November's Performer of the Month Spotlight - Dan Grady's Marionettes

This month we pay homage to an art form that is becoming a rarity, Marionettes. Here in the east when you think Marionettes one name stands alone - Dan Grady's Marvelous Marionette Medley.

In 2010 Dan will celebrate 30 years of touring the eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine, with his solo production for children and families. To date he has performed in 35 states as well as Canada. He has had the fortune to have performed at the Eastern States Exposition, the Central Canada Exposition, the Fryeburg Fair and the Topsfield Fair to name a few. He regularly performs at fairs, festivals, libraries, schools, performing arts centers, art shows, and corporate events.

Dan was born and raised in the Manchester, New Hampshire area and now resides in southern Maine. He is a graduate of both the University of New Hampshire as well as Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Clown College!

Not only does Dan manipulate the marionettes but he also designs and builds them, he also writes the lyrics for the music that accompanies his performance. The show is a fast paced string puppet production that is comprised of routines that have that special something to tantalize, captive and enchant all those who attend. One only has to see the bright, wondering eyes of a toddler enthralled in Dan's show to relive the simpler, magical times of our own childhood.

The broad range of acts in his show include tightrope and trapeze artistry of the Eadarg Brothers, to the country western crooning and strumming of the superstar, Conway Kitty. They are not to be outdone by the incomparable, slick moving, Roller Skating Rabbit.

Dan can perform on your stage or he does have his own stage available. Dan is by no means confined to the stage however, he and his marionettes often enjoy a stroll off stage during the show to meet and perform for the audience up close and personal.

We would recommend Dan's show to anyone looking to entertain young children, parents and grandparents. He is a perfect addition to any performing arts events and festivals, museums, libraries, fairs and festivals.

October 2009 in Review

We've just breezed through yet another month, October came and went in a blur. We began with Johnny Gunn with special guest, Eddie Money "Unplugged" at Tommy T's in Pleasanton, CA on the first of October. Johnny and Eddie had great attendance and put on a fantastic show, as usual.

On the 2nd we paid a final visit to the Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Many congratulations to Wayne McCary and his entire staff at the Big E for an all time record attendance, 1,260,487 guests in 17 days. We even ran into Dave and Ann Whigham of the Spencer Fair volunteering in the Massachusetts State Building.

Next came Columbus Day weekend. On Saturday the 10th it was nice waking up to "Good Morning America's" story on the one and only Carson and Barnes Circus. Barbara Byrd the shows owner was looking great! Carson and Barnes Circus is one of the last true traditional tented circuses touring America or what is affectionately known in the circus business as a "mud show". It is a definitely must see for the whole family, regardless of age if its coming within a 100 miles of you.

Also that weekend the Flying Wallenda's returned to the Topsfield Fair. I'm afraid Topsfield as well as many other events in October was plagued by rain. We have had very unusual October weather we have had days here in the Northeast that have been in the 70's and other in the 40's, we've even had a little snow and when it rains it doesn't just shower it pours. I'm sure events that took advantage of weather insurance really made out and I'm sure we are probably going to see a rise in rates for next year.

On Tuesday we traveled down to Long Island, NY for a reception to celebrate the release of the book the "Network Interviews" by Steve Fallon, our own Gordon MacKay and his brother Frank. The book is currently available online http://amzn.com/B002OJU96A at Amazon.com. It is a celebration of the 20 years that have passed since the publishing of their magazine Metal Network with a reprinting of photographs taken by the magazine along with some of its best interviews. The receptions was held at Oheka Castle and was attended by 800+ guests. Among those was Senator Alphonse D'Amato, Biker Dad's Fingers, Jim Faith of the Great South Bay Music Festival and John Blenn, director of "Two Tickets to Paradise".

On the 17th and 18th we had Jeanette Rix and her Great Little Bear Show at the annual Apple Festival at Mount Wachusett. We got up to Mount Wachusett on Saturday to pay a visit. Jeanette's show has an opening act of German Shepards to warm up for the stars of the show, her black bears. Jeanette's family has a history of working for the folks of Mount Wachusett, who also own Polar Beverages and their logo is a Polar Bear. The Rix family had Polar Bears years back that did an advertising campaign for Polar Beverages.

