“Thank you so incredibly much for an unreal show! Everyone was talking about it for days! You are amazing on stage and I personally could not stop laughing! Hope to have you back in a few years! Amazing!"
—Julie Dormer, Entertainment Co-Ordinator
KEG Minding Convention
“The Checkerboard Guy is all the things you want your daughter to bring home for the first time."
—Phil LeConte, Producer
Port Credit Buskers Festival, Port Credit, ON, Canada
“The Checkerboard Guy brings that little something extra. His energy and attitude not only delighted audiences but made the behind the scenes festival work enjoyable. The crowds loved him. He is funny, charming and a true showman. We would ask him back to our Busker Festival any day!"
—Megan Madrigal, Marketing Director
Seaport Village, San Diego, CA, USA
“Not only is The Checkerboard Guy a crowd favorite among kids and adults, he's one of the most positive and professional performers I've had the pleasure of working with. I'd definitely recommend this laugh-out-loud act if you're looking for high-energy entertainment."
—Venice Fahey, Reputation Assistant Manager
i.d.e.a. advertising, San Diego, CA, USA
“After seeing your first show in Austin I realized we had made a great choice! After seeing your first show in Lawrence, a few months later, I realized we would want you again."
—Richard Renner, Producer
The Lawrence Buskers Festival, Lawrence, KS, USA
“If Entertainment was an Olympic Sport, the Checkerboard Guy would win all the medals!"
—Phil LeConte, Producer
Port Credit Buskers Festival, Port Credit, ON, Canada
“The Checkerboard Guy's was exactly who we needed to make our first year festival a success. We were thrilled to host him in Austin. The ausidences loved him and his unique checker-branded show full of family fun!
—Linsey Lindberg, Producer
The Austin Busker Project, Austin, TX, USA
“The Checkerboard Guy's show was amazing, amusing, and astounding!” The kids adored him and the adults thought that he was pretty awesome too. Everyone left the theatre with big grins on their faces!"
—Kerri Gibson Loranger, Cultural Program Coodinator
Horizon Stage Performing Arts Centre
“A wacky crazy man that will keep you laughing! A delight to work with.”
—Sheila Trott, Production Manager
Royal Caribbean International
“David was a pleasure to work with. The audiences loved his energy and enthusiasm. He is a skillful performer and constant professional and would be a great addition to any entertainment program.”
—Matt Siegel, Marketing & Entertaiment
Carolina Renaissance Festival
“Only some people like head cheese, everybody likes The Checkerboard Guy. He is a true professional with the perfect balance of brain!"
—Phil LeConte, Producer
Port Credit Buskers Festival, Port Credit, ON, Canada
“You were a hit!! Thanks for helping make our parties such a success.”
—Teri Barr, Division Coordinator
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
“You blessed our streets at Waterloo's first Busker Carnival in 1989 and did us the honor of accepting our invitation to enchant audiences for this year's 25th anniversary. David...you are a class act and one that ages like a fine wine. I admire your talents, your positive attitude and the way in which you treat others. You really are 'that guy.' It's been a pleasure to work with you and get to know you.”
—Michele Schroder, Director of Entertainment
Sun Life Financial Waterloo Busker Carnival
“Simply put...The Checkerboard Guy is THE BEST - a true Canadian Icon and International Artist. Audiences of all ages LOVE him, ask for him and are thrilled whenever he can join us. The Checkerboard Guy is the consumate professional to work with and it is an honour to have him perform at our Festival!”
—Shelley Switzer, Artistic Producer
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival
“The Checkerboard Guy is the Wayne Gretzky of the Entertainment world. A team player who is skilled, professional, full of finesse and once had a mullet."
—Phil LeConte, Producer
Port Credit Buskers Festival, Port Credit, ON, Canada
“In addition to the enjoyment you gave to your audiences, you were a joy to present. You are prompt, professional and completely self-contained. In short a dream for any producer.”
—Sharon Benge, Talent Coordinator
Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival
“...thousands of spectators who laughed, chuckled, chortled and guffawed reemphasized how entertaining you really are...”
