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When I first tried to learn sword swallowing, I hit nothing but locked doors. I went to shows and tried talking to sword swallowers in person. I tracked down phone numbers for the handful I could find. Almost every attempt was the same: “It’s too dangerous, don’t even try.” Or “It’s too much liability, I don’t teach.” And that was it. No books. No videos. No mentors. Nothing. I didn’t even know for certain if it was real. I remember calling magic shops, asking magicians if it

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY A world-class performance artist with 30 years of elite experience across 85 countries and all 50 U.S. states. A multi-gold medalist and Guinness World Record holder, Bill Berry blends physical mastery with philosophical depth. Now shifting focus toward mentorship, Bill teaches a "Complete Artist Philosophy"—guiding the next generation to achieve technical excellence while building a "Good Life" through financial independence, home ownership, and sustaina

Noah’s dry cleaning bill was $174. Mine was just under $50. Why do we spend that kind of money on dry cleaning? Because one of the most important things you can do as a professional, a creative, or an entertainer is to look fantastic. If you expect people to spend thousands of dollars on your art, your show, or on you, then you need to look like you’re worth that kind of money. One of the easiest ways to elevate your image is to make sure your clothing is always in top condit

If you want to get booked, you need more than talent. You need presence. You need connection. And you need the right promotional photos....

This is (WAS) my truck. Pretty, isn’t it? But here’s the thing—this truck was the only thing standing between me and the next chapter of...

When I met Bill Berry, I had already been street performing for a while, doing small local shows, stilt walking, balloon twisting, mime,...

While going through a mountain of old notes, I recently stumbled upon something that made me smile — a long-forgotten collection of...

Almost everything I write is real life experiences, and this is a good example. On November 20, 2021, I was coming home from performing at an event, and a car accident happened right in front of me. It looked really bad, so I jumped out to lend a hand. The story below will tell about what happened, but as I was leaving the scene I shot this short video. You can hear the officer speaking to me if you listen closely, an occurrence that’s noted in the story. What happened that n

This Sunday at the SpookyEasy Lounge in Ybor city, I (Bill Berry) will be taking the stage next to a couple of my oldest friends, Alistair & Lilabelle, in their Graveyard Cabaret. Doors open at 7 PM. If you would like to come, visit PGC Productions for details: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C9uBkNjRW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

FAQ for mrbillberry.com Micro Farm Q: What is the St. Pete Micro Farm and what happens there? A: The St. Pete Micro Farm is my creative headquarters in Saint Petersburg, Florida—a compact 1/10-acre urban oasis with over 80 species of fruiting trees, shrubs, and more. It’s where I host fire-handling intensives, one-on-one mentorship, comedy writing sessions, and collaborative creative work. We’re currently in construction mode (new construction expected to be complete late 202

I'm hosting a small, focused writing jam at the St. Pete Micro Farm — and I'd love for you to join if you're into comedy crafting. This is a workshop first and foremost. We'll sit together, dissect jokes, break down structure, tighten punchlines, and figure out exactly why something works (or bombs). Bring whatever you're working on: premises you're developing, jokes you're building, soft transitions, half-finished bits, or full routines that need more laughs. There'll be a s

The People’s Champion: Looking Back at IJA Reno 2003 There is a specific kind of magic that happens when a performance stops being a "routine" and starts being a shared experience. In 2003, at the IJA Summer Festival in Reno, Nevada, we felt that magic firsthand. While the technical competitions at the IJA are legendary for their intensity, there is one honor that stands apart: The People’s Choice Award. Why the People's Choice Matters In a room filled with the world’s most e

Before we get to today’s story, I want to give a massive shout-out and a heartfelt thank you to Alan Plotkin. For decades, Alan was the chief videographer for the International Jugglers' Association (IJA), and he has recently begun a monumental project: uploading his vast archive of historic juggling footage to YouTube. These performances were once locked away on VHS tapes, but thanks to Alan, they are now available for the world to see. I encourage you to head over to Alan P

