The Fire Drums Hat Trick

Growing up in New Jersey in a family that adored hockey, I always admired the thrill of scoring a hat trick—three goals in a row. This idea resonates with me as I navigate the festival season, where I find myself repeatedly evaluating how I can attend events while maintaining a happy home life balance. Each festival presents a unique set of choices: Will I immerse myself in the atmosphere? Will I teach one or multiple classes? Should I host a vending booth brimming with props for fellow artists, or will I take the stage during the instructor gala?

This year, my experience at Fire Drums was nothing short of extraordinary. For the first time, I achieved my very own personal hat trick! I taught two engaging classes, managed my Fire Mecca vending booth, and stepped out of my comfort zone to perform in the instructor showcase. After attending Fire Drums for over a decade, I can honestly say that performing in front of such a skilled audience was one of the most terrifying yet rewarding experiences of my life. The journey taught me so much.

While my long-term goal has always been to teach fire-breathing at Fire Drums, insurance issues have prevented it for the third consecutive year. However, I was delighted to lecture on the art of fire eating and fleshing, alongside facilitating a round table discussion about business strategies for flow artists. It’s always a pleasure to share what I’ve learned with fellow creatives. In this vast world, we are all navigating our paths, and rather than competing, I believe in sharing the ingredients that feed our creative souls. Teaching others how to thrive in a world driven by capitalism has become a meaningful mission for me. My favorite lesson shared? I was overpaying for my performer insurance for years and found new coverage through PEEP.

Vending at Fire Drums proved to be incredibly rewarding this year. I was able to showcase products from local makers, such as the popular gear bags from The Silky Clown and fire bubblers from Rave Circus. For the first time in my vending career, I had the opportunity to exchange triple staffs for fire bubblers with another merchant. Witnessing someone else manipulate those staffs during the evening circle was exhilarating—it's exciting to see how energy exchanges can lead to unexpected joy. It feels fulfilling to connect spinners with props they desire, all while ensuring my expenses are covered. Remarkably, Fire Mecca hasn’t incurred losses over the past two years of vending. My favorite part about being a prop vendor is seeing what all the other lovely makers are making and exchanging energy with them. This year I got to play with Flow Toys, Ninja Pyrate, and Phoenix Rising.

Performing among so many talented professionals was an honor, and I was grateful for the efficient and friendly organizing team. Having Jeremiah Johnston of The Throw Zone as our MC was a delightful surprise; I’ve admired his juggling skills for years! While my routine didn’t unfold as planned due to a costume malfunction, I was prepared. Realizing during the tech rehearsal that my belt was damaged allowed me to make quick modifications, albeit not as ideal as I wanted. The transition to my fire fan segment felt a bit frantic, and with butterflies in my stomach, I had to remind myself how much space I needed to occupy for the performance. I'm grateful my friend Aaron captured my performance from two angles and that Tezra was there to capture the most amazing stills!

In the end, I was brimming with that exhilarating "good anxiety" leading up to the show. Despite some less-than-perfect transitions, I am incredibly proud of myself for stepping up and joining the showcase.

Here are a few key takeaways from my experience at Fire Drums:

1. The people you worry will judge you can’t do what you do. **DO IT ANYWAY.**

2. Someone, somewhere might be paying closer attention to your words and actions than you realize. **How are you inspiring them today?**

3. Life brings unexpected challenges, so I strive to create joyful, chaotic moments amidst the cacophony.

Living authentically is a powerful way to prove the non-believers wrong. Let's keep the fire burning! Where are you burning this season?