Darren Casteel is the CEO of DoDad's Lab in Clermont Florida. Darren is a professional entertainer using science, story-telling, puppets, music, and much more. Doing over 200+ shows a year in libraries, schools, museums, and churches world wide. His passion for children and families makes his shows enjoyable for all ages. Darren also runs a printing business called DRC Print. Printing banners, backdrops, table covers, and more. ​​

In this Episode:

• Origin Story
• Transition to Science
• Meeting Stan Lee while being Protested against
• Newbie Advice
• It's a Process
• Branding - First Impressions
• Libraries
• Social Media
• People You Should Know
• Client Retention
• Top 3 Things Needed to be Successful

Explore these resources:

• DRC Print
• Dodad's Lab

Follow Our Podcast

• The Curious Performer Podcast
• The Curious Performer Facebook Page

Steve Petra trained at the National Theatre of Puppet Arts and at Jim Henson Productions in Manhattan. He is a full-time professional ventriloquist and puppeteer performing his own scripts, songs and music. Previously, he worked as a professional musician. He now specializes in curriculum-based assembly programs for elementary schools.

Steve also performs for family audiences at libraries and some other venues. These shows are like being at a Comedy Club for families. With zany illusions, props, music, audience participation and a cast of outrageous puppet characters.

When he isn't out doing live shows, Steve is working on audio and video projects, and as a video editor. His instructional series, Let's Get Visual, is selling to performers all over the world. He is now in demand as a lecturer at conferences for professional performers and has taught workshops on show building, puppet manipulation, character voices and ventriloquism.

PetraPuppets is Steve and his wife Jeanie. Steve performs the shows. Jeanie does the website, database, booking, scheduling, contracts, fliers, teacher's guides, and collaborates on the shows.

Steve has performed at The Vent Haven ConVENTion, The KIDabra Conference, KAX, Puppeteers of America festivals and at Puppet Guild events. He's a member of The International Ventriloquist Society and The Puppeteers of America.

Steve Petra was named 2019 Northeast Ventriloquist of the year by the International Ventriloquist Society

In this Episode we discuss:

• Origin Story
• Transition from Musician to Puppeteer
• Jim Henson Studio
• School Shows
• Pricing
• Becoming a Vent
• Libraries
• Audience Control & Pre-show
• Early Struggles
• Nikon School
• Newbie Advice
• Interest vs Obsession
• Branding
• World of Puppetry
• Social Media
• Continuing Education
• Top 3 Things to be Successful

Explore these Resources:

• "Making Puppets Come Alive"
• The Jim Henson Company
• Carol Fijan
• Barry Mitchell
• Lee Andrews
• KAX
• Ken Scott
• Mark Wade
• David Ginn
• Tim Sonefelt
• Sammy Smith

Follow our Podcast

• The Curious Performer Podcast
• The Curious Performer Facebook Page

Louie Foxx is the consummate kid that never grew up and it’s evident as you watch him interact with audiences of all age. He is living his childhood dream of being a magician.

As a kid he realized that he excelled at all of the things that adults told him were a waste of time. Instead of playing baseball in high school, Louie built himself a rickety table and rode the bus into downtown to perform magic tricks on the street corner and got paid by “passing the hat”. He’s come a long way since then.

The Society of American Magicians voted Louie The Best Stage Magician and Best Close-Up Magician in Minnesota in 1996. He has also been featured four times in the prestigious Linking Ring Magazine which is a magazine for the 13,000 members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians! Louie has also written several books about magic tricks for professional magicians, one of which has sold over 2,300 copies!

Louie is also a Two Time Guinness World Record Holder and has been on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, the nationally syndicated television show How ‘Bout That, Evening Magazine, New Day Northwest, Otra Movida TV in Spain, and in London’s Guardian Newspaper!

Louie is enjoying life as the rockstar dad. He now has a valid excuse to go to the zoo once a week and build forts out of the sofa cushions.