Stage Dive

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Wally Green, a keynote speaker and ping pong playing champ! Wally shares the story of the violence he faced and how he turned to sports to overcome his own violence. His mindset along with his performance during ping pong helped set him apart from the rest. ABOUT WALLY GREEN Wally Green, celebrity pro athlete from Brooklyn, overcame poverty and violence to become a world-class athlete. He represented the US in international competitions, including a historic trip to North Korea, and co-founded a premier social Ping Pong club in New York. Wally's determination, spirit, and perseverance makes him a true inspiration and a role model for anyone facing adversity. He proves that with hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude, anything is possible. Instagram @wallygreennyc Tiktok @wallygreennycofficial ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 2:38: How often do you go live for TikTok? 4:48: Who’s your favorite UFC fighter? 10:17: What are some of the things you have learned about yourself or the art of podcasting after doing over 200 in the last 15 months? 14:32: What was the process like of you deciding that you wanted to start sharing your story? Everything I do, I do with intention. I don’t do things that I don’t want to do and I don’t do things just to do them for no reason. 21:18: It sounds like the way your brain works is you find something and you get locked into it. Where does that come from? 26:16: How do you get through the tougher moments in life? 29:47: As you were going through the change of a negative environment into a positive mindset, how did your life change? 32:33: How’d you get into pingpong? 43:08: What does performing in the context of pingpong look like? 58:30: What are you really excited about for the future? 1:02:31: If you could go back in time to the angry, violent version of yourself, what would you tell him?

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Alex. A dancer based in Greece, she brings inside into the mental and physical components of dance, from feeling emotions before dancing, quitting or not wanting to practice, and treating her body like an athlete. ABOUT ALEX Alexandra Filippidou is a freestyle dancer and performer currently based in Greece. She specializes in Waving while mixing techniques from other styles like Popping, Animation and contemporary. She loves to explore with her movement and sees dance as her playground. She travels a lot around the world giving workshops and sharing her mentality around dance and life, and how these two are connected. @alexeffuse ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 0:48: Alex begins by explaining the quote she features on her Instagram around the mental work that has to be done in order for her to enjoy the dance space. While dance is a big part of her life, it isn’t the only thing in her life. 8:26: Starting at the age of 8, Alex tried a number of different dance styles and finally learned about dance battles. She speaks about the feeling of quitting. 22:22: Jack asks about a breakthrough aha moment. Alex discusses accepting where she’s at and dealing with pressure. They talk about having to still put in effort and at least try. 41:09: Alex explains how she manages to practice even when she doesn’t want to, Jack bringing up the idea of forgiving and recommitting. She also discusses the importance of taking care your body. 49:43: Thinking about what is coming next, Alex wants to learn more. She’s working on animation, which is dance with more robotic and cartoonish effects. There are a wide number of dancers that have helped inspire her style.

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Caroline Ravn. From Sweden, she started learning magic at the age of 3 from her grandfather and has made it her full-time job for the past 9 years. They discuss involving the audience in magic, what it's like being a parent as a performer, and how she's keeping magic alive! ABOUT CAROLINE RAVN Her grandfather was a magician, and she started when she was 3. Went to university and studied theology for 5,5 years, thinking she was gonna be a minister/preacher. Decided to go all in with magic instead and this has been her full-time job for 9 years now.   5 TEDx talks, own line of playing cards (Ravn Playing Cards), performs all over the world, works on luxury cruise lines. www.carolineravn.com  www.instagram.com/ravnmagic  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAwiZAy1cOgpSa3L2Pl1cuA ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 1:13: Jack starts by asking how Caroline got started in magic, which started very early since her grandfather was a magician. Despite attempting to take another path, she returned to magic. She talks about the benefits of hiring a clown. 15:19: They discuss post-COVID audiences, and how Caroline’s first act in a show is building trust that she will not humiliate or hurt anyone. She speaks to the role of the magician and being present during a performance. 29:13: Caroline explains a moment of such pride and presentness in her journey as a performer. She mentions David Copperfield. A quick segue leads to Caroline’s decision to go through the process to donate her eggs and traveling as a mom. 49:41: Caroline gives her advice to beginners and those looking to level up. She talks about a book club for magicians she started that anyone can join to continue to keep the interest alive.

