References
Finding Big Rory & Ochie plus Mr & Mrs C. Gull (alias Mike
and Rachel) on a festival program is a publicist’s
dream come true. They are two of the funniest, cleverest, and most
professional street performers I’ve
encountered and I know that every media representative, like every festival
visitor, is going to walk away from their performance with a grin, a heart
full of good will and in the case of the media, a head full of good copy and
some great footage.
They’re
immediate crowd magnets. I have the good fortune to work in an upstairs
office at the National Folk Festival and whenever the dynamic duo appeared
in the courtyard below there was a general rush of staff to the windows,
even those of us who’d
already seen the act, because it’s
new and different and side-splittingly funny every time. They can gauge an
audience and have it seduced in minutes, their intuition is impeccable and
they have a sense of timing that most comics would die for. Talk about
knowing how to work the room….
Big Rory and Ochie are robust, rollicking and refreshingly scanadalous;
Ochie is the dog you always wanted as a kid (though a beermongrel may not
have been your first choice of breed). The Seagulls, for all that they’re
encased crown to crupper in costume and have no language other than
“aawk”
are whimsically sublime - picture, if you can, two giant seagulls trying on
bobble hats and ballerina skirts….
It’s
like Creature Comforts on steroids, only better; for a wonderful blink of
time they make the world’s
nasty bits disappear. Highly recommended. On a five-star rating I’d
give them six.
Jan Nary, Australian National Folk Festival, 2008
"Thank you so much... ...we were so happy that you could attend the show and
I have to tell you that you provided what proved to be the highlight of the
show... ...We were so impressed by the professionalism, the fantastic
costumes and sheer good fun we had, it really made the weekend. You brought
happiness and wetness (Ochie!) to everyone at the show! People were talking
about you for the whole exhibition!"
Catharine Pickering, Macphie of
Glenbervie Ltd. 2007 & 2008
"Big Rory made a
HUGE impression as a compere, his authoritative but relaxed style masking
impeccable research. He was equally comfortable in front of the audience of
a few hundred at the beginning of the day and the crowd of many thousands
who gathered for the headline act."
Neil Butler,
Director, Big in Falkirk 2008
"Rory and Ochie stole the show, they were absolutely brilliant! They
were such an extraordinary act
and superb performers - worth every penny
and we will definitely book them
again."
Deborah Whyte,
Director
Big Bright
Star - Contemporary Event Evolution,
www.bigbrightstar.com,
2008
"What
can I say - you were fantastic. Everyone appreciated the energy and
enthusiasm you put into the event. It was exceptional."
Dave Newton Managing Director Nova International "Great Runs"
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007
“Yet another triumph for Surreal McCoy. The outrageous dogs of “It’s a dogs
life” in turn terrorised and delighted our festival crowds. They were an
undoubted hit of the festival. Mike and Rachel with their generous and
flexible approach were a delight to work with and are an asset to any
festival any where “
Neil Butler, Director Merchant City Festival
2007
"Big Rorys new pet dog 'Ochie' made it's
debut appearance in July at our annual Gala weeks festivities and oh what a
debut! The ever hilarious Big Rory accompanied by his over excitable mutt 'Ochie'
had the crowd in tears of laughter. Making an appearance at our Pet and Dog
Show caused uproar and chaos throughout the streets of Stromness. Year after
year 'Big Rory & Co.' make the journey to entertain the crowds in Orkney and
we are never disappointed. The new addition to the crew is a fabulous idea
and a guaranteed crowd puller."
Jacq Wishart, Stromness, Orkney, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 &
2007.
"Don't believe a word you've heard about Big Rory and the team - they are
much better!!The most professional, hilarious, wonderful act we have ever
had. Loved by everyone, they brought the town to a standstill.....
.....never boring and constantly evolving..... .....an event organisers
dream booking."
Greystones Festival, EIRE 2002, 2003, 2004,
2005 & 2006
"Your Giant Seagulls have become
iconic in Teignmouth, squawking along the fine line between entertainment
and nuisance"
Helen Bapty, Teignbridge District Council, 2006
‘Crikey!!’
Big Fish Melbourne, 2006
Your
ability to overcome a mini crisis and make the night look so professional
astounds me, you leave me in complete awe. You helped make the evening a
sensation, thank you.
Julia Arthur, Grimsby & Scunthorpe Newspapers, 2004
"Well blow me down. Never in my puff have I
had such a reaction to a launch event. The seagulls were not only
eye-catching and hilarious but also you get the feeling that they believe
themselves to be seagulls, surreal! Truly nice & professional people"
Nuala Dalcz Belfast 2003
"Beautiful, great, fantastic, delicious, wonderful, amazing,
sweet, warm and magic. You helped us make Frestas in a way no one forgets.".
Frestas,
Portugal 2001 & 2002
"Bloody Marvelous!"
UEFA Champions League Cup Final, Glasgow, 2002
"Highly professional, reliable and very
flexible"
Southampton Tall Ships, 2001
"Invaluable"
Millenium Dome, London,
2000
"The Local
people are unlikely ever to forget Scotland and the Scots after experiencing
the Rory effect. We received acres of coverage on local and national
television and while Rory coped admirably well with the Police National Day
Parade I suspect we only escaped landing up in clink because he was too big
to get in the police car! It's a great act and went down a storm - we could
not be more pleased with the impact you generated."
Tom Lamb, Europe Team Manager
Britain in Russia - Nizhny Novgorod Exhibition, 1997
Other
conferences will pale in comparison with ours as far as getting off to a
good start is concerned. You were superb! A stroke of genius. Thank you for
giving us so much fun.
Dr Sally Soloman, World Poultry Conference 1996
"Multi-lingual, a delight to work with"
Morrison Bowmore, 1990, 1991,
1992, 1993, 1994 & 1995
"Even humourless and moody
people smile"
VVV Deventer, The Netherlands, 1995
"Gratitude Award"
Daidogai World Cup, Shizuoka,
Japan, 1994
"An
organisers dream to work with"
Newcastle Upon Tyne,
Susan Stokel-Walker, 1994
"You were
the most noticed and talked about performer at the Games, Adaptable and
hilarious you can be relied upon to be flexible and helpful and join in the
spirit of any occasion."
Jeff Smith, Sheffield Olympic Games 1993
"Mike
Rowan's act as Big Rory is amongst the funniest that I - and most of the
Festivals visitors judging by the verbal and written response I have
received - have ever seen, absolutely ideal for large or small scale events.
Mike also proved himself to be one of the most co-operative performers whom
I employed during the summer, always willing to entertain and add colour and
mirth to the Festival site; he also offers great value for money."
Malcolm Armstrong, Gateshead Garden Festival, 1990
"The single most remembered performer"
Glasgow Garden Festival, Michael
Dale, 1988
"The Sand Dance routine & The
Highlanders Nightmare were welcome additions to the program, although I felt
the High street was was far to narrow to hold the crowds that wanted to see
them."
Glasgow Garden Festival, 1988
"Certainly livened up our cocktail party"
Hyatt, Fiji
"I can't remember the last time I laughed
so much!"
Stromness Shopping Week
"A tidal wave of celtic good
humour "
St Patricks Festival, Dublin
"Positive asset to the show"
International Duty Free Trade
Show, Florida
Contact Big Rory
on
Email -
mike@bigrory.com or
surrealmccoy@hotmail.com
Phone - +44 1786 474796 or +44 7770 686411
Mail - 3 Bank Street STIRLING FK8 1BW United Kingdom
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