Jonathan Burns: The Skinny

Joke/Story/Trick

2009-12-14T08:31:00.004-05:00

My good pal Michael Kent does a semi-regular web series called Joke/Story/Trick. Where he tells a Joke, relays a Story, and then performs a Trick. He asked me if I would tell one of my jokes. Enjoy!

Jay Leno

2009-10-19T08:55:00.009-04:00

I appeared on The Jay Leno Show on October 15, 2009 and performed my underwear trick (check out the video above). It was for a segment called Meal or No Meal, and the guest judges were Band Leader: Kevin Eubanks, Former Intern & TV Personality: Ross Mathews, and Comedian and Ventriloquist: Jeff Dunham & Walter. I had a blast and even won a free meal for 4 to Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine.

A BIG Thanks to everyone who stayed up to watch!

Here's a little behind the scenes look at the segment with Jay's Backstage Blogger Bryan http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/backstage-with-bryan/meal-or-no-meal-returns/

On tour with the SHOWOFF Show!

2009-08-31T14:23:00.003-04:00

What's that? I am currently on tour with the SHOWOFF Show! my comedy duo for the rest of the Fall...

Videos, Photos, & More Adventures at www.showoffshow.com/news/.

Buskers on the Boardwalk

2009-07-21T01:18:00.004-04:00

ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

SAINT JOHN - All along the Market Square boardwalk people stopped and stared.

A woman dressed completely in white, standing stalk still, drew a crowd of curious onlookers.

A few metres down the road Rachel Peters had roped off a portion of the boardwalk and was busy creating artwork on the pavement, including a large fish and what appeared to be a stove complete with waving arms. The words 'Keep this girl on the streets' was written in chalk in front of Peters" display.

The two women were part of the 2009 Buskers on the weekend Boardwalk festival, which wrapped up Sunday.

The boardwalk was packed as the sun began to burn through the clouds Saturday afternoon making it easier for performers to attract a crowd in the busy area.

However, further up the street Jonathan Burns wasn't as lucky.

He blended in to the crowd strolling along the sidewalk except for the big yellow case he pulled behind him.

When he reached the City Market entrance on Germain Street, he was greeted with four people.

"We may not get to have a show, we'll see how it goes," Burns said of the small gathering.

With the sun not yet shining through, Burns warmed up his tiny audience with some magic tricks as part of Burnsy's Flexible Comedy Show.

The crowd steadily grew as Burns interacted with as many passersby as possible; ending his show some 20 minutes later with approximately 100 people crowded in front of the entrance.

"It was weird walking up because no one was around and you never really know how it's going to go. You just sort of cross your fingers and hope," he said.

The 27-year-old performer used all the tricks in his arsenal to attract the crowd, including comedy, contorting his body into weird forms, juggling a torch, fork, apple and knife and a toilet seat. It paid off as several donations came his way after the show, a relief for the Lancaster, Pennsylvania native.

"I was so happy people stopped and watched," he said.

Burns was one of several performers in Saint John and said his summers are busy travelling across the country performing at various buskers festivals. Throughout the school year he's on the college circuit entertaining frat boys and sorority girls and says the constant travel can be draining.

One gets the vision of street performers as the modern-day equivalent of carnival folk, travelling in a procession of vans and trucks seated next to the bearded lady until the next stop.

For Burns nothing could be further from the truth. He's not on a first-name basis with any bearded women and lives a normal life with his wife and dog in Lancaster.

"The job is sort of give and take," he said. "You're away from family for large chunks of time and then off for long periods as well."

His time away from home performing has also made him an amateur psychologist when it comes to crowds. He can tell what tricks will go over well and how to play them to bring in bigger donations and draw those simply passing by into the fold.

His talents were on display Saturday as the crowd grew by 20 times throughout his performance. Cruise ship passengers Glenn Buckmaster and Beth Flynn from Michigan were impressed with Burns' flexibility as much as his ability to draw attention to himself.

"There was no one here and he just kept talking and getting more people into it," Flynn said. "We actually had to drive through (Burns') hometown to get to the cruise ship in New York."