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Voodoo Onyx. A mom of twins, embryologist, burlesque dancer, and magic seeker, Voodoo talks about bringing the audience into the performance and finding magic. ABOUT VOODOO ONYX She’s Magic Incarnate. IG @Voodooonyx ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 0:47: Voodoo explains the stresses of her job as an embryologist, someone who physically chooses and injects sperm into an egg for fertilization. The discussion turns to the absolute madness of entering parenthood and having to care for tiny human beings. 17:39: Switching to her dancing career, Voodoo shares her first exposure to burlesque, as well as the success of her first performance. She creates a safe space and understands how audience members can feel vulnerable, too. 29:20: Jack asks for the story behind Voodoo’s stage name, and the conversation strays to the subject of magic, awareness, and self love. 50:21: Jack brings up failure and the inner dialogue that often comes along with it. While Voodoo doesn’t have any horrendous failures, she speaks to saying yes to jobs early in her career that led to “weird” interactions. Voodoo touches on a non-ideal audience. She ends with advice for anyone considering burlesque.

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Isaac Knox. A freestyle rapper and comedian, Isaac discusses authenticity when performing, finding comfort to stray from the plan, word nerd-ing, and starting his day with rest! ABOUT ISAAC KNOX EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg has not heard of Isaac Knox, the freestyle rapper & comedian. This saddens Isaac. But he & his freestyle rap company Free Daps have reached & delighted thousands of people who have never worked at The View or been called Sister Mary Clarence. Now he teaches improv rap classes, in part, to fill a Whoopi shaped hole in his heart. IG & TikTok: @imisaacknox  IG: @freedaps & @ucanfreestyle ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 0:59: Jack and Isaac start the conversation with a rap battle Isaac participated in. Isaac explains how he got started into rap battling over 10 years ago and how theater helped him find his authentic self. 10:13: Isaac touches on the value of balancing branding with authenticity. He mentions what types of performances impress him, as well as needing the comfort to veer away from the plan. The discussion moves into the art form of bending language. 27:30: Jack asks about Isaac’s journey from battle rapping in Orlando to spending time in New York with a plethora of ventures. He speaks to building his skill and value toolbelt that allows him to pursue comedy, improv, etc, without burning out on any one thing. 38:22: Isaac explains what his perfect day looks like, starting with the importance of rest, and the perfect day 10+ years from now. Isaac touches on the pros and cons of safety nets and support from his parents. 

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Michaela "Micki" Ekström, the first woman to ever compete in the Swedish Beatbox Championships despite only starting in 2021. They talk theater, improv, beatboxing, and more! ABOUT MICKI I am born and raised in Sweden. Started beatboxing in January 2021. December 10th 2022 I became the first ever woman to compete in the Swedish Beatbox Championships. Instagram: @heymickii ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 1:00: Michaela mentions her love of Hamilton lead her to Freestyle Life Supreme. She speaks to her fear getting in the way of auditioning for a theater college but improv classes allowed her to not overthink. 13:42: Jack asks about her first theater experiences, seeing Phantom of the Opera and Book of Mormon. 17:26: Switching gears, Jack explains FLS+ and Michaela shares her first experience beatboxing. She explains how she builds a 90-second routine. They discuss mindset in dealing with fear, criticism, and purpose. 39:10: Michaela discusses her preparation for the Swedish National Beatbox Championships. Despite losing her first battle, she was proud to be the first woman to compete. She touches on techniques she’s learning. LINKS Gene Shinozaki: https://instagram.com/gene.shinozaki?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Show-go: https://instagram.com/showgoxkaix?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Hiss: https://instagram.com/beatbox_hiss?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= FLS+: https://freestyleplus.com

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Chris Cardillo, a musician creating partnerships at DICE. They discuss performer health in terms of canceling shows, hyper-regional differences in music styles and venue options, and more! ABOUT CHRIS CARDILLO Chris Cardillo has a patchwork past — he’s worked with war veterans & children in the mental health realm, created & launched successful brands, booked shows & events, performed & released music, ran a music venue, and is currently leading live music partnerships at DICE. He’s a natural liaison with an intuitive ability to read the room and make people feel at home. Chris has Philly roots, spent a few years in California, and currently resides in Brooklyn with his wife & daughter. cardillo.bandcamp.com ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 1:43: Looking back at 2022, Cardillo mentions a highlight being in New Orleans for a War on Drugs show and other components that make a show. He speaks to venue size and sound mixing being important factors. 13:08: Cardillo and Jack look at 2023 and post-pandemic landscape. They speak on the common occurrence of performances getting canceled. Cardillo asks Jack about opening acts. 27:00: Reading the room is important for a large number of interactions on top of set building. Cardillo tells another story of great crowd work. 46:10: Jack and Cardillo speak on the impacts of hyper-regional differences and the unique opportunities various locations provide. Switching hats, Cardillo mentions knowing your value and having management with aligning values can set you apart as a performer. However, there is a difference between management of a beginner versus a world-famous superstar. 1:13:45: Cardillo explains Dice, a platform for people to discover experiences that they maybe wouldn’t otherwise.

