Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Prologue: I think I might have first seen John Park at a Juggling Convention back in the 80s, but the first chance I remember really talking to him came at the Victoria Busker’s Festival in the Spring of 1994. The American Dream Juggling Team (John’s former duo-act) has split up by this point and John was figuring out what it took to do a solo show. We had several chats that weekend about what he was doing an how he might improve upon it, and he eventually came to Vancouver for a visit the following winter and we jammed out ideas for his Funny Waiter Character. Less than a year later John also had the distinction of becoming one of the few client for the long defunct “Beaver Street Tour Management Company” that I started up to help build tours for world class street acts. Over the years we’ve bumped into each other at various festivals and events and continue to grow the memories that make up the fabric of our friendship.
STATS
Name: John Park.
Birthday: August 5, 1962.
Place of Birth: Alexandria, VA, USA.
Started Peforming/Working in the Industry: December 1978
Discipline: Juggling
Website: http://www.johnpark.biz
Video Link: See website.
Venues Worked: Vegas revue shows, company parties, festivals and fairs, libraries, schools, bar mitzvahs, Pier 39, renaissance fairs, cruise ships, colleges, etc etc.
Hot 10 Questions:
- What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Moose Tracks because a moose is quintessentially canadian!
- Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Midnight Run.
- What was your favorite toy from childhood? • Slinky.
- Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • Greg Dean, Ray Jason, Whitney Brown and Mike Davis.
- From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Sponge Bob.
- Name something that scares you. • Drowning.
- Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • Worked as a office assistant in a Law Office.
- What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Disposable lighter repairman.
- What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • When the client doesn’t make eye contact after the show.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “One seat left for texas hold ’em.”
The Nugget:
Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.
“There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”
–John Park