With one crowd wowed, Burns packed up and joined the rest of the people walking down King Street toward the boardwalk, hoping it might be easier to draw his next audience.

Staple Street Project

2009-06-24T23:54:00.002-04:00

I was asked by Photographer Chris Zedano to be part of The Staple Street Project. I had a blast and here are a few of the shots from the shoot!

Check out more shots on Flickr!

LIVE in Lancaster 2009!

2009-06-06T22:30:00.002-04:00

A little danger, a lot of comedy add up to 'The Showoff Show'
By KATHLEEN DAMINGER, Staff Writer

Jonathan Burns was that kid at the family reunion with his hand in his armpit, flapping maniacally and cracking up at the vulgar sound.

"I kind of like the attention," he says.

Today he gets plenty of it performing on the stages of college campuses across the country as half of the comedy duo called The Showoff Show.

This weekend, they're bringing their show, which has been described as "Cirque du Soleil meets Saturday Night Live," to the showroom of the Lancaster Host Resort.

"We travel so much and we're all over the place," says Burns, who grew up in Johnstown but now lives in Lancaster.

"Sometimes it's one night in one state, the next night in another. We really wanted to do something for our friends in Lancaster."

Don't expect any armpit humor at this weekend's show, but there will be plenty of physical comedy.

Burns is somewhat of a contortionist. He manages to get into —and out of — some very tight spaces. He also enjoys magic, and has entertained peers with his tricks since his middle school days.

His partner, Evan Young, originally from Missouri, juggles a lot. But forget about balls and apples and such. He juggles things like fire and knives.

Together they interact with quick wit, knowing looks and circus-like timing.

"We usually tell people it's an interactive comedy show," says Burns. "There are elements of vaudeville, elements of sketch comedy, elements of standup. It's a blend of styles."

Joining the team at this hometown show are opener musician Mark DeRose, who according to Burns is a funny guy himself, and comic Jay Black, a former teacher turned stand-up comic from the Philadelphia area.

The performance is for ages 18 and over, but not because The Showoff Show isn't family friendly. It is. The showroom location and the serving of alcohol determines the age constraints.

Burns and Young have been performing together since 2006. The two met online when mutual interest in circus school got them chatting. Young had attended such a school in England. Burns, who had graduated from Millersville University with a major in art education, was interested in going.

Turns out Young talked him out of it, but the two ended up becoming friends and attending a conference together.

"People kept asking us if we worked together, because we had this sort of back and forth stuff going on," says Burns. "By the end of the weekend, we'd heard the question so many times, we said 'yes, we do."'

And they have since.

"I love to laugh," says Burns. "I guess it's another one of my hobbies. I've always been drawn to it and I love to make other people laugh.

"There's an optimism in me. I'm always excited and happy."
LIVE in Lancaster 2009!

The SHOWOFF Show with
Mark DeRose and comic Jay Black
Fri. doors and drinks at 7:30 p.m.
show at 8:30 p.m. 18 and over. $7
Lancaster Host Resort Showroom
2300 Lincoln Hwy. East, 299-5500
www.showoffshow.com

Smiling Faces 2009

2009-03-26T09:45:00.005-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to see me on March 15th at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA! I had a great time, and it was thrill to perform at a beautiful theatre for such a great cause!

If you missed it you can live vicariously through some of the photos Evan Young took of the event.

If you like reading more about my adventures SUBSCRIBE TO MY FEED. Also, check out what's happening with my duo show at www.showoffshow.com/news/.

Smiling Faces: March 15th

2009-03-05T08:02:00.002-05:00

2 quick questions...

Do you like smiling? Do you like me? If you answered "YES" to one of these continue reading...

Join me for Smiling Faces 2009 at the American Music Theatre. This is the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic's annual fundraiser and the show is ALWAYS great!

Performers include...

Pete Geist: Visual Comedian - www.visualcomedian.com/home.html

Todd Charles: Banjos, Shadow Puppets, Magic, & MORE - www.toddcharles.com

Jonathan Burns: Comedian & Contortionist - www.comedySTUNTS.com

Smiling Faces: March 15, 2009 at 2:30pm

The American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA

Buy one ticket for $15, get one FREE!

