I’ve been traveling western Canada attending prop manipulation festivals and getting a new perspective on our community.

In this episode we have an inspiring interview with Thom Thumb, one of the organizers of Play Immersion and an extraordinary diverse and talented prop manipulator. We talk about his “contingency theory”, the importance of adult play and life lessons we’ve learned from prop manipulation.

This interview was recorded at the Spin Out Festival

Check out his FlowFesto and my 10 Life Lessons I Learned From Skill Toys

Also make sure to check out Fund the flow Arts and thank you for listening.

If you have questions or comments for the show why not email me or call the comment line at 269.718.FIRE

Host Carisa Hendrix & Special Guest Jacob Fortin | Fire Myths

How did we understand fire, before we understood fire?

In this very special science episode of the Fire Bug Podcast we discus fire myths. Specifically about the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele and the greek fire god Prometheus.

It’s good to have some understanding of these myths as it helps us understand the role fire played in ancient life,. We can also use these myths are narrative elements in our performance. We hope you enjoy this episode, thanks for listening.

We also answer one of your questions on the new “Ask Ted” segment. Remember if you have a question, you can always leave it on the comment line 1.269.350.4718 or email it into info@carisahendrix.com.

More Jacob Fortin - The Good Atheist

Why are playful people more attractive??

In this very special science episode of the Fire Bug Podcast we listen to a few clips from Stuart Brown’s lecture from the serious play serise at the Art Center Design Conference in 2008. Brown talks about play deprivation in animals and the correlation with it’s effects in humans and the uniqueness of human play. We interview Garry Chick, anthropologist and professor at pen state university about his interview on adult play for the recent psychology today article. He talks to us about how we got to be so playful, evalutionalaly speaking, and why both playful women and men make the most desireable mates.

Show Notes

Neoteny - also called juvenilization, is the retention, by adults in a species, of traits previously seen only in juveniles. Garry’s email gchick@psu.edu Carisa’s email: info@carisahendrix.com Comment Line 1.269.350.4718 New Syndicated Authors:

SaFire, Educator and Innovator Spin Out Events & Hoopcity.ca

Dube Juggling Since 1975 Visit Dube at Dube.com

Noel Benedetti, Sideshow Nerd Hey Rube Circus Blog

Circus Freaks Skill Toy Love Visit them at CircusFreaks.og

Hoop Pretty Everything Hoopy Visit them at HoopPretty.com

Firepedia Authors

Carisa Hendrix Main site & LearnFireEating.com

Show Notes:

Zan Moore is an amazing entertainer who has booking tours down to an art. Over the summer he performed 60 show and traveled 1500 miles over 4 months and has achieved that insane feat two years in a row. Zan is also half of the world’s best partner poi pair (and that’s not just my opinion).

On this week’s show we talk about getting into entertainment, how Zan and Aurora developed their partner poi skills and his new endeavors helping organize Fire Drums, Pacific Fire Gathering and Kinetic Fire. Zan’s advice about starting to work on your skills as an entertainer using street and festival shows as well as how we can experiment with style and character while developing an act, is invaluable for anyone seriously considering an career as an entertainer.

Links:

Zan and Aurora’s site Instruments of the Now -InstrumentsoftheNow.com Fire Bug Episode 14 - How to Apply for Street Performing Festivals This week’s biggest time waster - The Hype Machine keeps track of what music bloggers write about and let’s you stream the top picks. Fire Drums - FireDrums.org Pacific Fire Gathering - PacificFireGathering.com Kinetic Fire - Facebook Event Download the theme song- Fire Bug by Ryan Pilling Poi Spinning: Focus on Transitions DVD - Click Here to buy on Shireen’s Store Get The Fire Bug Ringtone!! -Click to start the automatic download -Version 1, Version 2

Related Articles:

Fire Bug Podcast 17 | Tedward January 18th, 2011 “We review the resources available to fire eaters, and talk about the discrepancy […]”

World Class Partner Poi – Zan & Aurora January 20th, 2011 “Nothing like watching the best in the world to inspire you to take out your practice poi and get spinning again […]“

How to Become a Sponsor

Show Notes:

We talk about and review the resources available to fire eaters, and talk about the discrepancy between fuel names in different countries. Ted settles the debate with Isopropyl alcohol and white gas. What kind and size of fire eating torches should you be using and the inside scoop on what’s happening with North American Fire Arts Association.

