The Passing Zone
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About The Passing Zone
The Passing Zone is one of the most successful and sought-after corporate acts working today. This is their story.
Owen Morse and Jon Wee met in 1986 at a juggling convention and instantly knew they were destined to be a team. But they decided to graduate from college first. Which they both did. Rather than pursue careers in Economics and Psychology, they lit some torches, and started throwing stuff into the air. And things clicked. Two weeks after their first performance together they won the Silver Medal at the International Juggler’s Association Teams Competition. The next year they won the Gold. That recognition earned an invitation to appear at the renowned Comedy and Magic Club in Los Angeles, where on their first night they were approached by the “Tonight Show” talent scout and booked for their first national television appearance in September 1990. Johnny Carson enjoyed them so much they were asked back less than a year later. Their first feature film followed, The Addams Family Movie, where Jon and Owen doubled for Gomez (Raul Julia) and Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) in the climactic Mamushka dagger-passing scene. More recently, they appeared in the award-winning comedy documentary, The Aristocrats.
The Passing Zone’s first London appearance was in the Royal Variety Performance at the Dominion Theatre, performing for Prince Charles and sharing the bill with Tony Bennett and Riverdance. They expanded their US national television audience by passing clubs over the heads of the Miss America Pageant contestants during the swimsuit competition, demonstrating almost inhuman concentration skills! Most recently, they were finalists on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” where they lost one million dollars to an 11-year-old. They were the highest-rated comedy act, and they eventually won the affection of David Hasselhoff who previously claimed to hate all jugglers.
Corporate entertainment and keynote speaking gradually became their primary market, for which they are a natural fit. Their act is clean, so it offends no one. They appeal to all ages, and all walks of life, so whether their audience is a group of mechanical contractors, software engineers, hairdressers, or billionaire business leaders, they are always a hit. Not only do they entertain, but they customize their performances by juggling a company’s product, incorporating their slogans, and inspiring groups to be better teams.
Their corporate career really took off after a national Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) event in Atlanta, which was quickly followed by other MDRTs in Chicago and Singapore. After main stage appearances at Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the National Speakers Association, YPO, ICPA, and others, the industry took notice, and they’ve been off and running ever since. Clients such as eBay, Firestone, Old Navy, Microsoft, IBM, Kodak, and IASB have brought Jon and Owen to their events to liven things up, and motivate their people. The London Business Forum recently enlisted The Passing Zone, and it was one of their highest-rated events ever.
Jon and Owen have published articles on Teamwork, Work-Life Balance, and Taking Risks in countless industry periodicals including Business People, Special Events, Smart Meetings, Networking Times, Financial Executives, Successful Meetings, Home Business, and many more. They were chosen as a Best Bet for entertainment by the Wall Street Journal, and Special Events Magazine named them one of the Hottest 26 Speakers.
Jon and Owen are known as much for their comedy as their juggling skills. They were featured twice on the gala stage at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and have opened for comedians Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Bob Newhart, Bob Hope, and Penn & Teller. Television appearances have included “Comic Strip Live,” “An Evening at The Improv,” “MADtv,” Penn & Teller’s “Sin City Spectacular,” “Steve Harvey’s Big Time,” and regular returns to NBC’s “Today.” And they were commentators on ESPN for their coverage of the World Juggling Federation competitions.
A year ago they were guest performers at The White House.
The Passing Zone have been awarded five Guinness World Records and 18 Gold Medals from the International Juggler’s Association. They were recently presented with that organization’s Award of Excellence, for “excellence in the art of juggling through professional performance,” which is the most prestigious award in juggling (essentially the Juggling Hall of Fame), given to only thirteen acts worldwide.
In addition to their corporate appearances, The Passing Zone can be seen performing their full evening show titled “Gravity Attacks!” in theaters and performing arts centers nationwide.
Teamwork: The Power of Partnership
Many speakers talk about teamwork. Jon and Owen do it.
