We would like to wish all of you a very safe and happy New Year. May you be blessed and may you come to know a peace and joy that is Jesus.
If you need anything in 09 call us or email us.
We love you all.
Victor and the Family
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Sultan and "Come What May"
Sunday, December 28, 2008
End of the year Newsletter
Greetings. We pray you had a good year and likewise pray your coming 2009 will find your prosperous, healthy and happy!
On all levels 2008 was a very interesting year; with many ups, a few downs, a trial or two, a record or two broken, challenges met, goals realized, laughs and tears and that was 2008.
Wow, where to start?
In 2008 we had three great sadnesses. One of my close childhood friends lost his fight with an aggressive tongue cancer and died. He left behind three young kids and a devoted wife. Shortly before that my very good friend lost his mother after years of various problems plaguing her with discomfort, pain, and limiting mobility. The devotion of that man to give-up everything to take care of both his parents in their diminishing capacities has been an inspiration and perfect example to all who call themselves Christian. And I should add that though both of these fine people who passed this year are missed they both embraced Christ Jesus as their Savior so their passing is ultimately an occasion of rejoicing, for they are in Glory with Him now.
What started off as a blessing turned out to be a great sadness and somewhat a tribulation. As you know we announced Mami was pregnant with baby number 8. At the twelfth week however, after an ultrasound, we discovered the sack where the baby was supposed to be was empty. Mami would very shortly afterwards begin the process of expelling the contents of her uterus. This would lead to massive bleeding and her actually stopping breathing momentarily until I could get her to the floor where the little blood left in her could get to he major organs and get her going again. Two days in the hospital, one minor operation and a ton of bed rest and she is much better. The staff at Oroville hospital was wonderful. So baby number 8 wasn’t to be…. yet.
From the show perspective we had three record income months and the year as a whole was a record year; we had 4% growth over last year in spite of loosing two major clients in December due to the economy. That calculates to 301 performances (sometimes several performances on one day at a single gig.) Good news, we picked up several new clients and many have rebooked for 2009. I just received an email from a 2007 client who decided not to use us in 08 but wants us back in 09. We have a 90+% rebook rate at this time. We performed in Oregon, Nevada, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York and California in 08. All the out of state clients have rebooked us for 09 or have requested us back (but we can’t do because of the date already being booked). So far we will be in Kentucky, Nevada, New York, and Connecticut for sure in 09. And highly possibly Ohio and Maine. We are working for bookings in other states but I am not confident (no contract in yet) to call then as solid bookings. Another point of good news for 09 is that the Silver Dollar Fair in Chico (which has a strict rule in rotating acts 3 years on and three years off) have rebooked us for 09 in an unprecedented 4th year on. (This will be our 7th year over the past 10 years.) Of course we will be back our regular digs in Calico Ghost Town, in Nevada, and up and down Cali! For more on the show happening and the on the road antics see our blog at our website. There are a ton of pictures and stories from our 2008 season. www.kentfamilymagiccirucs.com (The blog link is on the left side of the page in the red bar area.) Traveling is a blast. In fat, if I am home for too long I find myself craving the road. Too long on the road and I want to get back home. But not for too long.. Home is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. I am so thankful the kids like to travel and i hope someday we can figure a way to bring Titus so mami can come too.
Now on to the family: James started college up at Simpson University, a Christian University in Redding, CA. He majored in Youth Pastoring but discovered no classes for start until his junior year. So he focused on his second love, music. He also joined the cross-country team (they gave a $1000 scholarship if you joined); he loved it. He loaded himself with 23 credits, a couple of no-credit but required classes including music practice time. He also joined the Jazz band and the Pep band and the Chamber Winds and Brass Ensemble. If you are saying, “wow”, well, he’s not superman and he discovered that…a bit late though. He flunked his GE classes and the piano lab and got himself on academic warning. He will be coming home to go to a local community college until that is fixed and then returning to Simpson, hopefully, more in control. On a positive note Jim’s popularity in the show overflowed this year with our 09 Connecticut client requiring in our contract that Jugglin’ Jim be a part of the show. He was reported while performing at our New York show as being “Brilliant”.
Cynthia the jock! 07-08 was her sophomore year and after discovering she wasn’t the start basketball player she hoped to be she put her energies into track. In her freshman year she was moved to the varsity track team and ran at the faster level. It prepared her well because she would end up going to State in June. The irony is she ended up going in an event she we didn’t expect her to go in. It was a clinch in everyone’s mind that the Las Plumas High School varsity girl’s 4X100 relay team would take regionals and move on to State. Fate had other ideas, Leg one dropped the baton as she handed it to Leg 2 (CC is leg 3). And even though they had the fasted time for the region during the season (almost 5 seconds faster than the team that would end up going to state) it’s the regionals that count and CC and the young lady at the anchor position were devastated. But a similar situation would play out in the 100 hurdles. The girl expected to win had a bad day and clipped a couple of hurdles. CC had a perfect run and ran her best time. As a result Cynthia moved on to state; she was seeded 29 out of 29. She was the only non-African American runner in the event and she ended the day seeded 28th beating only one girl….still she moved up and is considered the 28t fasted HS girl’s 100 meter hurdler in California. For Christmas she got her letterman jacket. She pulled a 4.2 GPA for the 07-08. During the summer she had a ton of pre-class homework as part of Honors History. So at many of the venues we performed at this summer she would be found studying when not performing.
Miles (14) started high school and is loving it. He went through a growth spurt and shot past CC in height and he also lost his baby fat and is now sporting some impressive abs. He has added the fire-whip and bullwhipping while on a 24” walking globe to his act. He’s pulling a 4.0 at school and is an active member of the JROTC where he is the academic and athletic captain. He likes to run and is trying to average 50 miles a week. He is going to join the track team and run the mile and two-mile races. Like his brother and sister before him he is hoping to go to Mexico missions with our church this coming spring. For Christmas he got a new nylon Australian style whip and a leather stock whip…the nylon whip is exactly like his Kangaroo hide 8 footer but it’s made of nylon so in venues (like Kentucky last year and east Texas two years ago) where it rains a lot he can perform his act with damage to the leather whips. The stock whip is kangaroo leather and attached to a long stick…it makes a powerful cracking sound and great for certain tricks. He celebrated his birthday on the road for the umpteenth time (as did Victor). We always try to make it special going out to dinner, getting them special things and often dragging it out over a couple of days. Mami also sends them presents through the mail so that the gift is waiting for them at the hotel when we arrive. Pictures of both Miles’ and Victor’s birthdays and the stories with them are on our July Blog.
Titus (11) is still going to Mesa Vista School and loves his teacher Tim and his classmates. He has improved in communication and has a very strong opinion on things he likes and dislikes. He can answer yes or no question by touching either our left or right hand. He has gotten more mobile and likes to hop around the house. He also likes to get into standing poison using chairs, couches, or anything else. Sometimes this is dangerous and he will tumble un-able to catch himself so we have to stay diligent keeping an eye on him. My good friend Bill (we call him Uncle Bill around the house) comes over to do respite with him quite often. He loves Uncle Bill. Titus also loves going for walks (really he is in his chair and we will push him). Depending on who is walking him he gets a jog, a run or a gentle walk…. he loves the faster trips!
Victor (7) started 2nd grade at a new school. OCS just wasn’t doing it for him. He had slipped in his reading skills and we were unaware how far he was behind. OCS, being a Christian School, seen to be leaning more on the business of being a school than the business the church set it up to be and that was a ministry unto the Lord. That and the fact that they kept increasing fees and cutting programs and other things, we would’ve ended paying more, getting less and having him in a split grade class. Sadly after sending James, CC and Miles (and two years for Victor) through OCS we had to make the hard decision (really it was easy after watching the school decline so much) to take him out. Fortunately, we ran into a few parents who felt the same about OCS over at his new school so he had a couple of friends he knew there. The reading program at Ophir school for 2nd graders is phenomenal and Victor has caught up and beginning to exceed. Now we are working on Math (a curse of all Kinnamonts). In the show he has shifted from working with the rabbits and doves (We discovered he is allergic to them) and he is doing escapes. He is eager to do even more. He has also cut dairy out of his diet because of his allergies and his physiological problem of large adenoids, and small holes between his sinus’. He has done well to remind us that one food or another has dairy in it and he can’t eat/drink it. Fortunately he loves soy milk and Mami is always trying to make him special non-dairy version of foods and deserts. I should also like to mention he has a knack for art. He is an incredible drawer and a very creative writer. His teacher tells us the other kids a re riveted to their seats when Victor tells stories from the road during sharing and his creatively in writing stories is beyond his years. You can see his Shark story and picture on our blog.
Amelia (5) lost a tooth and has started home-schooling Kindergarten. She one of those quick study kids and is eager to learn everything. Because of her good memory and ability to learn quickly she performs mentalism in our show. She as you know is the girly girl and loves to dress up and will always put on lipstick when at grandma’s house. She like her brothers and sisters really travel well. Can you believe they sat through several 12-19 hour drives this summer and stayed in good spirits? And there are no DVD players, I-pods, or the like in our van. It’s draw, write, read, converse or look out the window. At the fair we performed at in New York she gave us a scare running off with a couple of little girl friends (daughters of vendors) and disappearing for about an hour. All us parents went into worry mode and Cynthia eventually found them after a vendor thought they saw them in the commercial tent near our stage…they took the long way back from the sheep pens. Whew. She drew first blood at many of the venues quite often (we use the term here to mean they were the first to get a free something from a vendor…often vendors will give fellow workers at an event a free drink, snack, toy, etc if they like you). Apparently a lot of vendors liked Amy and she drew first blood even more than Jim the stilt walker (who held the record for a long time. )
Olivia-baby (3) Olivia turned 3 and has already performed over 300 shows! She is a natural on stage can turn it on and off at will and will pose or dance at the drop of a hat. The awwwws from the audience were constant. She also loves to dance and would occasionally do it for the crowd. In fact her and Amy sat through every show they could of the magical dance group at the Park we performed at in KY. Olivia to this day remembers many of their moves and the lyrics. She wants to dance in the show.
