New Video - Science of Awesome

Science of Awesome from paul@flowcircus.com on Vimeo.

Paul has spent the last two months fine tuning his new Science of Awesome show for elementary and middle school students. Learning about science concepts such as gravity, center of gravity, potential energy, and kinetic energy leads Paul to master a variety of skill toys in exciting, new ways. Employing the scientific method in the process teaches Paul (and his audiences) this important lesson: it doesn't matter if you drop. What matters is if you pick it up and try again. 

Great fit for in-school assemblies or family Science Nights. Visit FlowCircus.com/schools to learn more. We already have school tours scheduled throughout the East Coast for 2014-15. Contact us today to find out when we'll be in your area.

2012 Summer Reading Program - Highlights

The results for Summer 2012 are in - over 100 library performances and 20 tween/teen workshops in 9 different states. Our home state of North Carolina hosted us for the largest number of programs with Pennsylvania coming in a close second. We were excited to also add Massachusetts and Virginia to our summer tour schedule. Many thanks to all of these libraries for inviting us to their communities and helping to make this our most successful summer yet.

Keeping with the tradition we started many years ago, we created a video with highlights from Dream Big - READ! performances. Even if you didn't get to see Paul's show this summer, you'll be sure to get a laugh from the comical ways in which he tries to get the attention of his "mom."

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/48325339#at=5[/vimeo]

We are currently booking for the 2013 Dig into Reading Summer Reading Program. Visit FlowCircus.com/library for more information on our programs.

Winners Announced for the 2011 Library Giveaway

On March 1st, we announced that we would be giving away a Flow Circus Skill Toy Kit to one lucky public or school library. The kit includes a total of 20 skill toys, instructional materials, and a program guide to help organizations start and maintain a skill toy club.

The response was amazing! Over 300 libraries from 39 states entered. In addition to public libraries, librarians from elementary, middle, and high schools also submitted entries. Thank you to everyone that helped spread the word about the giveaway to your colleagues. We decided to add 2 runner-up prizes to share the fun of skill toys with a few more libraries. The runners-up will each receive a Japanese Kendama for their library.

Now without further ado (drum roll please)......we are please to announce the following winners:

Grand Prize: Peggy Grabble, Pasquotank-Camden Library (Elizabeth City, NC)

Runner-Up: Kristine Odahowski, Gadsden County Public Library System (Quincy, FL)

Runner-Up: Cathy Gilmore, Upper Moreland Free Public Library (Willow Grove, PA)

Below is a video of the drawing for those of you that want to experience the excitement!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kGOsZKtKbU[/youtube]

More information about the Skill Toy Kit can be found on the FlowCircus.com/skill toys. Thanks again for entering the contest. Check back for future giveaways.

Team Building for Youth Leadership Program

The Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce recently launched Youth Leadership Wake Forest - a program for high school sophomores and juniors in the community. The program's mission is to develop a corps of informed, committed, and competent youth motivated to learn more about the community, assume leadership roles in school, and become more involved in civic, cultural, philanthropic, and economic development organizations.

Flow Circus was invited to conduct a team building session to kick-off the program in a playful, interactive way. Our 90-minute session involved learning basic balloon twisting skills and then having some fun! One of the exercises challenged groups to create a :30 commercial highlighting the various benefits of living in the town of Wake Forest. Enjoy the results below which will make you want to come visit our wonderful community.

To learn more about our professional development sessions visit the Flow Circus website.

Make A Splash - SRP 2010 Video

A very special thank you to the over 80 libraries that we visited this summer.

Paul had so much fun developing a performance around the Make A Splash theme that combined storytelling, juggling, magic, and of course comedy. We also helped teens Make Waves by teaching them new juggling, skill toy, and balloon twisting skills.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the video capturing the fun we had!

Playful Staff Development

Flow Circus finds that working with adults can be just as much fun as working with kids because adults need to laugh & play too! This month we conducted two different staff development sessions. The first was held at Camp Silver Beach for the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA. Our half-day workshop was part of a two day retreat focusing on the book Juggling Elephants by Jones Loflin and Todd Musig. As the authors point out in the book: People sometimes need to laugh, relax, and not take themselves too seriously. Our session taught participants how to juggle and use a variety of skill toys. Learning these new skills gave the group an opportunity to reflect on the learning process and how to overcome a fear of failure in order to improve their very own own 3 ring circus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

This past week we conducted a workshop for the staff of Mauney Memorial Library and Cleveland County Library System (pictured above). For this workshop, we used balloons to set up different team challenges that emphasize the importance of good communication, clear objectives, and understanding strengths/weaknesses when working together in teams. Creative thinking and team brainstorming resulted in the commercials below which promote the wide variety of services that libraries provide in the 21st Century. Watch and enjoy their results.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0eIEK7Nhc[/youtube]

 Visit our website to learn more information about Flow Circus Staff Development Workshops.

Highlights - 2009 Summer Reading Program Tour

We wanted to say thank you to the over 70 libraries that we visited this summer & we thought the best way would be to provide you with a few more laughs! This 6 minute video includes clips and images from the entire summer. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the memories!

Flow Circus Presents at NC State of the Arts Conference

Flow Circus presented FIZZ: Safely Broadcasting Performance Learning Outcomes with Dr. Lodge McCammon and Andrea Gambino at the 2009 State of the Arts Conference at Meredith College in Raleigh on Friday, March 6th. In our session, we provided several models for incoporating web 2.0 technologies in classrooms and afterschool programs to develop 21st century learning skills.

The Flow Circus TV video sharing site that showcases Skill Toy Club created videos is a result of our partnership with Dr. McCammon and the Friday Institute at NC State. 

Our session at the conference provided teachers, artists, and museum staff with the opportunity to experience the process involved in preparing, executing, and uploading a music video.  We decided to include both takes of the video, because sometimes the "mistakes" produce exciting results!! You can also find "behind the scenes" photos at the Flow Circus Gallery.

Take 1 -

Take 2-

 

"Just Paul" Promo Video

A short 5-minute video featuring clips from recent corporate performances.  This clip was compiled for a client that was interested in watching some longer clips of my routine.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUfvP-CvprQ[/youtube]

Stewart Theatre Video

Thanks to everyone who stuck around after the show at Stewart Theatre in Dunn, NC today.  We captures some excellent footage that will be used in a music video project that is expected to be completed by August.

You can also watch the 3-ball juggling routine from this show here.

"Skill-Based Play is Good" Contest Winners

We asked Skill Toy Club Members why "Skill Based Play is Good!"  These two winning entries each won a n a $50 Gift Certificate to the Flow Circus Skill Toys store!  Congratulations!




FlowCircus.TV

Flow Circus now has a video hosting site. www.FlowCircus.TV