IamA guy that was on Barney, AMA!

How is everyone? I've never sat at my laptop for so long before. And get your mind out of the gutter.

Has being on Barney ever been the focal point of bullies?

Good question, thanks for asking.

Yes, when I returned to public school it was quite hard.

I bet they were just jelly that you were homeboys with Barney.

Nah, I think it was cause I'm a homo!

Oh...

wtf just...

A wild redditor appears!

trengentry uses Tactical Overshare on redditor.

It was SUPER EFFECTIVE!!

redditor falls asleep.

Thanks for the recognition. I'm still pretty green to reddit.

Anyone wanna take bets this gonna turn up on a tabloid that says barney makes your children gay?

I'm willing to pit half of my comment karma.

I knew I was gay way before Barney. But there are lots of other things to be told, if people asked the right questions.

So I take it sexual exploration happened?

I'm referring to the behavior of the adults. There was a lot of drinking.

Let's go ahead and elaborate on this point. Specifically: have you seen Barney drunk while he was in costume?

I actually have no memory of either guy that played Barney drinking. In or out of costume. Other cast and crew members yes though.

Well, that escalated quickly.

I'm learning that it happens a lot here.

If you know what he means.

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No man, you've gotta be more subtle about it.

^penis

That's better.

I used to watch Barney with my son when he was little, and always found the show annoying. But after a while I realized that it wasn't Barney himself, but the KIDS who were so annoying! Especially Tina

Did you ever work with her, and if so how did you keep from slapping her?!?

I apologize for how annoying we kids were. We were told to over-act and be smile to the point of insanity.

I don't know Tina, but I'll slap her for you if our paths cross.

At the annual Barney-con?

Not sure that's a thing, but I'll attend if you organize.

When was the last time you saw one of the episodes you were on? Does it make you cringe?

YES ALL OF THE CRINGE. I haven't watched it in about 15 years.

How do you deal with the fame and swarms of paparazzi in day to day life ?

I have social anxiety so I stay inside.

Me too, except I've never been on Barney.

I think it's much more common and you and I are in good company. I also have bipolar disorder.

I wish mental health wasn't so stigmatized, it's hard to own up to being afflicted with issues like that. Best of luck in future endeavors and don't stop making music!

Thanks! The stigma is silly. And this is the first time I've posted about it outside of my personal social media accounts. Ya'll make me feel comfy.

Reddit is a place full of misfits but it's grown considerably. You'll find people on here that will do everything to try to make you feel bad (due to the pseudo-anonymity you can achieve) but if you can ignore them it's a great place :D

I'm pretty thick-skinned. I'm enjoying myself and people have generally been friendly. :)

What was the weirdest off-camera moment you witnessed?

We were in Toronto during Halloween one year and there was a party with a drag theme. My dad was visiting and he definitely participated.

Was this... Was this during a Barney shoot?

No, it was a party the cast and crew had.

Why was the yellow dinosaur called BJ? And what does it stand for? Is Barney American made?

Barney is American and the TV series was filmed in Texas. I'm not sure if it still is.

No one knows what BJ stands for.

No...no... we ALL know what BJ stands for.

Beet Juice.

I always thought BJ was Barney Junior

Maybe! I really never knew.

BJ was named after B.J. Stamps. He was the father of Sheryl Leach, the creator of Barney and Friends.

If BJ stood for Barney Junior that would mean that BJ and Baby Bop are both Barney's kids. You never met Barney's old lady did you?

No, but I did know Cheryl. She was there for my audition.

How did you get the chance to be in Barney?

I took acting classes as a kid in Dallas. My acting coach was one of the original Barneys and arranged an audition for me. The rest is history!

There were different Barneys? I always thought it was the same guy for 20 years, do you happen to know how many different barneys there were?

I couldn't tell you. We had two Barney's because the suit gets very hot on stage and it would be dangerous for one actor to do an entire show under those lights. So they switched off between scenes and set changes.

Was it always the same guy that did the second barney? Poor guy would always get the smelly suit.

Haha, we had two actors that would switch during the show (they had their own costumes and didn't have to share)

I'm calling bullshit on this one Barney is obviously a real dinosaur

Mythbuster.

Where in Dallas?

Young Actor's Studio.

Were any of the kids 'bad'? Drinking on the tour, other mischief?

One of the kids was kind of bratty, but we didn't have a Drew Barrymore situation.

cool, I guess 9-11 years olds aren't getting into that much trouble.

Just pranks. We had an awesome prank war going with the producer.

I saw that answer in this AMA, care to elaborate?