Their success is proven, their talent unique, and nowhere else will you see such an exciting demonstration of the amazing things that can be accomplished when people work together.
The Passing Zone is a comedy duo who not only work together – their safety is in each other’s hands! Every moment of this presentation is a clear example of collaboration between two people who have prepared, who rely on each other’s strengths, who communicate, trust, and have fun cooperating. Their entertaining and inspiring performance uses big laughs, exciting stunts, and flawless teamwork, creating an unforgettable experience for any industry.
Audience members discover:
– The importance of recovering from setbacks
– How working well together creates a cohesive, effective team
– The value of trust
– What it takes for teamwork excellence
– How to foster relationships with partners and customers
– How to laugh together
Throwing chainsaws, balancing on each others’ shoulders while juggling flaming torches, demonstrating teamwork by getting people from the audience to participate – are all part of Teamwork: The Power of Partnership. Imagine your CEO standing in the middle of flying sickles and blazing torches! They even juggle three people from the audience in their exciting piece – People-Juggling.
Don’t just tell your people how to be a team…show them.
The Passing Zone on ICE: Innovation, Collabortaion, Execution
Want a cool keynote experience? Just add I.C.E.
Jon Wee and Owen Morse, The Passing Zone, are one of the most accomplished comedy duos in the nation, and they’ve done it by focusing on three success principles. Those same principles can help any group achieve fantastic results, and there is no better way to bring them these key ideas than through The Passing Zone’s hilarious, energetic, and inspiring keynote.
Innovation:
You want your company or organization to innovate, to be different, to stand out from the rest. Don’t do what everyone else does. Look for ways to be creative, unique, and move the world forward with new ideas. Success demands innovation.
The Passing Zone are innovators. They juggle astronauts (audience members), ride Segways while juggling inflated bags, and juggle chainsaws while dancing in tights and tutus. Their skill is unmatched, and their humor is unequaled, and you’ve never seen anything like it! These guys innovate each and every day, and they will inspire your people to do the same.
Collaboration:
Nobody accomplishes anything alone. In order to succeed, your people need to understand the importance of working with others around them. Rely on each other’s strengths. Collaboration requires trust, communication, cooperation – and practice!
Jon and Owen don’t just talk about collaboration, they do it! They rely on each other at every moment, on stage, for their success, and even their safety! Watch two people whose career is based on working together. Your people will see, like never before, that nothing beats effective collaboration.
Execution:
Great ideas and plans mean nothing without execution. Your people need to carry out their vision and their plans, and they need to do it with excellence. Get it done, and do it right! Give your customer the very best you have to offer.
The Passing Zone will execute excellence right in front of your eyes. They need to be flawless, or things go crashing to the stage! Their precision, skill, and success will blow your people away. They present outrageous, complex stunts, and they execute them live, on stage. If mistakes happen (and sometimes they do!), they are handled with precision and professionalism, which is all part of execution. Show your people execution at its best – and most fun!
Testimonials
“Wow! Your creativity, talent and energy exemplified our message… and what amazed our audience most was your ability to incorporate our message into your routine. Congratulations on an outstanding performance.”
– Hilton Hotels Corporation
“You came highly recommended, and you more than lived up to our expectations. What an exhilarating evening! Your show was a great way to end a successful convention.”
– WI Transportation & Builders Association
“Wow! You guys were amazing! People were buzzing about your performance long after the meeting ended. Our members were delighted, and I am extremely grateful that you made the meeting such an overwhelming success.”
– National Speakers Association
“We couldn’t be more pleased with The Passing Zone’s outstanding performance and their ability to convey our company’s message in a fun and entertaining way.”
– Hewlett-Packard
“Jon Wee and Owen Morse will truly entertain, inspire, and offer a unique perspective on life. They bring a whole new meaning the the term ‘teamwork.’ Be sure to catch the fun and energy.”
– Business People Magazine