August Performer Spotlight - Johnny Peers & the Muttville Comix

What better way to celebrate the "Dog Days of Summer" than learning a little more about this months featured act: Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix. Johnny grew up on the road with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus where his father worked concessions. In 1970 he graduated from the famous Ringling Brothers Clown College where he developed his character in the style of Charlie Chaplin, who Johnny idolized.

In 1972 Johnny rescued his first dog "Freckles" from the Brewster Humane Society in New York. Freckles was a sweet little beagle mix who quickly picked up tricks even though Johnny knew very little about training dogs. She and Johnny soon worked out an act together.

In 1980 after adopting more dogs and learning better training techniques, Johnny introduced the Muttville Comix. Together they have toured from coast to coast and to four different continents. They have appeared on the David Letterman show, Prime-time Live, Circus Flora, Big Apple Circus, Royal Hanneford Circus, the Big E, the Vermont Balloon and Music Festival, and many fairs, festivals, July 4th Celebrations and stage appearances. In 2003 he won the $25,000 Grand Championship on Animal Planet's "Pet Star" season 1 with Mario Lopez.

Johnny's current line up of Muttville Comix include dogs who walk tight rope, climb ladders, skateboard, and generally get the best of Johnny. Dogs such as Daphne, the worlds only skateboarding Basset Hound, Squeaky the ladder climbing Fox Terrier, Mr. Pepe who only responds to commands in Spanish. There are 15 dogs in all in the show who eat over 50 pounds of dog food per week. When not on the road they are at home in Florida running around their fenced in yard just as any dog would.

We would recommend Johnny Peers for nearly any type of fair, festival, or special event. They are comfortable indoors or outside, on the ground or on a stage. The show is truly for the whole family and for the dog lover in all of us.

July 2009 Recap

July started out with a bang as it usually does with all the fantastic July 4th events! Best yet the July 4th weekend was the first weekend of the summer season that was without rain! Subfest at the Groton Naval Submarine base was well attended and as always the animal acts were a huge hit. This year the Rosaire's Bears were the hit of the event and crowds were pleased to see that the Bwana Jim Wildlife Show returned for the third year in a row. Bwana Jim and his wife Linda always do a great job making sure they have something new each year for the many events that have them as an annual part of their event. This year they added birds of prey to their show with an owl, a Red Tail Hawk and a Turkey Vulture. I have to admit I have never been a fan of vultures but this one totally changed my opinion of vultures, he sat so calmly and preened his feathers just as nicely as my own pet parrot. Also new to Subfest this year was the Anastasini Family Circus with their fabulous aerial rocket fantasy act as well as Magically Medieval who as been one of my most popular acts this year.

We had a brand new Fourth of July event this year in Stoughton which we were able to bring in rides from North American Amusements on July 3rd for the fireworks portion of the event which was generously sponsored by IKEA. On Saturday the Fourth the event had a Children's Day event in which we brought in Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix as well as Chuckles the Kids Comic. Johnny went over extremely well and was invited back to perform again in 2010. Chuckles had huge lines for his balloon twisting, he also road his Velociped as Uncle Sam, face painted and did some magic tricks, he is truly a one man festival just by himself.

The Whaling City Festival in New Bedford was the second weekend in July were we had dozens of bands on two stages over the weekend. The festival was surprised by two of the best drawing bands were styles of music that they had never before featured, True Witness a Christian Rock family act as well as Buck T. Edwards which was Country. All the artists were very talented and probably the best line up the festival has had. Also appearing at the Whaling City Festival was Magically Medieval which continued to draw a nice family audience. The biggest struggle for the Whaling City Festival this year was the economy, the festival has no admission charge and depends on sponsors to pay for a large portion of the event. The event typically draws between 130,000 to 175,000 people which is just want sponsors are looking for, however sponsorship has really dried up for most events this year. Such a shame for a great event whose goal is to raise money for scholarships for students in New Bedford which is an inner city area.

My brother Jeffrey decided to get married in the height of our busy season (July 12th) which caused us to miss the final day of the Whaling City Festival as well as the Great South Bay Music Festival on Long Island in New York. We booked Eddie Money to play July 12th at the festival, we hated to miss the event but Gordon, myself and our son Justin were all in the wedding party so it couldn't be helped. Gordon also attended Kieran Ridge's wedding prior to Jeffrey's. The Great South Bay Music Festival is in Patchogue, New York and this year was their third year. We heard Eddie was well received and drew great crowds (as always).

July 17th saw two more events open, Barnstable County Fair who booked in Lucky Bob for the run of the fair as well as Eddie Money on July18th. The South County Balloon Festival sponsored by the Wakefield Rotary Club was also this third weekend of July, returning to this hot air balloon event was the Flying Wallenda's and new to the event was Magically Medieval! Magically Medieval's popularity is probably due to the fact that it is brand new, priced right and includes its own stage, sound and lights, big pluses for any type of event. Believe it or not they have never played a Renaissance Faire although it is certainly appropriate for one. Magically Medieval just seems to go over well at any event.

July 24 to the 26th was the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning where we had the Flying Wallenda's perform their famous high wire routine. Aerial acts really seam to go over really well at balloon festivals, they really fit the "up in the air" theme.

Close Encounters of the Exotic Kind (Tigers and Lions) opened up this week for a return engagement at the Bushkill Volunteer Fire Department's Carnival fundraiser. Vince and Pom Pom are really wonderful at what they do, their show is part education and part entertainment and always well received. Big cat acts are a major part of our business, Close Encounters is typically booked solid a testament to the wonderful job they do!

And finally, last but not least the Northern Maine Fair opened today with the Rosaire Zoppe Chimps as the headline animal act of the fair. Best of luck on your opening day up in Presque Isle!

Wow, what a month!