Sure. It escalated to me getting the front desk of our hotel to give me a key to his room so we could rig things. You know, like plastic wrap over the toilet bowl.

What were the actors like out of their costumes?

I know it's cliche, but everyone was lovely.

Were you the kid in the blue shirt? http://youtu.be/K-_J4nfk9uY?t=13m36s

Yep, that's me.

Does being on Barney ever help you with the ladies?

Thanks for the question. I never found it useful in picking up chicks. Also I don't lean that way.

Are you only into dinosaurs? Do you think it was because of Barney?

Nothing better than a stegosaurus.

Are you a triceraTOPS or a triceraBOTTOMS? You're certainly not a HERbovore though, you're a HIMbovore.

ticeratops, darling.

What's the fun in life if you're not a power bottom.

Tops have fun too!

Studosaurus?

What Steeve said.

sooooo does it help you pick dudes i guess? i mean regardless of sexuality i'd use the shit outta that.

Lol. Well maybe when I was a teenager and in my early 20s it would impress. I'm nearing 30 now so I try not to use it anymore for picking up dudes.

Do you think hanging with a giant purple paedophile during your formative years influenced your sexuality?

No, I knew I was gay way before I was on Barney. Also, be a little more original.

Hey fellow redditors. Thanks for making me feel welcome! I've popped open some wine to help me close out the night. Feel free to keep sending questions about Barney or my music. I'll try to respond before dreamland hits me, or tomorrow! Cheers.

1. Did he ever scare you?

I'm assuming Barney is pretty tall compared to a kid, so it's pretty intimidating.

1. What was your general opinion of him and the show, as a child and now?

We had two actors that played Barney and they both were super tall. But they were very nice. One of them is actually a rapper I think now.

IMO- I didn't like the way we had to smile so much. We were told to over-animate and it was so weird

Long ago, I had a Barney VHS with an episode where Barney is opening a door for a redheaded kid and accidentally smacks him in the face. The kid just rolls with it, so the editors must have missed it. But he seriously got jolted in the face. I imagine Barney being pretty terrifying off of that event alone.

I wasn't terrified because I knew the guys in the costume and saw them everyday, on stage or off. I was more terrified of the audience.

Rapper? Know his name ?

Josh Martin. I may be wrong about the genre, but I know he makes music like I do.

Subpop, white denim is the genre I found.

Nice!

Hi, thanks for doing this AMA. What was your most memorable moment while on set?

You're welcome! I was known as the prankster of the group and I'd always rig parts of the set so they'd fall apart or break if one of the other actors touched them. The producer and I were also in an epic prank war.

That's not enough information, pal...

Going fishing?

I want specific prank details, please!

ooooo it was 20 years ago, it's so tough to remember! I scared him with silly string once.

Has this ever gotten you laid? I remember the guy from Blues Clues did a talk and told a story of a really hot girl that kind of obsessed over him.

Not laid, just paid.

I heard when the guy climbs out of the barney suit, he comes. Out the butt and it looks like barney is duking him out. True?

Haha! You're actually right. The feet come off and the rest is pulled off the top.

Did your love for music come from Barney, and did you have vocal coaches or any type of music education while on Barney? (Did they provide?)

I loved music way before Barney. I did have a vocal coach before I was on Barney but not during. One of the dancers on the tour taught me how to read music. I had learned how to play piano by ear when I was little.

Do you still keep in touch with any of the other kids? If so what are they like? I kind of have this idea that being on Barney would be like growing up a preacher's kid - you either turn out super wholesome or an insane party animal.

Haha, well we all turned out okay. One of them is a mother with a family, another has a bank job, I'm making music in austin, and the other is in LA working in the magic industry. We try to keep in touch.

Was the person playing Barney kinda weird? Also, how many times did you have to sing those damn songs till you got it right?

Barney wasn't weird.

But the songs. I couldn't even tell you how many times I sang "Ahoy I'm Captain Tony le Foot!"

How old were you? Did you have trouble responding to Tony instead of Trent?

I was 9-11 years old..and I didn't have difficulty responding to the stage name. I had done other small acting jobs before and was used to it

Has being on Barney done anything significant for you, or is it just something you did as a kid?

I got to travel a lot. I didn't act anymore after Barney, but I kept singing and still make music today.

Did you ever look at the person playing Barney and think "I want to be that guy some day"?

Nope. I don't like wearing heavy clothing.

would you ever go back for a reunion thing? how much would they have to pay you?

I wouldn't do a reunion. The cast did have a 10-year reunion party in Dallas in 2006.

What was the auditioning process like?

Good question! I had to read from the script and sing Happy Birthday for the creator and two executive producers.

