October 2010 in Review

October is the month when the outdoor events begin to wind down.

This month we had Bwana Jim's Wildlife show perform at Mount Wachusett's Apple Fest on October 16 & 17th. The weekend brought chilly New England October weather perhaps a little windy but still nice for getting out and enjoying some foliage in the mountains. Bwana Jim's Wildlife show has a nice assortment of animals such as desert fox, armadillo, alligator snapping turtle, turkey vulture, snakes and more. There is an all day display of animals as well as a hilarious, entertaining and educational presentation by the one and only Bwana Jim.

We spend a lot of time in October looking ahead toward the 2011 season, it seems no matter what month the event may fall in somehow planning begins in October. We spend much of the month gathering updated schedules from performers and getting proposals out to the various fairs and festivals. We also seem to get a lot of new inquiries in October, probably more so than any other month.

For those planning events I though I might take the opportunity to explain some types of entertainment this month that is often underused and overlooked.

Strolling Entertainment - is a versatile entertainer such as table magic, mimes, a stilt-walker, juggler, comedian, original character, etc. They can be used at nearly any type of event but they are especially effect at parades when long breaks between units can become boring for spectators. Street Festivals and downtown events are wonderful places for strolling entertainers since they can move easily and spectators tend to follow they can liven up a section of the street or store front that isn't getting enough traffic flow. Between shows at fairs and festivals when audiences are often waiting for some time for the next show to begin is a great time to show the audience you appreciate their patience by sending in a stroller as a little pre-show warm up. Strollers are also effective at receptions when guests are arriving or between the cocktail hour and dinner to keep the event moving along.

All Day Displays - Attractions such as petting zoos, traveling museums, birds of prey & western attractions. Keep people interested in spending more time at an event and have no down time, actually many all day display offer shows as well such as educational presentations. These are a must have for any fair, but they are also great for a corporate BBQ giving guests an opportunity to visit during activities such as sports and music that may not interest them.

One Man Shows - Shows such as comedy, juggling, magic, etc. with a single person in them can be great for not only smaller events with a smaller budget but also perfect for an opening act for a larger show. One man shows are also perfect for that small stage in a food court area or picnic grove that a band, dance troupe or choir just won't fit on.

Ground Acts - No stage necessary for these acts! But they are great to fill up an open space, lawn or field giving your event a complete feeling. Acts such as large animal acts, circus acts, daredevils, lumberjack shows would all be considered "ground acts".

September 2010 in Review

September is a crazy month, balancing the beginning of the new school year with a busy event schedule is always a challenge, but a welcome challenge. This month we have seen more unseasonably warm weather as well as soaking rain storms, with the occasional fall day thrown in just for kicks.

Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest of the year for fairs and festivals. The Amazing Anastasini's continued their run at the Champlain Valley Fair under the big top as well as the Nerger's Lion & Tiger Show.

Labor Day weekend events typically open on Friday which saw some inclement weather in New England, but at least if the rain has to fall let it be on a weekday. The Spencer Fair in Spencer, Massachusetts opened on Friday with Vicenta Page's Royal White Bengal Tigers as well as a return of the Flying Pages trapeze act. In addition to bringing talent to the Spencer Fair we also create and place the advertising for this event which is the largest event of the year in Worcester County. The Fair Committee in Spencer is made up of all volunteers and they truly come together to put on a really great fair with every element a fair should have. The motor sports are always the most popular events at the fair but Spencer also has a great array of entertainment for young children, a tremendously popular Karaoke contest, great 4H animals and so much more. This year the fair was fortunate enough to receive a grant to cover some improvements to the fairgrounds such as more grandstand seating and a new roof for the exhibit hall.

On Sunday we paid a visit to the Three County Fair where Adam & Elaine Burck were presenting their tiger show which features 3 golden tigers and 3 white tigers including the magnificent Spartacus probably the largest white tiger I have ever seen. Over the summer Adam & Elaine welcomed to their family a litter of cubs, 2 white & 2 golden. Their names as Zeus, Zena, Isis & Ursula. This Northampton facility has really come a long way since the end of horse racing some years ago. The fair is growing in leaps and bounds and has also received a grant to remove and rebuild the stables and well as add an indoor horse show arena and there is a long term plan in place for many more exciting changes to the fairgrounds. Our heartfelt congratulations to Bruce Shallcross and his staff at the Three County Fairgrounds.

The second weekend of September seems to come so quickly, Labor Day comes and goes and boom we're into the second weekend in a flash. The Flying Wallendas made a return engagement for Atlantic Music Productions at the Franklin County Fair in Greenfield, MA.

