Check out this behind-the-scenes look at our award-winning, super talented juggling duo at work. JON WEE and OWEN MORSE recently used their Facebook fan page to share what an average day on the job looks like while working on a new routine. The helmut cam is a nice touch, and the closest most of us will ever get to being in their shoes!

Speakers Platform has nominated both Steve Rizzo and The Passing   Zone for their "Top 5 Speaker" awards in Entertainment for 2010.
And here's the best part - anyone can vote! Click here and let's rock the vote for our favourite chainsaw jugglers and a seriously funny guy!

 

 

Thank you to Jon Wee and Owen Morse of The Passing Zone for this fascinating post on their Facebook fan page...

Scientists at Oxford University have discovered that learning a complex new task such as juggling increases the white matter of the brain - the brain's cabling network - by 5% in just six weeks. Study participants were given MRIs before and after the six weeks of training and results proved a change in actual brain structure. None of them had any prior skill in juggling, and at the end of the 6 week trial, all could perform at least two continuous cycles of 3 ball cascade. (Our resident juggling experts from The Passing Zone must have an awful lot of white matter! They would test off the charts.)

Click here for the full article on the BBC News website.

The Passing Zone: thanks for a great show Fort Collins!

TPZ sent their thanks to their Colorado audience via Facebook: "together we can beat this gravity thing!" Become a fan of TPZ on Facebook to see their hilarious post-show commentary and feedback from attendees!

 

Cheryl Cran: our keynote queen announces a new retreat

Cheryl will host a retreat in Edmonton Dec 3&4 for women looking to boost their business profile and skill set through speaking.

 

Tim Sanders: a look behind the scenes

Tim offers a glimpse into the life of a great speech as he shares his research notes and talk outline for his recent presentation to the Los Angeles Business Journal's CEO Forum.

Tim Sanders: headlines at align2redefine

Click here for more info on this event, the second of it's kind organized and hosted by UCIrvine's Design & Construction Services: alignbuild. Held Oct 1 at the UCIrvine campus.

 

Cheryl Cran: featured speaker at eWomen Network event in Edmonton, AB

The eWomen Network supports, promotes and showcase members' products and services helping them achieve their professional goals. Cheryl headlined at their networking and information event in Edmonton on Sept 26.

 

The Passing Zone: "Women audiences are a blast!"

Jon and Owen performed for the America Business Women's Association on Sept 26th and had this to say on their facebook page about the event: "Thanks, women of ABWA, for a fantastic evening! And, just for the record, that was our first "Viagra" heckle!" One attendee responded with this post: "You guys were fabulous. Who knew jugglers could make you laugh so hard."

 

No one was more surprised than Steve Rizzo when he heard that American Airlines was permanently closing it's Windsor, Connecticut call centre this past summer. Steve had used the call centre for years to book his many flights crisscrossing the country as a professional speaker and entertainer,and had forged personal relationships with many of it's employees in the process. When Barbara Bell, a call center employee asked Steve if he would donate a few books to the employees, he replied "I'll do better than that Barbara." Steve decided to put on a show for the 500 affected AA employees.

Jon Wee and Owen Morse of The Passing Zone happily came on board to assist Steve in providing entertainment, inspiration, and a much needed dose of optimism and the end result was a huge success. One attendee wrote: "To Steve, and everyone who helped make the evening of 8 September happen - WOW! To sit with colleagues, friends and family and laugh and watch THEM laugh was priceless.THANK YOU!"

These are trying times," says Steve, "It's time we all look at the big picture and ask ourselves what it is that we can do to help each other." The message: "Pay it forward."

Click here for the Hartford Courant's coverage of the event.

Scott Burrows:  Select Sires Loved His Presentation 

A cattle genetics company specializing in the dairy industry, their VP said that Scott's presentation to their 400 salespeople, "...really connected to them and inspired them to look at what is really important in life and overcoming challenges." 

Click here to read more.

The Passing Zone:  Man in Ski Mask Steals Club

This week in Vegas, a guy in a ski mask came on stage, stole a club, and ran. Jon & Owen tracked him via RFID technology, watched him on video screens run through the hotel and outside, where police picked him up.

Oh forgot to mention...this was a gag...at this performance for Motorola, the dazzling duo helped them demo their RFID technology to the audience.  Lots of learning and fun was had as they balanced on their Moto-rola-bola!

BIG CONGRATS to Jon & Owen...American Entertainment Magazine just announced their Readers Choice Awards and Passing Zone wins!!

 

Click here to see the online magazine - go to page 12/13.

 

Steve Rizzo and Jon Wee and Owen Morse of The Passing Zone have joined together to impart optimism and empower staff at a soon-to-close American Airlines call center in Windsor, CT.

 

The private event for the 500 employees of the American Airlines call center will be held September 8 at 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. All costs associated with the event have been sponsored.

The event, themed Don’t Stop Believin’ brings together five industries that have been hit by the current economy in an act of mutual support. Rizzo learned of the pending closure from the workers at the Windsor call center; he decided he should help the departing workers find opportunity and optimism through this difficult time. He called upon his friends Wee and Morse of The Passing Zone to assist him and enlisted the aid of Diane Goodman, owner of Goodman Speakers Bureau.
The event will convey the message that in times of economic distress, opportunities don’t disappear, but simply manifest in new and different ways.

"These are trying times," says Steve, "It's time we all look at the big picture and ask ourselves what it is that we can do to help each other." The message: "Pay it forward.”