Ivan Pecel

Drake University: 3/25/11

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:46:25 +0000

March 25th, I performed at Drake University in Des Moines, IA as part of the “Relay for Life” event for the American Cancer Society.
The students of Drake walked around the upper track at the Knapp Center for 24 straight hours to raise money for this awesome charity. I did my full show as people were walking by, quite a few stopped and actually watched the show (which caused traffic for the people walking) so that was a unique experience performing for traveling audience.
There was a gap in the very back of the stage, and after the show, my props kept falling in this gap and under the stage. I couldn’t get under there, so Samantha Hass from the Drake student activities board kept crawling under the stage and getting my stuff. After about the 3rd time, I filmed it:

Big thanks to Nick Lund for picking me up at the airport and getting everything set for the show. Come to find out, Nick was also a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, which I am a member of.

“Awkward Silence” Vegas Video Webisode: 3/24/11

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:48:00 +0000

On March 24th (My 30th Birthday) I filmed an episode of “Awkward Silence” for the Vegas Video Network. Awkward Silence is a webisode that features a different headline comedian every week and interviews them about their career, road stories, performance philosophy, and hell gigs. I was fortunate enough to be asked to be the featured headliner for the week of March 24th. Click HERE to see that video.
Past headliners include: Amazing Jonathan, Don Barnhart, & Gilbert Gottfried.
Normally the show is hosted by well known Vegas comedian Brian Mollica, but he was out my week, so the show was Co-hosted by comedian Brant Tobler and Scott Whitney.
The show has a very cool, casual format and not only do the hosts ask you questions, but there is a live web chat going on where people viewing the broadcast live at home can type in and ask you questions. I was told I had the most people logged in in the show’s history to live chat with me with over 50 people. I was also the only comic who’s mom was logged in and the only comic to get heckled over the web. I win.

Hardwood Hotties Show: 3/21 – 3/30/11

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:40:02 +0000

7 out of these 10 days I performed in the “Hardwood Hotties Show” on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, NV. Harwood Hotties is a high-energy show featuring dancers, singers, a silk act… And me. Songs from AC-DC’s “Shook Me All Night Long” to Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got A Feeling” were all featured with choreographed song and dance numbers. Check out some random videos of the show: (Video 1 – Video 2 – Video 3)
For those of you who have been out to Fremont Street, you know it’s kinda like the “poor man’s Vegas.” You get the older hotels, cheaper booze, and a lot of drunks. Since this show was out doors, you got homeless people walking up to the front of the stage, drunk people screaming incoherent nonsense at you while you’re trying to do your show… Sometimes it was funny, sometimes it just felt like a lot of work.
The cast was a lot of fun to work with. Being one of the only 2 males in the show wasn’t so bad either. The girls would do their songs and dances, then I would come out for my 12 minute set accompanied by Mark Adams who was the show DJ and drummer. Him and I would have banter back and forth when the crowd was too drunk to comprehend what was going on. Good times.
The cast of female singers and dancers included: Jennifer Romas, CeCe Correia , Janell Burgess, Whitney Sprayberry, and Katie Murdock Gunther.
The show ran for the whole month of March and other jugglers that were featured at different times in the run included: Bryson Lang, Dario Vasquez, and Jeff Civillico.

3/18/11: My 30th Surprise Birthday!!!

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:19:30 +0000

My actual birthday is March 24th, but since I’m red-eyeing out that night to Iowa for a college gig, my wife threw me a surprise 30th birthday party on the 18th before I left. I was TOTALLY surprised. I had so many family members, high school and college friends, and performer friends come to help me celebrate. The best part of the night was definitely when they sat me in a chair, and my close friends proceeded to roast me in front of my whole family. Roasters included: Mike Mansfield (Life long best friend), Mike Mahoney (My actual brother), Greg Bishop (College roommate), Matt Hall (Juggling Sensei), Bryson Lang (Comedy Juggler), and Mark Nizer. (Comedy Juggler) You can watch the video of the roast at the bottom of this post.
My good friend, fraternity brother, and professional photographer Brian Guerrero snapped all the pictures from the evening. (Click HERE to see that album) The DJ was a close pal of mine, Dean Henderson, who I traveled the country with one summer doing a bunch of gigs for Farmer’s Insurance Group.
My wife honestly spared no expense to make this an unforgettable experience for me. I’m truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.

