It takes more than just enthusiasm and a sharp sense of humour to get a child laughing — it takes experience.
Entertainer Al Simmons has the intangibles after more than four decades performing live for children and the Winnipeg entertainer will be bringing his repertoire to Okotoks for the free Children’s Festival on June 18.
Simmons always comes armed with an array of goofy homemade objects and he said he was recently comparing notes with another children’s entertainer and it gave him the chance to stop and think just how much stuff his touring show features.
“I travel with about 10 pounds of props per minute of show I do,” he said. “That’s a lot of stuff. It’s especially sad when you think it only works about to about seven pounds a laugh.”
Simmons said he generally flies to his shows while shipping his gear ahead of time so it’s there when he arrives. Unlike the well-known prop comedian Carrot Top, who generally holds up an article, gets a laugh and moves on, Simmons said he uses his gag objects as part of a larger sketch or bit.
“Sometimes it’s a story, a song or a joke that leads me to think of the prop afterwards,” he said. “Or else I’ll think up the crazy prop and then have to think about how I’m going to work it into the show.”
Once in a while, Simmons said the inspiration of how to best use something will come to him on stage at just the moment he needs it. Other times time he said it’s an ongoing challenge to come up with new ideas.
“I’ve got one thing I’ve been traveling with for a year,” Simmons said. “I use it differently every single time. It still just hasn’t quite clicked right yet. Maybe the Okotoks show will be the one where it all comes together.”
The Children’s Festival was formerly known as the Youth Festival, but Okotoks’ community events liaison, Marg Cox said many of the usual suspects, in terms of children’s attractions, would be there once again.
“There will be balloon creationists, bubble blowing, craft tables, an obstacle course and a concession where everything is only $1 each,” Cox said.
Along with Simmons another notable family entertainer who will appear at the festival is Penticton’s Mat Duffus. A purveyor of folk music for all ages Duffus said he’s found the best way to keep children engaged in his show is to have them participate.
“I give them something fun to do,” he said. “It’s an interactive show. The kids basically are the show. I’m just playing along with them. I try to get them singing and as active in the show as possible. I try to get them up on stage with me if it’s safe to do so.”
In his act Duffus said he tries to compliment old standards like “You Are My Sunshine” and “Happy and You Know It” with modern material like “Turn it Up” from Canadian pop-rock band the Stereos.
He admitted finding just the right contemporary hits for his family act is a bit of a challenge.
“I always try to be current but it’s very hard because the music today is not as organic as it used to be.” Duffus said. “A lot of it is done with synthesizers and all that stuff.”
The entertainer tends to look for less complicated material, which can sound great with just an acoustic guitar complimented by many young voices joining him in song.
With the wild prop heavy antics of Simmons paired up with the sing-a-long music numbers of Duffus, children and parents alike should be able to draw more than a few laughs and smiles from Saturday’s Children’s Festival.
The Children’s Festival will be held at Ethel Tucker Park on Riverside Drive in Okotoks on Saturday, June 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and there is no admission charge.