Mami has completely recovered from the miscarriage and is constantly overwhelmed with keeping a home with nine people in it. Having a disabled son doesn’t help. Still she is mostly cheery and handles the tasks swimmingly. She has many Japanese friends living in Chico and Oroville that she will get together with, especially when the rest of us are on the road. Occasionally we even get to go out on a date to a movie, dinner or lunch, or something similar. Someday we might even get to have that honeymoon we never had. Her heart’s passion is to witness to Japanese living here and in her own country about Christ. She has even located a source for bilingual bibles for them. She is an incredible baking and has piecrusts second to none and the same can be said about her biscuits. When on trips the kids crave their moms cooking and look forward to getting home just to eat in spite of our opportunities to eat local cuisine on the road (I should mention here we also take a microwave oven, a foreman grill, a hot plate, etc and often cook our own meals to avoid the whole restaurant thing….it gets old fast.) My parents live nearby and are a constant God-send to Mami while we travel (and when we are at home). My dad is always on call for a leaky pipe, broken this or that, to install a window air conditioner, or what ever. Mom loves to take the little ones for a morning or afternoon and do fun things with them. She is a former preschool teacher so Amelia studies with her from time to time. It is good to have the grand parents near by.
Me…hmmm…me. When not on the road I am at home trying to get bookings. I spend a lot of time in the office marketing, marketing, marketing. I maintain our website and the other bits of technology for the show. I rebuild and repair props, build new ones, and the experiment. Once a week or so I hang out with my good buddy Magic JC (known to the kids as Uncle JC). We either eat here or we give Mami a break and eat at local eateries. Uncle JC loves to perform his pocket magic everywhere we go to everybody we meet. Trust me if you meet him he will be squeaking his nose and making red hankies vanish and reappear then turn into a cane. Everybody we meet love him. Being a few years older than me he and I will occasionally mess with people by having him pretend he’s a mindless old guy and we loudly talk about how we have to get him back to the home early because they are going to be serving rice pudding tonight. He plays the part hilariously well. As you know I grew muttonchops this year for a new look and because I like them. On the health front I still battle a bad back (had that tethered spine tumor thing inside my spinal cord taken care 2 years ago but there is still a pain that exists….may have to go under the knife again). I should add that falling on my bottom three months after the operation didn’t help I am sure. I have added Cubital tunnel syndrome (like carpel tunnel but on the inside of the arm) to my list of “body falling apart things”. Eventually I may even go see a doctor about it. But to be 100% candid, I feel pretty good and look forward to a very busy 2009!
The animals:
Bobbi the Cockatoo performed a few shows this year and was a hit.
The Sultan (Sulcata Tortoise) turned three and is nearly 12’ across on his way to 36”.
(Both will outlive me so I will never have to say good bye or bury them…..I was the animal mortician as a child-youth for the family and as a result have grownup not wanting to get too close to animals. Try burying a score of them, taking the family pet down to be put down a few times, and scrape a loved cat off the street a couple of times and you will understand.)
Prince (dog) had an eye-infection after getting out and fighting with the neighbor dog but is doing well for a 10 year old.
Red the cat is sad she can’t come in the house (Victor’s allergies) but she is content and fat!
The 9 doves and several bunnies for the show are all content and fat too. We did loose one bunny this year.
Well, that’s a lot said and I am sure I said too much here and there and not enough in other places. I am sure I left out a lot! That makes a good reason for you to stay in touch and give us a ring now and again. Or better yet stop on by. We won’t bite……hard!
On all levels 2008 was a very interesting year; with many ups, a few downs, a trial or two, a record or two broken, challenges met, goals realized, laughs and tears and that was 2008.
Wow, where to start?
In 2008 we had three great sadnesses. One of my close childhood friends lost his fight with an aggressive tongue cancer and died. He left behind three young kids and a devoted wife. Shortly before that my very good friend lost his mother after years of various problems plaguing her with discomfort, pain, and limiting mobility. The devotion of that man to give-up everything to take care of both his parents in their diminishing capacities has been an inspiration and perfect example to all who call themselves Christian. And I should add that though both of these fine people who passed this year are missed they both embraced Christ Jesus as their Savior so their passing is ultimately an occasion of rejoicing, for they are in Glory with Him now.
What started off as a blessing turned out to be a great sadness and somewhat a tribulation. As you know we announced Mami was pregnant with baby number 8. At the twelfth week however, after an ultrasound, we discovered the sack where the baby was supposed to be was empty. Mami would very shortly afterwards begin the process of expelling the contents of her uterus. This would lead to massive bleeding and her actually stopping breathing momentarily until I could get her to the floor where the little blood left in her could get to he major organs and get her going again. Two days in the hospital, one minor operation and a ton of bed rest and she is much better. The staff at Oroville hospital was wonderful. So baby number 8 wasn’t to be…. yet.
From the show perspective we had three record income months and the year as a whole was a record year; we had 4% growth over last year in spite of loosing two major clients in December due to the economy. That calculates to 301 performances (sometimes several performances on one day at a single gig.) Good news, we picked up several new clients and many have rebooked for 2009. I just received an email from a 2007 client who decided not to use us in 08 but wants us back in 09. We have a 90+% rebook rate at this time. We performed in Oregon, Nevada, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York and California in 08. All the out of state clients have rebooked us for 09 or have requested us back (but we can’t do because of the date already being booked). So far we will be in Kentucky, Nevada, New York, and Connecticut for sure in 09. And highly possibly Ohio and Maine. We are working for bookings in other states but I am not confident (no contract in yet) to call then as solid bookings. Another point of good news for 09 is that the Silver Dollar Fair in Chico (which has a strict rule in rotating acts 3 years on and three years off) have rebooked us for 09 in an unprecedented 4th year on. (This will be our 7th year over the past 10 years.) Of course we will be back our regular digs in Calico Ghost Town, in Nevada, and up and down Cali! For more on the show happening and the on the road antics see our blog at our website. There are a ton of pictures and stories from our 2008 season. www.kentfamilymagiccirucs.com (The blog link is on the left side of the page in the red bar area.) Traveling is a blast. In fat, if I am home for too long I find myself craving the road. Too long on the road and I want to get back home. But not for too long.. Home is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. I am so thankful the kids like to travel and i hope someday we can figure a way to bring Titus so mami can come too.
Now on to the family: James started college up at Simpson University, a Christian University in Redding, CA. He majored in Youth Pastoring but discovered no classes for start until his junior year. So he focused on his second love, music. He also joined the cross-country team (they gave a $1000 scholarship if you joined); he loved it. He loaded himself with 23 credits, a couple of no-credit but required classes including music practice time. He also joined the Jazz band and the Pep band and the Chamber Winds and Brass Ensemble. If you are saying, “wow”, well, he’s not superman and he discovered that…a bit late though. He flunked his GE classes and the piano lab and got himself on academic warning. He will be coming home to go to a local community college until that is fixed and then returning to Simpson, hopefully, more in control. On a positive note Jim’s popularity in the show overflowed this year with our 09 Connecticut client requiring in our contract that Jugglin’ Jim be a part of the show. He was reported while performing at our New York show as being “Brilliant”.
Cynthia the jock! 07-08 was her sophomore year and after discovering she wasn’t the start basketball player she hoped to be she put her energies into track. In her freshman year she was moved to the varsity track team and ran at the faster level. It prepared her well because she would end up going to State in June. The irony is she ended up going in an event she we didn’t expect her to go in. It was a clinch in everyone’s mind that the Las Plumas High School varsity girl’s 4X100 relay team would take regionals and move on to State. Fate had other ideas, Leg one dropped the baton as she handed it to Leg 2 (CC is leg 3). And even though they had the fasted time for the region during the season (almost 5 seconds faster than the team that would end up going to state) it’s the regionals that count and CC and the young lady at the anchor position were devastated. But a similar situation would play out in the 100 hurdles. The girl expected to win had a bad day and clipped a couple of hurdles. CC had a perfect run and ran her best time. As a result Cynthia moved on to state; she was seeded 29 out of 29. She was the only non-African American runner in the event and she ended the day seeded 28th beating only one girl….still she moved up and is considered the 28t fasted HS girl’s 100 meter hurdler in California. For Christmas she got her letterman jacket. She pulled a 4.2 GPA for the 07-08. During the summer she had a ton of pre-class homework as part of Honors History. So at many of the venues we performed at this summer she would be found studying when not performing.
Miles (14) started high school and is loving it. He went through a growth spurt and shot past CC in height and he also lost his baby fat and is now sporting some impressive abs. He has added the fire-whip and bullwhipping while on a 24” walking globe to his act. He’s pulling a 4.0 at school and is an active member of the JROTC where he is the academic and athletic captain. He likes to run and is trying to average 50 miles a week. He is going to join the track team and run the mile and two-mile races. Like his brother and sister before him he is hoping to go to Mexico missions with our church this coming spring. For Christmas he got a new nylon Australian style whip and a leather stock whip…the nylon whip is exactly like his Kangaroo hide 8 footer but it’s made of nylon so in venues (like Kentucky last year and east Texas two years ago) where it rains a lot he can perform his act with damage to the leather whips. The stock whip is kangaroo leather and attached to a long stick…it makes a powerful cracking sound and great for certain tricks. He celebrated his birthday on the road for the umpteenth time (as did Victor). We always try to make it special going out to dinner, getting them special things and often dragging it out over a couple of days. Mami also sends them presents through the mail so that the gift is waiting for them at the hotel when we arrive. Pictures of both Miles’ and Victor’s birthdays and the stories with them are on our July Blog.
