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An Interview With Scott
(Q) How did you get started performing?
| (Scott) | I've been involved in the performance arts, and art in general since I was a young child. I was afforded plenty of opportunities to experience and explore the arts -- even dabbling in painting. In fact, when I was in third grade, my teacher offered to purchase my first real painting. I didn't sell it. It still hangs in my home--it's in the basement, but that's still in my home-- sort of. |
(Q) I see. What other areas did you study?
| (Scott) | I took tumbling classes, tap dance, piano, guitar, and voice lessons. And when I was 12, I became enamored with magic. It was one of the things that has stuck with me to this day. |
(Q) Are you proficient in all of those areas?
| (Scott) | No. It was wonderful being exposed to all those great ways of artistic expression, but I didn't put in the effort, or have the drive to excel in everything. In high school I picked up my guitar again, but this time I had a true desire to learn. That's also when I started taking voice lessons -- so I could accompany myself. |
(Q) Do you sing and play guitar in any of your shows?
| (Scott) | I sometimes sing a short song. But it's not a feature of any of my presentations. The guitar has only made it into one show so far. I just haven't found the right way to integrate its use. |
(Q) Where does the magic and ventriloquism come in?
| (Scott) | Actually, the ventriloquism sprang from my magic. As I got back into performing, I found myself doing a lot of shows for children. So, I added a puppet, and then another, and then another. Eventually, I found Chauncey, my sheepdog puppet. He was such a great character, and I knew I had to give him a voice. In fact, I just picked him up and he all but came to life for me. That's when I started studying ventriloquism. Chauncey made it seem necessary. |
(Q) He's a great addition to your show.
| (Scott) | I know. People seem to just warm to him. He's a very lovable character. |
(Q) Although you use a lot of magic in your shows, you don't call yourself a magician though, do you?
| (Scott) | No. I call myself and educational entertainer. Even though I am entertaining the children-- be that with magic, stories, puppets or whatever -- my primary purpose is to act as a teacher. I'm there in the school to teach, and the kids are there to learn. But we're going to have a lot of fun doing it. |
(Q) Now you do shows that are educational but fun." How does that work?
| (Scott) | It basically means that the entire show is infused with learning--start to finish. For example, if I mention a word that might be outside of a child's vocabulary, I stop and define it; if I pick up a book, I will use something in that book to teach a lesson. Basically, I squeeze every teaching opportunity I can out of every show. The shows are fast-paced, so the teaching doesn't slow down or stall the fun. Actually, it enhances the presentation, because it keeps the kids engaged.
I've been told by many people that I have a gift for teaching. So, this type of show just makes sense for me. It allows me to tap into the best part of many of my strengths. I wouldn't have it any other way. |
(Q) Which brings me to my final question. Your background isn't as a teacher; is it?
| (Scott) | Well, I don't have a degree in teaching, no. I went to college for communications and writing. I did manage to graduate cum laude. So I hold my own. Since then I've spent several years in the sales world, and then several more years as a Technical Writer and sometimes corporate trainer. While those were great jobs, what I'm doing now is not just a job. It is truly a passion. Impacting children in a positive way is so incredibly rewarding. Again, I wouldn't have it any other way. |
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