S5E4: David Aiken - Juggler
In this interview, David Aiken talks about his juggling career, branding, interjecting comedy into real life, and a great story that involves him on\xa0the Barenaked Ladies Ships & Dip Cruise!
\nDavid Aiken, AKA the Checkerboard Guy is an award-winning interactive comedy juggler from the Great White North! Performing for corporate events, cruise lines, and at other various venues, David has traveled the world with his act including North America, Austrailia, Europe, and Asia, and even learned to perform his act in Japanese since he was invited back there so often. He\u2019s performed for clients such as Air Canada, Honda, the Canadian Football League, The National Hockey League, and even had the opportunity to perform for Canada\u2019s Prime Minister.
\nRoyal Caribbean International says that David is "A wacky crazy man that will keep you laughing! and a delight to work with!" \xa0
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\nSuccess Quote:\nOnce you can laugh at your own weaknesses, you can move forward. Comedy breaks down walls. It opens up people. If you're good, you can fill up those openings with something positive. Maybe you can combat some of the ugliness in the world. \u2014 Goldie Hawn \xa0
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\nFailure Moment\nMissing a flight to India because he didn't look at the time correctly. He showed up at 2:00 PM instead of 2:00 AM. \xa0
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\nBranding and His Checkerboard Guy Persona\n\u2022 How he evolved into\xa0his persona.
\n\u2022 How he uses "trading cards" in his marketing efforts.
\n\u2022 Living his persona on stage and off stage.
\n\u2022 How his branding helps him generate "celebrity."
\n\u2022 When people want you specifically, that's the beginning of celebrity. \xa0
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\nBiggest Professional Challenge\nSlowing down and not yelling during his show. \xa0
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\nWorked Best for His Business\nGoing out and being awesome,\xa0doing good shows, and exceeding expectations.
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\nFun Story from the Road\nHear about how he met\xa0and\xa0befriended the Barenaked Ladies, got to perform on some of their Ships & Dip Cruises, and took a huge group Barenaked photo\xa0with the Barenaked Ladies. \xa0
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\nOther Topics Covered\n\u2022\xa0Impostor syndrome.
\n\u2022\xa0Using comedy in life to break down barriers.
\n\u2022\xa0Talks about the support he had from his mother who put him on a bus at 14 years old to go to a juggling convention for a few days. It was a different world.
\n\u2022\xa0Being a juggler/jester in the Society for Creative Anachronism.
\n\u2022\xa0You become\xa0the average of the five people you spend the most time around.
\n\u2022\xa0Working as the usher at his own shows helps him to interact and get to know his audience from the get go.
\n\u2022 Working in Japan and learning\xa0Japanese so he could perform his show in their language\u2026and ask for his now wife's hand in marriage.
\n\u2022 Always trying to interject humor and find "places to play."
\n\u2022 Making mistakes and learning from them.
\n\u2022 Growing as a creative person.
\n\u2022 GGoL: Generous Gifts of Love
\n\u2022 Strategic thanking and marketing. \xa0
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\nParting Advice\nHave fun! If you're not having fun, you're doing the wrong thing! \xa0
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\nRecommended books and resources:\nNote: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we\xa0earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our\xa0podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our\xa0affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
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\nResource:
\nScrivener \u2014\xa0a powerful content-generation tool for writers. \xa0
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\nBooks:
\nNegotiating Higher Performance Fees by Michael Ammar
\nThe Comic Toolbox by\xa0John Vorhaus
\nStart with Why by\xa0Simon Sinek \xa0
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\nWhere can we find David Aiken?\n\nStories from the Pitch Podcast
\nAnother side of Lindsay Benner's Story about Shitman,\xa0as told by Pete Sweet.
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