Not much to tell about this one. I was inadvertently positioned next to a very loud music performer. I was moved to the far end of the area, but the music was so loud I was unable to hear myself think let alone perform any magic. I’m sure the mix up was not intentional on anyone’s part. I inflated balloons for the little ones and that was enough for me. The use of helium to inflate balloons is new to me but that part went as well as planned.
This was a strange one. It is always one of the better festivals I attend each year, and it proved to be no exception this year. The strange part was getting in to the event. Again, I didn’t have an invitation to attend, so I had to pay my own way. I had arrived early and there was a lot of security. I took all of my cunning to get past the front gate guard, but I was successful. Again I performed alone which works out well at this particular event. The children wanted balloons, but a lot of them want magic too, so I gratified them with both.
What a great festival. It went well both days. I had Russ with me on Saturday to inflate the balloons, so I was free to do a lot more magic but on Sunday I was alone again. Doing magic while the children want balloons is impossible, so I kept to my trusty pump and filled those children’s hearts with joy.
The Saturday performance went well even though I did it alone. Nancy was there with more on her plate than anyone would want. She is a trooper plus. I gave away over 200 balloons, but I was so busy running the pump I didn’t do much magic. I hope my fans didn’t mind. It rained at my house on Sunday, and because I don’t have a canopy for cover, I didn’t attend.
The OCF just happened to fall on my birthday this year. As always I had a blast. I had Nichole running the balloon pump, and she worked harder than anyone at the fair. I think I gave away a record number of balloons that day, 300 plus. And to be sure, I did more magic than I’ve done at any event before or since. The crowd loved us.
This event was one I was invited to join. Nancy White of the famous Canterbury Renaissance Fair needed a magic act to help with the performance she had scheduled for the Portland Saturday Market. I’m not much of a stage magician, but I think I held my own. Actually, I got off the stage to perform for the children at ground level in front of the stage. It went as well as planned. Again we all got wet, but not from Mother Nature, but from the lawn sprinklers. I had my son Matt and my trusty companion Russ with me. Two better helpers are not easily found these days.
Well, as you all know, I’ve been busy again this summer. Here it is September already.
Fortunately, I have no performances scheduled for the rest of this year.
As for the Festivals I attended during this past summer, I can honestly say I enjoy each and every one of them.
I will be scheduling performances for next year soon and posting them here as they are scheduled.
Several sponsors are presenting the National Night Out this coming august 7. It is being held in the rear parking lot of the Red Lion Hotel located at 3301 Market Street NE, Salem. The event starts at 6:00 PM and will close at 9:00 PM.
The list of sponsors is extensive, but I will attempt to list them here:
The City of Salem Police Department
Might Mo, Inc.
Don Pancho, Authentic Mexican Foods
Hands and Words are Not For Hurting
and of course, Professor Laffmoore
Please forgive me if I have inadvertently missed anyone.
Don’t forget to look for me at Faerieworlds Summer Festival in Eugene, Oregon on July 27, 28 and 29th..
I’ve added it to my performance schedule for the 2012 season. This is one of my favorite festivals and I recommend it to anyone who has never been before.
I may be filming some parts of my perfomance at this festival, so if you get a chance to see me, please remember you may be photographed.
See what I found at About.com on the internet.
The first rubber balloons were made by Professor Michael Faraday in 1824 for use in his experiments with hydrogen at the Royal Institution in London.
I find this fact interesting because first of all the balloon was invented by a Professor. And second of all I know this professor from my studies in electricity. You see, I know quite a bit about electricity, and its effect on balloons.
Did you know that if you rub a balloon over the skin of your forearm several times, that it will pick up a static electric charge. You can use this static electric charge to do some interesting things.
You can make the hair on your head stand up simply by passing the balloon over your head, but not to close, just above your hair. You will find “the hair standing up trick” is a lot of fun to show other people.
Another trick you can perform with a balloon is to stick it up on the ceiling using the same technique of rubbing it on your arm to “charge” it with electricity. You may need the help of an adult to get the balloon to the ceiling, but after you rub it on your arm you can easily stick it to the ceiling. It won’t keep the charge very long, but it should stick on the ceiling for several seconds.