Titus (11) is still going to Mesa Vista School and loves his teacher Tim and his classmates. He has improved in communication and has a very strong opinion on things he likes and dislikes. He can answer yes or no question by touching either our left or right hand. He has gotten more mobile and likes to hop around the house. He also likes to get into standing poison using chairs, couches, or anything else. Sometimes this is dangerous and he will tumble un-able to catch himself so we have to stay diligent keeping an eye on him. My good friend Bill (we call him Uncle Bill around the house) comes over to do respite with him quite often. He loves Uncle Bill. Titus also loves going for walks (really he is in his chair and we will push him). Depending on who is walking him he gets a jog, a run or a gentle walk…. he loves the faster trips!
Victor (7) started 2nd grade at a new school. OCS just wasn’t doing it for him. He had slipped in his reading skills and we were unaware how far he was behind. OCS, being a Christian School, seen to be leaning more on the business of being a school than the business the church set it up to be and that was a ministry unto the Lord. That and the fact that they kept increasing fees and cutting programs and other things, we would’ve ended paying more, getting less and having him in a split grade class. Sadly after sending James, CC and Miles (and two years for Victor) through OCS we had to make the hard decision (really it was easy after watching the school decline so much) to take him out. Fortunately, we ran into a few parents who felt the same about OCS over at his new school so he had a couple of friends he knew there. The reading program at Ophir school for 2nd graders is phenomenal and Victor has caught up and beginning to exceed. Now we are working on Math (a curse of all Kinnamonts). In the show he has shifted from working with the rabbits and doves (We discovered he is allergic to them) and he is doing escapes. He is eager to do even more. He has also cut dairy out of his diet because of his allergies and his physiological problem of large adenoids, and small holes between his sinus’. He has done well to remind us that one food or another has dairy in it and he can’t eat/drink it. Fortunately he loves soy milk and Mami is always trying to make him special non-dairy version of foods and deserts. I should also like to mention he has a knack for art. He is an incredible drawer and a very creative writer. His teacher tells us the other kids a re riveted to their seats when Victor tells stories from the road during sharing and his creatively in writing stories is beyond his years. You can see his Shark story and picture on our blog.
Amelia (5) lost a tooth and has started home-schooling Kindergarten. She one of those quick study kids and is eager to learn everything. Because of her good memory and ability to learn quickly she performs mentalism in our show. She as you know is the girly girl and loves to dress up and will always put on lipstick when at grandma’s house. She like her brothers and sisters really travel well. Can you believe they sat through several 12-19 hour drives this summer and stayed in good spirits? And there are no DVD players, I-pods, or the like in our van. It’s draw, write, read, converse or look out the window. At the fair we performed at in New York she gave us a scare running off with a couple of little girl friends (daughters of vendors) and disappearing for about an hour. All us parents went into worry mode and Cynthia eventually found them after a vendor thought they saw them in the commercial tent near our stage…they took the long way back from the sheep pens. Whew. She drew first blood at many of the venues quite often (we use the term here to mean they were the first to get a free something from a vendor…often vendors will give fellow workers at an event a free drink, snack, toy, etc if they like you). Apparently a lot of vendors liked Amy and she drew first blood even more than Jim the stilt walker (who held the record for a long time. )
Olivia-baby (3) Olivia turned 3 and has already performed over 300 shows! She is a natural on stage can turn it on and off at will and will pose or dance at the drop of a hat. The awwwws from the audience were constant. She also loves to dance and would occasionally do it for the crowd. In fact her and Amy sat through every show they could of the magical dance group at the Park we performed at in KY. Olivia to this day remembers many of their moves and the lyrics. She wants to dance in the show.
Mami has completely recovered from the miscarriage and is constantly overwhelmed with keeping a home with nine people in it. Having a disabled son doesn’t help. Still she is mostly cheery and handles the tasks swimmingly. She has many Japanese friends living in Chico and Oroville that she will get together with, especially when the rest of us are on the road. Occasionally we even get to go out on a date to a movie, dinner or lunch, or something similar. Someday we might even get to have that honeymoon we never had. Her heart’s passion is to witness to Japanese living here and in her own country about Christ. She has even located a source for bilingual bibles for them. She is an incredible baking and has piecrusts second to none and the same can be said about her biscuits. When on trips the kids crave their moms cooking and look forward to getting home just to eat in spite of our opportunities to eat local cuisine on the road (I should mention here we also take a microwave oven, a foreman grill, a hot plate, etc and often cook our own meals to avoid the whole restaurant thing….it gets old fast.) My parents live nearby and are a constant God-send to Mami while we travel (and when we are at home). My dad is always on call for a leaky pipe, broken this or that, to install a window air conditioner, or what ever. Mom loves to take the little ones for a morning or afternoon and do fun things with them. She is a former preschool teacher so Amelia studies with her from time to time. It is good to have the grand parents near by.
Me…hmmm…me. When not on the road I am at home trying to get bookings. I spend a lot of time in the office marketing, marketing, marketing. I maintain our website and the other bits of technology for the show. I rebuild and repair props, build new ones, and the experiment. Once a week or so I hang out with my good buddy Magic JC (known to the kids as Uncle JC). We either eat here or we give Mami a break and eat at local eateries. Uncle JC loves to perform his pocket magic everywhere we go to everybody we meet. Trust me if you meet him he will be squeaking his nose and making red hankies vanish and reappear then turn into a cane. Everybody we meet love him. Being a few years older than me he and I will occasionally mess with people by having him pretend he’s a mindless old guy and we loudly talk about how we have to get him back to the home early because they are going to be serving rice pudding tonight. He plays the part hilariously well. As you know I grew muttonchops this year for a new look and because I like them. On the health front I still battle a bad back (had that tethered spine tumor thing inside my spinal cord taken care 2 years ago but there is still a pain that exists….may have to go under the knife again). I should add that falling on my bottom three months after the operation didn’t help I am sure. I have added Cubital tunnel syndrome (like carpel tunnel but on the inside of the arm) to my list of “body falling apart things”. Eventually I may even go see a doctor about it. But to be 100% candid, I feel pretty good and look forward to a very busy 2009!
The animals:
Bobbi the Cockatoo performed a few shows this year and was a hit.
The Sultan (Sulcata Tortoise) turned three and is nearly 12’ across on his way to 36”.
(Both will outlive me so I will never have to say good bye or bury them…..I was the animal mortician as a child-youth for the family and as a result have grownup not wanting to get too close to animals. Try burying a score of them, taking the family pet down to be put down a few times, and scrape a loved cat off the street a couple of times and you will understand.)
Prince (dog) had an eye-infection after getting out and fighting with the neighbor dog but is doing well for a 10 year old.
Red the cat is sad she can’t come in the house (Victor’s allergies) but she is content and fat!
The 9 doves and several bunnies for the show are all content and fat too. We did loose one bunny this year.
Well, that’s a lot said and I am sure I said too much here and there and not enough in other places. I am sure I left out a lot! That makes a good reason for you to stay in touch and give us a ring now and again. Or better yet stop on by. We won’t bite……hard!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas fromt he Sultan
Merry Christmas from the Kent's and the Sultan, our 3 year old tortoise. Princess Cynthia made the hat and his mouth is full of his Christmas Eve treat of grass and Chickweed!Saturday, December 20, 2008
Merry Christmas
Our 2008 Christmas Card-Merry Christmas from the Gang!
Miles-Victor Jr-Victor-Princess Cynthia-Titus-Princess Olivia-Mami-Princess Amelia-Jugglin' Jim
We made this card because for the umpteenth year we received a perfect family picture from my sister and my brother. We could never pull it off so this year we said, "to heck with it". And did the least "perfect family" picture we could think of...the play with "gang" was also on my mind. The photo is a composite of six separate picture.
Those of you who wondered what the non-performing members look like you can see Titus and Mami in this pix.
Merry Christmas....
Remember, Santa is like the clown you hire to entertain the kids at a birthday party. The Party is for the birthday boy...Jesus. Grant it, so many come just for the entertainment. They could care less about the birthday boy...sad. Christmas is not about snow, not about trees, not about food, or drink, or family, or carols, or warm hearted stories. It's about the baby that was sent here to grow up, experience life, and die on a cross only to be resurrected by God in payment for our sins. He said, that whenever you do this (feed, clothe, help) the least of your brethren, thus you do unto to me....so this Christmas do something for the birthday boy.
God Bless!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A followup
I was feeling a little down that last night's show's audience was less than my favorite (always striving for perfection, I guess...and the AUDIENCE-FACTOR IS MOSTLY OUT OF MY HANDS). When this morning I received a email from the HR director of the company for which we performed. Here is the email (minus the personal info of the person):
Last night we put on our annual holiday celebration for our employees children, an event in which you and your children have also attended for the past 2 years. I wanted to take just a few minutes to thank you so much for the entertainment that your family provides us with. It does not happen very often but my children ages 5 and 11 actually sat still for more than 3 minutes. Although I was a little grossed out by the “Nail In The Nose” trick the rest of the show was great. Your children are all beautiful (tell Jugglin’ Jim that is not a bad thing) and they all seemed to enjoy what they were doing. Again thank you for helping us celebrate, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season
Warmed my heart and made me feel much better. It was a good start to a great day...booked another show for this month and confirmed a gig for January with a potential booking in May calling in.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Highs and Lows
The Private Show ...great stage....lousy audience (they arrived later).
Santa and the kids.
Santa at the Chico Christmas Craft Faire.