We also had an open air showing of the Amazing Anastasini Circus in Westport, NY on September 10th to the 12th. The show played a rather last minute engagement to tie together an upcoming date in Pennsylvania with their appearance in Vermont. For a last minute appearance they had a respectable attendance and made some good connections with organizations in neighboring communities.

On Sunday the 12th the Big O opened in Oxford, Maine. The fair also known as the Oxford County Fair had a special Community Day event and then reopened for the remainder of the Fair run on Wednesday the 15th through Saturday the 18th. We visited the fair on Wednesday where the Flying Pages made a return appearance and new for 2010 was the Cannon Lady. Jennifer Smith Schneider has played in every state in the US, Canada and seven other countries.

On Friday night the 17th we went to Guilford for the premier of the latest addition of the Flying Wallendas Super Circus with special guests the Nerger's Lion & Tiger Show. This combined show is a fantastic attraction with the Flying Wallendas performing their famous pyramids over the cage of waiting tiger and Caesar the male African Lion down below. The crowds were terrific for this spectacle and we expect that this combined show will become a popular attraction in the years to come.

The Amazing Anastasini's brought their big top circus to Moscow,PA on September 16 to the 19th as a benefit for the Pocono Equestrian Center, a therapeutic riding program for special needs children as well as a horse rescue. The turnout was a little disappointing the Scranton area has always done well for family entertainment. The Anastasini's will look into making some changes before deciding whether or not to return.

The final weekend of September was a bit quieter with a corporate event in central Massachusetts. The event had a Renaissance theme and we had the ever popular Boris the Stilt-walker appear with his "King Richard" costume as well as his "Wizard" Costume. Boris has over 25 costumes to suit nearly any occasion. Also coming in from Ohio for the event was the enchanting "Dragon Scales & Faerie Tales" with the incredible "Enchanted Wagon" strolling act. Also coming in from Ohio was the jousting team of Hole in the Wall Farm. Jousting is a medieval form of martial arts that includes tournament style games on horse back, lance passes, as well as ground combat with swords and daggers.

Time to move onward and upward into the month of October. The events are beginning to wind down here in New England but booking for 2011 is really starting to pickup. Don't hesitate to call as we are starting to put together some routes for many of the acts not only here in New England but across the country. Now is a great time to explore entertainment options for the upcoming season.

March 2010 in Review

We are soaking wet up here in New England, nearly 20 inches of rain have fallen in three weeks, making March is wettest ever.  In a typical year we receive 40 inches of rain so does this mean we have received half our rain for the year? Probably not, but I'm sure there are many events wishing that were so. 

The phones have really picked up as people are snapping up entertainment for the spring, summer and fall of this year.  This month peoples interest has really turned to thrill shows, action sports shows, monster truck shows and daredevils. 

On March 21st we paid our annual visit to the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts for their fantastic Saint Patrick's Day Parade.  They had a lovely warm day, which was a rarity here in the past month.  Provided by MacKay Entertainment for the parade was Molly the Clown whom we have worked with for many years, Molly is an alumni of Vermont's own Circus Smirkus as well as a veteran of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus.  Big League Brian also joined the crew, he is a regular performer/stilt walker on Yawkey Way at every Red Sox home game.  Brian was seen in the movie Fever Pitch and if often seen on many many sports news shows.  Boris Koski took a ride through Lawrence on his Velocipede as a Leprechaun.  Joining them in the strolling performer team was Dumbo and KooKoo the clowns.  Strolling performers are a great addition to parades, as any parade coordinator can attest, they have the ability to fill in the gaps that happen somehow between parade units and keep the audience entertained with slapstick jokes, juggling, bike riding and much more.

For the first time in the Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade two camels from Zoo Shows marched in the parade.  The Dromedary O'Camels as we call them on St. Patrick's Day were a big hit with the children.  I'm betting it was one of the only St. Patrick's Day Parades around to have live marching camels!  Camels are often seen around during Christmas Parade's as well as a must have for Three Kings Day Parades.  We are fortunate enough to have camels available throughout the country for appearances, parades, rides, photos shoots and even a few performing camels as well!

On Sunday the 28th is was great to get an inside look at Herschand Family Entertainment as the reality show "Undercover Boss" took CEO Joel Manby on a secret mission through some of their property's to get a day in the life view of some of their employees.  We will be visiting Wild Adventure's late this spring which is a Herschand Family Entertainment property.

We have received word from the High Flying Pages Trapeze Act that they have one short run left to book this summer.  If anyone is looking for a fantastic family show with lots of action (Trapeze, Russian Swing, Ponies) there is an opportunity to book them between August 9 to 22nd.  We should be able to accommodate one or two fairs that we can route between Michigan and Vermont.  Please call us if you would like to place an offer for this crowd pleasing act.