Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joshua Lackey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Joshua, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

So far, the most meaningful project I have worked on was my Comedy Ventriloquist special: Joshua the Ventriloquist Fleecing the family. The Backstory on it is that I had had a long-time goal of creating my own special that people could watch. We were in the final days of 2020. The venues had just started to open back up and some of them were already starting to close back down. I was talking with my wonderful wife about how I wanted to do this. You know dreaming the way you do with the one you love, and she told me it was time to poop or get off the pot. I realized she was right, as usual. None of us knew what Covid was going to do or how it was going to affect our abilities to stage live performances.
One of the things that makes the project most meaningful to me is how much of my family and my life I put into filming it. If you watch the video, you will see paintings hung on the back of the stage. Those paintings are the artwork that hung in my living room. All of them were either done by my children, my grandson or myself. Most of the material is inspired, all be it sometimes exaggerated, by the true stories and experiences of raising my family.
It was an amazing goal to realize and the fact that it was done under such difficult circumstances with for and about the people I love Just makes it that much more special.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Ventriloquist, magician, juggler, artist, actor, and musician. I even work as a pirate, a clown, and Santa Claus.
I got into entertainment and performance art when I was young. We had gone to an amusement park and were waiting in line to ride a roller coaster. While waiting in line I met a guy who said he was a professional roller coaster rider, so of course me as a little kid at the time thought that was the coolest thing I had ever heard. The guy juggled for everyone in line while we waited the two hours in to ride the coaster. I thought it was amazing the way a complete group of strangers could suddenly become more. By having a shared experience, they became an audience, a community. After that I had to learn how to juggle. Juggling lead to ventriloquism, ventriloquism led to magic and acting, and music and art were always a huge part of my life.

The products, service, and creative works I offer are Entertainment and performance based. The solutions I offer to clients Is making experiences more memorable. I like to say I help people create magical memories. I like to think when we share experiences like laughter it makes us a community. Once I get people laughing and entertained they are no longer attending a party, they are part of the party. To me the most Important part of the performance is the audience.

The thing I am most proud of is my family, my wife, and kids, and grandson. Professionally I am proud of the special I filmed: Joshua the ventriloquist fleecing the family. Because of how much we all put into it. I would like to give a big shout out to my director Matt Struck. He worked tirelessly on it.

The thing I want people to know about me is I am here. I am here to help you have a good time. Come see one of my shows or have me come to one of your events.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me the most rewarding aspects of being a creative artist are the act of creation its self and sharing it. I think deep down all of us really want to share and I think when you share something that connects with another human being. It creates this moment of transcendence where we all know we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I like this question. I hear this question a lot, and I often hear artist, creatives, and small business owners give indirect answer to this question. I think people are often scared to answer this question honestly or directly. The answer is money. The renaissance didn’t happen because artist suddenly existed. It happened because people started to fund the art.
How many times have you heard of someone paying hundreds of dollars to go see a concert or thousands of dollars for paintings or clothing, but when it comes time to get something from someone they know. they ask for it for free.
Go and see local shows, buy local art, if you like a local band, comedian, or artist buy their merchandise.
Also talk about your friends and family who are creatives or small business owners. Free advertising and word of mouth is priceless.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuatheventriloquist/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuatheventriloquist/
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B09VB9PXKY/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Image Credits
Wendy Hayes H. Terice Lackey Devan Sambrano