I’ve never been a fan of sports that promote nationalism. I always shunned the Olympics, and even avoided busking in Vancouver during the Olympics this year even though I had a gig lined up out there and the opportunity to do street shows. Instead, I was in England, sitting in an expat bar in Covent Garden when the Canadian men’s team won the gold medal for hockey. It was such a strange and amazing experience to be surrounded by proud Canadians (oddly enough, one Canadian I met that night grew up in my ‘hood and knew a friend of mine from grade school!) I never understood the “it” of sports before, but I tell you; marching down James st. in Covent Garden in a sea of red and white clad folks, my homesickness was both amplified by a thousand and abated through the sheer number of fellow Canuks whose presence reminded me that I was indeed not alone.

Tonight, I felt a different kind of homesickness as I watched the opening ceremonies to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, while at a nightclub in Singapore. Not two months earlier I was in Sierra Leone, learning so much about the country and it’s people and here I am, sitting in a funky nightclub in Singapore.  The night before, I went to the zoo and experienced an “African safari” not two months after drinking poyo with a chief in the jungles of Kono, Sierra Leone. All I could think of while watching that amazing spectacle about how awesome it would be if I was back there, watching it all go down with my friends there. Even though I’m here in Singapore, working with some wonderfully talented people and performing some really awesome arty shows (which I rarely get to do these days), I’d give almost anything to be in Sierra Leone, cheering along.

Africa is both a wonderful and tragic continent; the way the rest of the world views it is so saddening; all we think of are NGOs, child soldiers, the UN and development. But it is SO much more than that. South Africa hosting the World Cup allows the world to see a *different* side to such an amazing place. We can watch a country celebrate its rich culture and we are damn lucky to be included in this celebration.

I’m not gonna lie; I totally got teary-eyed tonight. I can’t even really find the words to write about how I feel tonight. Two months ago, I was experiencing the best and the worst of humanity; at one point I didn’t know if I was going to make it out of Sierra Leone alive. And despite that, I am looking forward to the day I go back.And the opening ceremonies reminded me of the best of Africa and why I want to go back.
So, I say, F**K YAH. GO SOUTH AFRICA! Show the world that it is not all about child soldiers and corrupt governments and yes, it is a continent that can play in the sandbox with the big kids. And I’ll bet it will dust the big kids’ butts in football.

I am in cosmopolitan Singapore city, performing as part of the Singapore Arts Festival, an amazing event that runs from mid-May till the 13th of this month. I’m performing at Raffles City Mall, as part of a roving series of spontaneous street art with some wonderfully solid acts. When I took the gig, I figured I knew what to expect: I’ve had mall gigs and I’ve had gigs in Asia, so I combined what I knew about the two together. I gotta say, though, this is far awesomer than I could have ever imagined! One of my performance locations is in the middle of a gorgeous fountain! So, so appropos for living statue, no? I am also performing some roving mime and had some killer comedy moments in the fountain yesterday.

Call to arms--er arts!!

Singapore is such a vibrant, beautiful place, and the hospitality I am receiving is wonderful; our hotel is gorgeous, I have a great facility to train in, a lovely swimming pool to lounge by and good eats a mere stroll away. Our contacts on this end are fabulous and the shows are running smoothly. As for the city itself,  the architecture is spectacular, and the vibe, while very conservative, definitely has a self-reflexive sense of humor. Little India is a wonder, and the food is to die for. I wish I had more time to explore more of South East Asia once I am finished my contract here, but, unfortunately, I have to jet back to Canada to work a few local gigs and prepare for the summer tour across Canada and Europe.

In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the hell out of this place, so keep looking for more updates!

Wow. What a wacky two months! Premiering a new show in Italy, street performing in London, England, and going to Sierra Leone to teach workshops in circus to ex-combatants. Where to start?
Suffice to say I had quite the adventure in West Africa and despite experiencing some amazing sketchiness, I would totally go back in a heartbeat. I even managed to pull off a super short street show in Freetown (that one went out to my friend Lee Nelson). I will probably recount that adventure on performers.net for him later on.

