Patrick Ferri's WRECKAGE-O-RAMA!!!

Well summer ended again at the Colonie Youth Center in Albany, NY with a great show on Friday afternoon.  Sean Fagan and I had a good mix of beginners and experienced kids and it was an easy camp to work and play in.  My unicycle act performed some pretty intricate maneuvers as a road crew to the sounds of Sam Cooke’s “Chain Gang” and Chuck Berry’s “You Can’t Catch Me”.

Afterwards Sean gave me a nice goodbye send off and the kids gave me a ” wheel memento” that they all signed wishing me luck in my travels.

Eric and Sean

Eric giving me my wheel

Lucy and Alison

A couple of weeks ago I took a straps class instructed by  Joshua Dean with Brian Legget that was arranged by Stephanie from the Bindlestiff Circus.  I could not believe how sore I was; but it helped straighten out my back. Go figure !  I think I would have luck with the straps if I could practice them where as on the silks I felt like I was just struggling and fighting them.

Circus = Pain

Hanging With The Pain

Here are a few shots of “Black and White” malt night at the sponsor family house :

Dave slurping

Me slurping

I just finished a long week at the Millbrook School teaching circus to high school kids for Sean’s Circus Theatricks. It was a great week and the kids did a presentation on Saturday with the theme of waking up for class tired in the morning. Of course !
I would like to thank the group ( Amelia, Auggie, Bob, Emily, Jalaaney, Nick, Ryan, Sydney and Walter ) and Clara Mulberry for having us back again.
Also, thanks to the kitchen staff for providing us with amazing food everyday. I was stronger at the end of the week, in part because I ate so well.
The weekend of Feb. 27th I went to see the New York High School Wrestling Championships in Albany and ran into my old coach Chuck Foster and his son Chip. Also my old teammate John Gallo, whose son is now a really good wrestler.
Chip introduced me to a Cornell wrestling teammate, Roland, who I find out is a long distance unicyclist. You see how all this connects ?
Anyhow, Roland and his friend Steve came out to play uni-hockey in Pittsfield and had a pretty unique experience. All pun intended. Hopefully we will see those 2 guys again.
Here are some pictures from the circus camp at Millbrook :

Brushing Chompers

High Flying

I will be directing the Berkshire Children’s Circus this summer from July 27 through August 15. Warren Bacon has been the director for the past 3 years and before that he was the aerialist coach for 2 years.

Although I cannot begin to come close to Warren’s experience I hope that as a group we can have a lot of fun and still put on a great show.
I already have seen or spoken with some of the circus kids and they are pretty excited about this years edition. I actually ran into Josh Harrington and his dad John at the Bread and Jam ski race at Notchview ( my apologies John for not recognizing you in your race clothes ).

Tammy Keeney has taken over for Dick Hamilton as Camp Administrator and she has a bunch of experience in circus. Note : she will be able to direct the director.
Bob Goode will be back and he promises to bring a louder whistle. As far as other staff, that is still up in the air but I will keep you posted.

I will also be working with Sean Fagan and Circus Theatricks at a slew ( what is a “slew” ? ) of camps around Albany.
Here are those dates :

1] The Sand Lake Arts Center July 6 – 10
2] Hudson Valley Community College July 13 – 17
3] Colonie Youth Center August 24 – September 4

( don’t forget the swim suits )

Hello, Everybody!

Just wanted to let you know that I will be coaching a circus camp at the West Sand Lake Arts Center with Sean Fagan beginning July 16.

Also, I am back at the Berkshire Children’s Circus in August helping out the camp director Warren Bacon.. I hope to have a German Wheel constructed and ready to roll by then.

I will keep you posted,
Pat