Some performers only stick to one trick of the trade, but John Cassidy does more than one thing on stage. 

He tells jokes, makes balloon animals and performs magic tricks, and his multiple talents caught the attention of Danny Turano, the University  Board chairpersom. 

Turano said they discovered him at a conference where acts perform for groups and then, hopefully, get booked to perform for others. 

“We were so blown away by what we saw that we turned to each other and said, ‘We need him,’” Turano said.

Booking him when other schools and organizations demanded him was a challenge, Turano said. 

“Trying to work around them was difficult because we wanted to make sure we had him,” Turano said. 

 In an appearance on “Live with Regis and Kelly” in 2004, Cassidy made various creations out of balloons that are more intricate than the typical sword, dog and hat most balloon artists make.

When Regis Philbin asked him on the show if he considered himself a clown, Cassidy responded that he was not a clown and that he is too afraid of them to actually consider himself one.  

 Cassidy crafted a giant balloon that resembled a flower for Kelly Ripa and made a pair of glasses with giant eyeballs popping out from the middle for Regis Philbin. 

Cassidy originally broke the record for most balloon sculptures made in one hour by making 367 out of 371 balloons.

Since then, he and Salvatore Sabbatino of Germany have competed for the title, with Cassidy defending his record several times, the latest being 747 balloon sculptures in one hour.  

Turano said he and the rest of the Univerity Board felt that Cassidy appeals to more than one group of fans.

For the show, Turano said Cassidy will surprise the audience because even he has been kept in the dark about the performer’s routine. 

Cassidy will perform in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union at 7 p.m. Friday. 

 Jaime Lopez can be reached at 581-2812 or jlopez2@eiu.edu.