Order your tickets by calling (717) 544-5513 or click here to order online.

Additional details can be found at: http://www.lancastergeneral.org/content/lcpc_smiling_faces.htm

I hope to see your lovely smile in the audience!

Countdown Lancaster 2009!

2008-12-19T09:03:00.005-05:00

Looking for something to do over in Lancaster, PA over New Years Eve?

INFO: Countdown Lancaster 2009 Info
BUY BUTTONS: Buy Your Countdown Lancaster 2009 Buttons
SCHEDULE: Countdown Lancaster 2009 Schedule

Bonus: I'll be there again this year in the Celebration Center!
First United Methodist Church, 29 E. Walnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
7:15pm | 8:15pm | 9:15pm | 10:15pm

Extra Bonus: See Comedy Juggler, Evan Young
St. John’s Episcopal 321 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
7:15pm | 8:15pm | 9:15pm | 10:15pm

Extra Special Bonus: I heard there might be snacks...

Canadian Country Music

2008-08-12T10:50:00.002-04:00

Watch at 1:29.

Summer 2008 - Part 2

2008-07-28T11:48:00.008-04:00

July Highlights...

July 7th - My 1 year anniversary!

Evan & I were asked to perform at Tannen's Magic Camp by our good pal Derek Hughes. I've been wanting to go to Tannen's since I was in middle school, but was never able, so yes I was pretty geeked to go! The students there are fantastic, they definitely know their stuff!

July 18-20 - Artscape 2008 - Baltimore, MD

This was my 4th year back at Artscape which is always fun. Got to hang out with my good friends Evan Young & Jason Moffett.

Highlights - Shows were great, and the people had fun!

Lowlights - 1. My iPod was stolen. 2. I was attacked by a monkey (Seriously). 3. I came home to find my bicycle was stolen.

After a week in Baltimore, Evan and I headed on the road for another week to NJ, NH, NY (yes almost ALL of the "New" States... Sorry New Mexico), and finally back to PA. Shows were great and we got to stay with the great Dave Cox for a few days!

Summer 2008 - Part 1

2008-06-30T18:15:00.014-04:00

Summer 2008 has been fantastic so far!!! Below is a few highlights of what I've been up to...

It all started with Dundas Busker Festival in Dundas, ON, Canada from June 6-8. This was my 2nd of the Canadian Busker Festivals. Basically it was 15 acts from around the globe who were let loose into the streets of a small town for some of the kindest audiences on the globe, and forced to live a college dorm together (sort of like a reality show, but without the backstabbing and no one is claimed the winner). Despite the extreme heat about 40,000 people attended. All the acts were great and unfortunately the weekend went too quickly, but my fingers are crossed that I'll be back again!

Later in June I was asked to be the opening at for the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra (who was the opening act for fireworks) during Celebrate Lancaster. The day began with gorgeous weather, but as soon as I arrived, it poured down rain... luckily the rain cleared just in time for me to begin my show! What started as a crowd of about 100 people turned into 1000+! After I finished I was surrounded by a handful of young fans who asked me to autograph their t-shirts, hats, and even a diaper. It was great to work about 5 miles from home!

Photo by: Evan Young

New Website!

2008-06-05T09:29:00.001-04:00

New Website, Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-08T23:34:00.002-05:00

I performed at Countdown Lancaster this New Years. All of my shows were packed, and everyone was super great. Best of all I was able to swing home and see my wife before midnight! Hopefully I'll be back again soon!

"Sunday News" - December 30, 2007
Click the picture to see a closer look.

AEMI International Clown Festival

2007-12-14T23:30:00.002-05:00

At the beginning of October I had the chance to perform for two weeks halfway around the world for the AEMI World Clown Festival in Hangzhou, China. It was AWESOME! I performed for 1000's of people each day, met a bunch of great performers, stayed in a luxurious hotel, and was served a chicken head for dinner! What can be better than that?!

Check out some photos from my trip!