I've decided to share some of the videos I have of dad's performances - most of them are almost 20 years old or more. He would sometimes book blocks of shows - particularly around Christmas time - go on tour, and I would accompany him and film his shows. This was a period of intense focus by dad who was constantly using this footage to tweak his show and also gather footage for marketing videos - some of which I will also share in the future.
Dad would get irate when he would hear of other performers stealing his bits so we never shared this footage while he was alive, but now I suppose it doesn't matter. I've been told I could probably package this footage and sell it as a learning tool, but honestly I'd like as many performers as possible to be able to see it. Anything anyone can glean from these videos only serves to keep a part of John Riggs alive and continuing to contribute to the art he loved so much.
Enjoy and do as you will!
John Riggs performs in Huntingburg, Indiana - May 2007
John Riggs performs in Terre Haute, Indiana - December 2007
This performance contains a strong "hit" during the Q&A portion which dad mentioned in numerous interviews, including the Lee Earle Syzygy interview on YouTube that has been making the rounds lately. This hit comes around the 45:40 mark with an audience member named Scott. Dad blurts out "Miami? Uganda?" to which a bewildered Scott responds "How is that possible?? How is that possible??" Scott had written on his card that he was looking for a new place to live on advice of his doctor - that is all. It turns out he was indeed looking for places to live in Miami and, incredibly, also Uganda. This is one of those flashes of insight dad often spoke about that would just come to him sometimes seemingly out of nowhere.
John Riggs performs in Paris, Indiana - December 2007
I debated even uploading this one, but I think there is some value here. This was an extremely challenging show for dad. It was scheduled way too late at night and after the crowd had eaten and just wanted to go home, and the planner had booked his two hour mindreading and hypnosis show. Adding to the shit-sundae was another event in the same building which was excessively loud, making any hypnotic induction very challenging. But wait! There's more! The electrical system in the building was also on the fritz which caused dad's sound system - including the music needed for his hypnosis routine - to malfunction. This is a good example of dad persevering through a number of very challenging conditions that would crush a great many other performers.
