Today we’d like to introduce you to John Chaos.
John, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been performing Sideshow since January 10 2003, so for the last 15 years I have devoted my life to this art. After seeing the Jim Rose Circus, the year before I was hooked on Sideshow and I spent all my time researching and learning all I could about Sideshow. But since then I have put my own spin on the show. My show is now a mix of Classic and New Sideshow Stunts, along with Magic and Off Beat Humor. I have been fortunate enough to perform all over the United States and in Europe. I have shared the stage with some amazing artists and even became a member of the Jim Rose Circus in 2004. I am happy that my art has taken me many places and allowed me to give an audience a show that they have never seen before.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Sideshow by definition is Entertainment by Unease. During my show you will see me hammer a 6-inch nail into my nose, place my face in a pile of broken glass and let someone stand on my head or Escape from Straight Jacket. While some of the stunts in my show are there to shock the audience out of their comfort zone I also make sure that there are lots of laughs in the show.
I want to show people that if you put your mind to it you can do anything. That the only thing that can stop you from achieving your goals is you. And by pushing my body to the limits I hope that I inspire others to follow their own dreams.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I think that conditions for an artist today are much harder. With the rise of smart phones people would rather stay home then go out and support the arts. For a variety performer like myself it is even hard at times to perform. Many cities do not allow busking and some venues do not understand how to market variety performers. What cities and people can do to help fix the problem is support the arts. Book performers like myself or other variety performers or if you see that they are promoting a show then go and get your friends and see the show. With technology while it allows us to connect to people more it also isolates us. Seeing shows like the John Chaos Sideshow or other variety performances pulls us out of the digital world into a shared experience in the real world. I promise if you see clips from my show online they will not be the same as seeing them live and in person with a crowd of other people.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The John Chaos Sideshow is an event that can be tailored to event. I have done shows for pre-teens and the rowdiest rock clubs. If people want to support the show they can come out to an event I am performing at or they can contact me to book me to perform at their own event. But the best places to find out where I will be being www.johnchaossideshow.com or at facebook.com/johnchaossideshow
Contact Info:
- Website: www.johnchaossideshow.com
- Email: johnchaossideshow@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/johnchaos13
- Facebook: facebook.com/johnchaossideshow
- Twitter: twitter.com/johnchaos13
Image Credit:
Jacque Chaos, Dave Wood Photography, James R. Dimagiba
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