—The Entire Staff
The Vancouver Comedy Festival
“Your incredible juggling talents are awesome, this was evidenced by the standing ovation following your hilarious performance!”
—Debbie Maslowsky, Account Manager

The Bowering (International) Group Inc.
“The Checkerboard Guy is great - zany, very funny, skillful... Highly recommended!”
—Derek Galpin, Managing Director
The Canadian Tourism Commission
“The Checkerboard Guy is a talented kingpin who makes audiences more-than-smile and producers shine.”
—Ted Killmer
International Street Theatre Entrepreneur
“If Alice had found The Checkerboard Guy in Wonderland she would have never come back.”
—Bill Girard, Production Manager
Royal Caribbean International
"The Checkerboard Guy is like a triple-shot of comedy espresso! Get ready for a great ride!"
—Bobby Brown, Criuse Director
Royal Caribbean International
“He had the audience doing so much more than just busting a gut laughing and it was this activity that ade Aiken's performance so enjoyable.”
—Paula Trotter
The Grove Examiner
“Although stuck in a world that is black and white, The Checkerboard Guy adds a nuanced subtlety to juggling that delights audiences the world over.”
—Todd Strong
Juggling Teacher, Author, Guru
“The strengh of the man is his genuinely witty sense of humour, which allows him to take advanage of every quirty nuance of human behavior.”
—Craig Spencer
The Sunshine Press
“His rapport with the audience is his most wonderful skill. The stunts are good too!”
—Margo Gram, Programming Director
Centennial Theatre Centre
“You did an amazing job of pulling the audience together. Bravo!”
—Kim Selody, Artistic Director
Presentation House Theatre
"Few entertainers bring to the stage such style, personality or humour. The Checkerboard Guy is one of a kind."
—Shawn Farquhau
World Champion of Magic
“This guy walks a fine line between alternative theatre and sickly-sweet Disney material somehow managing to appeal to both little Joey and the jaded Gen Xer - kind of like a live-action episode of The Simpsons.”
—Tom Zillich, Reporter
The Westender (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
“His back-to-basic brand of comedy had young, old and in-between hooting with laughter.”
—David Croft, Report
The Yukon News
“Thank you for bringing such a fun and high energy show! You have no idea how much we needed that!”
—Gretchen Jameson, Production Manager
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
“...it was a pleasure working with you and an even greater pleasure watching you perform!”
—Jiro Umeda, Managing Director
World Festival Exposition Association
“With and audience from 6 to 65 The Checkerboard Guy had everyone rolling in the aisles. Humour for all ages...I absolutely recommend The CBG!”
—Mark Steffens, Director
Mulgrave School
“The Checkerboard Guy's performances are undoubtedly the best family-fun show I have seen on a cruise ship.”
—Rachel Magner, Production Manager
Princess Cruises
“AWESOME!”
—Christy Long, Artistic Director
The Red River Revel, Shreveport, LA, USA
“David Aiken is a complete professional and a pleasure to work with.”
—Chris Martz, Sound and Light Technician
Royal Caribbean International
“Still reeling from all the fun!”
—Joan Wright, Execituve Director
Childecare Resources, Birmingham, AL, USA
“The Checkerboard Guy is the very very BEST! I totally loved the energy, excitement and fun that he brought to the stage!”
—Terry Hannah, Programming Director
The Interior Provincial Exhibition, Armstrong, BC, Canada
“The Sasquatch, The Loch Ness Monster, El Chupacabra and The Checkerboard Guy are all unbelievable creatures and your life will change once you see them!”
—Phil LeConte, Producer
Port Credit Buskers Festival, Port Credit, ON, Canada
“Everything producers need CHECKED on their list! The Checkerboard Guy is a laser-focused, rubber ball of energy who’ll delight you with his professionalism and surprise you EVERY show! A Showman of the highest caliber you’ll want to book again and again!”
—Kyle Sipkens, Artistic Director
Walkerville Buskers Festival, Windsor, ON, Canada
“The Checkerboard Guy gives 110% in every show, and when you think he's done, he gives 5% more!!”
—Bob Palmer, Artistic Director
Red Deer Centrefest, Red Deer, AB, Canada