If you have ever had the pleasure of spending the day at the Antelope Valley Fair, you know it is an over-anticipated event filled with the town’s finest cowboys, gangsters and junior high school wolf packs.
One of the last things you would count on is meeting a friendly, multi-talented performer with a rock solid resume.
Let 2010 be known as the year that we all stand corrected.
Spike McGuire is to be considered one of the most down-to-earth performers in the entertainment circuit today, and hopefully you caught a glimpse of him on the Hypnotist Stage during this year’s fair season. I got to see him three times!
His act “Comedy that Rocks” was an impressive variety of entertaining stunts and comical mischief that left the audience cheering, “Rock on Spike!”
This young performer was born into a circus family. His mother Deborah hired his father Mark as a performer at the world famous “Circus Circus” show in Reno, Nev.
“I literally grew up around all of the best circus acts,” McGuire said.
Impressively, he performed in front of his first live audience at the Ziegfield Theater in the Bally’s Casino to more than 2,000 seats. Did I mention that this happened when was just four years old?
Whether it be strumming his guitar at your local open mic night or touring county fairs with his comical fire juggling act, McGuire proves again and again that he was born to perform.
Having a Bachelor’s Degree in theater with an emphasis on acting from Columbia College in Chicago is not too shabby either.
McGuire is also very involved in music. He writes, records and performs acoustic political post-punk music all over the world.
“I have been on a world tour for 18 years now, but the only countries that will have me are the U.S. and Canada,” said McGuire.
With such a wide variety of talents and an educated background, McGuire is sticking loyal to what he loves: making people laugh, traveling and getting babes.
“I never wanted to be the best juggler in the world, just the funniest,” says McGuire. “These days, it is a lot easier to be a juggler [to find jobs], then trying to be an actor.”
While performing at the Antelope Valley Fair, McGuire added some extra “lights and action” to his act.
When performing his nightly street show, the Fair Representatives felt it would be best if the fire was substituted with a few large glow-in-the-dark juggling balls.
Using this new prop, as well as two light up yo-yos to perform death defying stunts, McGuire single handedly broke the local stereotype of, “he who gathers crowds with flashing tricks is associated with selling ecstasy to minors,” and was questioned by the police with regards to his intentions at the fair.
Overall, Spike McGuire is a stand-up guy, stand-up comedian and a stand-up citizen.
With his witty tricks and banter, he makes every area of entertainment he touches more memorable. If you can’t resist the urge to know more about this multitalented performer, log onto his website at www.comedythatrocks.com or www.spikemcguiremusic.com.
It will be well worth your time.
And yes ladies, he is single.
-Photo and story by Alexandra Doty
