Kayla and Rafferty's Wedding

I had the honor this summer, to marry two great friends of mine, Kayla and Rafferty.

Such a gorgeous and strong couple...

...nothing could come between them.

The brides maids were her sisters... what a bunch of bad-asses!

 The nosey groomsmen.

 They had tattoos made with their new last name, Minotti, and their faces.

There was a dress rehearsal the day before.

And a talent show that night as well. There was a game-show, hooping, Magic Mike, music, and more. I invited the wedding party to perform the chair dance with me. They were naturals, naturally.

Their huge friend-posse they call the Brown Outs.

I couldn't be happier to see these two get married!

What an amazing celebration!!!

Skagit County Fair 2016

This year, Wren and I (along with Chipp, Nate, and Harmony) were hired to be circus teachers and performers at the Skagit County Fair.

Wren and I performed three 8 or 9 hour days, which included 4 shows a day and teaching in the blazing sun.

  It was quite a fun and exhausting feat!

Here I am teaching diabolo to some fun young ladies.

 And Nate teaching a group of budding plate-spinners.

The scene.

 Wren, entertaining some curious young passers-by.

 Below is the article from the Skagit Valley Herald about us, well, mostly a highlight on Wren. Pretty neato!

MOUNT VERNON — When Wren Schultz was a student at Anacortes High School, his performance in the talent show involved juggling two hatchets and a hammer.

Though Schultz now lives in Whatcom County, those skills brought him back to Skagit County on Wednesday as part of a circus performance at the Skagit County Fair.

Known as the Circus A Team, Schultz, Della Plaster and Nate Wheeler drew more than 100 viewers, mostly children, during their first performance.

The group danced, performed tricks and juggled, with Wheeler catching a ball on his head to the delight of the crowd. As a finale, Schultz and Plaster performed a juggling routine that culminated with Plaster being perched on Schultz’s shoulders.

Schultz said he took up juggling after a visitor left some juggling balls.

“It was before YouTube,” he said. “You mostly had to teach yourself.”

In time, Schultz began performing. The Circus A Team is scheduled to perform multiple times a day during the fair and will feature a slightly changing lineup. The group is affiliated with the Bellingham Circus Guild.

This year is the group’s first time at the Skagit County Fair, although they give frequent performances at festivals, birthday parties and other events throughout the summer.

After Wednesday’s debut, several of the young audience members filed onto the grass to try their hand at some of the group’s tricks. Members of the group lent them juggling clubs, balls, hoops and other objects to try.

“All the kids lined up. It was sweet,” said Plaster, who performs as Della Moustachella.

The performers showed the group a few tricks to help them get started.

“When we started, we just performed,” Schultz said. “But people want to play as much as watch.”

Kids Fest 2016

 This was our second year at Kid's Fest.

Wren, Chipp, Harmony, and I performed a 20 minute show and taught a bunch of kids and adults how to juggle, diabolo, hula hoop, plate spin, and more!

Clown class with Aitor

I was fortunate enough to take a two week Master Clown class with Aitor Basauri. He is a very kind, hilarious, smart, creative teacher. I would absolutely take a class with him again.
Here are some of his quotes from my notes:
When playing comedy, there are two things going on simultaneously - the scene, and the game.
The audience likes us when we are ourselves.
If you don't try to be very good, you will be very bad.
When you feel vulnerable, look at the audience.
If you make fun of yourself, there is no room for the audience to laugh at you.
Your commitment is what we laugh at.
To be repeatable for a laugh, play with the details.
Clowns don't stop trying.
A clown is very good or very bad, in the middle is not a clown.
Our pledge: I am going to give you everything I have.
In group scenes, make a big situation so you can destroy it together.
Come out with pleasure.
Clowns create material that is very bad. And it is so funny.
Play like you mean it. Like you are going to do/be the best.
Commit BIG to each idea.
We might not learn anything, but we experience.
Notice if the audience is liking the game, play that.
Take what you are creating to the end.
If you aren't going to be funny, be beautiful.
Do the exercise/performance to the best of your abilities.
As a clown, it's important to always have audience to create material.
When you enter, do something to make audience think, 'Oh good, we are in good hands'.
Always have an end prepared.
Don't be afraid of making decisions.
Rule of thumb: explain less, do more.
We need to see the stupid idea of the clown in the beginning.
Clowns must write their material.

The game Mister Hit, with Zee, Lara, Christine, Roberta, Tom, Kylee, Guest.

The second week class
Lara, Della, Zee, Kimberly, Tom, Aitor, Brandon, Molly, Kylee, Christine, Roberta.

Hanging out with Melissa

It's been 10 years since we've seen each other!

Mel and I met in high school. She got me into soccer. She's a lawyer now and just got back from living in Thailand for a few years. She hasn't changed a bit!