~ Performing at The Southern Sideshow Hootenanny ~
Reggie is an American entertainer based in Los Angeles, California. She is ½ of Philadelphia’s Olde City Sideshow and has been performing in a sideshow for over a decade. As a solo performer, she travels the country working everything from midway to nightclubs and variety shows. Reggie is one of the few women in the world performing several unique acts such as the anatomical wonder act and riding a motorcycle in a high wire thrill show. She has appeared on The Gong Show, Americas Got Talent, been featured in stories by news outlets from Fox to NPR and in books and magazines on Tattoos and Sideshow. She has opened up for Primus, suspended for Jane’s Addiction, performed for Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and at Tattoo Conventions across the globe. She is committed to community building in the sideshow arts.
Beginning his performing career in the street DANTE has moved onto stage work and music. In this interview, he talks about his life and the changes he has moved through to get to now.
The second day of The 6th Annual Southern Sideshow Hootenanny offered workshops during the day is a varied number of topics ranging from ‘Introduction to Contortion – A Twisted World’ taught by Sam Aquatic, and another one was ‘Learn to Juggle’ taught by Thom Wall. 8 workshops in total.
The evening’s performance began with a VIP show performed by ‘Lunatic Fringe Sideshow’ duet at 8:15 pm. Then at 9 pm ‘The ALL-STAR and LIVING LEGENDS SHOW’ began. The lineup was a total of 8 acts. One so different than the next!
Lunatic Fringe Sideshow duet performing with fire.
They also performed the sideshow classic ‘blockhead’ individually.
THE ALL-STAR AND LIVING LEGENDS SHOW
The emcee for the show was a sideshow legend Reggie Bugmuncher.
Sideshow historian/publisher James Taylor informed the audience about the historical banners on the stage.
Juliette Electrique performed a seductive sword-swallowing routine.
Louie Foxx followed with a wonderful bubble-blowing act
Sansa Asylum performed her singing mind-reading act.
A very professional and charmingly magical act.
The evening had some worthy serious moments. The Rob Houston Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kathleen Kotcher Lifetime Achievement Award were announced.
Kali von Wunderkammer announced the awards.
The Monsters of Schlock duo took the evening into a whole different mood!
Using syringes and water. Don’t do this at home. They are highly trained professionals.
Thom Wall performed some classic skills (beautifully) from the juggling world.
Sam Aquatic performed contortion with her snake.
Reggie Bügmüncher was the emcee and also performed the classic sideshow ‘eyehooks’ act
Lifting a full fishbowl with goldfish using her eyes and fishing hooks with a pearl chain.
The final act of the night was knife throwing and whip cracking Jack Dagger.
There was a wonderful comic part of the act that involved an audience member.
The Sunday evening show was “TROUPE NIGHT” and those images will be posted in a few days.
My 4 days in New Orleans were very productive. I photographed the Southern Sideshow Hootenanny (all 3 shows) and did several wonderful interviews with performers attending/performing at the Hoot. This interview is with juggler Nathan Wakefield from Michigan. His act was with cigar boxes and clever knot tying with one hand. He is currently researching and writing the definitive book on Sideshow ‘Geek’ acts throughout history. Check out the interview!
James Taylor: First in Half the World (A Spiel on the Peale)
Kick off the 2020 Hoot with a brand new talk by James Taylor about the oldest museum in the country. “America’s sideshow historian,” James Taylor, talks on the Peale’s history and legacy, one that highlights institutions from the Smithsonian to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! to dime museums and carnival midway shows.
Plus our Lifetime Achievement Award Presentations at Kathleen Kotcher and Rob Huston.
VIP Pre Show by Lunatic Fringe Sideshow
VIP Seating for the VIP only pre-show at 8pm GA Doors at 8:45pm Show starts at 9:00pm
Sunday – March 8th
11:00am – 1:00pm – Networking and Awards Brunch 1:30pm – 4:00pm – Get your act videotaped! 4:30pm – Dick Zigun Special Talk
Dick Zigun, Mayor of Coney Island, joins us to talk about how Coney keeps sideshow ALIVE! and infecting the rest of the country with a love for the strange and unusual.
7:00pm (6:15 pm VIP Pre Show) Troupe Night
VIP showcase Performances by: Geoff With A G & Skabz The Clown
Main Show Performances by: Cheeky Monkey Sideshow The Brides Pixiegrit Circus Sideshow The Stolen Stitches