The Passing Zone
- Corporate Entertainers on The Power of Partnership
- Innovation
- Collaboration & Execution
Travels From
California
The Passing Zone Speaker Biography
The Passing Zone is one of the most successful and sought-after comedy 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 Jugglers’ 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. They also 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! They were finalists on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” performing in Seasons 1 and 11, and both times losing to a young, female singer!
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 Jay Leno, George Carlin, Bob Newhart, Bob Hope, and Penn & Teller. Television appearances have included “Comic Strip Live,” “CNN’s Road Warriors,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “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, and the Moxie Games at SkillCon.
Several years ago they were guest performers at The White House.
The Passing Zone has been awarded five Guinness World Records and 18 Gold Medals from the International Juggler’s Association. They were 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). In addition, they have been inducted into the National Speaker’s Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame.
They can often be seen doing entertainment and keynote speaking at corporate events, 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 perform as a team, with excellence and creativity.
In addition, The Passing Zone has become popular at theaters and performing arts centers, bringing their zany and sometimes terrifying acts to communities all across the nation. Their most recent show, “The Passing Zone Saves the World!” is currently touring.
Jon and Owen reside in the greater Los Angeles area, where, when they are not throwing things, they spend as much time as possible with their families, and still manage to squeeze in hang gliding, surfing, mountain biking, and motorcycling, although not all at the same time.
Why The Passing Zone?
You put on a great meeting last time, but now you have to top it. You need something unexpected, unique, fresh, not just the same old speaker, comedian, magician or band.
You found something different.
You found roaring chainsaws, cheering attendees, flaming torches and knives flying through the air! You found an experience. You found a surprise. You found genuine laughter, the kind that makes your face hurt.
Chainsaws, thrills, standing ovations.
You found two grown men who demonstrate partnership by leaping around the stage in fuchsia leotards, with rapid-fire banter, throwing sickles around the body of someone from the audience (or your CEO) as they receive a standing ovation. You found three of your people in astronaut suits flying through the air. You found danger (or so it would seem), laughter, and an inspirational experience your people will never forget.
You found what you’re looking for.
You found The Passing Zone.
To Book the Passing Zone call Executive Speakers at 901-754-9404
VIRTUAL EVENTS:
In today’s new environment, you need dynamic formats of virtual events and video entertainment that will blow your people away – while keeping them safe, delighted, and excited. That is what we do.
Not to brag, but we happen to be one of the most successful, inventive and funny duos working today, with more awards, accolades and experience than most performers achieve in a lifetime: The Tonight Show, America’s Got Talent, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and performances at the White House, and in London for Prince Charles, just to name a few. (Ok, that did sound like bragging.)
Having traveled the world with our hilarious and dangerous stunts, we are now delighting audiences everywhere while broadcasting performances from our own studio theatre space, with state-of-the-art online capabilities, bringing the fun and action directly to your audience. With virtually no effort on your part, your people will enjoy every second from the comfort of their homes or video screens anywhere!
Live Stream Keynote/Performance
This is a live performance, taking place in our warehouse studio theater, where we can talk directly to your people and give them the same presentation they would see if we were on stage in person. This will be customized for your audience, as they experience our performance through the safety of their personal screens. Optional Q&A available (Any length performance, up to 60 minutes).
Customized Pre-Recorded Keynote/Performance
Same as above, but rather than watching live, you will be provided a recording of the performance to show your people any time.
Pre-Recorded Keynote/Performance
You and your people can enjoy a professionally-produced video performance of The Passing Zone, recorded in front of a live audience. Additionally, we offer a customized video addressing your group, and introducing their performance. This ensures that the presentation’s message in on-point for you, and gives your people a personalized experience.
Short Videos for Openers, Closers, and Comic Relief
These are short, customized performances that are written, created, and recorded just for you. This is a perfect way to include fun, energy, and customized content to spice up any online communication you are having with your people, whether it be part of a virtual meeting, or a way to give your people something fun and uplifting.
Learn to Juggle Online Workshop
Teach your people a new skill, to bring them together, have a shared experience, and give them an activity that can stimulate them both mentally and physically in their spare time, anywhere. Juggling has many proven benefits, including improved brain function, hand-eye coordination, creative thinking, and is the perfect way to take a mental health break from other concerns.
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. This keynote is all about people. Your people. Becoming better together.
THE PASSING ZONE ON ICE - INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, 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! Innovation. Collaboration. Execution. Add I.C.E. to your next event.
THE JUGGLING EXPERIENCE
Your Group Can Learn To Juggle! If your people could surprise themselves by learning to juggle, do you think they might have a new outlook on the challenges that lie ahead Yes, they would. Would a group that had just laughed together, helped one another, and cheered each others' success, move forward as a stronger, more dedicated team? Yes, they would. Would they enjoy the gift of juggling balls, reminding them always of the wonderful experience they had at the event? And would they be able to impress and entertain others with this new skill for the rest of their lives? Yes, they would.
Would The Passing Zone bring an increased level of learning and fun to your event by leading your group in The Juggling Experience, a hands-on workshop that maximizes the impact Jon and Owen will have at your event? Yes, they would.
The Details
This workshop is usually presented immediately following The Passing Zone's keynote performance. There are numerous ways it works. Either the group will move into an adjoining space, or chairs can be quickly stacked and moved against the walls. Even if there are tables and chairs that cannot be moved, there is usually an easy way for people to spread out and find room up front, in the back, in the aisle, and between tables. A set of juggling balls will be handed to each attendee, usually as the session begins. Balls ordered directly through The Passing Zone will include the organization's logo printed on the balls. Jon and Owen present this experience by demonstrating and instructing from a small stage or riser. Once each step is explained, the audience juggles while The Passing Zone circulates among the group, offering one-on-one assistance, to be sure everyone is on track. Up-beat music plays to help keep everyone energized. In order for everyone to have a real chance at succeeding, 45-60 minutes should be allocated to The Juggling Experience workshop. Please view "The Juggling Experience" clip on the website or promotional DVD to see the session in action.
Attendee Take-Home Tool: Learn to Juggle on DVD
This DVD reviews what they have learned in the workshop and includes a full show video. This is a way that they can take the instruction home with them, as well as show family and friends some of the excitement they experienced with The Passing Zone's performance.
March 9, 2022
Jon and Owen are off the charts fantastic! They were the perfect keynote close to our event and are genuinely great guys. I would recommend then to anyone who wants to up their meeting experience with something fun, thrilling, and funny!
INSURICA Helpful 0