Over the years there have been a number of people who have helped me out and set me on the path to where I am today. In fact, there are far too many of them for me to try to name them all here. I would like to mention some however, because without their help and guidance, I would never have had the talent or nerve to try to make my living as a performer. Don't get me wrong, this is not some kind of ego trip here. I know that what I do is small potatoes when compared to some of the incredibly talented individuals this world has to offer. I just think that it is important to give credit where credit is due. So while this list is far from complete, I would like to express a great deal of thanks and appreciation to the following individuals and groups.

My family
I have an incredible family who are all very gifted in their own way. My parents have always been very supportive of what I do and that has not always been easy. Imagine what it was like for them to find out that their son had quit a high paying job as a TV technical director to become a street performer! They simply told me that if it was what I really wanted to do... they would back me all the way. The same was true of my brothers and their wives and they will never know just how important their support was at a rather nerve racking point in my life. I should mention the fact that I owe any comedic skills I have to my brothers. Believe it or not... I'm the shy one in the family!

My friends
I have always managed to surround myself with an incredible group of friends. From the kids on Bishop Place, to the gang at Ancaster High, there are some who have been there all my life. Others, like the gang at HQ's and the "Fredsters", have only been around for a few years. All of them have provided me with an unending stream of support and security. They have been there for the good and the bad and have made my life so much easier. I just hope that I have been able to do the same for them.

The Magic and Juggling Clubs
I don't think there is a magician or juggler out there who doesn't owe much of their career to the efforts of those individuals who belong to the local magic and juggling clubs. I am certainly no exception. It was the members of IBM Ring 49 in Hamilton who took a naive young magician and taught him the ins and outs of performing. Les, Gordon, Joan, Hugo, Doug and the gang all showed me the importance of "entertaining" rather than just "fooling" an audience. Norm, Michael, Joe, Chris and the folks at the Bluenose Juggling Club introduced me to a whole new world and started me down the path I'm on now. Robert, Bill, Rod, David and the members of the Conjurer's Court continue to provide support and encouragement as I head into the future. Perry, Ginny, Richard, Bill and the folks I have met through the IJA have provided the inspiration to keep on learning. I wouldn't be able to do any of what I do now without these wonderful mentors and teachers.

The Producers
It's great to be an entertainer, but it is of little use without a place to entertain! It is through the tireless efforts of Dick Finkle, Bill and Lynne Powell, Kim Hendrickson, Maureen Douglas, Ted Kilmer, Jimmy Wong and producers like them that the festivals and events I have been fortunate enough to take part in exist. Their support, along with that of talent co-ordinators like Arlene Bell, Steve Blenkhorn, Michele Langlois, Jason Billows and many others, has provided me with places to do what I love... perform! Many of these idividuals have not only provided me with work, but have provided much more. They have become my friends. In the cases of Kim, Arlene and Bill, they have gone out of their way to show me support at times when it has not always been in their best interest. I owe them big time for that!

The Performers
I am in a rather unusual business because the members of the competition are often my best friends. The performers on the circuit are a tight knit group who look out for one another. People like Alex Elixir, Michael O'Neil, Robert Nelson, Ed Stander, Peter Boulanger, Nino Parent, William Lee and Peter Gross are just a few of the terrifically talented individuals who have helped me make it through the years. They are a constant source of inspiration and knowledge and without them I would never have survived my first few years. They have been there for some of my greatest successes and for some of my worst nightmares and thanks to them I am still here in one piece.

Don Estabrook
As the other half of "Just Us", Don was one of the driving forces behind my decision to begin a full-time performing career. He encouraged me to take a chance and helped me to see my own potential. His dedication to rehearsal helped me to discover skills I didn't even know I had! Without his support and encouragement, I know I would still be slaving away in a TV studio somewhere and wondering "what would have happened if...".

Greg Gidney and Ian Stewart
Greg and Ian are both members of the magic club in Halifax. They are also two of my closest friends. Thanks to Greg, I now know more about computers than I really ever wanted to. Ian is responsible for the fact that this web site actually works! Aside from computers though, these two are my main sources of support when it comes to both work and play. They are quick to let me know when I am doing something right and just as quick to put me in my place when I am not. They are true friends and I owe them a great deal. While Greg is gifted amateur magician, Ian is quickly making a name for himself as an all around entertainer. I've watched him progress over the past five years and I can't believe some of the things he is doing now. I am not one to fill a site with a bunch of links to other places, but I will make an exception in this case. You should check out Ian's web site if you get a chance.

The Fans
Finally, what would a performer be without the audience? I still can't believe it, but I actually get fan mail! It is the incredible warmth that I have recieved from the audience that makes me do what I do. They make it all worth while.