Visual Poi @ Westwood Audi Opening

It's always a delight to get to perform with the Boston Circus Guild! This wasn't just about Audi, this was Audi, Acura, and Porsche in conjunction with the non-profit Right Turn throwing a benefit fundraiser to help disadvantaged youths turn their lives around.

I paired against Little L on hoops, and opposite Alexis on cyr wheel for the run of the show. Clearing out a space in these sort of open floor situations with enough space to spin Visual Poi is always a bit tricky, but I was able to keep myself to the side of the aerial rig and in front of Jammin 98.5 (Matty in the Morning) and managed to lock that site down with Little L for the full two hours.

Programing the Visual Poi is half the fun of these events. Exploring how car images and logos play out was interesting; making sure they weren't getting too distorted as to be unrecognizable, and so on. It was also a great excuse to go through the entirety of the new Visual Poi Zone website and collect some new flame graphics for use.

My only wish would have been to have had a main-stage act; something where I could have really shown off the capabilities of these instruments. As it was, I stuck to 8 second rotations - assuming most music being played at the event would kick in at 120 bpm, and shooting for 4 bar phrases.

Visual Poi & Fire Show @ Brampton, ON Tree Lighting

I swear, Canada's this bastion of artistic acceptance. Everything from the lack of red-tape to cut through in order to perform legally as an American to the social acceptance of "Artist" as a job title.

I had the pleasure to perform for the City of Brampton at their annual Tree Lighting event. There were ballet dancers, character actors, and laser shows. I was there to main stage a Visual Poi show, immediately followed by a fire show. The crew even went out of their way to provide a canvas tarp to roll out for the fire breathing finale - in order to help keep the stage clean and clear for the act immediately following.

The crowd was nice and appreciative. I do believe they had it down - no one wants this 15-30 minute show. Audiences only have the attention span these days to focus for 4-7 minutes per act, tops. I may need to start trying to educate the American clients I work with to adopt a similar attitude, though I understand that to their mind it's a "band-for-your-buck" sort of mentality.

Will I get to do this again? I'm unsure. I would like to, but I suppose it really depends on whether or not someone more local steps up to fill the specific performance roll that was left empty with Terrance Drake retired.

Fire Eating & Circus Performance @ Shyamaween 2016

It's always a pleasure to perform as part of the Boston Circus Guild! Once again I had the honor to head out to Philadelphia, PA to perform for M. Night Shyamalan's non-profit's Halloween bash. Unlike last year I was cleared to welcome the VIPs in with a fire eating set - though I admit that true to form, most attendees made a bee-line for the bar; hardly acknowledging either myself or my friend Ryan Freeze who was embodying this phenomenal Steampunk stilt-walker.

After the VIP reception we moved across the street to the main venue, The Foundry at the Filmore, and I made sure to stake my claim on the dance floor before it filled up to get some LED poi spinning in. After the crowd thickened I switched over to contact juggling, while Marina Petrano and Melissa Knowles continued to, quite literally, fit themselves into smaller and smaller spaces (that's how the contortionists DO).

I got to close the night's performances with my whip routine, cracking the heads off of roses. The came right on the tale of the auction, and well into the night when the audience was perhaps... less inhibited than they could be. Still, everyone was well behaved, and after Marina helped demonstrate some fancy contortion positions, we were able to get a few attendees up on stage to try it for themselves!

As with last year, I'm excited to have this opportunity again in 2017!

Whip Act @ Cognex Halloween Party

...and sometimes I have the pleasure of performing at an event I've booked...

As you may well know, I own Con Moto Entertainment, a high-end entertainment company. We had the pleasure to book the majority of the 2016 Halloween Party for Cognex, in full Medieval attire. My good friends Marina Petrano and Chloe Wailer were available; the former for a sword fight and the latter to perform their bottle-waling act. MVP goes to Paul Hudert, an amazing juggler, and knife thrower, and MC, AND he (and his assistant) were able to provide costuming for everyone.

For myself, I performed my whip act, snapping the head off roses held in hand, between teeth, and pinched between Marina's toes in a contortion forearm-stand (THAT was awesome). I also performed the sword-fight with her, having choreographed a new routine just for this show.

Will we get to do this again next year? I would very much like to, but it's too soon to say. I know they change their theme every year, and I'm curious to see what they come up wth for 2017!

Wedding Fire Show @ Hammond Castle

When a client comes to me and asks if I can perform my fire show for their dark, gothic, faerie wedding celebration, and follows it up by telling me it's at a castle; I cannot accept quickly enough.

There's not too much to say about this. It was beautiful. Hot, sweaty, but beautiful. Day-time fire is always a tad odd, but the audience was incredibly appreciative, being more than happy to interact in a more personal way than is often the case. Fire eating a foot or so away from someone is a vastly different experience than fire eating from the safety of a stage.

The bride herself was the direct client, and easily the most excitable person there, along with being a stellar audience member - there wasn't anything that made her happier than to see a giant fireball go off during her procession.

Visual Poi @ Sugarland, TX NYE Party

Nothing quite like performing in front of a giant projection mapping of a fire breathing dragon.

I don't really have too much else to say about this. Visual Poi performance is already such an intense light show that putting it against the side of a City Hall building, fully projection mapped, is absolutely ridiculous in the best way. Julia Jerome and I had a wonderful time. The audience was great, the music was great, our performances were great (we like to think so at any rate).