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Byron's Bio
Born in Vancouver, Canada May 25, 1978
From the age of 13 I wanted to get into acting and comedy. I had some great experiences in high school theatre and I thought then on that performing arts is defienetly my calling. A couple of years later through high school I got involved in a performing arts summer school for youth called Ailanthus. Is was an intensive full time 9am to 3pm school that tought Acting, singing, dancing, masks and movements, musical theatre, music, video, drumming, and street theatre. Some of the classes I liked, and some I didn't, but over all it was a great program and learning experience.
The street theatre class I took a particular liking to. Teachers of the class at the time were performers Mike Battie, and Sand Northrup. There I learned how to juggle. I immediately became addicted to juggling, and started practicing 4-5 hours a day, non stop until my parents yelled at me that dinner was ready and I had to stop. After dinner I'd practice some more.
At the end of the summer at Ailanthus we'd put on a final show for family and friends. I did a little juggling act, that killed. (Although the audience was no doubt biast being parents and all) but it still was one of the most amazing feelings I ever had.
That summer I saw a couple of street performers at English Bay in Vancouver, named Tom Comet, and Angus McDonald doing show that inspired me to do to same. I gave myself a year deadline to put together an act for the following summer.
My expectations were strange. I thought that as soon as you started juggling on the street, you'd get a crowd instantly. I also thought that the most amount of money in a show you could make would be about $20.00!!!
Petrified and all, I tried my first show in June 1994 at English Bay. My act was about 10-15 minutes. I made about $9.00 ($5.00 of which probably came from my mom and her friends) Right after that show a performer named David Aiken(Cherkerboard Guy)came up to me and said hi. He said he was going to do a show. I knew this guy was probably pretty good, judging by his professional looking appearance. He totally rocked and I was so jealous, but inspired at the same time to keep doing it and get better.
From then on I saw other performers, Alex Elixir, and Rick Lewis do shows. I tried being friends with them all and hounded them all with questions about street performing. Everyone of them began giving me the brush off. They all thought I was an annoying kid trying to find out the secrets of their little gold mine.
They all were trying to get rid of me, by sending me to the crap pitches. Which in the long run made me a stronger performer, but in the short term made me hate all the Vancouver boys. I began performing in spite of the other guys. Man I must've been a total little shit, but I was 16 and frustrated that I had a crap show, and I couldn't get laid to save my life. I wanted everything right away.
I kept going at it, trying and failing new things, like a team act with my friend, eating onions, playing the saxaphone and juggling on a unicycle. My skills were good, but I had no confidence and personality. I took a turn when I went to Edmonton in 96 for the fringe. I bought a straight jacket, and started getting decent shows off. A year later I was one of the guys getting bigger shows off in town. From then on I travelled though Canada, the U.S, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. I've managed to make a pretty good living and see some great things, meet great people, and experience a life at only 22 that few people could say they have.
From the age of 13 I wanted to get into acting and comedy. I had some great experiences in high school theatre and I thought then on that performing arts is defienetly my calling. A couple of years later through high school I got involved in a performing arts summer school for youth called Ailanthus. Is was an intensive full time 9am to 3pm school that tought Acting, singing, dancing, masks and movements, musical theatre, music, video, drumming, and street theatre. Some of the classes I liked, and some I didn't, but over all it was a great program and learning experience.
The street theatre class I took a particular liking to. Teachers of the class at the time were performers Mike Battie, and Sand Northrup. There I learned how to juggle. I immediately became addicted to juggling, and started practicing 4-5 hours a day, non stop until my parents yelled at me that dinner was ready and I had to stop. After dinner I'd practice some more.
At the end of the summer at Ailanthus we'd put on a final show for family and friends. I did a little juggling act, that killed. (Although the audience was no doubt biast being parents and all) but it still was one of the most amazing feelings I ever had.
That summer I saw a couple of street performers at English Bay in Vancouver, named Tom Comet, and Angus McDonald doing show that inspired me to do to same. I gave myself a year deadline to put together an act for the following summer.
My expectations were strange. I thought that as soon as you started juggling on the street, you'd get a crowd instantly. I also thought that the most amount of money in a show you could make would be about $20.00!!!
Petrified and all, I tried my first show in June 1994 at English Bay. My act was about 10-15 minutes. I made about $9.00 ($5.00 of which probably came from my mom and her friends) Right after that show a performer named David Aiken(Cherkerboard Guy)came up to me and said hi. He said he was going to do a show. I knew this guy was probably pretty good, judging by his professional looking appearance. He totally rocked and I was so jealous, but inspired at the same time to keep doing it and get better.
From then on I saw other performers, Alex Elixir, and Rick Lewis do shows. I tried being friends with them all and hounded them all with questions about street performing. Everyone of them began giving me the brush off. They all thought I was an annoying kid trying to find out the secrets of their little gold mine.
They all were trying to get rid of me, by sending me to the crap pitches. Which in the long run made me a stronger performer, but in the short term made me hate all the Vancouver boys. I began performing in spite of the other guys. Man I must've been a total little shit, but I was 16 and frustrated that I had a crap show, and I couldn't get laid to save my life. I wanted everything right away.
I kept going at it, trying and failing new things, like a team act with my friend, eating onions, playing the saxaphone and juggling on a unicycle. My skills were good, but I had no confidence and personality. I took a turn when I went to Edmonton in 96 for the fringe. I bought a straight jacket, and started getting decent shows off. A year later I was one of the guys getting bigger shows off in town. From then on I travelled though Canada, the U.S, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. I've managed to make a pretty good living and see some great things, meet great people, and experience a life at only 22 that few people could say they have.