Links:

Tedward’s Main Site -www.Tedward.org Ted’s guinness attempts - Watch on Youtube North American Fire Arts Association (NAFAA) -www.Nafaa.org NAFAA’s Fire Wiki - nafaa.pbworks.com NAFFA TV - Subscribe on Youtube Red Swan Entertainment - www.RedSwanFire.com This week’s time waster: Angry Birds - On iTunes Entertainer tip or the week: GV Mobile + - SeanKovacs.com Download the theme song- Fire Bug by Ryan Pilling Get The Fire Bug Ringtone!! -Click to start the automatic download -Version 1, Version 2

Related Articles:

Interview with Tedward owner of Bearclaw How to Become a Sponsor

Sponsor

This week’s episode kindly sponsored by Bearclaw Fire Tool Manufacturing, innovating high-performance fire equipment for over a decade. Check them out at BearClawFire.Com.

Show Notes:

An organizer of Pacific Fire Gathering, producer of “Poi Spinning Basics with Pele’s Element DVD” instructional DVD and world class performer Shireen Press joins us to discuss a range of topics to our growing community of prop manipulators to the very future of our industry. Shireen has performed at a Private Party with the Beastie Boys, instructed at the Portland Juggling Festival for years and now teaches at her Circus School full time when not organizing festivals.

Links Shireen’s Website - flame-buoyant.com/ Pacific Fire Gathering - PacificFireGathering.com EJC - Fire performance on the rise - www.ejc2010.org Poi Spinning Basics with Pele’s Element DVD - Click Here to buy on Shireen’s Store Poi Spinning: Focus on Transitions DVD - Click Here to buy on Shireen’s Store

A programer turned fire performer, Gora went from performing at festivals to doing National television spots and performing at the European Juggling Convention. He tells us to believe in what you do and you’ll succeed, it’s an inspiring story. In his 10 years of entertaining hungary went from one troop, his, to more than 30 amateurs are watering down the industry, but providing cheap low quality entertainment.

Links Our Sponsor - www.municycle.ca Gora’s Website - www.gora.hu Ballycast Podcast - ballycast.com EJC - Fire performance on the rise - www.ejc2010.org Kiev Fire Festival - eastern bloc - firefest.info/en/main.htm Maverick Awards - www.maverickmovieawards.com Gora’s last show, called Swing Begins - juggling.tv/4656

Did an interview with CJSW that aired this morning, to promote the Calgary Podcast Live event.

Interested in more info check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168459049845655

Sponsor

This week’s episode kindly sponsored by Bearclaw Fire Tool Manufacturing, innovating high-performance fire equipment for over a decade. Check them out at BearClawFire.Com.

Show Notes:

James Jordan is back on the show in time for festival application season. He’s a veteran street performer and festival organizer so he knows a lot about what it takes to get your self booked.

Terminology: Press kit, press release, flash drive

Creating a promotional video: Keep it short 2-4 minutes, lots of shots of your audience enjoying your show. Prove you can hold a crowd and that your show is unique. Don’t include your hat line.

Testimonials: Ideally use testimonials from other festivals that loved you, include the full letters.

Bio & Description of the show:

Your history, how long you’ve been performing and what makes you unique. Describe your full show including finally.

What to send:

There are a lot of ways to get your information out. What to use? DVD mail outs, digital downloads, a page on your website or flash drives.

Make sure to call rather than just email the festivals you are interested in.

Links

James Jordan - fuzzyhair.net email jimbo@fuzzyhair.net Words free - scrabble with strangers (play james fuzzyhairnet) Marketing over coffee podcast InterPlay Festival (Fort Mcmurry, Alberta, Canada) Edmonton Street Performer Festival (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) Winnipeg Fringe Festival (Winnipeg, Canada) Saskatoon Fringe Festival (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Bearclaw Manufacturing

Special Thanks to our Sponsor The Vanishing Rabbit

This episode is FULL of great travel tips, get a pen and paper, you’ll want to write this stuff down.

Warning

I do say $h*t in this podcast

Terminology

Patter, southern lights festival

Show Notes

Comment Line - 1.269.350.4718 Tim Ferris’ The 4-Hour Workweek

How to make a fire hoop tutorial Fire Hoop Makers: Cosmic Fire Dance, Hoopdrum Alberta Prop Manipulation Festival - Light and Motion Alberta Prop Manipulation Retreat - Spin Off Nimble Twins Vlogs Marketing Over Coffee Podcast How to make a hoop bag Joey Vedres -Lethbridge Fire Crew Couch Surfing Who to buy Fire Hoops From - Cosmic Fire Dance, Hoop Drums or Synergy Pop Up Beach Tent Anti-Blemish Gel Facial Wash, pH Balanced Continental Airlines

Terminology: Maven, Drupal, PHP

Promotional Tools

1.Facebook - Social Media Platform First you want to ask yourself if Facebook is appropriate for what it is you’re trying to market? Make sure to stay relevant and professional. I don’t recommend Facebook fan pages for mid-level entertainers Take a look at how i’m using facebook here.

2.Twitter - Microblogging Platform Follow fridays, hash tagging and how to get followers. Check out my twitter and see what I’m doing with it. Message me if your interested in the template I created for my twitter background.

