Professional Whip Artistry Training & Entertainment

Professional Whip Artistry Training & Entertainment


  • Tag Archives national whip artistry month
  • Whip contests at Annie Oakley Showcase July 26, open registration

    westernmovie031Greenville, OH – The 12th Annual Annie Oakley Western Arts Showcase is scheduled to begin at 1PM, Saturday July 26th at the new event location of York Woods in Greenville, Ohio, during Annie Oakley Festival. In addition to Wild West Arts performances ranging from trick roping to precision knife throwing, the event also features some of the only public bullwhip competitions held anywhere in the United States.

    The exhibition whip contests are open to outside participation pending registration the day of the event. “We’ve opened it up to anyone to participate but we do have some restrictions,” says event producer, Gery L. Deer, director of The Whip Artistry Studio, the country’s only permanent, non-combative whip training school.

    “This is an exhibition competition, so it’s more for the spectators than the competitors and there are no ‘big’ prizes. A few people have donated whips and whip-related items but there’s no cash to be won. It’s mainly bragging rights from one of the longest-running whip contests in the country.”

    Deer points out that some of the best names in whip artistry will be on hand beginning with himself, a champion speed and accuracy competitor and 25-year veteran professional performer. Joining him will be “The Whip Guy,” whip artist Chris Camp, champion knife thrower and whip handler, Kirk Bass, and a host of others. The contests are based on long-standing events, many of which have gone by the wayside over the years.

    GLDINDY

    This year’s Annie Oakley Western Arts Showcase features a contest straight from an Indiana Jones movie!

    The Annie Oakley Western Arts Showcase started in 2002 as the Ohio regional convention for the former Wild West Arts Club (WWAC). Today, the event is the staple of western entertainment and competition at Annie Oakley Festival, a Darke County, Ohio favorite for more than half a century. Whip contests will be as follows:

    Classic Whip Speed & Accuracy – This is the age-old speed and accuracy competition modeled after those held at the international conventions of the former WWAC. Five target stands hold two foam cups each, on opposite sides and with each stand set for a different height. The event is timed and mistakes add seconds to each score with the lowest time is the ultimate goal.

    Whip Speed Switch – Similar to the Classic Speed & Accuracy, but competitors must use both hands, up one side and down the other targeting left-hand targets with the left hand and vice versa.

    The Original Bullwhip Fast Draw – This is a contest that originated with The Whip Artistry Studio and Annie Oakley events. Created by whip maker Paul Nolan, whip master Gery Deer and western re-enactor Chris Curtis, this is the most popular contest of the day. Competitors are paired in heats as they try to be the fastest draw with their whip from a “holstered” position and first to cut the target.

    The Raiders Fast Draw – This is a new contest for this year and a variation of the original fast draw. Taken from the opening scenes of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” competitors use an 8 or 10-foot bullwhip and are required to face away from each other with their whips completely holstered in a cross-draw position. When signaled, they turn and throw at the target, each trying to be the fastest.

    IMG_3582All of the contests will be held outdoors and followed at 2:30 by a matinee performance featuring whip artist Gery L. Deer, the knife throwing skills of Bass Blades and more. The Grand Wild West Showcase will begin at 5:30 PM, hosted by The Brothers & Co. Entertainers music and variety show.

    Participation is limited, first come, first served and, due to safety considerations, event producer has final say in whether a competitor may participate. Those interested in competing must meet eligibility guidelines as follows: 18 or older, must have their own (approved) whip equipment and register no later than 12:30PM the day of the contest. For more information contact the production office of GLD Enterprises at (937) 902-4857 or go online to ohiowesternarts.org.

    Video from the 2013 Bullwhip Fast Draw …


  • Wild West artists descend on The Whip Artistry Studio

    Filming some demo material for Richard and Donna Best.

    Filming some demo material for Richard and Donna Best.

    Saturday, April 12, 2014 – The Whip Artistry Studio played host to a half-dozen Wild West arts practitioners who met up to enjoy the company, the arts and the preservation of their crafts. Studio director, whip artist Gery L. Deer was joined by nylon whip maker David Crain of Heartbeat Artistry, who arranged the gathering for the benefit of Richard Best, of the Black Lightning Wild West Show.

