For writer, speaker, comedian, juggler, and Bill of Rights advocate Chris Bliss, life has been a study in contrasts. The youngest son of a Washington D.C. attorney, he majored in comparative literature at Northwestern University and the University of Oregon, where he was on the Dean's List before dropping out at the end of his junior year. The reason? He told his father it was "to become the world's most famous juggler". Looking back, Chris admits: "the truth is, I never consciously wanted to be a juggler, or a performer of any kind. I just wanted to not be a lawyer, and being a rock 'n roll juggler looked like a really fun way to burn that bridge." Ironically, Chris did become the world's most famous juggler. Not once, but twice. With an improvisational style augmented by custom lighting effects and set to rock music, he accidentally created the perfect concert opening act. After opening for Eric Clapton, and then going on to tour with rock supergroup Asia when their debut album went to #1, he was asked in the spring of 1984 to be the exclusive opener for Michael Jackson's recordbreaking Victory Tour - the most talked about tour of the decade. Fifty-five sold out stadium shows later with ticket sales topping the 3 million mark, Chris reached the peak he'd set out for. Switching careers to return to his writing roots, Chris decided to pursue a career in comedy. Developing a fresh and captivating voice in the tradition of American satire from Mark Twain to Jon Stewart, he rose to become a headline attraction at America's best comedy venues. In the process, Chris logged dozens of national television appearances, including the Tonight Show where Jay Leno hailed him as "one of the brightest comedians around". So it was even more ironic when juggling fame struck again in 2006, as his "Amazing Juggling Finale" video, a four-minute routine set to music from the Beatles' Abbey Road, suddenly caught fire on the internet. Downloaded more than 60,000,000 times, the performance's popularity helped usher in the age of viral video sites like YouTube, garnering Chris media attention from ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and FOX, along with feature articles by the AP, USA Today, and the Washington Post. The timing couldn't have been better, as it brought attention to the launch of Chris's newest venture: MyBillofRights.org, the Bill of Rights Monument Project, dedicated to rebuilding America's sense of common ground through the placement of displays honoring the Bill of Rights across the USA. The project is moving full speed ahead, with the recent approval to release designs and begin fundraising for a $4.1 million national destination Bill of Rights Plaza in front of the Texas Supreme Court, adjacent to one of the nation's most historic State Capitols. The result is that Chris is now doing a whole new level of juggling, striking the balance between a wealth of career and non-profit opportunities. These include being invited to speak at an international conference on positive change featuring Sir Bob Geldof, and to perform with the late Paul Newman at his flagship "Hole In The Wall Gang" camp; plus a blossoming speaking career on "the commitment to excellence", as well as Chris's exceptional debut on The Late Show with David Letterman, where he performed live with Fatboy Slim and the Paul Shaffer band. Capping it all off, Chris has re-introduced his juggling masterpiece as the closer for all his appearances. "It's like icing on the cake", he explains. "I start by telling them I once toured with Michael Jackson - and they're just not buying it. They're waiting for the punch line. And then - wham!" Bliss laughs. "I love how totally shocked they are that I'm actually good at it. It's the same thing I love about speaking and comedy - that joy of the unexpected." Titles Two Of The Best Commitment To Excellence Mastering the Basics Topics Humor, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Emcee, Education, Music Click topic above to see more speakers on that topic Speaker's Asking Fee Range $10,000 - $14,999 Click on fee range to see more speakers. This is the starting keynote fee range - other programs may be higher. State AZ Click on state above to see more speakers from that state. Fees The fee range quoted means the speaker's fee starts somewhere within that range. Note that speaker's fees are subject to change and some speakers may have special fee quotes.

TESTIMONIALS: “I strongly recommend Chris Bliss to any company looking for a creative communicator to help them shape key events and deliver key takeaways in a memorable and impactful way.” - Noble Resources “His uniquely intelligent and topical comedy was made all the more engaging and funny because of the work he did to prepare specifically for our audience, attending general sessions and … incorporating comical observations common to everyone in the room.” - Davidson Companies “One word – WOW!! I highly recommend you.” – Broward Workshop “A standing ovation … I heartily recommend Chris Bliss.” – Davidson “Everyone was still talking about you the rest of the weekend” - Ameritas “blew everyone away…fantastic…highly memorable.” – Protective Life