Design Tools

3.Wordpress - Bloging and Webdesign Platform Update and design a website quickly and easily. Plugins allow you to connect to social media and do more with your site. Name Cheap or Go daddy to get a cheap domain name.

4.Elance / 99 designs - Get other to design your websites and logos for you at bargain basement prices.

5.Vimeo - Video Player Free Memberships Features: Upload Videos, embed videos on your site with a clean looking player, less risk that your music will be deleted. Premium Memberships are 59.95/year or 9.95/month Features: Password Protect Videos Remove the Vimeo logo from the player See what I’m doing with this application here.

6.YouTube - Video sharing Platform Uploading demo videos that help drive traffic and interest to your site. Check out my Youtube channel and see what I’m doing with this application. Message me if your interested in the template I created for my Youtube background. Happy to share.

Utilitys

7.Google Voice gives you one number for all your phones. It is a free VOIP system that has a ton of features which make it the perfect tool for entertainers. Click here to read the article I wrote on my experiences with this application.

8.PayPal is the faster, safer way to send money, make an online payment, receive money or set up a merchant account.

9.File Factory, Free file hosting. 500GB of free space. Upload and share files. File sharing and software file sharing.

10.Goggle Calendar, Never forget another event. Get event reminders via email or have text messages sent right to your mobile phone. Post your calendar to your website for clients to check you availability. Check out the way I use this application on my site.

Podcast Mentioned:

Marketing Over Coffee Internet Business Masteries

Erin Pimm from Luxotica.com joins us this week to share some insider information. We talk about the various transitions happening in the fire arts community with new audiences, new opportunities and what Erin calls a paradigm shift. We get the scoop on which fire props are on the rise and which events have her coming back year after year.

In our segments this week we talk about burn treatment, old wife’s tales about blisters and butter, and a product I don’t leave the house without.

Terminology: Skill Share, Skill Toys, Buugeng

Erin Pimm - Luxotica.com Fire Drums - FireDrums.tribe.net Pacific Fire Gathering - www.pacificfiregathering.com Burning Man - BurningMan.com Fire Groove - FireGroove.com Crimson Rose - Videos New Fire Fans BURN KIT BURN-FREE EMERGENCY

This week I condemn some people for their bad promo video sound and recommend a podcast that I’m simply addicted to. For a feature segment we have James Jordan bak on the show to cohost an episode about the evolution of a show, a character and a performer.

Check us out at LearnFireEating.com. Please send any comments or questions to Carisa at info@wickeddesign.ca

Terminology: Gags,

Show Notes: James Jordan - www.FuzzyHair.net JP Koala - Battle Axe Show Video Eric Cash - Website and Videos Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod with BH1 Ball Head with Bubble Level for Digital SLR Cameras

We introduce a couple of new segments this week, a faux pas to keep in mind when putting together your performance website and a great program I use to feature my videos online. For our feature segment we interview Craig Stolly of Inflamed.co.za fire performer and instructor from South Africa. He shares with us his unique perspectives on a variety of topics. Tips on performance fuels for poi, cool new props concepts, what inspires him when he’s choreographing and the most important quality to look for in a performer.

Check us out at LearnFireEating.com. Please send any comments or questions to Carisa at info@wickeddesign.ca

Show Notes: Craig Stolly at inflamed.co.za The video hosting service Vimeo Citronella Oil

Check us out at LearnFireEating.com. Please send any comments or questions to Carisa at info@wickeddesign.ca

Terminology: Stoke line, busking, pitch, the draw, hat line

Show Notes:
James Jordan - www.FuzzyHair.net
Checker Board Guy www.CheckerHead.com
Jonathan Burns - www.FlexibleComedy.com and his duo show www.ShowOffShow.com
The radio show we talked about is The Goon Show - www.TheGoonShow.net
The book referenced “The Art of Krowd Keeping” by Gazzo

Check us out at LearnFireEating.com. Please send any comments or questions to Carisa at info@wickeddesign.ca

Terminology: Stoke line, busking, pitch, the draw, hat line

Show Notes:
James Jordan - www.FuzzyHair.net
Checker Board Guy www.CheckerHead.com
Jonathan Burns - www.FlexibleComedy.com and his duo show www.ShowOffShow.com
The radio show we talked about is The Goon Show - www.TheGoonShow.net
The book referenced “The Art of Krowd Keeping” by Gazzo

Show Notes:
For those who don’t know Slacklining check out the wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slacklining, and if your interested in seeing Brandon at the Portland Juggling Festival visit, http://www.portlandjugglers.com/?q=node/123.

If your interested in online tutorials for hoop or poi check out http://www.thespinsterz.com/ Also take a moment to check out Greg and Margaret’s Partner Poi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtOU2_GTi-M