Blistery, foggy start of the day at the Chico event...it stayed this way all day Sunday...and people actually came and watched our show.It's amazing how the same show performed identically a thousand times to a thousand audiences gets different reactions. The only real variable in our show is the audience. A great audience can make the show seem more incredible than ever. A bad audience can make it seem a lot less good than it really is. By bad audience I am referring to a group of people who are not in the mood, too busy with their obnoxious kids, obnoxious kids, a couple of people too busy visiting with each other and their talking disrupts others, bad weather causing discomfort, a bad smell or distracting sounds disrupting people, a drunk or a heckler trying to be disruptive, etc etc etc.
Last week in spite of very cold weather small crowds formed to watch our show at the Chico Christmas Faire....parent and kids alike were courteous and kind. Kids obeyed their parents.
Contrast that with tonight. We performed a private event for a large company that has it's own showroom. The setting was awesome. And we thought the crowd would be similar to last year when we had a great audience. Turns out the crowd was twice as large as last year and they brought more kids this year. (It was a company family party). These kids had to be the worst behaved kids outside of Minnesota. They were filthy, noisy (in a bad way), disruptive, they blocked people's views by standing on chairs, they grabbed, ugh!
Then there was the loud noises from the bounce house blowers. The folks in the back visiting with each other and a couple of smaller problems with their sound system and we had the making for a lousy show. I mean we performed our show spot on the same way we always do. the same show that gets us booked over and over again by clients. The show that take us around the country and sometimes abroad.
Highs and lows.
Still I am thankful for the booking and thankful for the kind people who did enjoy the program and the invite back next year (I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought...but my standards are very high). And I suppose this experience helps me to appreciate the good audiences we have been time and again blessed with.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Chico Christmas Craft Faire
What a wonderful two days. Freezing cold...but wonderful.
We were invited to perform at Chico's Christmas Craft Faire held at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Ca. The wonderful thing about this craft faire is that the artisans were local and all the products were made by them....no repackaged Chinese Junk.
Though the traffic was light compared to other years (so we were told) the quality of the guests were high (good purchasers)...the fair had to compete with about 6 other same size events in the area.
Our shows were held on the Garden Court Stage in the "U" part of a U shaped building. The weather was freezing and it was a tough venue in that fact only. Between shows we spent much time in the buildings. Our frozen hands, feet, and bodies manned it up for each show and in spite of the mid-high 40s, fog, and occasional frosty breeze crowds gathered and watched our 45 minute programs with enthusiasm. Braver souls than I....I was there but I was paid to be there.
We introduced out newest illusion, "Modern Art meets Circus meets Samurai meets Disco". It was a chance to develop a presentation and the crowd loved it.
All the stunts went over swimmingly and the kids were real troupers.
At the event was a wolf adoption group with a beautiful giant wolf named Eros. There was a Santa that had not a bowl full of jelly and borrowed whiskers. Still he was a kind man. Singers, musicians and the like made out the entertainment bill.
Our boss (the promoter) broke his ribs a couple of days prior to the event but managed to make it out to the show...his family took over the duties to pull of a very nice show. His family was very kind but a very interesting group of individuals. I think his wife can be said to be the Normal one....not that abnormal is bad. Abnormal can be the spice that makes things special.
We were invited to perform at Chico's Christmas Craft Faire held at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Ca. The wonderful thing about this craft faire is that the artisans were local and all the products were made by them....no repackaged Chinese Junk.
Though the traffic was light compared to other years (so we were told) the quality of the guests were high (good purchasers)...the fair had to compete with about 6 other same size events in the area.
Our shows were held on the Garden Court Stage in the "U" part of a U shaped building. The weather was freezing and it was a tough venue in that fact only. Between shows we spent much time in the buildings. Our frozen hands, feet, and bodies manned it up for each show and in spite of the mid-high 40s, fog, and occasional frosty breeze crowds gathered and watched our 45 minute programs with enthusiasm. Braver souls than I....I was there but I was paid to be there.
We introduced out newest illusion, "Modern Art meets Circus meets Samurai meets Disco". It was a chance to develop a presentation and the crowd loved it.
All the stunts went over swimmingly and the kids were real troupers.
At the event was a wolf adoption group with a beautiful giant wolf named Eros. There was a Santa that had not a bowl full of jelly and borrowed whiskers. Still he was a kind man. Singers, musicians and the like made out the entertainment bill.
Our boss (the promoter) broke his ribs a couple of days prior to the event but managed to make it out to the show...his family took over the duties to pull of a very nice show. His family was very kind but a very interesting group of individuals. I think his wife can be said to be the Normal one....not that abnormal is bad. Abnormal can be the spice that makes things special.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
"Modern Art Meets Circus Illusion"
Well, it's done. The newest illusion for our show is ready for performance and will be presented this Dec 6 and 7 at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, CA.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Modern Art Meets Circus
Several things happening these days....
#1 The economy has slowed our corporate season way down. So more time to work on new props and restore old ones.
#2 I topped the scales at 191 10 days ago and decided that was way too much so I have Atkins my way down to 180 on my way (hopefully) to 174. (See Spam Picture below...proof it's all about meat meat meat!
#3 Modern Art Meets Circus the illusion I've been working on for a couple of weeks is about 2 days away from finished. Here is a pic of it:
#4 We performed our 2nd annual performance at Laytonville Elementary School on the California North Coast and it was a grand success. The whole community turns out. Maybe that's because there isn't a theater in a hundred miles. Who knows. None-the-less, it went well and we had a blast.
Princess Olivia and i doing a Spam Commercial.....
#5 Happy Thanksgiving to all. We have relatives coming down (which is why I tried to sell our show 1/2 price to anyone just to get out of town....no joke).
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Updates and dates:
It's that time of year where we (in between bookings) make repairs on props and equipment, design and build new props and or equipment (and costumes), and market like crazy for the new year. We have designed and are building a new version of sawing a woman into two. We are restoring an illusion we performed regularly in Japan 12 years ago and some new surprises from Mami's sewing Machine.(You will see some quick change illusions coming up this season.)
We will be performing at Laytonville Elementary School this Friday evening (it's their biggest theater setting in town). It's a fundraiser for the school. 6pm is the start time.
We will be at the Chico Christmas Craft Faire the weekend of Dec 6 and 7 as well. The other bookings are private events.
We updated the website and will continue to do so over the next 2 months.
We have also updated http://www.victorkent.com/. It's a new direction for us. Just the corporate stuff.
We will be performing at Laytonville Elementary School this Friday evening (it's their biggest theater setting in town). It's a fundraiser for the school. 6pm is the start time.
We will be at the Chico Christmas Craft Faire the weekend of Dec 6 and 7 as well. The other bookings are private events.
We updated the website and will continue to do so over the next 2 months.
We have also updated http://www.victorkent.com/. It's a new direction for us. Just the corporate stuff.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Smoking Shark Upwards Bound and more!
Even though we travel....a lot! the kids do get to go to school. Monday was progress report day for Victor and we found ourselves sitting around the little half moon table in his class across from his teacher discussing Victor. Turns out he is doing OK (this was tough for us to hear because up to now all the kids were doing "outstanding" in 2nd grade. A's have been the norm and a B was rare and always looked at as a D might be looked at in most families.) Each child is different. One are Victor excels in is creativity, be it art, sharing, or stories. Here is a story Victor came up with for a test. The criteria was "Write a funny story." No other hints, tips or ideas, just "Write a funny story".
The Smoking Shark:
I was at the beach and a shark jumped out at me. He had a cigarette in his mouth.
I took it out of his mouth.
He bit my head. Then he put it back on. I said, "Thank you."
The shark said, "You're welcome."
He had another cigarette.
I said, "sharks can't smoke and they can't talk."
"Well", said the shark, "I guess was just made that way."
"Wow!"
The end.
Upward Bound:
Monday we performed an evening show at the Mega Neighborhood Church in Chico, CA for that area's Upward Bound Basketball group. Upwards is a Christian based athletic league that teaches Biblical principals through sports. Monday was the end of their Basketball season and awards night. As a special treat they had us preform a show with a message. Since we are Christians and the Bible commands that we do EVERYTHING for the g Glory of God, we have developed a program where we share the salvation message (along with other points like self control, obeying parents, etc) that we mix with colorful , dramatic illusions and stunts and routines.
It was a lot of fun. And with our crazy season of fairs and festivals and theaters that have been 99% secular it was awesome to get back into doing programs that edify the Church and Christ and not ourselves.
The Audience was made up of maybe 75% folks who call themselves Christian, 10% who were full practicing believing Christians with a noticeable walk with Christ and the rest non-Christians. It is nice to have programs like this to show all that being a Christian isn't anything like the way the Media or left-leaner's like to portray Christians. That being a Christian is actually very cool and very Spiritually rewarding. That Christianity is comforting and kind, like Jesus himself.
The show went smoothly and the message warmly received. Afterwards the pastor prayed with the crowd and offered and invitation for Christ. Many Children and even some adults accepted Christ! Praise God.
What a great night.
I introduced a new trick: I have a large sketch pad laying flat on a table. After performing my Ball-Silk-Dove routine I pick up the pad and have the crowd yell out their favorite magic show animal. There was a large cry for a bird so I opened the pad and drew a dove (or as close as I can get). Then I closed the pad and push in on the ends of the closed pad so it bows the front and back creating an opening. A dove comes up out of the once flattened pad and the page with the picture is now blank.
The Smoking Shark:
I was at the beach and a shark jumped out at me. He had a cigarette in his mouth.
I took it out of his mouth.
He bit my head. Then he put it back on. I said, "Thank you."
The shark said, "You're welcome."
He had another cigarette.
I said, "sharks can't smoke and they can't talk."
"Well", said the shark, "I guess was just made that way."
"Wow!"
The end.