On Monday the 19th the Spines played at Fat Baby's (New York City) during the CMJ Music Marathon. The Spines are becoming very popular on the college music scene.

On the 25th we had Chuckles the Kids Komic performing at the West Warwick Flea Market. The West Warwick Flea Market opened in July and this month we did some advertising consulting for them with our MacKay Marketing business (http://www.mackaymarketing.com/) The 25th was the official relaunch of the flea market, they went from doing 250 people a day to 2500 people on the 25th with the revamped ad campaign. They are also planning on making the market a family experience by having a guest children's performer every Sunday as well as a food court. The West Warwick Flea market is open Sunday's only at the West Warwick Civic Center in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

We have been extremely busy this month preparing proposals for the coming 2010 season, which is promising to be very big. Many 2009 events did very well this year with many family's opting for "stay-cations" or day trips close to home foregoing the trips to Disney or taking a cruise and many are predicting that trend to continue in 2010. Its looking to be a very good year for theme parks, fairs, festivals and any event within a days drive. This is the great time for these events and venues to put their best foot forward and show off what a great value they have always been and continue to be! There is no time like the present to make sure you have plenty of entertainment, a variety of food vendors, good maintenance (empty those trash barrels and sweep those walkways!) great customer service, an attention getting ad campaign, and outstanding public relations.

Be sure to check back here often for monthly updates, performer of the month and more! If you like what you see please sign up to "follow" our blog.

October Performer Spotlight

Okay its October and when you think of October you think Oktoberfest . . . so this month we are spotlighting our German family of daredevils the Winn Family. Basically if you are looking for an act to thrill the audience and keep them on the edge of their seats chances are you find it with the Winn Family. The Winn Family has been performing for audiences all over the world for eight generations!

The have performed throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Venues include NASCAR races, Disneyland, Epcot Center, Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus, Dodgers Stadium, the have performed at concerts including Kiss, Rod Stewart, Chicago and the Commodores, Knott's Berry Farm & Kennywood Park. The have been featured on television worldwide.

John Winn's Galaxy of Thrills - CyberCycle with a skilled aerialist performing a series on incredible stunts as the motorcycle stunt rider races around a track sixty feet high! Also a motorcycle on the high-wire can be included with a beautiful lady aaerialist hanging precariously on the trapeze below.

For added action a single or twin sway-pole

team can join the show.

Winn's Thrills of the Universe - This show is headed by family patriarch Hans Winn and continuing in the family daredevil traditions his sons Hans Peter, Nickolaus, Karl, Michael and daughter Natalia. What an amazing crew we have here the possibilities are nearly endless including but not limited to Sky Walks, Motorcycle on the High-wire, Wheel of Destiny, Motorcycle Globe, Single or double sway poles and even the human cannonball.

Galaxy Girl Daredevil Show - Featuring the amazing Tina Winn the Galaxy Girl with her 127' sway-pole. This act begins 90 feet in the air on the single trapeze an continues skyward on an act that will stop traffic. The Galaxy Girl Daredevil show can also include the Slide for Life as well as the Motorcycle Globe of Death.

The Winn Family of thrill shows is perfect anywhere you need to make a splash! Fairs, festivals, motorcycle shows, advertising promotions, hot air balloon festivals, sporting events, July 4th celebrations, New Years Eve celebrations and much more. Bring them in for a single act, a single day or let them put an entire show together for you, the sky is the limit.

Ashley Winn - Ashley is a featured aerialist on the Winn's Motorcycle on the high-wire performing on the trapeze below. She also performs a captivating high energy hula hoop act. Recently Ashley added the aerial Lyra to her repertoire. She often joins her family in either the Galaxy Girl Daredevil Show or the Winn's Thrill Show but she is also the perfect performer to add to any circus, cruise ship, theme park, corporate event or advertising promotion.