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Diane Jorge, a Miami comedian. On this episode, they discuss having a panic attack on stage, misogyny towards women comedians, and making mistakes in a time of cancel culture. ABOUT DIANE JORGE Diane Jorge is a… lot of things - actor, comedian, storyteller & Walter Mercado impersonator. This Miami native performs all over South Florida telling jokes and embarrassing true life stories.  In fact, she recently won The Moth StorySLAM in Miami.  When Diane is not imitating her Cuban parents or singing awkwardly on stage, she’s also performing improv & sketch comedy, including two solo improvised shows: Solovela, an improvised telenovela based on audience suggestion & Mercado de la Fortuna, an improvised show that includes very Miami tarot cards and Walter Mercado fashion.  You can follow Diane on Instagram or Twitter at @dianeisloud. ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 1:37: Although not yet making consistent income, Diane is comfortable calling herself a standup comedian and tells the story of how she got into comedy. Humor has both helped her and hurt her. 15:42: Diane mentions she’s working on her writing currently. With ADHD, she tends to record herself often. They discuss storytelling in terms of dealing with inner work and validation. 31:10: Diane tells the story of her having a panic attack on stage. She brings up her social media usage and dislike of watching herself perform. Jack and Diane talk about her relationship to her jokes. 47:13: Touching on women in comedy, Diane speaks to misogyny from both men and women. They both dive deeper into cancel culture and learning from mistakes.

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Rayner and Sandi. The trio share stories around inner child work, gender norms, following your intuition, and supporting one another.  ABOUT RAYNER & SANDI Rayner a Venezuelan, performing artist from Miami who writes thoughtful bars. He focuses on his own mental health journey with my music, and try to stand in my truth as authentically as he can. Sandi Stock (they/she) is an actor, rapper, singer, and arts administrator that has been performing professionally for over a decade. They love interacting with the audience and creating connection through positivity and vulnerability. They have a passion for bringing untold stories to the world and uplifting unheard voices through the arts. https://linktr.ee/Raynerg www.helloSandi.com ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you. www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 1:29: Sandi starts with telling the story of her cats, Ruckus and Solo and then Ruck and Puck II. The conversation flows into the history of their relationship. Jack asks what they both admire about other performers. 20:10: The couple remembers their earliest memories of each other, and Sandi speaks to supporting Rayner as a manager and director. Jack brings up the problem of “not giving a fuck” about what the audience thinks. 36:58: Rayner talks about his journey creating music and chasing the feeling of magic. Sandi mentions when Rayner quit his job to pursue music; Rayner explaining further turning his back on safety but listening to his inner child. 1:01:42: Jack shares his story of listening to his intuition and exploring traits society has labeled as feminine. Sandi chimes in with her own recognition of being nonbinary and stereotypical gender roles. Jack switches gears to diving deeper in their relationship dynamics. 1:34:32: Sandi and Rayner report on new music coming out, I Am (out now) and The Best Side out February 14th!

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by BS. They discuss the magic of crowd work, caring about your audience, considerations when building a set, as well as how BS got into teaching various aspects of rap. ABOUT BS Wordworker - People Mover - Educator - Blader trustBS.com  @trustBS - IG, twitter  @itrustBS FB ABOUT JACK DAWKINS   Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use.   Most importantly, he loves you.   www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree   Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc  SHOW NOTES 0:42: BS shares the most nervous he’s been for a performance that didn’t end up happening and one that did. Drew and BS speak to facing your fears and dealing with nervousness. 11:13: Moving onto the topic of crowd work, BS mentions working towards getting the crowd involved without outright asking them. They discuss bullying the audience, getting clear on what you’re asking, and brilliant examples they’ve seen of crowd work, as well as use of backing vocals. 28:07: BS goes into his process of building a set list by creating a story arc. He also thinks of his songs with shapes and textures, matching and switching it up. Jack and BS explore hearing a song live versus recorded. 48:02: Jack brings up how where you are in a set can affect how you perform. The audience can be anxious and waiting for a headliner or at the end of their night and lower energy. BS gives his opinion on set length. 1:03:23: Switching lanes, BS explains how he got into teaching various aspects of rap. He considers himself a hyper-curios party to help inspire a journey of curiosity in others. Relating it to fitness, you can train your brain for freestyle rap. Jack tells the story of how they met.