I rolled in the night before last and hit the ground running, with a performance in Zero Gravity’s 5oth Lunacy Cabaret last night, showing off a bit from the new show. Suffice to say, I’m super tired.

So.. Sierra Leone was a big long adventure. Any ideas of how you wanna read about it? I was thinking either a synopsis each of Freetown and Koidu, or one long post, or several posts of some of the more hilariously unbelieveable stories. What say you, dear readers?

On a side note, while I was away, I received the most wonderful birthday gift: Ask A Busker now has it’s very own home on the internet! All your burning questions are answered now on the site, conveniently, you can email directly from the site! Previous topics discussed are archived in a really organized fashion, too. Many many thanks go out to my amazing partner, Matthew, for making it happen! I rarely talk about my personal life here, but, I just want to say that I am so grateful to have such a wonderful and supportive partner, and it makes coming home all the more sweeter!

Check out the new “Ask a Busker” website!

I’m writing to you from sunny (rainy?) Italy where I have just finished premiering my new show in the Milano Clown Festival. It was… interesting to say the least! Not the weather I was expecting for Milan this time of year, but over-all, I gotta say, it was the best place to premiere a new show, for sure. I love performing for the folks in Italy; they are so enthusiastic and really get into the shows, as audience participants.

Going from kick-ass strolling and world-class walk-by to a new show was a very humbling transition, but after three days solid of show after show after show, I’ve come out of it with something wonderful. I’m really pleased with the experience overall.

Right now, I’m currently holed up in Friuli-Venezia Giulia recovering from a terrible flu, hoping to feel better enough to get back out on the street before I head off to London for a week. I’m thinking of heading up Verona or Firenze pending on the weather… if not, I will be street performing in London for sure (again, weather permitting).

From London, I’m traveling to Sierra Leone, where my project with Accountable Development Works is finally underway! I was fortunate to receive partial funding from Circus Without Borders and donations of books and circus gear from the Big Little Caravan of Joy to bring with me. Colour me thrilled! It’s going to be an intense ride, but I am looking forward to the challenge. I’m also just happy that this trip is finally underway; with so many hitches and glitches along the way, it’s just a relief to get there!

Since I’ll be with spotty internet connection from March 7th-24th, I won’t be answering any ‘Ask a Busker’ questions, but thank you all for your emails. I still have a couple I need to post, hopefully before I head out, plus some stories from busking here in Europe and hopefully in England once I’m feeling better.

Hope you are all doing well in internet-land. Talk soon!

ps. It’s my birthday today!

This upcoming weekend, I will be in Ottawa for the grand opening of Winterlude. I always love visiting and working in my nation’s capital, so it should be a really fun time! In two weeks after that, I will be performing in the Milano Clown Festival in Milan, Italy. I’m really looking forward to being back in the land of awesome pizza, grappa and yoghurt (seriously.. the yoghurt in the North of Italy is probably the BEST yoghurt I’ve ever had!!). Oh, and prosecco, of course. I will be premiering my new street show “Rag-Maninoff” which is both exciting and very nerve-wracking. After the festival, I’ll travel to Friuli to visit my family, since, I can’t go to Italy and NOT see them while I’m there and, how else shall one spend their own birthday?! I’m looking forward to this experience greatly!

After Milan, I will be traveling to London, England for a few days to catch up with friends, check out the street scene and get my visa for Sierra Leone. We have finally been given the go-ahead for the project I’ve been involved in for the last year or so. While in Sierra Leone, I will be hosting workshops in juggling, mime, and various other circus disciplines with some wonderful kids in orphanages in both Freetown and Koidu. I am immensely looking forward to traveling to Africa to realize this project fully. It’s been a long hard battle to get to Sierra Leone, and it looks like it is finally happening in March. Hooray for Karamazov!

I am gracious to be the recipient of some funding from Circus Without Borders to be able to get circus equipment that I can leave in Africa with the kids and film a little documentary about the experience and journey. It’s going to be a helluva ride and one that while I don’t think anybody could ever really prepare for, I am ready for as best as I can be!

I will be publishing my press release on this blog regarding the upcoming trip that will have further details.

Whew. What a Birthday-Month.
Wish me luck!