September 2009 in Review

September has come and gone already. . . its been a whirlwind of events from coast to coast. We began September as we left off in August at the Champlain Valley Fair. The CVE as its known had a nice run of weather after a showery opening day. The fair was thrilled with both the Nerger's Tigers as well as the Anastasini Family Circus under the Big Top. A favorite of fair-goers at CVE was 3.5 month old Bengal Tiger Mazumi.

On Friday the 4th the Spencer Fair opened in Spencer, Massachusetts. Spencer is the quintessential New England Fair with a nice stage, grandstand area where the Demolition Derby rules, pulling events, family entertainment and tons of agriculture.

We have been working on advertising the fair for several years now buying their ads as well as producing the television, radio and print advertising. This years advertising them is "You'll Flip for the 121st Spencer Fair" to fit this years entertainment that featured an FMX Motorcycle show as well as the High Flying Pages trapeze act.

The following weekend we worked with Atlantic Music Productions to bring the Flying Wallendas to their first ever appearance at the Franklin County Fair in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The Wallendas were scheduled to play the fair Thursday through Saturday but after rainy weather modified some of the Wallendas show, Tino Wallenda generously offered the fair to stay an extra day (Sunday) to perform for the masses.

On Sunday the 13th we traveled up to Maine for the Oxford Fair where we had the High Flying Pages Trapeze family performing there for the first time ever. The Oxford Fair continues its growth, Suzanne Grover the fair manager their has done an amazing job over the past few years making upgrades to the fair including new buildings, bathrooms, betting parlors and adding days to the run to name a few. We were able to catch up with friends Stephanie and Jeff there who moved to Poland, Maine several years ago. It was their first visit to the Oxford Fair.

On the 19th Gordon attended the Massachusetts Agricultural Fair Association meeting which was held in the Massachusetts State Building on the grounds of the Big E on the second day of the Big E's run. We all took a ride out to visit the fair for the day, attendance that day was over 100,000 people. But it was especially nice to spend a little time with Mrs. Hanneford at the fair, whose show was looking great, not to be outdone by Mrs. Hanneford herself who celebrated a birthday at the fair, but she'd probably skin me if I told which one.

On Sunday the 20th we visited the Flying Wallenda's at the Guilford Fair in Connecticut. It was the 150th addition of the Guilford Fair to celebrate the Wallenda's put on a spectacular show featuring a Sky Walk between cranes by Tino over 100' long and 75' in the air. Also in the show were the Flying Cortez family and the Human Comet (JP's high fall on fire!).

Also on the 20th we had three acts booked into a corporate party held at Mount Wachusett. Western was the theme for the day, we had Tall Tex (Boris Koski on stilts), Cowboy Brian Dwyer also on stilts and the one and only Rattlesnake Dave Richardson and his West Texas Rattlesnake show. I hear all Dave's show had big crowds, people just love to be terrified by Dave's kids (the rattlesnakes).

The weekend of the 26th we had Dan Grady's Marionettes up at Mount Wachusett for their annual Kids Fest. This was a very nice event at the ski area with wonderful entertainment and samples for kids of all ages and their families. Saturday had big crowds during our visit, Sunday had some rain showers but Dan is so versatile he was able to modify his show and move from his outdoor stage (under a tent) to inside the ski lodge where everyone was able to stay nice and dry. Marionettes are really becoming a lost art, Dan's are among the best in the business, Dan had put a lot of work this spring into "renovating" some of his beloved marionettes which were created by Dan himself. Young children are just mystified by marionettes by they also go over well at arts festivals.

This year all of our acts have had to make the best of it at several events as we have had one wet summer which has continued into the fall! I have seen our acts go the extra mile this year to move shows inside or under cover or just get through it in adverse conditions all the credit goes to our amazing roster of acts who have sacrificed their comfort, their artistic integrity and sometimes their safety. The "Getting It Done" award goes to: Magically Medieval, the Flying Pages, the Flying Wallendas, the Nerger's Lion and Tigers and Dan Grady's Marionettes (I hope I didn't leave anyone out). The one good thing is audiences have been making the best of it and people as still coming out despite the weather, were all used to being a bit damp at this point.