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Oscar Collazos. They discuss his experience as a comedian with Colombian roots and organizing a tour with 24 shows! ABOUT OSCAR COLLAZOS Oscar Collazos is a Colombian-American bilingual stand-up comedian, actor, writer and voice over artist in New York City. Oscar's passion for entertaining came at a very young age. Born in Cali, Colombia, his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida when he was just seven years old. Desperate to try to fit in, Oscar would act out in class drawing laughs from his classmates but stares from his teachers. Oscar was voted the funniest person in his third grade class and ran home to tell his parents the good news, but it wasn't what they wanted to hear. Later on while attending the University of Florida, he interned at NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien. This led him to try stand-up comedy and the rest is history. Now a seasoned veteran more than twenty years in, Oscar can be seen at comedy clubs and theaters across the country still doing what he's loved to do since third grade - making people laugh. You can catch him performing in New York City or in South Florida as well as traveling the nation with the Hilarious Colombian Americans. www.oscarcollazos.com Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok: @colombiancomic ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use. Most importantly, he loves you. Spotify Apple Music IG TikTok Twitter YouTube www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 1:16: Oscar starts with some of his favorite days on his Hilarious Colombians National Tour. With various audiences and performance lengths, he explains his sweet spot being 45 minute performances. 14:22: Oscar tells the story of an awkward open mic night situation he recently faced. He shares his surrender of navigating tough crowds and rough performances. 29:51: Jack and Oscar discuss audience expectations and how focusing on the negative can spoil positives that arise. 40:28: With his show, Oscar explains how he crafted a tour of over 20 cities. He goes in depth on his approach in targeting specifically Colombians and getting your foot in the door. 59:40: In closing, Oscar shares his best advice and where to find him.

In this short bonus episode, Jack Dawkins covers 3 areas of performance that have been on his mind lately: Energy, Connection, and Memory. He shares his experience in performing, while also holding himself accountable as he continues to grow. What key areas of performance are top of mind to you? ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use. Most importantly, he loves you. Spotify Apple Music IG TikTok Twitter YouTube www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Morgan Gold. They discuss lessons from being a super fan, the energy around performance, and the creation of Girl's Night Out, a safe space for female and non-binary individuals to test out material. ABOUT MORGAN GOLD Morgan Gold is a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer from Chicago, IL. Her signature falsetto, storytelling and infectious melodies have paved a lane in which she stands alone. Blending a mixture of dark R&B and cinematic pop, Morgan creates an enticing atmosphere that welcomes you into her world. At 23 years old, she has released four EP's and over 20 singles since 2018. Morgan fearlessly continues to redefine her sound. Her two most recent projects "SPOTLIGHT" (2021) and "HEALING" (2021) have pushed her momentum and reputation into promising new heights. https://open.spotify.com/artist/3dJO4u9Hs1egShyHNeCYSv?si=EVgF-CI9Su-wXEzIq3Fy3A    morgangoldmusic.live   https://music.apple.com/us/artist/morgan-gold/1358440131   https://on.soundcloud.com/hVSBmcLG4qjEjUpv6 ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use. Most importantly, he loves you. Spotify Apple Music IG TikTok Twitter YouTube www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 4:27: Morgan dives into her backstory of getting involved in comedy but deciding that wasn’t her performance style. They discuss trust and comfort with the audience, as well as performing at restaurants. 18:54: Both being a social butterfly and watching icons growing up contributed to her getting into this line of work and creating ethereal R&B. Morgan speaks to the energy around rebranding and shifting energy and focus around music style. 32:13: Morgan shares her lessons in being a One Direction fan and conversely lessons she’s learned about how she treats her own fans. Discussion also shifts to the internet and effecting change. 47:29: Explaining the origin of Girls Night, Morgan explains the importance of giving female and non-binary individuals a safe space to test out new material at the Subterranean.

