Rehearsals

After Monday's shows, I made the long drive back home. Tuesday and Wednesday I felt exhausted. Must be fighting something. Last night I started rehearsals for next week, when my wife and son will team with me again at Knoebels Amusement Park in central PA.

We've played Knoebels for 13 years now. During that week, thanks to the great location and lack of cell phone signal, we are completely out of touch with reality. This will probably be my last post before I return from that trip. Not that anyone actually reads this thing anyway.

Rumba

During VentHaven, I met ventriloquist Bob Rumba. Turns out, Bob now lives about an hour or so from the fair I am working this week. I contacted him with my show times when I arrived here and Sunday, he and a friend came out to say hello and see the show.

Thanks Bob, it was great getting to know you and I appreciated the company!

Today I've got an 11:00 check out, then will head to the local mall for air conditioning and to kill time since I don't need to be on the fairgrounds until 4 pm. After my last show, I'll track down my check and then drive 3 1/2 hours to get home. It will be great to sleep in my own bed tonight - although I'm guessing the wife won't be too happy if I wake her as I get in.

Playing Favorites

Saturday was a great day - a couple of friends I hadn't seen for quite a while surprised me by stopping by to say hello. That is something I love about fairs - you meet other entertainers and vendors who become an extended family. You never know where you will meet again, but when you do, it is always fun.

My audiences yesterday had plenty of repeats who came early to get a good seat. I sometimes feel like they will want something different so the show will remain fresh for them. As we talked, I found they each had favorite moments and characters they couldn't wait to see again. Some adults were even doing their impressions of my show. A real surprise was when one family told me they caught my show North of here in the beginning of June. They saw my name in the paper and came out to see me. After the show, they asked if I had brought Deeder. Naturally, Deeder made an appearance in the next show.

Well, it is time to get ready, grab some lunch and head to the fairgrounds. I'm looking forward to making people laugh today!

TGIF

Yesterday I checked into the hotel - great room! Its a good thing because I will be spending some time there. Got to the fairgrounds and found out I only had one show at 7:45 pm. The early show was cancelled because the fair wouldn't open until 6:00. That meant a lot of waiting before I went on. The show was very well received and the crowd grew during the act, so I think I'll have fun here.

The scheduling problem came in due to the mid-run replacement. I'm here through Monday, then a hypnotist comes in for the final five days of the run. The hypnotist runs 45 minutes to an hour, I run 30 minutes at a fair. I'm extending to 45 min. for the weekday shows, they add a 3:45 show on the weekends - so I'll return to a 30 minute show those days.

Because of the late afternoon starts, I'm getting some business taken care of in the mornings and working on some video projects I started. In fact, I guess I should get busy or my free time will slip away.

Until tomorrow...

Show times?

Tomorrow I start at a fair I last worked 11 years ago as a magician. And to think when they said they wanted me back I didn't believe them! The contract had no show times listed. That isn't unusual since things are signed way in advance. I checked out the fair's web site - first show - 5:45 pm. I call the fair to confirm my arrival and find out they open the gates at 6:00 pm on Thursday. ????

At least I'm not getting up at 4:30 a.m. I can leave around lunch, drive 3+ hours, check into the hotel, freshen up and head to the grounds to get ready for my first show - which I'm guessing starts sometime after 6:00! The office wasn't sure of the times...

Waking Up While Driving

Still exhausted after VentHaven's long hours, I'm staying up late to spend time with my wife and son. This morning I had to be up at 4:30 am to shower and leave for a show - arrival time 10:00 - show time - 11:00. Why so early? Because it was a small show I shouldn't have scheduled, it was hours away, and it wasn't worth spending the money on a hotel room. I used to be able to do these drives when I was younger.

The show went great and I even met a fellow ventriloquist after the show. Its always fun meeting other performers. After that, I met up with some friends for lunch. In itself this was a miracle since I had forgotten my cell phone. It was like living in the early 80's - how did we survive?

The lunch was my downfall - I relaxed and the drive back home was no fun. Several times I startled awake as I slowly began to drift. Sodas provided caffeine, but bed was where I needed to be. So what do I do? Get home and start blogging. Goodnight!

Home At Last!

The VentHaven Ventriloquist convention was a blast. I got the chance to meet Terry Fator and Jeff Dunham - the top ventriloquists in the business. Among the highlights was a midnight tour of the VentHaven Museum with Jeff & family. After a breakfast with Ken Groves Sunday morning, it was a LONG drive back to Maryland with two quick stops for gas. My wife cooked a wonderful dinner, my son told me about his week at Band Camp and I was able to sleep in my own bed!

Today is "fun" - okay, not really. Time to send out packages and return calls. Hopefully I can get a haircut squeezed in here too. I leave before dawn tomorrow for a morning show - out and back. Thursday I head to western PA. for a five day fair run.

Terry Fator

Terry Fator is performing at the vent convention tonight. This afternoon he was at the Junior Open Mic and posed for pics. I'll be posting that in my picture area next week when I stop by the house before heading out to shows in PA.

Kentucky

Drove to Ken's house first thing Tuesday and met up with him & another guest, ventriloquist Ken Lucas. We had a great day relaxing, eating and talking. The Kens reviewed one of my shows taped at the Ocean County Fair last week. Ken Lucas then ended the evening by performing a new bit he will have in his show at the VentHaven convention.

Today we left early and drove to Kentucky. Currently at the Drawbridge Inn cooling off in the room before heading to the registration area. Will write more as time permits!

Welcome

I've finally decided to start one my own blog. Hopefully I'll be posting here often - especially when on the road. If you enjoy reading this, feedback is appreciated!

As I write this I have just returned from an 8 day road trip with shows in New York and the coast of New Jersey. It was great to see my wife and son, even if only for a little while. I enjoy doing the shows and traveling, but when I see them again I realize exactly how much I miss them when I'm gone.

Today I am catching up on signing contracts and mailing packages. I am also waiting for car repairs to be finished and laundry to dry so I can pack to leave for my next trip at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. I'll be heading to my friend and vent mentor - Ken Groves' place in Ohio, then Wednesday we will go to Fort Mitchell, KY. for the VentHaven ventriloquist convention.

I'll try to update from the road!