Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Weakley.
Hi Mike, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I attended the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in Venice, Florida back in 1988. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Fun Arts Degree, I was offered a contract to become a clown with “The Greatest Show On Earth.” I performed with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus through the end of 1997 and then moved to Orlando to pursue my dream of making a living as an entertainer “in the real world.” I soon discovered that stilt walking was valuable skill here in the Central Florida area & began working at Universal Studios as a stilt walker. I also became a toy demonstrator (sans stilts) at FAO Schwarz toy store on International Drive. Getting paid to play with toys in an amazing toy store was definitely a dream job. Other than the circus, this was the funnest job I’ve ever had. Then in 2002, the Gaylord Palms Resort hotel in Kissimmee opened, & they hired me to be a full-time stilt walker. I was there for 8 years when in 2010, the hotel did away with their entire in-house entertainment department. It was then that I decided to become my own boss & start my own stilt-walking business. I had a website made (www.StiltFun.com) and began promoting my stilt walking services to fairs, festivals, & entertainment agencies all throughout the state. My business has steadily grown year after year (except for 2020 when Covid hit), and now… nearly 13 years later… I’m still living my dream as a professional entertainer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle was when Covid hit in 2020. The entire entertainment industry basically shut down, and no one knew when (or if) it would ever open up again. I went several months with no work & began to wonder if I would have to start looking for a different career. But with the help of federal pandemic assistance & a small nest egg I had saved up in the bank, I was able to “weather the storm” & survive OK until the gigs began to kick in again.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I provide professional stilt walking entertainment for corporate, public, & private events. I have been an entertainer for the past 30+ years, & I am probably most proud of the fact that I am still making a full-time living at it. And being my own boss with a successful business is just icing on the cake. I can be as creative as I want, & experiment with new ideas anytime I please. I get to call all the shots.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
Getting the lead role as Peter Pan in a school play. Afterwards, I went to a state-wide fine arts competition with the girl who played Wendy, & we ended up winning 3rd place overall.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stiltfun.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/stiltfun
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@stiltfun