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Derric Gobourne Jr. They discuss the origins of Neo Jack Swing, what it's like to direct a two-hour show, and his new album: SH!NE. ABOUT DERRIC GOBOURNE JR. Derric Gobourne Jr., known to his fans as the King of Neo Jack Swing, is a 24 year old singer, songwriter, dancer, and producer from Sarasota, Florida. Derric's music has garnered over 1 Million Streams worldwide, while accumulating 13 Top 100 Hits and 2 Top 10 Albums. He recently released his sophomore album, SH!NE, which hit No. 8 on the iTunes R&B Soul Albums Chart in Japan. Derric's goal is to be the greatest entertainer of all time and to inspire as many children as possible, all over the world. https://www.tiktok.com/@sirindigoofficial  https://www.instagram.com/sirindigoofficial/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7MO4UK0FxW3_ZHA8RsQEnw/featured ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use. Most importantly, he loves you. Spotify Apple Music IG TikTok Twitter YouTube www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 00:54: Derric starts with explaining his love for Barney, as well as how both of his parents gave different influences in his dance and music journey. 9:39: Jack asks Derric about the origins of New Jack Swing and the transition to taking music and dance seriously for a career. They also go deeper int his start as a backup dancer. 21:38: Derric explains his style of leadership and directing. He also explains his creative process between his two different albums and experience producing his own shows. They speak on managing audience energy. 35:26: Engagement is key when drawing a crowd. Derric states his favorite audience is children due to their honesty. 46:34: Derric states every performer has to balance creating art for an intended audience but also creating your own brand. He also speaks about his collaboration with Toys for Tots and his last album release, SH!NE.

This week, Jack Dawkins is joined by Brandon Guzman. They discuss life as a touring actor, performing a bilingual show, the importance of Latin actors, and more! ABOUT BRANDON GUZMAN Brandon Guzmán is an actor, singer and rapper who is currently on The Young Audience outreach tour, as the male lead in “Casa Alfonsa.” Brandon graduated from the University of Tampa in 2018 with a BFA in Musical Theatre. He was born and raised in Florida but life as a performer has taken him all over the United States. Some of his recent roles include; Native Gardens (Ensemble), The Guava Tree/El Guayabo (Emi), and The Office! A Murder Mystery Parody (Dwight Schrute). Brandon is passionate about telling stories that touch the hearts of his audience and continues to pursue opportunities that will help to encourage and build up the communities he performs in. Instagram: @brandonguzman13 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Brandonguzman13?fbclid=PAAabLSUFMRNLApFX2vZ5zITt67BnXQH0yGjELYseSAuRuKefwUbLTq8Vce4U ABOUT JACK DAWKINS Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use. Most importantly, he loves you. Spotify Apple Music IG TikTok Twitter YouTube www.jackdawkinsraps.com/linktree Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/5TMLeqJiL2WMPoAcWKhGZz?si=4e6748ab641b46bc SHOW NOTES 1:24: Brandon explains how he got from Florida to performing in a touring show, his process of auditioning, and the impact of COVID. 7:17: With a focus on Latinx and Hispanic characters, Brandon speaks on the irony of being a very happy-go-lucky guy that loves to play the villain. He goes back to where he first got introduced to theater and also mentions a few music projects he’s working on. 17:16: Brandon and Jack jump into the energy around performing. When it comes to rap, he pictures darker colors and drops into a deeper register to step into the energy emotionally. 28:00: Switching to tour life, Brandon explains the scheduling of a production with two different teams touring at the same time. He is currently with a bilingual show performing for numerous schools. Brandon talks about both frustrating experiences and fulfilling experiences, as well as realizing he wants to be the role model he never had. 42:20: Brandon speaks on skills he had to grow in both acting and music. He also touches on the the emotions behind getting feedback and gaining his parents’ support. Drew also asks questions around technique and advice for those who want to start acting.

Welcome to Stage Dive! This podcast explores the art and ecstasy of live performance on life's many stages. We will talk about the techniques, mindsets, and experiences that make both great performers and performances. Jack Dawkins is a storyteller, a rapper, and a poet. He also cooks good food and runs really far.  His use of the English language has been compared to Michael Phelps’ performance on Saturday Night Live: Wildly entertaining for none of the reasons you would expect. He is, at his core, and in his music, deeply human, and a lover of excessive comma use. Most importantly, he loves you. What mystifies you about people performing on stage? Or delivering incredible keynote speeches? Is there a place you secretly WISH you could perform, if you only you had the opportunity? We are building a community about those who value the art of performance, and your input is a critical piece of the puzzle. We are here to serve you. Join me every Wednesday at 4pm for a new episode.

Stage Dive is a podcast for diving deep into live performance art to help artists do better on stage. Today's guest is Glenn Webb, who currently serves as the Director of Programs for the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, Colorado. Glenn is a consummate professional with over 25 years of experience and more than 10,000 individual live performances consumed - he knows what he's talking about. During this episode, we discuss -What makes a captivating show -How to navigate conflict and stressful situations during setup -How to nail your crowd work -How to best position yourself to other theaters and programming personnel. I'm very proud of this first episode--I hope you love it! Your Friend, Jack