FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. When did you start performing?
A. In the spring of 2000.
Q. What were your influences to be an entertainer?
A. When I was young I always wanted to be a magician. But then when I was 16 I saw the rock band, KISS and when I saw Gene Simmons breathe fire, I spent the next several years trying to find someone to teach me fire arts.
Q. So, you started performing with fire? When did all of the other acts come in?
A. Yes, I started performing a fire show, you know, fire eating, breathing, etc... but the more I got into the fire arts, the more I started learning about other acts known as "sideshow stunts" and they fascinated me! So I found people who performed the acts I wanted to learn and offered to teach them fire arts if they taught me their act, such as sword swallowing, knife throwing, etc...
Q. You promote heavily the idea of presentation in a show. Why?
A. Because it really is not difficult to perform many of these stunts. The hard part is making them entertaining in your own way, without stealing other people's material. I've seen some great sideshow performers, who highly entertained me doing nothing more than a simple blockhead act with one ice pick. But for every one great performer I see, I witness literally about a dozen who I find boring and mundane. Most of the audience walks out on those shows. Those performers need to take a theater class or something.
Q. How long did it take you to learn to throw knives?
A. About 5 minutes to throw a knife and 7 years to throw them good.
Q. Have you ever gotten injured in a show?
A. Well, there's a difference between getting hurt and being injured. I get hurt all the time in shows, but an injury requires a hospital trip. Fortunatley that's only happened a couple times.
Q. How often do you perform?
A. As often as possible, typically at least a few times a month.
Q. Where have you performed?
A. Click on the credentials tab at the top of the page. There's too many to list here.
Q. When are you coming to my city?
A. Find a local venue that might be interested and let me know. I'll see what I can do about booking it.
Q. Who are some of the bands you've worked with?
A. WARRANT, L.A. Guns (the real one with Phil Lewis fronting), Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Firehouse, Dangerous Toys, Faster Pussycat, Bang Tango and Beautiful Creatures to name a few. I've also had the pleasure of working with comediens Doug Stanhope (from The Man Show), MARCUS (from Last Comic Standing) and Luis Rodriguez (from Comedy Central).
Q. I saw you years ago at Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas. You had long hair then. Why did you cut it?
A. I figured at the rate it was falling out I might as well just cut it and try to donate it to Locks of Love.
Q. Are you coming back to the LaughlinRiver Run this year?
A. I sure hope so! I always have a blast there and the Pioneer Casino rocks!
Q. You don't talk much on stage about your family life. Why not?
A. I prefer to keep my professional life and family life seperate.
Q. What's the next movie you're doing?
A. There are a few projects in the air right now. I'll post anything on it in the NEWS section of this site when it happens.
Q. Where do you get your throwing knives?
A. They are custom made by Harry Munroe of Rhode Island. These are some of the BEST knives I've ever used and in fact I will ONLY use Harry's knives in shows. check out his web site at: www.harrymknives.com and tell him Ses Carny sent you!
Q. What's your favorite movies?
A. Anything starring Vincent Price.
Q. Is there anyone you haven't met that you'd like to?
A. I love meeting fans! Other than that I'd have to say Ted Nugent. It'd be fun to go hunting with him.
Q. You are also a large supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces. Why?
A. Do you really have to ask why? These brave men and women of the armed forces are keeping you and I safe and putting their lives at risk to ensure our continuing freedom! EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES SHOULD SUPPORT THEIR TROOPS!!
A. In the spring of 2000.
Q. What were your influences to be an entertainer?
A. When I was young I always wanted to be a magician. But then when I was 16 I saw the rock band, KISS and when I saw Gene Simmons breathe fire, I spent the next several years trying to find someone to teach me fire arts.
Q. So, you started performing with fire? When did all of the other acts come in?
A. Yes, I started performing a fire show, you know, fire eating, breathing, etc... but the more I got into the fire arts, the more I started learning about other acts known as "sideshow stunts" and they fascinated me! So I found people who performed the acts I wanted to learn and offered to teach them fire arts if they taught me their act, such as sword swallowing, knife throwing, etc...
Q. You promote heavily the idea of presentation in a show. Why?
A. Because it really is not difficult to perform many of these stunts. The hard part is making them entertaining in your own way, without stealing other people's material. I've seen some great sideshow performers, who highly entertained me doing nothing more than a simple blockhead act with one ice pick. But for every one great performer I see, I witness literally about a dozen who I find boring and mundane. Most of the audience walks out on those shows. Those performers need to take a theater class or something.
Q. How long did it take you to learn to throw knives?
A. About 5 minutes to throw a knife and 7 years to throw them good.
Q. Have you ever gotten injured in a show?
A. Well, there's a difference between getting hurt and being injured. I get hurt all the time in shows, but an injury requires a hospital trip. Fortunatley that's only happened a couple times.
Q. How often do you perform?
A. As often as possible, typically at least a few times a month.
Q. Where have you performed?
A. Click on the credentials tab at the top of the page. There's too many to list here.
Q. When are you coming to my city?
A. Find a local venue that might be interested and let me know. I'll see what I can do about booking it.
Q. Who are some of the bands you've worked with?
A. WARRANT, L.A. Guns (the real one with Phil Lewis fronting), Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Firehouse, Dangerous Toys, Faster Pussycat, Bang Tango and Beautiful Creatures to name a few. I've also had the pleasure of working with comediens Doug Stanhope (from The Man Show), MARCUS (from Last Comic Standing) and Luis Rodriguez (from Comedy Central).
Q. I saw you years ago at Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas. You had long hair then. Why did you cut it?
A. I figured at the rate it was falling out I might as well just cut it and try to donate it to Locks of Love.
Q. Are you coming back to the LaughlinRiver Run this year?
A. I sure hope so! I always have a blast there and the Pioneer Casino rocks!
Q. You don't talk much on stage about your family life. Why not?
A. I prefer to keep my professional life and family life seperate.
Q. What's the next movie you're doing?
A. There are a few projects in the air right now. I'll post anything on it in the NEWS section of this site when it happens.
Q. Where do you get your throwing knives?
A. They are custom made by Harry Munroe of Rhode Island. These are some of the BEST knives I've ever used and in fact I will ONLY use Harry's knives in shows. check out his web site at: www.harrymknives.com and tell him Ses Carny sent you!
Q. What's your favorite movies?
A. Anything starring Vincent Price.
Q. Is there anyone you haven't met that you'd like to?
A. I love meeting fans! Other than that I'd have to say Ted Nugent. It'd be fun to go hunting with him.
Q. You are also a large supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces. Why?
A. Do you really have to ask why? These brave men and women of the armed forces are keeping you and I safe and putting their lives at risk to ensure our continuing freedom! EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES SHOULD SUPPORT THEIR TROOPS!!
*******WARNING! Many of the stunts that The American Madman™ performs can be highly dangerous or even fatal if attempted without proper knowledge of how to perform the act. We will not be resposible for any accidents that occur from anyone attempting these stunts. The videos and photos on this site are for reference of Ses Carny's show, ONLY. DO NOT TRY ANYTHING you see on this web site!**********
