Variety Entertainer
Circus – Sideshow – Wild West – Vaudeville – Burlesque
Keith Nelson learned to juggle and eat fire at Hampshire College in 1989. Following college he moved to New York City and became a professional entertainer. Keith swallows swords, spins tops, juggles plates, balances glasses, and manipulates just about anything. In 1995 he co-founded Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, a national touring troupe and performing arts organization. Keith has toured with circuses, carnivals, and sideshows. He has worked casino stages, historic opera houses, and international festivals. Television appearances include Late Night with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with James Corden, OZ (season one), BBC, VH-1, MTV…. From New York City, to the Bahamas, from Guyana to Thailand, from Flint to China, and across the United States, Keith has taught thousands of people to juggle and balance objects, and entertained millions more.
Keith can provide a 30 second jaw-dropping feat or seven minutes of awesome entertainment or an amazing 45 minute one-man variety show or be a dazzling emcee at your event. He is ready to bring a strong twist of variety to any setting.
In addition to performing, Keith is also a director, producer and teacher. He has taught Broadway performers and coached television personalities. He is the professor of circus arts at the State University of New York at Purchase.
Contact: keith@bindlestiff.org
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Venues & Festivals
- Avery Fischer Hall (w/ Ornette Coleman), NYC
- Hall & Christ’s World of Wonders, NJ
- Yale Cabaret, Yale University, CT
- Toyota Comedy Festival, NY
- Burning Man Festival, NV
- Glastonbury Festival, UK
- Coney Island Sideshow by the Seashore, NY
- Wild Style Tattoo Convention, Austria
- King Opera House, Van Buren, AK
- San Diego Street Scene, CA
- Blue Angel Cabaret, NY
- Knitting Factory, NY
- Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, TN
- All Good Festival, WV
- MGM Grand Theater, Washington, DC
- Borgata Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City
TV, Film, and Radio Appearances
- Late Late Show with James Corden, CBS
- Late Night with David Letterman, CBS
- The Carson Daly Show, NBC
- Oddville, MTV
- OZ, HBO
- The Today Show, NBC
- Twisted Lives of Contortionists, Discovery
- Rock of Ages, VH-1
- 212, FOX
- On the Inside, BBC
- Tudo de Bom, MTV Brazil
- Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC
Past Clients
- Bendel’s
- Discover Channel
- Stober Brothers Construciton
- Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown Alley
- Village Voice
- Club Med
- Sunny DeLite
- Magic Hat Brewing Company
- New York Housing Authority
- Bard College
- NYC Parks & Recreation
- Hendricks Gin
- Coney Island Brewery
- Six Flags
- Cirque du Soleil