Upward Bound:
Monday we performed an evening show at the Mega Neighborhood Church in Chico, CA for that area's Upward Bound Basketball group. Upwards is a Christian based athletic league that teaches Biblical principals through sports. Monday was the end of their Basketball season and awards night. As a special treat they had us preform a show with a message. Since we are Christians and the Bible commands that we do EVERYTHING for the g Glory of God, we have developed a program where we share the salvation message (along with other points like self control, obeying parents, etc) that we mix with colorful , dramatic illusions and stunts and routines.
It was a lot of fun. And with our crazy season of fairs and festivals and theaters that have been 99% secular it was awesome to get back into doing programs that edify the Church and Christ and not ourselves.
The Audience was made up of maybe 75% folks who call themselves Christian, 10% who were full practicing believing Christians with a noticeable walk with Christ and the rest non-Christians. It is nice to have programs like this to show all that being a Christian isn't anything like the way the Media or left-leaner's like to portray Christians. That being a Christian is actually very cool and very Spiritually rewarding. That Christianity is comforting and kind, like Jesus himself.
The show went smoothly and the message warmly received. Afterwards the pastor prayed with the crowd and offered and invitation for Christ. Many Children and even some adults accepted Christ! Praise God.
What a great night.
I introduced a new trick: I have a large sketch pad laying flat on a table. After performing my Ball-Silk-Dove routine I pick up the pad and have the crowd yell out their favorite magic show animal. There was a large cry for a bird so I opened the pad and drew a dove (or as close as I can get). Then I closed the pad and push in on the ends of the closed pad so it bows the front and back creating an opening. A dove comes up out of the once flattened pad and the page with the picture is now blank.
Friday, November 7, 2008
AM Tehema
Our AM Program is a Just for School Show program that we bring to various county school districts. Today we brought the show to the Red Bluff: Tehema District Fairgrounds where we performed our 70 minute show.
A rare photo of the woman that produced all 7 of the Kent Kids...Mami.
A rare photo of the woman that produced all 7 of the Kent Kids...Mami.(She worked the door today)
A quick shot of the stage prior to the show. The Fairground auditorium's stage is tiny compared to the stage we generally use for our AM Programs.
The banner and a bus.
Princess Olivia exiting the stage notices the camera and waves...notice the flat bunny...first she made a dove appear, turned it into a bunny, stabbed the bunny, made it vanish, the reappear, then she flattened it....busy young lady.
A quick shot of the stage prior to the show. The Fairground auditorium's stage is tiny compared to the stage we generally use for our AM Programs.
The banner and a bus.
Princess Olivia exiting the stage notices the camera and waves...notice the flat bunny...first she made a dove appear, turned it into a bunny, stabbed the bunny, made it vanish, the reappear, then she flattened it....busy young lady.Thursday, November 6, 2008
This That and the other
I Promise no politics.
Just found these pictures:
At Calico Klaus the Blacksmith made this knife from a horseshoe. It throws well. I chipped one of his walls up pretty good.
Princess Olivia's Birthday Present from September becomes her singing buddy a couple of days ago.
Gangsta Princess C!
It really did rain Halloween night. Jim was in the middle of juggling fire when we ended the show early. Our stage got washed.
The bird on the rock the locals call a chucker. It's similar to a quail or a pheasant and it runs like a roadrunner. It makes a honking noise like a bike horn. Calico.
Just found these pictures:
At Calico Klaus the Blacksmith made this knife from a horseshoe. It throws well. I chipped one of his walls up pretty good.
Princess Olivia's Birthday Present from September becomes her singing buddy a couple of days ago.
Gangsta Princess C!
It really did rain Halloween night. Jim was in the middle of juggling fire when we ended the show early. Our stage got washed.
The bird on the rock the locals call a chucker. It's similar to a quail or a pheasant and it runs like a roadrunner. It makes a honking noise like a bike horn. Calico.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A word from Abe
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. * You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. * You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. * You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. * You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. * You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. * You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could, and should, do for themselves.
- Abraham Lincoln. Very wise words written years ago, and we still don't get it.....
- Abraham Lincoln. Very wise words written years ago, and we still don't get it.....
Election Results
Well, the longest election process I have ever experienced is over. For that and the fact a few people I supported and a few issues I supported succeeded I am happy, but reserved.
I am also happy because over the past few years I have seen first hand so much hate and spite and anger (most of it irrational) has been on display. So now it is the put up or shut up time. Show me the money, y'all. If the hope and change guy can't pull it off, or reneges on his promises or pushes through socialist changes, stays in Iraq, and doesn't pull us out of the economic woes then what? Prepare ye self for inflation, unemployment, and the thought police.
I believe we have a Jimmy Carter and we all know we need one of them before we can have a Ronald Reagan.
I am also happy because over the past few years I have seen first hand so much hate and spite and anger (most of it irrational) has been on display. So now it is the put up or shut up time. Show me the money, y'all. If the hope and change guy can't pull it off, or reneges on his promises or pushes through socialist changes, stays in Iraq, and doesn't pull us out of the economic woes then what? Prepare ye self for inflation, unemployment, and the thought police.
I believe we have a Jimmy Carter and we all know we need one of them before we can have a Ronald Reagan.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Vote Early! Vote Often! & 2009 Tour
Did you vote? If you haven't then get out there. If you have great....I should say, if you are truly informed and really know what you are voting for then vote. if all you know is slogans and sound bites...stay home...your ingorance may give us a BAD situation.
As of today Kentucky's laurel County Fair, Beech Bend Park ; New York's Ulster Fair; CT's Quassy Park have all confirmed...we will East of the Mississpii for all of July and most of August. Looking to book maybe Maine or one of the state on the drive back after those gigs. Any connections? Let me know.
As of today Kentucky's laurel County Fair, Beech Bend Park ; New York's Ulster Fair; CT's Quassy Park have all confirmed...we will East of the Mississpii for all of July and most of August. Looking to book maybe Maine or one of the state on the drive back after those gigs. Any connections? Let me know.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Rainn Rain Go Away!
Today, Halloween, we performed at our regular haunt in Elk Grove, CA. We have been doing Oct 31 for the last 3 or 4 years. It's a Christian Church and as an alternative to the ghoulish and spooky they offer folks a chance for an uplifting message, games, food, and entertainment. They get thousands of visitors. We performed three shows with a church "stomp" group performing in between our acts. We brought in our own stage for all this. It rained all morning but tapered off and by show time the clouds, though ominous, were impotent. Well, that is they were until the last show where it started to rain mid-way through. We continued until it came down in sheets and ended the show 5 minutes early. The last thing we did was Jugglin' Jim juggling fire while on his 5' unicycle. It was cool...the rain caused the torches to smoke ravenously while still on fire. The audience stuck with us until then. Right now the stages and props are drenched and in the trailer waiting to be dried tomorrow.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Picture arrived today...
A picture of me pefroming at Calico Ghost Town Ghost Haunt from about 6 years ago or so arrived today in the email. The gent says he willbe sending more.....the picture is "BC" (Before Chops) and notice Jugglin' Jim about 12 years old in th background and Dana my female assistant (Princess Cynthia was too young for the bigger tricks). Also Notice I am fat!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Calico Last Day - Red Ribbons - Family Fun Nite
Alrighty, we are back from Calico and Socal after a great Sunday at the Ghost Town. Normally Sundays at the town are slow but this Sunday was pretty busy. Still the festival drew fewer folks this year, mostly because of the economy and the fact there were several other events in the county this weekend. We had packed crowds at all three shows. And in spite of the fact that show 2 (AKA the 2pm Show) sucked, the other shows were great. I don't understand why 2pm show audience's are often quiet and hard to impress (maybe it's lunch settling and the heat). And here is the kicker, after the show we had a ton of folks telling us how much they enjoyed the show. In fact, many came back to the 4pm show...go figure.
Over the weekend Klaus the Blacksmith, after asking me if I knew how to throw knives, let me demonstrate with a knife he made from a Horseshoe. Eventually I had to stop because I was slowly tearing up the wood that made up the walls of the Blacksmith shop. He gifted me the knife.
The drive home was 8.5 hours and that meant we pulled in at 2:30...could've been sooner but fatigue and new road construction lead me off hwy 99 onto hwy 152 for about 5 miles and the 5 back plus 5 more south then 5 more north just to get to where I should've been nearly 20 minutes ago. Oh well.
4 hours sleep and we were up to go to a school a town away to perform a Red Ribbon show. 600 kids approved of the show. This show was only me, Miles and the two little princesses.
Back home it was a short nap and then an hour drive to a family fun nite at a school in the next county.
In case you can't tell...I am pooped.
More details of the above to come.
Over the weekend Klaus the Blacksmith, after asking me if I knew how to throw knives, let me demonstrate with a knife he made from a Horseshoe. Eventually I had to stop because I was slowly tearing up the wood that made up the walls of the Blacksmith shop. He gifted me the knife.
The drive home was 8.5 hours and that meant we pulled in at 2:30...could've been sooner but fatigue and new road construction lead me off hwy 99 onto hwy 152 for about 5 miles and the 5 back plus 5 more south then 5 more north just to get to where I should've been nearly 20 minutes ago. Oh well.
4 hours sleep and we were up to go to a school a town away to perform a Red Ribbon show. 600 kids approved of the show. This show was only me, Miles and the two little princesses.
Back home it was a short nap and then an hour drive to a family fun nite at a school in the next county.
In case you can't tell...I am pooped.
More details of the above to come.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Busy Day At Calico and Grey Haired Magicians
grey haired magicians and the witch
relatives visit us...Cuzin Pamela is in the back (Yes I know I spelled it wrong)
The grey haired magiciansIt was, as expected busy today in Calico. However, it turned out not as insane as we have seen it in the past. Still we drew the biggest crowds up there and that made for a good time. Grant it audience number 2 at the 2pm show were sticks in the mud (due to the heat me thinks) the 8pm audience #5 was awesome (due to the beer me thinks). I was told there was a parade in Barstow and an off road thingy going on nearby that drew some of the Calico crowd away.
