It's all about meeeeee!

Ok. Normally I have some cool advice or perspective to give you. But today, this email is all about me. But don’t click away. There are still some pretty neat lessons and perceptions.

Here we go…

First, last week I sent you an email telling you all about my new EXPERIMENT. I’m in the middle of building and marketing a brand new show. I’m posting, step by step, each action I’m taking. You can follow the progress and the strategies on my Facebook Fan Page or Twitter.

If you're interested in seeing how I do it, follow me at the links below:

Twitter: @johnabrams1 or go to www.twitter.com/johnabrams1
Facebook: click here or go to www.facebook.com/rebelentertainers

I encourage you to comment on any post that interests you.

Next, on the big Q & A a couple of months ago, Rebel Entertainer David Baker (www.twistedideasballoons.com) wrote:

“Hey John,

Cool idea! Uhh, lets see... what was the best show you've ever put on, and what made
it a success?

David”

I said you could ask something personal and you did. The answer is kinda tough. After performing literally thousands of shows, I'm trying to think back at which were the MOST successful.

A few stand out in my mind.

My first one, of course, because it got me off my butt and started this whole crazy career.

But there are a few others. One of my favorites was one of the first magic shows I ever did. It was a 6th birthday party at a pizza place. The reason it sticks with me is because years later I befriended the family of the birthday boy. After seeing my show he started studying magic. He's now a teenager and is very serious about his magic. I inspired him to create and follow his life dream. I think that's pretty cool.

Financial success?

One of them wasn't a show. It was a showcase. In one 7-minute performance I booked 60 shows. And most of those still repeat year after year. I was new in the area and nobody had ever seen me before. With that one performance I was able to dominate that market for many years.

Another financial success was when someone saw me at a company picnic. They were from the Sheriffs Association of Las Vegas. They booked me after seeing the show and have hired me back 10 years in row. And it's a hefty pay. Not too bad.

Over the years, there have been so many laughing children, happy families and educated students and teachers that it's difficult to pick out more. But success to me is making this world a better place. And if I can do that, make some money, and support my family in the mean time, then it's just gravy.

I try to do that every day.

Email me your successes. I'll be happy to put them on my blog.

-John Abrams
Rebel Entertainer and Success
www.rebelentertainers.com
www.facebook.com/rebelentertainer
www.twitter.com/johnabrams1

Michael Jackson and Me...

I was a 9 year old boy living in Los Angeles. My parents had just gotten divorced and my Mom was dating a new guy that was soon to be my evil stepfather.

Mom came to me and my brothers with news that we were going to Las Vegas for some wild fun.

Back then Vegas was different. It wasn't as family friendly as it is now. It was a different world.

I was excited about seeing the flash and dazzle of Vegas. We drove for about five hours and, then, in the middle of desert, the sky was completely lit up.

I imagined the Pleasure Island that was portrayed in Pinocchio. Adventure, games, and a bit of mischief was just over the horizon.

We arrived and checked into the hotel. Within minutes, my Mom and soon-to-be step dad hustled us out of the room, took us down the elevator, and introduced us to a small room in the basement of the hotel.

This was the room that all the parents left their kids while Mom & Dad gambled.

My brothers and I spent three days, off and on, in that playroom. It was fun, but it certainly wasn't what I had imagined.

After three days, we were in our hotel room and my Mom and "soon-to-be" walked in. They were giggly and laughy and broke the news to us. The "soon to be" was now a real live step dad.

They had married late that night.

I was shocked and confused and happy and sad and jealous and angry and excited all at once.

That night they broke some other news to us. News that I didn't realize at the time, would affect me just as profoundly.

To celebrate the new nuptials, we were gonna see this group called The Jackson Five. I didn't know who they were (heck, I was nine). I didn't know who Michael Jackson was. I had never been to a concert. I had never even seen the inside of a Vegas showroom before. THIS WAS EXCITING.

I was told to put on my best clothes. They led us down that same elevator. But this time, we walked through the casino. Lights, slots, money jingling, people cheering.

We walked into the showroom. Everybody was dressed to the nines. We sat in a luxurious red velvet booth that sat our whole family. We all ordered drinks. I had my first Rob Roy (like a Shirley Temple for boys). I felt like the prince of Las Vegas.

There was a full band. Drums, electric guitars, keyboards, strings, the whole magilla.

Then the music started. I don't know if it was the sugar from the Rob Roy or whether it really was as amazing as I imagined. But, there, unfolding right in front of my very eyes, was the most spectacular thing I had ever seen.

Four guys, doing things that I never imagined. Singing, dancing, fun, funny, flash and dazzle.

Then the big voice came over the loud speaker "Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome, little Michael Jackson". The crowd went wild.

Out came a fourteen year old Michael. Singing songs that I KNEW! Songs I had heard on the radio. I'll Be There, ABC, Rockin' Robin. Moving in ways that I didn't know was possible. He humbled the talent of the rest of his family.

For the next two hours I was transfixed. Every problem, concern, worry and every bit of uncertainty melted away. For those two hours there was nothing else in the world that mattered.

At the end of the performance I knew. I knew that there was nothing else in the world that would be worthy of doing. I knew that I had to be an entertainer. I had to do what they were doing.

Well, life went on. The guy my Mom married turned into a nightmare. I moved out to live with my real Dad and my brothers moved away to live my grandparents.

But I never forgot that one night. The night that Michael Jackson made me feel safe and secure in knowing my own future.

I can only hope that someday a child will see my own show, be inspired and walk out secure in their own future.

-John
Rebel Entertainer

My Family's Experience with the Anaheim Hills Fires

No marketing today. Just something kinda personal and interesting.

I live in Anaheim Hills. Last November we had to evacuate our house because the fire was literally a block and a half away from our house. Coming towards us! The smoke was unbearable.

So we loaded up the computer, the animals and the family in the Van and the PT Cruiser and headed out to a hotel in Newport beach. We were all a bit scared, but tried to turn it into an adventure. That night we ate barbecue (ironically) at Outback Steakhouse and stayed in a nice pet friendly hotel.

Well, two weeks ago, I was hiking in part of the valley that had burned. I took my dad because he’s into photography and I thought the photo opps were pretty awesome there. Burnt trees, new flowers, etc…

On our hike I found something very interesting. On the ground, between some burnt trees and some not burnt trees, was a half melted LIGHTER. It was one of those big gun-shaped fireplace lighters. And it was completely charred.

The CSI hairs on the back of my neck stood up!

So I video taped it and went to my local fire station to report it. Turns out, it had nothing to do with the big fires. But it probably was used by some homeless folks or teenagers to start a smaller spot fire.

I put the video on you tube. Here’s the link: Aftermath of Anaheim Hills Fire

I also took my family there afterwards to hike around and have some fun. Here’s the link for the video for that: Messin' Around in the Burnt Valley of Anaheim Hills

Both are pretty cool, because they show the burned out valley.

Have Fun.
John