Monarch of the Seas: 3/7 – 3/14/11

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:52:21 +0000

In early March I performed on Royal Caribbean’s “Monarch of the Seas.” It’s one of RCI’s oldest and smallest ships but I always have a good time because they do these 3 and 4 day cruises out of Port Canaveral, FL… and they’re pretty much “booze cruises.” You get a lot of spring breakers and people that are there to party, so the shows are usually pretty good. People always yell stuff out and heckle and I love it because that helps keep me quick and thinking on my feet. Check out my video from this cruise:

When I flew in on the 7th, I took a cab to my good friend, and the greatest juggler that ever lived, Anthony Gatto’s house and hung out with him and his son Gabriel for the day. Below is a picture of me in Gabriel’s playhouse that Anthony built for him in his room. After spending time at his house, we went to the mall and walked around, ate a delicious Subway lunch, then he drove me down to get on the ship.
While on the ship I got to see my good friends Kevin and JC Brando. Kevin plays piano is the Schooner Bar on the ship, and JC was traveling with him for the week. I always have a fun time with them. JC can drink her weight in wine. Also, pretty random, but a girl that I went to high school with, Carolyn Eltz, just happened to be traveling in the Bahamas when my ship was docked there. I was able to get her and her husband along with their 2 friends on the ship to see my show. That was cool.

NACA National Convention: 2/19 – 2/21/11

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:56:05 +0000

I was fortunate enough to be selected to showcase at the 2011 NACA National Convention in St. Louis, MO. I always have a great time at these conferences. Pretty much, you get selected to showcase, and you perform for a few hundred universities and if they like you, they book you. It’s pretty much the main way to get college gigs. Fresh Variety had the back cover of the NACA program (Picture to the left) which was cool, cause all the schools got to see our promo without even flipping through the book. NACA’s also a great time to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and see some pretty great entertainment. This year they had “America’s Got Talent” host Nick Cannon emcee one of the showcases, Ross Mathews from “Chelsea Lately,” (Picture Below) B.J. Novak from “The Office,” and even the band Hanson! Remeber Hanson? MMMBop… Remember?
I’m represented by Fresh Variety, and I couldn’t be happier with my agency. Laura, my agent, is a true work horse and always looks out for the best interest of her acts. It’s an awesome quality to have in an agent as there are a lot of slime balls out there. We had our annual “Family Lunch” at the local Hooter’s, where all the members of the Fresh Variety Agency that are at the conference get together for a meal and to talk shop and what have you. We always do it as a Hooter’s because Laura used to be a Hooter’s girl… No joke.
I shared a room with magician Michael Kent, and we had a few mishaps. He went to close the blinds to our room, and the entire thing fell to the ground. The brackets ripped out of the wall, the curtains came down… Twas’ a mess. (Picture Below) The front desk probably thought we destroyed the room with drunken shenanigans, but we didn’t.
I left the conference a day early to fly home, and before I left, I made a little present on Michael’s bed… (See picture below.)
All in all, good time.

Sarah Lawrence College: 2/17/11

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:37:10 +0000

Feb 17th I flew in from my show in Michigan to NYC, rented a car and drove up to Bronxville, NY to perform at Sarah Lawrence College. My buddy and fellow juggler Sam Graff attends school at Sarah Lawrence and got his school to hire me for a show. What a guy. In turn, I invited myself to stay in his dorm for free the night of the show. I felt like I was in college again… All stinky and poor…
The show was pretty full and a lot of jugglers from around the NY area were in attendance. I got to see a lot of old friends and make a few new ones.
There were some cool posters up around the school to promote the show… For some reason I was beheaded in one of them… Good times…
Click HERE to see a video from the show.

Grand Valley State: 02/16/11

admin — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:49:45 +0000

This gig started a run of 3 that I was doing leading up to the NACA National Conference in St Louis where I was showcasing. I was flying from Vegas to Michigan, doing the gig… Then Michigan to New York, doing a gig… Then finally to St. Louis.
I red eyed to Michigan, rented my car and was on my way. I got to Grand Valley State and was supposed to perform in the “Pere Marquette Room” (which is what all the posters said) and they had to instead put me in the “Grand River Room” due to a scheduling conflict. (No big deal as they advertised the change… Pictured Below…)
Had a GREAT time at the show and met some really cool friends! Thanks to Carly Rourke and the whole team at Grand Valley State for having me. I had an AXE-Plosion of a good time!

Northern Arizona University: 02/11/11

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:37:59 +0000

I performed at Northern Arizona University located in beautiful Flagstaff, AZ. Flagstaff is only about a 3 hour drive from Vegas so it was nice to not have to get on an airplane to go up there for once. Plus, my wife was able to go with me so we made it into kind of a Valentine’s weekend. The crowd was awesome and the show was SO much fun. I shared the bill with a unique variety act out of LA, Brett Loudermilk.

Adventure of the Seas: 1/30/11 – 1/06/11

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:15:32 +0000

I performed on Royal Caribbean’s “Adventure of the Seas” traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Curacao, Aruba, Dominica, and St. Thomas. I just happened to run into my good friend’s in-laws who were traveling on the ship that week. I did my “How to Juggle” workshop and they attended… and just COULDN’T get it. It was pretty funny. So funny in fact, click HERE to watch the video… HA!
Entertainment wise, it was a good week. I got to hang with my good friend and comedian Don Barnhart as well as comedian Craig Carmean! Fun times!