On the 30th of September we had Johnny Gunn perform at Tommy T's club in Rancho Cordova California with special guest and his good friend Eddie Money. Johnny co-wrote many of Eddie's hits including Shakin', Johnny also played guitar on many of Eddie's albums.

September is also the month were we really get moving on booking for next season and this year has been very busy. Without giving anything away, I don't want to steal any one's thunder, I'll let the fairs and events make their big announcements, I can tell you what type of events are going to be "in" this year. We have had lots of requests for western events (back to celebrating the American heritage) both rodeos, bull riding and wild west shows. Animal acts are another very popular request as are tented circuses, music and aerial acts. Proposals are going out daily, contracts are coming in and there will be many, many repeat performances in 2010, which is already shaping up to be a very good and exciting year.

August in Review

Wow, where did the summer go? August goes by so quickly, this year was no exception.

We began where we left off, Close Encounters (Vince and Pom Pom) finished up for the Volunteer Fire Department in Bushkill. They reported bad weather throughout the run which has been par for the coarse this summer.

We also had Pam Rosaire Zoppe's Chimpfabulous at the Northern Maine Fair in Presque Isle. We were up to visit on the 4th, its always a wonderful ride up north, very little traffic, lovely scenery. The chimps were very well received as are all animal acts at the fair, its a long trip from Presque Isle to the closest zoo, and chimps in general are all too rare anywhere. On the way home on Wednesday we had a nice breakfast with Paul Cleary from the Houlton Fair. Meeting Paul up in Houlton is a lot like meeting Norm at Cheers, everyone knows his name!

Later on that week we had the Rehoboth Fair open, Lance Gifford returned to the fair with his amazing newly renovated stage and Lucky Bob who can really draw and audience! Our son Justin fell in love with a couple of baby rabbits at the fair and being that I grew up with pet rabbits I agreed to bring the pair home. That is what fairs are all about, family fun with agriculture. The bunnies are growing nicely, "Buffy" named for my mothers cat, Justin's favorite feline, is a tri colored mini lop bunny. The other is a cute little tan mini lop bunny with some charcoal colored shading named "Smoke" for Tony Stewart, one of Justin's favorite NASCAR drivers.

On Friday the 9th it was great to catch up with our friends at the Whaling City Festival who had a volunteers dinner hosted by Joe Eugenio (the unofficial mayor of New Bedford). Its always great when our clients include us in their celebrations. We brought a cake from Amazing Cakes, a local bakery who does an amazing job of supply us cakes with logos and special requests for our clients and family, and they taste great to boot.

Our next event was the Tri-State Fair in Vermont for Dreamland Amusements, we had the Flying Pages perform their trapeze and pony act as well as the Nerger Tigers who brought with them 3 one year old white tigers who they hand raised after the mother rejected them (quite common with the first litter) as well as an adorable 3 month old standard color cub. Of course the 12 show tigers and one male lion.

On the 21st Kieran Ridge Band performed on the main stage of City Hall Plaza in Boston for GreenFest. It was a hot, hot, hot and humid day.

Later that evening we met with a Blues artist who was opening for BB King at the Cape Cod Melody tent. George Gritzbach was recommended to us by our good long time friend Laurie Webster. George and his band had a fantastic sound and could not have been received better by the audience who gave them a standing ovation.

Our late August fairs come fast and furious, Dreamland Amusements worked with us and the Caledonia County Fair to bring the Flying Pages to Lyndonville for the first time. The Pages really enjoyed their time there and it was another fabulous drive up on Thursday the 27th to visit them. Anthony Pages had a bad fall a few weeks back and it was nice to see he was beginning to recover (the doctors want him out maybe 6 to 8 weeks). He had multiple broken bones as well as a head injury. He'll have a follow up with the doctors in the coming weeks and he is really hoping he is cleared to begin practice again. The Pages have been working very hard to keep him relaxed and healing while getting temporary replacements to fill Anthony's spot, which I know is tough for him to see.

We found time on Sunday to head up to Spencer for their annual volunteer barbeque, yes, yet another Amazing Cake!