Before we dive into a chapter from my upcoming book, I want to take a moment to acknowledge a true hero of the juggling community: Alan Plotkin. For years, Alan served as the chief videographer for the International Jugglers' Association (IJA), capturing the magic of the championships on VHS. Recently, Alan has performed a massive "video dump" on his YouTube channel , digitizing and sharing historic footage that was previously nearly impossible to find. It is a treasure trove

Hey future reader, Today is —February 23, 2026—I'm 49, creeping up on the big 5-0, and feeling reflective in the best way. My name is Bill Berry, and I was born on December 15, 1976, in Southern California, smack in the tail end of America's Bicentennial glow. The country was still humming from its 200-year birthday fireworks, but the real buzz that winter was Rocky hitting theaters like a knockout punch and Roots reshaping conversations about family, history, and heritage ar

A Quick Note Before You Read: This is a true story from a cruise I was on—word-for-word what happened over lunch one day. I wrote it down minutes after Josh (our main character) walked away because the interaction stuck with me.I share it not as dating advice or a "how to get girls" playbook, but as a real example of how basic social skills can trip people up—especially young guys who've had limited chances to practice talking to people (women included). Josh dumped a lot of

Somewhere between the Renaissance and the modern TV remote, we lost something. For centuries, learned men and women had studies. Not offices, not man caves — studies. Rooms built around the quiet, relentless pursuit of understanding. Jefferson had one. Darwin had one. Lincoln taught himself law, rhetoric, and geometry by firelight. These weren't people with extra time on their hands. They were people who understood something the rest of us seem to have forgotten: that if you

Working with Bill has been such a gift to me and my writing process. I remember the very first time we sat down and he read some of my work. It was the first time I had let anyone read my work. Bill empowered me from the get-go. It can be difficult to sustain confidence in your work as a new writer, but with Bill’s feedback and encouragement, I didn’t falter. We met every week we could for a year. And the only reason we stopped was that I moved states. Since laying the ground

For my students, the dream chasers, and art-trepreneurs, who often ask, "Mr. Bill Berry, how do you stay so motivated? Well, today, I'm actually not feeling it. Yes, I "should" be putting the finishing touches on my third book, and I "should" be applying the notes I got back from my wonderful beta readers. (Thank you for reading over 600 pages in a matter of days, ya'll rock!) And yes, I "should" be moving the banana trees that are impeding the pouring of a concrete slab tha

The St. Pete Micro Farm (SPMF) is a modern Garden of Eden located in the city of Saint Petersburg, Florida. Overflowing with life, abundance, and intention, it’s more than just a farm; it’s a sanctuary for people, plants, and animals alike. Over 80 different varieties of fruit trees stretch toward the sky, vegetable gardens thrive in carefully cultivated soil, and friendly chickens roam freely, adding to the harmony of the space. Every inch of it is a testament to thoughtful

If you dream of being a writer, you’re not alone, but the path from aspiration to published author is steeper than most people imagine. Hard Truths & Real Numbers Over 80% of people say they want to write a book, but 97% never finish even a rough draft. Only 20% of those who write a book actually publish it, meaning that out of every 1,000 would-be writers, only six end up published. Traditional publishers accept just 1–2% of the manuscripts they receive. And while the publis

Since I became a sword swallower nearly three decades ago, I’ve fielded countless questions. Some are thoughtful, some are strange, but three of them come up so often they’ve practically become a script. Let’s break them down. “So, what, did you just wake up one morning and decide to swallow a sword?” This one always makes me laugh. Without fail, it’s phrased exactly the same way, as if everyone received the same memo. The truth? No, sword swallowing isn’t something you roll

If you’d like to stop paying for the roof over your head in the next 15 years, stay with me. I’m going to show you how a few simple techniques, when stacked together, can radically change your life. This isn't about winning the lottery or finding an "exotic" investment. It’s about effort, intention, and a willingness to look at homeownership through a different lens than your neighbors do. The Foundation Let’s start with a clear example. Imagine a standard, comfortable home:

Imagine if your life were exactly the same as it is right now, but you no longer had a rent payment to make every month. Imagine what freedom that would give you. That is my dream for all of my students: for you to own your home outright. But to realize that dream, we can’t just trust our real estate agent or broker. We have to understand why we are making the decisions we do, and to do that, we have to study! Most of my study of real estate happened in the early 2000's, befo