Juggle This

Artist Information

Biography

An outrageously good time awaits you at the next Fly by Night show! American comedians Stephen King and Ryan Dekoe of Boston, Massachusetts have been performing their on-the-edge brand of “Dangerous Comedy” since 1990. This odd and hilarious duo combine a bizarre mix of stand up comedy, juggling, sideshow antics, and "other various skills and proficiencies," into one extremely popular and unforgettable show.

Their show entitled JUGGLE THIS! has a classical vaudevillian style, coupled with the sarcastic temperament of modern stand up comedians. Snappy comedic dialog, quick-witted improvisation, audience participation, amazing technical skill not to mention excitement and danger, sets the pulse of the show. Fly by Night's high-energy performances and quirky sense of humor have been witnessed internationally by hundreds of thousands of people. Fly by Night just returned from tours of Mexico and Europe, and appeared on Season 4 of "America's got Talent."

Instrumentation

Ryan Dekoe
Stephen King

Discography

Links

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Audio

• Fly by Night
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Video

Juggle This.mp4

Photo Gallery

Press

• Two acts balance laughs with lots of flying stuff [+ Show ]
  

  Most comedy shows don't involve flying knives or flaming lawn chairs. But those props are the stock ...Most comedy shows don't involve flying knives or flaming lawn chairs. But those props are the stock in trade of the Airborne Comedians and Fly by Night Dangerous Comedy, two acts on today's First Night bill. Both are comedy duos that trace their juggling and jokes back to vaudeville and street performing, but each takes the tradition in a different direction.
  
  Dan Foley and Joel Harris of the Airborne Comedians, who play three shows at Hynes Convention Center Hall D this afternoon, are a veteran family-oriented act. They come off like the Smothers Brothers without a straight man, often juggling chairs and musical equipment while Foley plays guitar and parodies pop music. Since moving objects are not funny in and of themselves, Foley and Harris realized early on that they needed a comedic element to complete their act.
  "We found we were better received and got bigger audiences and more money when we made the act into more of a comedy thing, which was character-driven," Foley says.
  The Airborne Comedians take their inspiration from classic slapstick artists such as Charlie Chaplin and modern clowns such as Bill Irwin. Fly by Night looks more to old-time sideshow acts and maverick magicians such as Penn & Teller.
  "We kind of consider ourselves more of a new age vaudeville -- classic vaudeville mixed with contemporary humor," says Stephen King (not to be confused with the author and Red Sox fan). King and partner Ryan Dekoe run their own entertainment company in Holyoke featuring fire eaters, belly dancers, hypnotists, and even lumberjacks, and those performers influence the duo's act.
  "Because we're involved in this type of entertainment, we meet a lot of eclectic people along our journey, and they tend to show us things here and there that are interesting, and we kind of incorporate them into the show," says King.
  Tonight's early evening shows at the City Place/Transportation Building will be toned down a bit from Fly by Night's usual college act, but you can expect to see some of the sideshow elements, possibly including a stunt in which Dekoe staples a dollar bill to his forehead.
  "We do some juggling, whip cracking, we walk on broken glass," says King.
  Traditionally, stand-up comedians take a dim view of jugglers and guitar-playing comics, and the Airborne's Foley has been both. Theirs is not a nightclub act (Foley points out that the lack of space alone would kill it), and some comics feel that any prop other than a microphone and maybe a stool is a crutch for the unfunny. Foley is aware of the prejudice but takes it in stride.
  "I would say we are a couple of rungs below the magicians, but easily a rung above the mimes," he deadpans.
  

• interPLAY Article (2007) [+ Show ]
  

  Stephen King and Ryan Dekoe literally juggle a career on the road. Taunting audiences with sharp in...Stephen King and Ryan Dekoe literally juggle a career on the road.
  Taunting audiences with sharp instruments and a pointed wit, the Fly by Night duo entertained crowds this past weekend at InterPlay with their Juggle This show.
  Whether knocking a cigar out of a volunteer's mouth, balancing a youngster on their shoulders while on a rolling skateboard, or walking on glass the duo reached out to a friendly crowd on their first gig in Canada.
  "I love Canadians. They are very nice people, so we have to back down our sarcasm a little bit because we tend to be a little abrasive," said performer Stephen King.
  The Boston, Mass. duo found a love for performance early in life taking their act to the streets after meeting in cub scouts. Over time the show developed more of a self-admitted sarcastic edge, including taking verbal shots at their patrons.
  "We try to balance the sarcasm and humour without offending people. That's the hardest part about travelling on the road is judging your audience where you are, different places and different types of people," said King, adding they are a lot nicer off stage than on.
  
  
  Street performances were packed for the duo and other acts like the Aerial Angels, Dan the One Man Band, The Gargoyle and Charlie Chaplin.
  Decked out in a bright purple business suit, Ryan Dekoe dared the audience to get involved in the circus-type show and had no trouble enticing several youngsters to participate.
  "It helps to bring people into the act," said Dekoe. "When you work in a place like Boston people are a little bit more reluctant. But here it seems like everyone's "sure whatever. Actually it seems easier here than in the states."
  Drawing a crowd was also an easy task as InterPlay president Russell Thomas said Friday and Saturday were the busiest days the festival has experienced.
  "The size of the crowds at the street performers stage were four-people deep at the back for most of the afternoon. It was really incredible."
  Thomas said the line-ups throughout the festival site were the longest they've seen and indoor shows displayed growth at the box office. He added the growing festival is getting well known for being very generous to street performers.
  "We have a reputation across Canada now for being one the best festivals for street performers and it sure shows by the amount of people that came out."
  Although it's a long trip from Boston, King said he and Dekoe wouldn't have trouble keeping their act in the air for a supportive Canadian audience.
  "I don't know if it's this community or Canada as a whole but it seems like everyone is very appreciative of having this kind of entertainment here and they take advantage of it when it is here. It's terrific."

• Artist Showcase [+ Show ]
  

  An outrageously good time awaits you at the next Fly By Night show! Enter Stephen King (who?) and R...An outrageously good time awaits you at the next Fly By Night show! Enter Stephen King (who?) and Ryan Dekoe, a duo that has been performing for fifteen years. They travel across the country doing "stupid tricks."
  
  Their unique brand ("Dangerously Stupid") of off-the-wall comedy combines old school Vaudeville, classic sideshow antics and contemporary humor into one extremely popular and unforgettable show.
  
  Since 1990, this crazy but hilarious pair has delivered humor that never fails to win the hearts of even the most hard to please audiences. The show is jam-packed with technical skills, fast paced comedic dialogue, quick-witted improvisation, audience participation, excitement, and danger (don't worry, it's more perceived than actual). For more than a decade, their high energy performances and quirky sense of humor have been witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people.
  
  Fly By Night have a certain synergy that is hard to find in a normal duo. Steve and Ryan's professionalism and polish as artists is the result of countless hours of training, performing, hard work, and a passion for entertaining.
  
  Always dressed in their custom made stylish 1940's style "zoot suits," they provide a great atmosphere for any event. They are popular for corporate promotions, "A" list parties, VIP events, product promotions and trade shows.

Setlist

Basic Requirements

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