The Flying Wallendas performed up in Union Maine for our friend and talent buyer Diana Ammon of Atlantic Music Productions, unfortunately Saturday rained too much for the fair to handle and they closed for the day at 11 am.

We stayed up in Vermont after Caledonia for set up day and opening day of the Champlain Valley Fair where we had the Nerger Tigers as well as the Anastasini Family's Big Top Circus. Saturday rained on the opening but it was nice to see Struppi Hanneford visit her daughter Nellie and grand daughter Kathy who performed on the Spanish Web for the show.

Also that same weekend Lucky Bob performed for the Cummington Fair in Massachusetts.

Busy, busy August, but busy is good!

Nerger's in the News!

From iberkshire.com :

Tri-State Fair Features Circus Acts, Carnival Rides
Staff reports
iBerkshires
10:32PM / Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Photos by Paul Guillotte
Judit Nerger pats one of the white tiger cubs that will appear in the Nergers' Tigers and Lion Show at the Tri-State Fair this week. Top, two of the show's Bengals relax.
POWNAL, Vt. — The Tri-State Fair returns to the former Green Mountain Racetrack for the third year with five days of carnival rides, circus acts, music, food, vendors and more — including a pack of not-so-cuddly kitties.

Judit and Juergen Nerger have brought their big cat act to the Green Mountains with Nergers' Tigers and Lion. The couple, originally from Germany, have been training the big predators for three decades.

On Tuesday, the cats were mostly napping in the muggy heat. Come showtime, the 12 tigers and lone lion will be leaping through hoops, walking backwards on their legs, playing leapfrog and taking commands from tamer Juergen Nerger.

A tanned Judit Nerger, a tiger tattooed on her shoulder, stressed the animals' wild nature even as she patted one of three white tiger cubs in the troupe.

"These are trained animals, not tamed animals," said Nerger. "They are not pets. You could never have them as pets."

The cubs were rejected by their mother and raised by the Nergers. They'll turn a year old on Wednesday, the day the Tri-State Fair opens for its five-day run. The cubs will work with their Bengal teammates and the 10-year-old male lion, which gets along well with the Bengals, said Nerger.

The Nergers worked with the German State Circus in East Germany and Russia, and with the Circus Probst in Germany, Austria, Poland and France. They've traveled around the United States appearing at various circuses and events.

Training and caring for the big cats is a full-time job. And as much as the Nergers obviously love their dangerous charges, "never turn your back on them," Nerger warned. "They may trust us but we don't trust them."

The 12 tigers are joined in the show by a 10-year-old lion.

The Nergers' tigers are just one of the many attractions at this year's fair. There's musical events, vendors, food, pony rides, model airplane combat demonstrations, a motorcycle show, high-wire act, truck pulls, antique tractor pulls, classic cars, horse show, loads of carnival rides and bingo and Texas hold'em games. An American Indian troupe will demonstrate dancing and drumming along with arts, crafts and foods.

Wednesday night WUPE Radio will air live from 7 to 9 p.m. and offer a chance at a brand-new home through its "Home Free" contest.

Country-western duet Maria Rose and Danny Elswick will perform on Thursday at 7 p.m. and there'll be fireworks on Saturday night.

"We've got so much more this year," said organizer Joseph DiFusco of Hoosick Falls, N.Y.

The fair started as a benefit for the Knights of Columbus and now supports the San Damiano Family Support, run by the DiFusco and his wife, Wanda, and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The DiFuscoes, fellow Knight John Mills of Cambridge, N.Y., and Robert DeStefano of Dreamland Amusements are the lead organizers.

The fair opens at noon on Wednesday and runs through Sunday at 9 p.m. Admission is $30 per bus/carload on Wednesday. The price includes admission to all events and rides. From Thursday to Sunday, the price is $20 per person for all rides; ages 3 and under free. A $5 coupon is available off that ticket price.

Not interested in amusement rides? The price of admission is only $5 per person with access to all the shows and vendors (sorry, you can't use the coupon for that price). A full schedule is available here.

Photographer Paul Guillotte contributed to this report.
Rides being set up Tuesday for Wednesday's opening of the Tri-State Fair.

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.