It was an ordinary day until someone asked me if I want to see something extra ordinary. "Absolutely, what have you got?" I inquired with my usual curiosity. With that, I was offered a ticket to see the Gazillion Bubble Show. Having heard great things about it previously I accepted the ticket without hesitation.

Walking into a small but cozy theater I saw smiling faces lit up everywhere. Both children and adults alike seemed to be anticipating something magical and fun, they were soon going to be pleasantly surprised. The dimmed lights, attractive music and friendly ambiance made slipping into the atmosphere comfortable. The excitement among the audience was clearly building. That's when Fan Yang walked on to the stage. Crossing it he faced the audience and with a theatrical flare lapsed all of us into his world - a world made up of a Gazillion Bubbles.

Now for some of you, bubbles would not seem like something that can keep your attention. That's because you don't know that Fan Yang has an incredible 17 world records under his belt - including those for the largest bubble wall and the largest mammal to be put in a bubble - ever. Folks, this man is not an amateur. For 28 years, he has been creating fantastical spectacles, performing extraordinary tricks and amazing thousands upon thousands of people around the world with his incredible mastery of bubbles! I sat entranced, watching the show unravel before me one impossible trick after the next as I hardly noticed the time pass. It's uncanny how at those moments it is truly possible to be a kid again.

The show incorporates mixed media to enhance the already unusual experience. Yang created a small documentary-style film that played out at critical moments through out the show chronicling his journey to becoming a world-renowned bubble master. Energetic music and wild light effects added an additional layer to the already out-of-this-world experience, especially when Fan was joined onstage by his daughter who performed a Matrix inspired number incorporating bits of gymnastics and laser play.

At times, bubble rain came down upon the audience allowing them full engagement to complete the experience. Amazingly giddy children and adults swapped at the bubbles as they drifted down. A few tricks required the audience to serve as vital components. One example was when a cute pair of kids (boy and girl) were engulfed inside a bubble for a few precious moments - the little girl was smiling so much it was impossible for the audience not to reciprocate, we all beamed of kid like happiness.

It was truly an incredible experience. I was able to speak with Fan Yang, World Renowned Bubble Scientist and Entertainer.

Times Square (TS): You have been a bubble entertainer and scientist for the last 28 years. What is the best part about your job when it comes to performing? What is the most interesting scientific fact about bubbles that you have come across so far?

Fan Yang (FY): Bubbles were always part of my life, ever since I was a little boy, but I seriously took to work with this media when I was 18 years old, without thinking that one day I will became a bubble artist and scientist. Experimenting with various liquid solutions to make the biggest and long lasting bubbles was one of the most exciting times in my career. Being able to bring them into reality feels great. My 2nd Guinness World Record (in 1997) for creating the world's largest bubble wall measuring 156ft in length with a surface area of over 4-000sq ft was said to be impossible by many scientists - stating that it is a waste of time. I prove them wrong and I believe that whatever we try to achieve in our life we have to believe in what we are doing...

TS: You hold a very impressive 17 world records, what was the best experience you have had breaking a record? Which record is your personal favorite and why?

FY: Every record was made according to a master plan with lots of experiments before attempting an actual record. All of them were nice and complicated; this is what makes it exciting. However, the record I enjoyed very much was for the world's largest living land mammal in a bubble. I never thought that any other species will enjoy playing with bubbles besides humans, but the elephants reaction was quite remarkable. I spent 2 weeks at the Elephants Conservatory playing with bubbles first making small ones, then bigger ones of various sizes just to get the elephants used to them before making public appearances. Elephants were reacting to bubbles like children. There was a baby elephant chasing bubbles all the time trying to blow on the bubble wand that makes bubbles. All of the elephants enjoyed the bubbles very much and I felt great having bonded with them. I am planning to break new records with more elephants in a bubble.

TS: How and when did you involve your children into performing with you? Would you say it is a family legacy or is it a general love of performance that unites you? Do your parents and brother share your love of bubble art?

FY: My son started performing with bubbles when he was 4 years old; my daughter began when she was 3. I never pushed them to do the bubble show but when they were little I was showing them bubbles in different forms and shapes. They grew up surrounded by them. I was often showing them bubble elements that they would watch and try to imitate without realizing that through they were playing they were creating a routine and learning the art - especially my son, today he manipulates bubbles so well that it may seem like simple play although many of the tricks are very complicated and may take years to master. In a way, bubble media became a family legacy and it keeps our family united, it is a happy bond after all. My parents never thought that what I was doing was a serious job, they had a different lifestyle and none of them entered science and entertainment. They really had no idea what I was doing until they realized that huge public and media attention was being paid to my creation. I am proud to say that as of yet, no one has created bubble media to this standard. I did it with passion and dedication by combining art and science bringing bubbles to a completely new dimension that has fascinated millions of people around the world. I believe that bubbles will always be one of the first magical experiences for every child.

TS: As you are about to embark on an international tour, is there one place (city, country, specific stage) that you want to perform in above all others? If so, Why?

FY: Over the past two decades I have been all around the world. I have to say that the audience’s reaction to bubbles is impressive. Every one of us saw bubbles in some form but seeing them in different sizes, shapes and hues creates amazement. I like to do the show in places where people had no chance to see any kind of theatrical and/or life performances, especially in smaller towns where children never had opportunity to see shows. Last year I was in a rural area in North Vietnam, I think that there, children never saw bubbles. When I was making giant bubbles, their faces were in state of shock - they were more than amazed! I do like to perform in places where people are not able to see any kind of performances. My preferable audience is Russian; somehow they like the show so much and react to what we are doing with such appreciation and respect! Although the reactions of audiences around the world are overwhelmingly positive.

TS: How long do you tend to practice a specific trick until you are ready to reveal it on stage? What trick do you find the most difficult? Which trick is the most fun? Which is your favorite?

FY: Until I master the trick and bring it to perfection I will not feature it on the stage. A DIAMOND shaped bubble is a very complicate trick to make. I can't say it is a trick, it is more complex.  BUBBLE ELEMENT as well. Bubble Planet is difficult because of the very delicate combination of 3 differently sized bubbles and the air stream that I have to control in order to make a smaller bubble orb around the big one. When people see my family and I doing bubbles, some elements appear simple but are not as easy as they look, we have a routine and years of experience behind us, but if anyone tries they will appreciate and respect what we are doing that much more.

TS: In the last 28 years, what experience is the most valuable for you? What experience taught you the most about performing? What experience taught you the most about yourself? What experience taught you about humanity?

FY: To understand that the value of life is not measured by how much money we have, what kind of car we drive, the sort of house we live in, but lies in what we do and how we appreciate the time and space we share with each other. This is what I've learned in the span of almost 3 decades while performing with bubbles around the globe. One thing that I find beautiful is when people come to the show (and I am happy to know that) for the next 90 minutes they will forget all about their daily life problems and embark on a journey with me to see the world differently. After the show people leave with a memory of the moments from the show. I believe many of those memories will stay forever.

http://gazillionbubbleshow.com/ - please visit site for information about upcoming tours and dates.

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