Jim Austin - Don Combs - Ralph Dewey - Ricky Henson - Dave Hill - Penny Kovach - David McCall - Ron & Ida O'Dell - Sheldon Rhodes - Paul Ricksecker (Hoby Tyler) - Joe & Brenda Ross - Carrie Rostollon - Bubba Sikes - Gail Smith - Scott Smith - Kim Thomas - Anna Wilinski - Donna Wilinski
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We are excited to bring you fabulous workshop leaders and Christian Ministry vendors from all corners of the United States, as well as our excellent local talent. Look below for information about our speakers and the types of quality workshops you can expect from them. We're still expecting confirmation from some of our speakers, so keep checking back! Workshop details will be filled in as we receive them. Click on the link below to open the tentative workshop
schedule. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
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Speaker |
Bio |
Workshops |
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 Jim Austin |
Jim Austin, received a BA degree in Speech Communications
and Drama from North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. Jim has
entertained for all types of audiences for over twenty-five years. Currently
he resides in Chicago with his wife, Kris.
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Illusion and Comedy | |
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Balloons | ||
 Angel Contrerass |
http://www.aboutfacesentertainers.com/caricature/artist_pages/contreras_a.htm | ||
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Ralph Dewey has been active in the art of balloon sculpturing since 1975. His first balloon book, Dewey’s New Balloon Animals, was published in 1976. Since that time, he has authored 15 balloon books. He has also written dozens of magazine articles on balloon twisting, balloon ministry, clowning and similar topics. They have appeared in, Clown Alley, Clowning Around, The Calliope, Clown Impact Newsletter, Laugh*Makers, The Christian Conjurer, The Cross and The Clown and Church Recreation Magazine. He has also been featured in Balloon Magic, The Magazine. Dewey has appeared on The Swan’s Place TV show and also a Daystar network program called Hide The Word In Your Heart Club. He has lectured at T&Jam, at Twist and Shout, at DiamondJam and at the Millennium Jam in Belgium. In 2004, he received the “Life Time of Sharing” award presented at the Millennium Jam. For about seven years he has written a monthly balloon column for Balloon HQ. Several times he has presented balloon lecture tours in Europe. He was one of the first pioneers in the area of gospel balloons, and is well known as a leader in the art of balloon sculpturing. In addition to books on balloons, he has also written books on gospel chalk talks, gospel clown skits, gospel paper tricks, clown clip art, clown comedy and gospel juggling. To date, Dewey has
published a total of 29 books and 7 DVDs. He has earned five “Best Balloon
Lecture” awards from the Fellowship of Christian Magicians. His talents
also include cartooning, puppetry, comedy emcee, magic and juggling. He
regularly uses balloons in his child evangelism ministry. He is often seen
lecturing at conventions and teaching workshops. He has been a staff
instructor at many clown camps. Ralph originated the “Joey to the World”
gospel clown convention, the DewJam Balloon Convention and Kingdom
Twisters. Twice Dewey has been a room designer for Balloon Manor. In 2005,
Dewey was given the very first David Grist Memorial Award. In 2004 Dewey
originated his Balloon Excellence Awards designed to recognize and encourage
talented twisters throughout the world. So each year he presents these
awards to deserving balloon professionals. Dewey gives God the full credit
for his success. |
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Tricky Ricky is based out of Jonesboro, Georgia. He is a popular
speaker at our conference, covering magic and ventriloquism. Ricky has held crusades all over the United States and annually works with the Indians at Falls Creek Assembly in Davis, Oklahoma. |
Amazing Gospel Magic:
This class will show what is new on the market for gospel magic and how to
use sucker tricks for the gospel. A lot of fun and laughter plus a new
trick I've been working on for 6 years. We will have a blast. 5 Easy Steps to Vent: Basic ventriloquism with distance voice. When you leave this class you will be able to do vent. Clowning Around is So Much Fun: What is new on the market for the clowns and how to take funny things and turn it into the gospel. |
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http://balloonsandclowns.com/ | ||
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23 years as a clown, balloonist, magician and teacher. | Hearts and Bees (balloons): All the things you can do with a 6" Heart and a 321 Bee balloon. | |
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Vent | ||
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Ron:
Beginning Balloons: This class is designed with the first time balloonist in mind. If you already do balloons this class may not be for you (you may attend, I may also need your assistance if the class is large). I will cover blowing up balloons, tying them, some basic twists, how to keep them from untwisting, and show how to make some easy balloon creations. Ida: Beginning Chalk Art: Learning about paper, chalk, & how to get started. Beginning Puppets: How to hold a puppet, intos, exits, basic movements. |
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 Nancy Opatich |
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Sheldon and Vicky Rhodes are full-time missionaries who conduct programs in churches throughout the United States and Canada. Their specialty is using magic, juggling, storytelling and puppets to deliver Biblical truths . | Magic and Juggling | |
 Paul Ricksecker (Hoby Tyler) |
Began in 1958 as Hoby Tyler, a circus type clown,
as they were my mentors. Did circus, rodeos and about anywhere people wanted
to laugh. Early mentor was the first Bozo the clown, before the TV Bozo. Later I got involved with magic with mentor Theo Mandrake, world known magician. Since then have been designated by the Guinness people in England as the Fastest Magician in the World, last time doing 308 effects in 1 minute and 32 seconds. Have been awarded N/W Ohio magician of the year 10 times. Handsome and humble. |
Magic, "The best of 25 years"
This is a brand new class. It is the best close-up,
street or pocket magic I have used in the last 25 years. Clown, "More clown skits for one or more clowns" Another new class with fun skits and Gospel applications for one or more clowns. Some twists of old ideas and some brand new. |
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Joe and Brenda have been ministering for over 20 years at campgrounds, festivals, churches, senior centers, malls, fairgrounds, church camps and city streets. They have also used their talents on the mission field in Mexico and North Carolina. Their programs are a mix of comedy, magic and music for all ages. | Joe: Beginning Magic, Ropes Brenda: Sign Language to Music - Learn to use American Sign Language with music for a powerful presentation. You will be able to sign a simple song by the end of the workshop. |
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Carrie Rostollan became interested in magic at a young age.
