Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Murphy.
Hi Mark, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working as a renaissance performer just because I had a love of acting and wanted to try it out wherever I could. I stumbled upon the auditions at the Colorado Renaissance Festival and was hired on to their cast in 2014.
From there, I have built my business as a solo performer from the ground up. I now work at a whole circuit of renaissance festivals across the country, as well as perform at a variety of other events such as company corporate gigs, birthday parties, and the occasional stage show. As my brand has grown, I’ve been able to add characters and different performing elements to my business so that I can provide exactly the type of experience my clients are looking for.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road, like any, has had its ups and downs. The type of character performing I do is rather niche, and outside of events such as Renaissance festivals, it can be difficult to find the right clients. That said, I continually work to get the word out about what I do so that interested folks are able to find me. I’ve been rejected time and time again, but that won’t stop me from pursuing this dream of mine and being able to bring smiles and magic to whomever I can!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a character performer. I specialize in fantasy character performances at events. I’m best known for my elf and merman characters, as they are the ones I have performed as longest. As an elf, I play music and interact with attendees creating a beautiful fantasy ambiance, while as my merman, I get to interact with kids and adults alike and tell them about the wonders of the ocean. I also get to do underwater performing as my merman, which is an absolute delight to watch! I bring a unique focus and dedication to detail with all of my characters in order to make them seem as alive and real as can be.
I am most proud of the fact that I incorporate ASL into all of my performances. I think it is so important to have events that are magical for all kinds of attendees, but many children and adults alike are unable to fully participate due to a disability. By using sign language, I can communicate with those people and ensure that they, too get to experience the magic.
What are your plans for the future?
No big changes coming up, but I am continuing to look for new opportunities to bring some magic into others’ lives! Right now, I am pushing very hard to bring my merman to the forefront of my business. So many little girls get to meet mermaids, but so few little boys get to have the same. One of my goals is to bring mermen into the spotlight so that boys and girls alike can get to experience that magic while they’re young!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/heroofmime
- Facebook: facebook.com/heroofmime
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@heroofmime
