Musical Mountain Man” and a wonderful entertainer. Join us!

Washboard Willy shares the following about his amazing life and work:

• Larry began working as a drummer in bars and clubs all over Kansas at age 15.
• In 1985, he worked as a landscape architect and a park planner in Colorado.
• He played in a band that specialized in German polka music!
• He had a motorcycle crash that paralyzed his girlfriend and sent him into therapy.
• He gave a 90-day notice and quit his job, and then discovered the washboard.
• He became obsessed with the instrument and modified it with all kinds of percussion instruments.
• Larry developed the Whiskett Rhythm Board, created his own musical tracks, and formed a band.
• Soon, he was invited to visit Japan in a Sister City program.
• A couple of years later, he was invited to go back to Japan for a 6-month visit and did a one-man show at a restaurant.
• The biggest challenge was figuring out how to connect with the children when he couldn’t speak their language.
• Find out how a few rhythm toys helped him bridge the gap and connect with children and their parents.
• When he returned to the US, he knew he wanted to give up his work in bars and clubs to become a children’s entertainer.
• He performed in preschools, schools, and ski schools around Colorado while still working as a landscape architect to supplement his income.
• Washboard Willy has been a musician for 50 years! He feels blessed and full of gratitude at what he gets to do.
• 80-90% of his revenue comes from the fair industry, even though younger entertainers have a negative view of the industry.
• Willy’s wife of 13 years has performed with him in the past, but now serves as his manager.
• He has teamed up with Lloyd Mabry to create “Lloyd and Willy,” which plays all kinds of music and musical comedy.
• Willy’s advice: “Stick to it. Don’t ever give up. Always look for opportunities.”
• Willy shares the story of moving his wagon around the Oregon State Fair and how he adapted and evolved his creative, fun, atmosphere at the fairgrounds.
• “Whatever you do, make it YOU. Don’t copy someone else.”
• Find Willy at www.washboardwilly.com or on Facebook at Willy’s Washboard Jamboree and at Lloyd and Willy.

Welcome! This is the first in the series of “Tailgate Talks,” designed to help artists who are working hard to further their careers and build better relationships with clients. Today, there is no guest to be interviewed; it’s just you and me. I’m taking this opportunity to share my 20+ years’ experience in what I’ve learned, even though I don’t consider myself a guru or one who has “arrived.” 

Today’s Topic: The Construction Zone

• This came from a recent highway trip that I took, encountering a large construction zone, an obstacle along the way.  The Construction Zones in life are where the work happens and where we grow as performers and people. None of us has “arrived” and we all run into bumps in the road along the path to where we are going.
• For example, I used to be scared to death to speak in front of people. My “road” became bumpy and I had to undergo “construction.” What did I do?
• • I tried Toastmasters International, but struggled to speak in front of peers.
  • I partnered with Junior Achievement, teaching junior high school students about business. I learned to overcome my fears, gave back to the community, and grew as a confident speaker.
• Remember, growth requires time, acquiring new tools, and accessing new materials. You’ll be able to look back and see why the “bumps” were there. Others are watching you go through your “Construction Zone.” How you handle yourself will define your character; your future and your bank account depend on your character growth.