Bob Cates - Comic Entertainer for Canada, USA & definitely Florida
Learn about our clean comedy and unique entertainment…
More About Bob
Welcome! Thanks for reading a bit further to find out who are and what makes us tick. I’m a professional comedy juggling and variety entertainer living in Cambridge Ontario. I could never have imagined I would be making a living on stage, having grown up on a pig farm near Forest Ontario. But I’ve been in show business full time since 1995, shortly after I won the Canadian Juggling Championships. My timing was perfect since they were discontinued after that year!
In high school, I was inspired by a juggling classmate and taught myself to juggle with tennis balls. I practiced hard, learning advanced juggling, unicycling, balancing skills and performance techniques. My passion for performing and the art of juggling continued to develop during my 5 years of post-secondary education, earning a diploma from the Baptist Leadership Education Centre in Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University. After university, I volunteered for seven months in Lithuania with IFES, the European version of Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship.
Following my return to Canada in 1995, I began performing full time. In the 1990s, I performed at many fairs, festivals and private events, as well as at every major Busking Festival in Canada. In 2000, I started performing on cruise ships 20 weeks a year for Holland America, Disney, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Celebrity. I continue to make a living today in part with headline performances on cruise ships. But most of my performances now are for corporate, association and gala special events, as well as at church and ministry events.
Bob Cates on Drop Everything Podcast
- Drop Everything Podcast 00:00
Career Highlights
Guest Entertainer
Headlining on over 250 cruises for Royal Caribbean, Oceania, Holland America, Princess, Disney, Celebrity and Norwegian Cruise lines.
Guest Performer
On the main stage at Breakforth 2013 & 2016 – Canada’s largest Christian conference (5000 people)
International Juggling Games 2013
Achieved two 3rd place and one 2nd place finish.
Most Difficult Trick Award
RIT New York Juggling Festival
Guest Performer and lecturer
– Israeli Juggling Convention, 2005
Comedy Guest TV Spots
Including, Open Mike with Mike Bullard, Breakfast Television, CTV News, 100 Huntley Street, and commercials for Master Card, Kraft Dinner & Advil
Canadian Event Industry Awards
Canadian Comedy Awards
Molson Canadian FEO Awards
Canadian Comedy Awards, Nom.
Kingston Rendezvous Festival
Canadian Special Events Readers Choice Finalist
Kingston Rendezvous Festival
Back when he had hair
Engaging Entertainment for Any Event
Galas, Banquets, Fundraisers, Theatres, Resorts, Cruise Ships, Special Events, Corporate
Church, Ministry, Youth Conventions, Outreach, Speaking or Christian Events
Reserve Your Event
Premium dates are booked quickly. Contact us now to check availability.
Enter, Jane
In 2007, I married my dream girl Jane who in fact had hired me for a show. Good thing I was affordable! She quit her job and joined the business. Since then, we have been business partners, making it a family business as she works behind the scenes in many ways, as well as on the stage. Jane used to be a teacher, and director of children’s ministry at 2 large churches. That makes it a natural fit for her to homeschool our 12 year old son.
It’s a good thing we both like travelling. In the first 13 years of marriage together the show has taken us to places far and wide, including France, England, Russia, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, California, Alberta, BC, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and even… Hamilton! Dare to dream!
What are their hobbies and likes?
Some of Bob’s hobbies (besides juggling) include: Snow Boarding, Roller blading, long boarding, riding his Can Am Spyder motorcycle (his favourite thing to do, even in the winter!), playing video games (mostly car racing sims and Overwatch), reading books, reading blogs, studying the Bible, home theatre, and playing with his 12 year old son.
Jane loves anything to do with decorating or home decor, home renovations, shopping, reading, cooking and being a mother. They both love and serve at their church in various ways. Jane serves on the children’s ministry team and Bob leads a small group. They both love garage saling and thrift store searching, as well as going out for drives on their Spyders.
If you want to spoil them backstage, Bob loves Jumbo Sour Keys, Ruffles Salt n Vinegar chips, and cold Diet Coke. Jane likes, Smartfood Popcorn, Smarties and Tim Hortons Coffee.