Growing up in northern Wisconsin, she sought to turn her own personal
disadvantage into an advantage. Television presented magical artists Doug
Henning and David Copperfield; thus Carrie found her hobby. In four years of professional performance with her Proximity Illusions show, Carrie has some 80 events under her belt. Carrie is an active member of: • International Brotherhood of Magicians. 2008-2009 PRESIDENT of I.B.M. Ring 212, a.k.a. the Saginaw Mystics. • Fellowship of Christian Magicians |
Performance Plus - Writing for Magic Having a strong trick and strong technique is not enough. A strong presentation is vital. |
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One of our most popular speakers on the topic of clowning! Based out
of Orange Park, FL, he also brings a number of popular items to his dealers table.
You won't want to miss him!
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| Gail Smith | Parable Paradise: Demonstrating Gods Message through the Parables using a character "Parable Penny" and hands on object lessons...Class participation a must | ||
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"Thin Air Creations" is the creative genius of Scott Smith, Jr.
of Taylor, MI. He was stricken with a birth defect affecting his left leg and walks &
stands with a cane. During middle school, while his classmates were signing up for
athletics, he signed up for a balloon sculpture class and showed a natural ability &
talent. He worked his first company performance during 8th grade and realized the business
potential of his new hobby. Nearly a decade into his career, Scott Smith Jr. is still perfecting his craft. He turned his balloon hobby into a great business and then God turned his hobby into ministry opportunities. He is a member of Michigan Twisters Group and The Fellowship of Christian Magicians Inc.. He spends hours learning new techniques with his professional peers. He is constantly pushing his creativity to new levels! |
Balloons | |
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Decorative painter and Tole Art Instructor for several years, Kim’s Love for face painting has taken over. She started Kim’s Fun Faces, a successful Entertainment business offering fantasy face painting, Airbrush Tattoos and Balloon Sculptures. Serving mid-Michigan for 4 years and still going strong. Kim has taken classes and worked with many of the top face and body painters in the field, and has attended 2007, 2008 Face and Body Art Convention in Orlando Florida. She is always looking for opportunities to share, learn and work with others with the same interest. www.kimsfunfaces.com |
Beginner Face Painting-Full Faces This is a face painting class for beginners.You will learn the basics for full faces. Learn basic sponge and brush technique. Learn what to do step by step. Simple designs will be taught in this class you will be introduced to full face designs. There will be lots of hands on and opportunity for questions from the group. Glitter Tattoos-For all levels Hands on class learn how to apply glitter tattoos and about the products. There will be lots of hands on. Glitter tattoos are a great. And will ad on to your face painting business; they are water resistant and last 2-5 days. |
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Saturday only |
Face Painting: Early Strokes Rainbow Pots |
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Since 1989, Donna Wilinski , "MT Pockets the Clown" has been a Christian hometown clown from Kalamazoo, MI. She Was a founder of Circle of Smiles, a school- based clown Ministry for 5 years. A registered nurse, she has spent many hours applying her clowning skills in a thoughtful, spiritual and therapeutic way in various health care settings. Armed with a canjo, coins, silks and silly props, as well as balloons and face paints, she loves hometown clowning at parades, Parties and corporate events. For the last 5 years, she has lead the COAI based Alley 44 clown care unit based in Southwest Michigan. This group entertains monthly at various senior residences and nursing homes in the Kalamazoo area. 5 years ago, She founded and still directs a nine week "Be a Real Clown" course taught through Kalamazoo Community Ed. that graduates 6-10 First of May Clowns each year. She has presented classes in music , make-up and health care clowning for her Alley, the FCM and at the Clowning with Care Convention in Woodstock Ontario. |
Caring Clowning How to use your gifts to bring love and fun to Senior citizen homes and nursing homes. How to connect, be safe, and share a great time. |
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