    Richard and his wife Donna traveled down from northern Ohio. They’ve known Gery Deer for more than a decade and have worked with him for many years at the Annie Oakley Festival in Greenville, Ohio. Originally, Crain and Best chose the Studio simply as a meeting point but managed to arrange for some video to be taken by another patron of the studio, Rich Hoffman of Middletown, Ohio.

    Hoffman is a whip practitioner himself and the author of the books, “The Symposium of Justice,” and “Tail of the Dragon.” In 2009, he and Gery produced a film short that won them Best Experimental Micro Film at the Indy Gathering film festival in Cleveland. They’ve worked on several projects together and have discussed a new film project in the near future.

    “The Whip Artistry Studio” – with Gery L. Deer and David Crain. Video by Rich Hoffman:

    Also in attendance was roper, musician Doug Smith, of Medway, Ohio. Doug was one of the founders of the Annie Oakley event, running the roping activities for several years. He attended this particular meeting of the Western arts to catch up with one of his roping students, Hollie Bradley. Hollie is just getting started as an up-and-coming trick roper and recently started whip lessons under Gery L. Deer at The Whip Artistry Studio.

    Here are some photos and video from the day’s activities. Thanks to Debra Bays, Rich Hoffman and all who participated in a great day! Watch for information on other Wild West activities from The Whip Artistry Studio and GLD Enterprises.


  • “Living Dayton” Comes to The Whip Artistry Studio

    January 10, 2013 – On Tuesday, January 8, The Whip Artistry Studio hosted Nathalie and Vanessa, hosts of the WDTN-TV2 daytime program, ‘Living Dayton.’ The ladies came out to try their hand at bullwhip handling – with mixed results. But it was a lot of fun! Have a look …

    Bull Whipping 101 with Nathalie and Vanessa

     


  • January is National Whip Artistry Month!

    gdstu305_smallIf you enjoy extreme sports, how’s Mach 1 strike you? 

    January is National Whip Artistry Month!

    For those who are looking to take up Whip Artistry / Whip Cracking or even if you’ve been handling a whip for a long time, this is a great time of year to look into new whip-related activities like conventions, contests, lessons and more!

    The Whip Artistry Studio is offering some great educational session for the month including special pricing on Beginner Basics Coaching, Couples Whip Lessons, Whip Arts for Stage, Designing Your Show and Proper Care & Feeding of Your Whip! Here are more detail!

    Beginner Basics Coaching – Whip Artistry 101
    This is our most popular session. We take you through some of the history of the whip and get your hands on many different styles and types from basic, American cowhides to professional Australian styles. This is a basics session but can be adjusted to your skill and goal level. Classes start at $75.
    Couples Whip Lessons
    One of our most popular activities, Couples sessions include 90 minutes of bullwhip coaching for you and your significant other! Learn the basics or pick up some new tricks. It’s a fun activity to do together and share something unique! Available for the special price of $150 through February 28, 2013. Call or email for reservations.

    Whip Arts for Stage
    Are you a performer? Whip Arts for Stage offers the stage performer the opportunity to learn the whip or learn to seamlessly blend it into an existing show. Ideal for Ren Fair or Sideshow performers, stage comedians, actors and stunt performers, mounted trick riders and more! Pricing starts at $75 per hour. Offered Year-Around.

    Proper Care and Feeding of Your Whip.
    A quality bullwhip or stockwhip is an investment. Averaging anywhere from $400 to $1,500, a well-made kangaroo whip can last a lifetime if properly maintained. The same goes for nylon and cowhide designs. In this session, you can learn some of the best ways to maintain your whip through proper conditioning, preventative care, how to change popper and falls, and how to choose the best tools and products for your needs. Sessions start at $95 per hour. Offered January – March and October – December.

    All sessions are available at your location anywhere in the continental United States, Canada and Mexico at additional cost plus travel fees. Call us, 9am-4pm M-Fr EST, or email today to make a reservation – (937) 902-4857 or gdeer@thewhipstudio.com.




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