What was your reaction to the seemingly constantly circulating playground rumors of Barney being fired for hiding drugs in his tail, swearing at children on set, etc.?

EDIT: Phrasing.

:eyeroll:

so he hid them in his eyes as well?

I think his eyes were solid, not hollow. Although his toes were fashioned from tennis balls.

Did any of the kids you worked with end up going places with their acting career??

Not the ones I worked with, no.

Did you know the video who was "brushing his teeth"?

I've seen that going around, but sadly I don't know that guy.

How did you feel about being on a children's show? Now and when the show was being filmed.

It was fun. Although it's not the typical setting for a 10 year old. I was much more mature than other kids my age when I re enrolled in public school after Barney. I didn't fit in.

How was the person playing Barney or the other kids when the cameras weren't rolling?

Everyone was so nice. We were lucky. Getting paid to travel the country with people we got along with.

What was your favourite song to sing on Barney? Was it you that stole the cookie from the cookie jar?

If All the Raindrops! That was my favorite. I still remember the choreography.

And I own the cookie jar.

How often do you sing that song in your head?

It used to be almost everyday. I think I'm fully recovered now.

what got you into acting in the first place? was it your wish? parents?

Other than swimming, I never liked sports so my parents let me explore creative activities like acting, piano, music. The music thing stuck with me as I'm a singer/songwriter now.

How long were you on the show for?

From 1996-1998. I was on the live national tour though, not the television version.

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Everyday. Very tall.

What are your favorite bands?

Patty Griffin. The XX, sooooo many. Damien Rice. I like the singer/songwriter vibe.

How often have you ever brought it up in conversation in today's time?

I usually never do. I'd say half the people in my life don't even know about it.

Why hasn't Barney died just like the rest of the dinosaurs millions of years ago?

Because he's fictional.

ever touch demi lovatos ass?

No, she was on the show maybe 10 years after I was on the tour.

Purple is my favorite color, did Barney make you appreciate it more or less?

Not really, but we were surrounded by a lot of purple. It never bothered me!

Did you ever watch Barney on tv or were you only on the show and not really a fan?

When I was younger I did watch it, but by the time I was on the tour I was too old to really like it anymore.

How much did you get paid?

I was on the tour from 96-98 and I honestly don't remember now. Some of my money is still invested.

in the nearest 10K, what are we talking, if you dont mind me asking of course?

I appreciate the question, but I'm gonna keep that piece private :)

Did any of the kids have a crush on any of the other kids? What about you?

We were all between the ages of 9-11, so it didn't happen. Of course nothing I was aware of.

What were your interactions with Barney fans while on tour? Did you get treated like a celebrity?

We had meet and greets after each show or during intermission. Sometimes it was for an actor or musician's kids.

You use to live in Dallas? Ever been to Waco? I live there

I live in Austin now but my family is still in Dallas, so I drive through Waco several times a year. Sometimes I stop at Starbucks. And I always marvel at that big, circular bank building off 35.

This is an awesome AMA!

Here's a question: Since you did the tour, did you ever watch (and I guess enjoy) the TV show, and did you see it differently after you had been involved in the tour?

I have seen episodes of the show, and after doing the tour I felt a sense of pride because I sacrificed a lot to do it. I didn't get to see my family for months on end, whereas those kids on the show got to sleep in their own beds every night. Traveling is tough at that age. We were the first kids to nationally tour in the United States.

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My mom never did that. My dad did have an affair while we were gone though. Thanks for the question.

Couldn't seem to find this question: why did you have to change from Trent to Tony (my name)?

Trent is my real name and Tony was the character's name that I played on the tour.

I watched Barney when I was younger and I was always ridiculously jealous of the kids that got to sit on the this spinning bench that was "s" shape. Did you get to sit on this bench? Said bench.

Want an awesome bench. No I didn't get to. We didn't have a Barney bag either!

Given the chance would you have gone on the show? Also, anything about your career that you would change?

I always preferred stage acting. Cameras freaked me out. So I'd say no. Acting career or music career?

While we are at it, both?

Acting: no. I was so burned out after the Barney thing, I didn't want to act anymore. I made my decision and I stand behind it.

Music: Yes. I don't promote myself enough and I don't play enough live (stage fright, who wouldve thought?) Thanks for the Qs :)

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Scroll down to 'additional cast' on the wikipedia page. Did I not post 'Hi reddit!' on my music page?

Where you that blonde kid? I wanted to punch you.

I'm hispanic with black hair, if you checked out the links in my proof. :)

How many times did barney touch your penis?

As many times as you have.

Did Barney touch you backstage?

Barney did not. Were you hoping for a different answer?