Victor Jr had a hard day. he tumble down a hill and bumped his head (no seriously), then he dropped his lunch all over the back stage floor, and later when he was trying to stand up smashed his nose into a chair. He was looking forward to bed.
Apparently the dry air cause my nose to clog up and I ended up breathing through my mouth last night causing me to snore ( I rarely snore) and Princess Cynthia had to move to the bathroom floor to sleep. I know, it surprised me too.
At a show yesterday a young man came up after a show and thanked us for the show and said he was coming today as a magician. I told him real magicians have grey hair.....so today he showed up with grey spray painted hair. Laughed by patooty off!
Did some knife throwing for the blacksmith. He made a nice knife out of an old horseshoe. Took a few throws to work out the balance and distance. Nailed the target!
Had an argument on Facebook with a Prop 8 opponent....jeez! Talk about the cool aid drinkers; can't people argue without using logical fallacies to support their side.
By the way YES ON 8!
Friday, October 24, 2008
It's a 5 O'clock World and jerks are everywhere
The kids in front of a ouse made from thousands of bottles. Built a long time ago.
Enjoying the greatest donut in the world...frosty's
Taking a bath? Am I really nude? Is there water in there?
Three in a bath.
Victor climbs a wall.
Dead Victor?The Ghost Haunt officially started at 5pm tonight. Our first show 5:30PM. Since we arrived yesterday we had a lot of time to kill before showtime. At first we were going to visit relatives who live in Barstow but they weren't home so we stopped by the store for lunch provision and a quick stop at Frosty's (the world's best donut...make Krispy Kreme taste like dusty sand...I mean these donut really do melt in your mouth...they're big...twice the size of KK's and not encrusted in overly sugary glaze. I mean these are great!) We then headed off to Calico to set up and kill time. I took the girls and Victor all over the town exploring and the older ones studied and goofed around. The pictures above shows a few shots around the town.
The first show was fabulous and in spite of the show happening just 30 minutes after the event started we had a good crowd. The second show was a really big crowd and they were spirited. One man had a bit too many but was a funny drunk. I poked fun at him through-out the show. Then there were three young men, boys really. They mustn't be loved at home because they spent the entire show trying to draw attention to themselves with all kinds of annoying heckling. At the end of the show one kid came over to the front of the stage to explain in his loudest voice how he knew how such and such was done. I interrupted (with mic on) and said, "That's great kids now get out of here you are annoying everyone. He quietly went. Another of the boys tried to buy a magic wand (we sell after the show) I refused his money (and with mic on) told him I refuse to sell it to people who act like jerks during my show. I told him I would sell him one if he brought a parent to me and I sold to them after giving them parenting lessons. I then asked the crowd if there were any parent who thought I was being harsh. No hands. I asked if there were any parent that agreed with me.....50 hands. So I came up with an idea. If he apologized to the crowd and me then I would give him a wand. He did. I got many pats on the back after that by parents later on. One mom even brought her kids over to say thanks for the show.
We have since tonight talked about how to handle these types of hecklers and we have decided to send the older Kent kids into the crowd to not-so-nicely tell the offender to shut up or get out. Second offense we will publicly kick them out. We seem to have the audience on our side with this. A note to any parent reading this. It is your fault 99% of time that your kid is a jerk when you are not around. Be a parent not a buddy. Train your kids to be good when you are there and when you a re not.
All the regulars Klaus the Blacksmith, Nugget Norm, the Piano man, etc are all here.
Soup, salad and Bagel night for the Kents.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
8 hours Subway and Udon
It seems like just a week ago we did this drive....oh yeah, we did.
Outside of watching a couple of skydivers zig zag down and land at the airport right off the hwy in Lodi the trip was pretty standard. Grant it there were a couple of construction zones that weren't there last week and the search for a restroom occupied a bit of time on the latter half of the trip: the Shell at Weedpatch Hwy was once again packed with Chinese tourist waiting for their buses to refuel. So 25 miles later we are at a Texaco in Tehachapi and whoever was in their single restroom with a toddler (we could hear him or her) was in for the long haul.
We have made it a habit to stop and pick up dinner prior to checking in and then eating in our rooms after the check in. Today we feasted on Subway, udon, and gyoza. MMMMMM.
Today I must admit I carried a lot on my mind so I came down a bit heavier in thought than usual. Hopefully this will pass. James is with us and that is nice.
Outside of watching a couple of skydivers zig zag down and land at the airport right off the hwy in Lodi the trip was pretty standard. Grant it there were a couple of construction zones that weren't there last week and the search for a restroom occupied a bit of time on the latter half of the trip: the Shell at Weedpatch Hwy was once again packed with Chinese tourist waiting for their buses to refuel. So 25 miles later we are at a Texaco in Tehachapi and whoever was in their single restroom with a toddler (we could hear him or her) was in for the long haul.
We have made it a habit to stop and pick up dinner prior to checking in and then eating in our rooms after the check in. Today we feasted on Subway, udon, and gyoza. MMMMMM.
Today I must admit I carried a lot on my mind so I came down a bit heavier in thought than usual. Hopefully this will pass. James is with us and that is nice.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Back to Calico
Well, We depart for Calico once again in about 12 hours. This time we are joined by the brilliant Juggln' Jim who has been off at college. This weekend being the same week as Halloween will be insane in number. With gas prices lower and everyone needing distraction from the economy of the election it should be record crowds.
A potential client will be coming out to see our shows to be considered for their event. That's how many clients have come to use us.
The return on Monday brings two local shows (a school assembly and a family fun night). So the next 5 days will be very busy. But that's the biz!
By the way we are on Facebook now. If you want to chat with us, blog with us, share with us, anything else here is the profile link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1470290000
A potential client will be coming out to see our shows to be considered for their event. That's how many clients have come to use us.
The return on Monday brings two local shows (a school assembly and a family fun night). So the next 5 days will be very busy. But that's the biz!
By the way we are on Facebook now. If you want to chat with us, blog with us, share with us, anything else here is the profile link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1470290000
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tid bits and bits of tid
Nugget Norm, a real life miner at Calico (see his picture in the previous entry), told a funny true story to us while we stood around in front of our stage waiting for the Sheriffs to per-walk the two teens who assaulted and battered another teen (see previous entry). Being a Ghost Haunt event Nugget painted is face white (at least the non-whiskered parts) and was sitting on a bench. While he sat staring off into nothing (he was just resting and daydreaming), a visitor to the Ghost Town must have thought he was a manikin (there were many ghostly ghoul manikin and the like around the town) because without a word to Nugget she sat in his lap, "not noticing the soft lap", he said. Realizing she didn't know he was real he got the idea to take his arms (currently out-stretched to his left and right along the top back of the bench) and slowly bring them around the unsuspecting sitter, much like a robot arms would do- never actually touching her. He got two reactions from her (it was a woman): one reaction he expected, the other he didn't. She screamed and jumped up....that was expected. While screaming and just before standing she peed- unexpected. Two people learned a lesson...one not to sit on a manikin without checking to see if it is indeed a manikin; the other learned not to let anyone think he is a manikin.
I have noticed over the years that I have grown to be a bit politically incorrect in my show. I slip in little jabs and pokes at the insane politics of our day. Neither a Republican nor Democrat I have the freedom to see a lot of the squabble from outside. I have a couple of thoughts for all you out there just for fun: Do you realize that both major candidates are from the lowest rated congress (Senate) in the history of the US? If we are to judge each candidate by the roads of their state (Since they as Senators are supposed to get money to keep those roads maintained) then drive Illinois highways and Arizona Highways....Arizona highways are smooth...Illinois highways are the worst in the country next to Hwy 80 near Truckee, CA. How can either candidate say they can bring change...one has been in the Senate for decades, one comes from the infamous Chicago Political machine and has been in politics for 25 years. Both are millionaires...yeah they understand us (not). Let's face it most people are issues people and are siding with the candidate that reflects their view on their issue closest. Both men hare espousing socialist ideas but the Rep is espousing a little less, while the Dem seems ready to move a bust of Marx into the White house. In case any of you like the socialism idea I want to ask you one question...can you name a country where socialism broguth anything but ecconomic collapse? National security is easy...the Rep is the choice. I have read many articles and seen many news pieces....the terrorists are hoping for the Dem...that says volumes. The economy is a tough one. Neither one seems on the right track. What experience or what good idea has either man had? In the end remember this ...... Almost every president elected has NOT kept their promises from the campaign trail..... They WILL SAY ANYTHING to be elected!
OK, I have ranted about politics.
Alrighty then....
You know how thoughts rattle around in your head until the rattling gets so loud and you just need to say something sometimes.....well that was what just happened.
Some people ask what goes on between bookings on the home front. I have mentioned some of the things in previous entries, but I thought I would give you a more complete picture. Take today for example. On the business end today I have to prepare and mail about 100 postcards to potential clients, I have a couple of contracts to put in the computer and mail, I have to check the website for updates and a couple of phone calls to clients to return. In other words, I am a marketing and advertising guy, a sales guy, a demi-lawyer, a secretary (filing too), and more. I also have to prepare the props that need prepping for the trip back to Calico this Thursday. I have household things too. I drop Victor Jr off to school, the princess' to the grand parents house, the wife to and from the dentist, mow the lawn and pull a weed or two. I also have to clean Bobbi the wonder Cockatoo's cage. The costumes need to be cleaned and checked and the kids all need to be picked up today. All of a sudden the show business life sounds a lot like any other persons life. I do have to admit between gigs when the honey-dos and office work are done or if i just don't feel like doing them I have more free time than the average dad. But I make up for it when the tour schedule goes crazy during the spring through autumn.
