Performers want their art to reach as many eyes as possible. By taking part in America’s Got Talent: Extreme,fire performer William Brandon helped “the flow arts” gain exposure to millions of viewers around the globe. Now he tells us how he learned to play with fire–and where reality television can fit into the variety artist’s journey.

When it comes to talent contests and reality shows, contenders always bring the heat—and for American performer William Brandon, that meant bringing the heat on stage quite literally. The first fire spinner to be featured throughout the long run of NBC’s competitive variety show America’s Got Talent (AGT), this Georgia-born performer thrilled global audiences as one of the many bold acts who took part in AGT: Extreme, a spin-off that focuses on daredevil and stunt performers. William knew his act brought something different to this line-up; after all, it had only taken him one look at a fire performer while still in high school to know that the flow arts—a form that folds object manipulation into other graceful movement arts like tai chi and dance—were something special. And breathing fire for millions on a show so often proclaimed as the “world’s biggest stage” by both the judges and contestants could up the ante fo...