The Alliance Church in Casco, Maine, is one of the oldest Alliance churches in Maine, and perhaps the oldest church in Casco. I have performed there several times over the years, and last Saturday, I had the chance to do a show there again. They were having a free community cookout, complete with bouncy house for the neighborhood kids, and - after hot dogs, Cole slaw, and chips - a performance by the Supreme Court Jester.

This was one of those shows that was ideal in terms of conditions. There was no significant wind, which is always a plus for a juggler, and it was outdoors, which allowed me to use fire torches, fire devil sticks and fire diabolo, with no threat to life or property.

The audience of 20 + people was, I am told, about a 50/50 mix of church folks and neighbors. The youngest kids were so taken by the bouncy house that they came and went between it and my show. Cotton, our rabbit, brought the kids out for the longest time, and fire props held them, too. However, the bouncy house was too big of a draw, I was fine with this, as I have often explained, my show is not really geared toward young kids, and an audience of older kids and their parents and grandparents is ideal.

As often happens in shows near home, I ran into a few people I know, including the guy who took care of our doves last summer while we were away for a while. I confess, I don't know his name; its really his parents, Jeff and Heather Williams, missionaries to Cambodia. I also ran into Jim Maurice, a long time supporter of our ministry.