See I told you ...tid bits and bits of tid.
I actually was thinking it would be a good thing to add to the show until I realized the fuse could fly into a drape, curtain, bail of hay or somewhere flammable so that thought is now gone!
In the words of Paul Simoni a friend of mine from my High School days until today (even though he is now is Heaven no thanks to cancer) Thank you, I love you and God Bless you!
Remember the secret to true success is to Love God with all you heart, all your soul, all your body and all your mind!
I have noticed over the years that I have grown to be a bit politically incorrect in my show. I slip in little jabs and pokes at the insane politics of our day. Neither a Republican nor Democrat I have the freedom to see a lot of the squabble from outside. I have a couple of thoughts for all you out there just for fun: Do you realize that both major candidates are from the lowest rated congress (Senate) in the history of the US? If we are to judge each candidate by the roads of their state (Since they as Senators are supposed to get money to keep those roads maintained) then drive Illinois highways and Arizona Highways....Arizona highways are smooth...Illinois highways are the worst in the country next to Hwy 80 near Truckee, CA. How can either candidate say they can bring change...one has been in the Senate for decades, one comes from the infamous Chicago Political machine and has been in politics for 25 years. Both are millionaires...yeah they understand us (not). Let's face it most people are issues people and are siding with the candidate that reflects their view on their issue closest. Both men hare espousing socialist ideas but the Rep is espousing a little less, while the Dem seems ready to move a bust of Marx into the White house. In case any of you like the socialism idea I want to ask you one question...can you name a country where socialism broguth anything but ecconomic collapse? National security is easy...the Rep is the choice. I have read many articles and seen many news pieces....the terrorists are hoping for the Dem...that says volumes. The economy is a tough one. Neither one seems on the right track. What experience or what good idea has either man had? In the end remember this ...... Almost every president elected has NOT kept their promises from the campaign trail..... They WILL SAY ANYTHING to be elected!
OK, I have ranted about politics.
Alrighty then....
You know how thoughts rattle around in your head until the rattling gets so loud and you just need to say something sometimes.....well that was what just happened.
Some people ask what goes on between bookings on the home front. I have mentioned some of the things in previous entries, but I thought I would give you a more complete picture. Take today for example. On the business end today I have to prepare and mail about 100 postcards to potential clients, I have a couple of contracts to put in the computer and mail, I have to check the website for updates and a couple of phone calls to clients to return. In other words, I am a marketing and advertising guy, a sales guy, a demi-lawyer, a secretary (filing too), and more. I also have to prepare the props that need prepping for the trip back to Calico this Thursday. I have household things too. I drop Victor Jr off to school, the princess' to the grand parents house, the wife to and from the dentist, mow the lawn and pull a weed or two. I also have to clean Bobbi the wonder Cockatoo's cage. The costumes need to be cleaned and checked and the kids all need to be picked up today. All of a sudden the show business life sounds a lot like any other persons life. I do have to admit between gigs when the honey-dos and office work are done or if i just don't feel like doing them I have more free time than the average dad. But I make up for it when the tour schedule goes crazy during the spring through autumn.
See I told you ...tid bits and bits of tid.
Notice the dynamite in Nugget's hand. Nugget had a great idea that we quickly discovered was a bad idea. He thought it would be cool to whip the fuse out of the dynamite. I thought it was cool. We learned something about fuses on that day. Miles Whipped out the fuse, it fell to the ground where it (still lit) spun around and around like a small 4th of July fire-work. Then, when the fuse burned down small enough that it's weight was right, it flew off into a tree like a bottle rocket (albeit a tiny rocket). Luckily it burned out before it hit any flammable part of the tree.
I actually was thinking it would be a good thing to add to the show until I realized the fuse could fly into a drape, curtain, bail of hay or somewhere flammable so that thought is now gone!
In the words of Paul Simoni a friend of mine from my High School days until today (even though he is now is Heaven no thanks to cancer) Thank you, I love you and God Bless you!
Remember the secret to true success is to Love God with all you heart, all your soul, all your body and all your mind!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Last day of part 1 Ghost Haunt-Where's Waldo and more
Where is Waldo?
Miles, Victor, and Nugget Norm
A stick bug takes the stage.
That was a spicey taco!
Hot Hot Hot!OK, Sunday, in spite of being the slowest day on the usual, was very eventful. The audiences were smaller but so was park attendance. (Next week will be insane.)
It has become a tradition that we are booked for a 10 am show on Sundays at Calico. That tradition also includes virtually no one showing up because the Christians are at church and the heathens are recovering from hangovers (no a joke down here). So with permission we canceled the 10 Am show. Instead we tried taking some fire-eating publicity shots. That attracted about 6 people over and that lead to me teaching a couple of men how to eat fire. I should mention that the first step in learning to eat fire is to get over the fear of having fire in you face. The first guy had no problem with that, the second couldn't overcome the fear. It was very funny to watch (for those busy bodies who are so concerned with others' situations when you should really be concerned about cleaning out your own closets I kept an eye on the men's safety).
A short time later there was a ruckus going on at the same spot where a lady had slipped and cut her leg badly a couple of days ago. Rangers were dealing with an injured kid. But unusually the first officials to show up were two sheriff cars. Then the ambulance. The kid ended up getting a neck brace and lots of bandages. Turned out it wasn't an accident, but a couple of teens had jumped another and beat him up. They were local boys. As one drove off in the ambulance the tow others did the perp-walk to the back of the deputy's car. The most action on a Sunday morning at Calico in a long time.
The blow by blow commentary of information was given to us by a local who plays an old miner at Calico, Nugget Norm. He knew the kids in the fight and said they were the local punks. He also had a ton of stories about Calico and the area over the years. The stories included a man on PCP who got into a fight with him and a bunch of other guys at an event at Calico several years ago. There was also the story about a man who decided to take the easy way out by running a pipe from his tail pipe to the interior of his car and how he found the car and the body on an old back road. Or how he and a PG and E guy found a man who found a man hanging from one of the service towers out in the desert. Or the time....well, let's just say he was a man who lived a very colorful life.
It's Halloween up here so there are costume of every type; montors, angels, animals, ghosts, ghouls, and even a Waldo. He sat and watched our show. In fact I saw him several times during the day all over the park....it's was the easiest "Where's Waldo" ever!
Clean up was easy this time around. We just had to load it all into the back stage. No trailer loading! WoooHooo! (Since we are coming back in 4 days.) The drive home was quicker too because we didn't have the trailer.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Day 3 of the Calico Ghost Haunt Tour (day 2 of event)
Here's our stage.
The gunfighters...they've changed a lot since we started 12 years ago.
This is the Calico Piano Player...he's been here forever.
Aunt Lucky came over from Barstow for a visit.
During clean up this desert Tarantula strolled passed our stage. It's migration season. The kids really loved seeing it. It measure about 6" across.What a day. By our recommendation we performed 5 shows today; 3 shows performed 2-3 hours apart is a tough schedule so we asked a couple years back to do as many as we can. Also sales for our post show magic and novelties are always good at Calico and more shows means more sales.
Today had many more people than yesterday and we had packed seating at every show. We rotated three shows with a special last show that had the cremation illusion (One of us gets turned into a skeleton after going through a fire).
We all finished the day extremely hungry in spite of all the food we had today...five show can do that to you. So a trip to Vons to get microwavable stuff and then off to the hotel where we are all stuffing ourselves right now.
Almost forgot: The little ones are constantly making new friends. In fact, today one little girl who assisted Princess Amelia in her act came back to another show just to give the Princess a necklace she made for her. It made Amelia very happy. But she is aware of her popularity. She told us, "I don't know why, but everyone sees us on stage, then they want to be my best friend and they give me things." She says it in a matter of fact way. ( By the way we really try to dissuade people from giving the kids stuff but often it happens out of my sight and even though the kids say no the gifter usually insists and the kids give in.)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Calico Ghost Haunt Day 2
A shot of the blacksmith shop outside made up for the Haunt. I have no idea who the lady is...didn't realize until I uploaded the pix on the computer that she was in the picture.
A ghostly welcome at the front gate.
Klaus the Blacksmith.
This used to be the medicine show wagon...they moved it, painted it a gross color and now it sits doing nothing.
The not so busy town a couple hours before the official haunt begins. Tomorrow night it will be insane!Only two shows today. Set up seemed slow without James. After all for the last 11 years James was always there with us. To say it is weird to be without him here is an understatement. It's comforting to know he will be with us next week. Still for the light crowds (after all it's still 2 weeks until Halloween) we had good crowds. The only routine I don't think worked out well for these crowds was Seance. Had some problems with in in show one and it just seemed long and anti-climactic in show two so we are cutting it.
Klaus the Blacksmith, a regular here at Calico, was back at his anvil today. He has lost weight and looking healthy.
Wayne "Damage" (that's his moniker during the Haunt) the ranger who is always so helpful, was here today as well.
While setting up an older woman fell over some low rocks and cut her leg open pretty good. The whole thing happened near our stage area. An ambulance eventually had to come up. There was a nice blog clot puddle and they put gravel on it to clean it up. Silly me nearly slipped an fell due to the gravel a little later on.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Calico Ghost Haunt Mini-tour
For 12 years we have been traveling the 8 hours to Yermo (outside Barstow) California to perform at a theme park I used to visit as a child. Calico Ghost Town is an actual town that went ghost-town when the silver mines dried up. After changing hands a number of times the town is now run by the county and it's basically an old west themed amusement park...no roller coasters or twirling rides...still it attracts a lot of visitors from around the world. They have several festivals over the year. One is their Ghost Haunt held over the two weekends leading up to Halloween. They take the old Maggie mine and turn it into the greatest spook house in the world. After being scared out of your skin you come out the top of the mine and come off the hill where the Livery Stable Stage and the Kent Family Magic Circus performs their show.
