Student in running for Ellen DeGeneres contest
Payne is in a contest for the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
One local kid is in the running to win a video contest for the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Daniel Payne, an 11-year-old sixth-grade student at West Madison Elementary School is currently in the first place spot in DeGeneres’ Favorite Fan Talent video contest.
Payne’s talent, Juggling on a Scooter, has garnered more than 123,000 votes since Aug. 11.
“I just got bored and decided to try it,” Payne said about coming up with the idea of riding a scooter and juggling at the same time. “It took me about a week to learn to do it. I already knew how to ride the scooter with no hands, I just had to add the juggling part.”
Payne
A woman visiting a neighbor saw Payne performing his trick and suggested he submit the video to the show.
“Once the suggestion was made, Daniel came home wanting to shoot a video and submit it to Ellen,” said Payne’s mother, Michelle. “Daniel and his friend took the initiative and went out and made the video and then insisted I help submit it to Ellen.”
Payne learned to juggle during P.E. at school.
“Our P.E. teacher, Ms. Brindley, would let us juggle in P.E.,” he said. “Then I would go home and practice a lot. We have a juggling team at my school that I joined last year when I was in the fifth grade. I juggle all the time.”
Michelle said when she posted the video on Ellen’s page, she didn’t expect it to receive any significant attention, but Payne did.
“From day one he felt like the video would be noticed,” she said.
About two or three months after submitting the video to DeGeneres’ Facebook page, Michelle received an email from one of the show’s associate producers requesting permission to put the video on Ellen’s Web page and to enter him into a contest with other kids.
Payne is competing with “Pool Trick Shots,” currently in second place and “Violin on a Pogo Stick,” currently in third place.
“I can juggle just about anything and I can balance on just about anything while juggling,” Payne said. “There is a cool video on YouTube of me balancing on the back of a park bench while juggling and balancing a water bottle on my head.”
Michelle said the associate producer told there is a chance the contest’s winner may be flown out to California to be on the show.
“We are really hoping and keeping our fingers crossed,” Michelle said. “His Dad and I are really proud of Daniel. He knows what he enjoys and goes after it.”
To vote for Daniel’s video, visit Ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/08/vote_for_your_favorite_fan_talent_0810.php.