This is the only time of year we perform our Cremation illusion and a few other "seasonal" tricks. We love the audiences up here and the area is packed to the point where you can hardly move. It's fun!
Well, the drive went smoothly...I noticed that late morning starts feel longer than early morning starts. Late night drives go fairly quickly too. We have our regular stops and can figure the eta of our trip by the stops. One stop is a gas station outside of Bakersfield. The last three times we have stopped there we have arrived just as a tour bus with Chinese tourists arrived....they flock right to the rest rooms clogging things up for so long that we had to just leave. Today the bus was there but this time they were loading into the bus so the bathrooms were open and the visit went quickly.
Nothing special happened today on the drive. We passed cotton fields and corn fields. We passed citrus trees and walnut trees. We drove by Andrews Air Force Base and a billion sage brush. There were Joshua Trees and purple mountains. It was a nice drive.
This is the only time of year we perform our Cremation illusion and a few other "seasonal" tricks. We love the audiences up here and the area is packed to the point where you can hardly move. It's fun!
Well, the drive went smoothly...I noticed that late morning starts feel longer than early morning starts. Late night drives go fairly quickly too. We have our regular stops and can figure the eta of our trip by the stops. One stop is a gas station outside of Bakersfield. The last three times we have stopped there we have arrived just as a tour bus with Chinese tourists arrived....they flock right to the rest rooms clogging things up for so long that we had to just leave. Today the bus was there but this time they were loading into the bus so the bathrooms were open and the visit went quickly.
Nothing special happened today on the drive. We passed cotton fields and corn fields. We passed citrus trees and walnut trees. We drove by Andrews Air Force Base and a billion sage brush. There were Joshua Trees and purple mountains. It was a nice drive.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
PPAC Show October 10-----Success--It's Theater Season
This time of year,after the fairs and after most festivals (still have a couple) Theater and Corporate Season (with a little bit of school shows thrown in for good measure). For the past four years we have kicked the Theater portion off with our show at the Paradise Performing Arts Center (PPAC). We debut the new illusions/routines for the season; which is another way of saying we audience test them. Last night we debut Bump in the Night (which fooled my wife even though she knows how it works.) and re debuted (haven't performed in over 10 years) the Vanish (where one of us stand on a table we just built out of two saw horses, two 2X4s and a flat board, toss a foulard in front of us and then immediately vanishes....and the table is promptly taken apart.), and the re debut of a routine we only did for Halloween shows aver 4 years ago, The Seance (where Princess Cynthia is tied to a chair next to a basket full of stuff from the remains of an old haunted house, a curtain-hoop made from the bed curtains of the haunted house are raised in front of her the instruments fly and bang and honk and clang. Then the drape is lowered and she is still tied tight. Much more happens including an audience member joining her.)
All in all the show was a success and in spite of a couple of technical glitches (the worst being the lights tech missing her ques and screwing up one trick as a result; the other glitches were un-noticeable to the audience. ) The AM show was a sell out and the PM, though not a sell out, was in the black ink. Both audiences were enthusiastic and happy with the shows according to post show comments (We have friends and staff out in the audience and lobby to listen in and hear comments so we can fix the things people don't like.
I dropped the show off at the theater the day before and we did a bit of set up before heading back out. The next morning we arrived about two hours before curtain and finished setting thing s for the first show. Jim came down from college to join us. Having grown up doing this and knowing the show the way most kids know their gameboys and cell phones the show was deftly put together and ready to go. The show ran smoothly and even Princess Olivia who was visibly sad when she was introduced (some ting went on back stage that mad her sad....still don't know what it was but with a three year old it could've been anything!) After the show we met and greeted the audience on their way out then changed and started the PM setup.
Though there was 8 hours til curtain the setup time included rehearsal of the new things and technical work for our new set. Also since we were using the fly system to lift some props there was the weight balancing of those and the setting of the lights. Naturally food, naps, and personal stuff had to be worked in as well. That's life on the stage and backstage; especially for a family with little kids.
All in all the show was a success and in spite of a couple of technical glitches (the worst being the lights tech missing her ques and screwing up one trick as a result; the other glitches were un-noticeable to the audience. ) The AM show was a sell out and the PM, though not a sell out, was in the black ink. Both audiences were enthusiastic and happy with the shows according to post show comments (We have friends and staff out in the audience and lobby to listen in and hear comments so we can fix the things people don't like.
I dropped the show off at the theater the day before and we did a bit of set up before heading back out. The next morning we arrived about two hours before curtain and finished setting thing s for the first show. Jim came down from college to join us. Having grown up doing this and knowing the show the way most kids know their gameboys and cell phones the show was deftly put together and ready to go. The show ran smoothly and even Princess Olivia who was visibly sad when she was introduced (some ting went on back stage that mad her sad....still don't know what it was but with a three year old it could've been anything!) After the show we met and greeted the audience on their way out then changed and started the PM setup.
Though there was 8 hours til curtain the setup time included rehearsal of the new things and technical work for our new set. Also since we were using the fly system to lift some props there was the weight balancing of those and the setting of the lights. Naturally food, naps, and personal stuff had to be worked in as well. That's life on the stage and backstage; especially for a family with little kids.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Death is sad!
We are introducing a new illusion at this Friday's show at the PPAC in Paradise, CA. It's Called "Bump in the Night". The basic concept is three ghostly goblins will be made to appear with a cool twist. We have built the prop and are in rehearsals with it. In doing it we have experimented with various costumes. Miles was modeling a "reaper costume" with an evil metallic face. He liked it a lot but when we all decided it wouldn't do (remember he's in the costume) he turn, slumped his head and sighed. It was hilarious...like death was sad. We all burst out laughing.
Monday, October 6, 2008
PSA on KUBA Radio for PPAC Show
Below is the script recorded at KUBA studios to promote the PPAC show this Friday:
Imagine cheesy circusy music in the background.
The Kent Family Magic Circus-Paradise Performing Arts Center
Are you suffering from body odor, bad breathe?
Is your stock portfolio not as meaty as you would like?
Are you tasteless and droopy? And more meaty than you would like?
Well, there isn’t much I can do about any of these things….
But if you want to have a ton of fun, get your mind off the crazies on Wall Street and Washington then I bring you real Hope and Change, Bring your family out to the Paradise Performing arts center this Friday night at 7:30pm and enjoy the mysteries and comedy that is the Kent Family Magic Circus. The show performed by a real family; a dad and 6 of his 7 kids.
You know, 9 out of 10 psychologists (that we paid to say) say that during harsh economic times individuals need to spend a certain amount of time each day getting their minds off their troubles, in fact they specifically mentioned the Kent Family Magic Circus …and no better way to do that then to take that short drive up hwy 99 to Clark Rd to Nunnley Rd in Paradise and catch the Kent Family Magic Circus perform magic, juggling, fire eating, bull whip tricks, why there is even a 5 year old who can read your mind! Blows my mind.
Once again the Kent Family Magic Circus at the PPAC this Friday October 4 at 7:30pm…. mention this commercial and one child under 12 gets in free with one paying adult.
Imagine cheesy circusy music in the background.
The Kent Family Magic Circus-Paradise Performing Arts Center
Are you suffering from body odor, bad breathe?
Is your stock portfolio not as meaty as you would like?
Are you tasteless and droopy? And more meaty than you would like?
Well, there isn’t much I can do about any of these things….
But if you want to have a ton of fun, get your mind off the crazies on Wall Street and Washington then I bring you real Hope and Change, Bring your family out to the Paradise Performing arts center this Friday night at 7:30pm and enjoy the mysteries and comedy that is the Kent Family Magic Circus. The show performed by a real family; a dad and 6 of his 7 kids.
You know, 9 out of 10 psychologists (that we paid to say) say that during harsh economic times individuals need to spend a certain amount of time each day getting their minds off their troubles, in fact they specifically mentioned the Kent Family Magic Circus …and no better way to do that then to take that short drive up hwy 99 to Clark Rd to Nunnley Rd in Paradise and catch the Kent Family Magic Circus perform magic, juggling, fire eating, bull whip tricks, why there is even a 5 year old who can read your mind! Blows my mind.
Once again the Kent Family Magic Circus at the PPAC this Friday October 4 at 7:30pm…. mention this commercial and one child under 12 gets in free with one paying adult.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Update October 4, 2008
We are in the process of retooling for the upcoming theater Shows.
Newark Days sent me a copy of their local newspaper and low and behold we made the front page of the local section....a big picture.
We are excited about our new Bump in the Night Illusion and have started rehearsals. It will depute at this coming Friday's show at the large and beautiful paradise Performing Arts Center in Paradise, CA. The PPAC is where we traditionally kick off our theater season introducing our new routines and illusions.
This is year we are introducing Bump in the Night, bringing back Seance (a routine where Princess Cynthia, tied and bond to a chair conjures up "spirits"- perplexing and funny), as well as a number of other smaller routines and tricks including Miles with a new Whip routine (to depute in December) and Jim with some new tricks in his juggling repertoire.
This past week I also met with JC Dunn, the incredibly nice, very funny, creative, did I mention nice, member of the Magic Castle, knowledgeable, nice, friendly, kindly magician and The very cool Bill Jackson- extremely creative, very smart magician and friend.
Also this past week or so I opened a Facebook account (under Victor Kent) so go and become a "friend".
And finally I have published the three newest wand tricks for the Victor kent Crystal Metalic Magic Wand. It can be found at www.kentfamilymagiccircus.com/wandtricks.htm go to page 7...there is even video of it.
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