Viewing all threads involving Squibly
The Highgate Collection. I think I want a hard copy to lug around to conventions with me. I'm positively baffled to find that there's a longer version I've never looked at, but comparing them in tabs on my phone is serving only to remind me why I want a printed copy.
This version is 246 pages - https://www.juggle.me.uk/passing/highgate2014-05-16.pdf
Whilst here we have 340 - https://jugglingedge.com/pdf/highgate.pdf
Is more better? If someone else could have a strong opinion to save me having to form one, I'd be much obliged.
I think the Juggling Edge version is the most up to date version as it has James's introduction in it, Aidan was updating the book in 2013 https://jugglingedge.com/forum.php?ThreadID=1138
The Juggling Edge version is doing something strange with the pages for me; eg page 44 is just one line of text
https://jugglingedge.com/pdf/highgate.pdf#page=44 and there are many other pages with very little text for no obvious reason
My other problem with the Juggling Edge version is the page numbers in the contents section are wrong; eg the contents says Willy Wonka's One Count is on page 121 but you will in fact find it on page 98
I could also do with a printed version, if anyone knows where you can get it printed cheaply
Yes the single line taking up a whole page is somewhat perturbesome...
Perhaps an opportunity for a doodle, rather than attempting to wrangle the pdf
Oh gosh, and the index (a novel feature of the Edge version) has it on page 101. The plot thickens
For me the best thing about the index is that it includes the entry "Index" (albeit with the wrong page number for itself), but I like that it recognises itself.
I did have a mind to try and correct the page number errors a few years ago, but it seems I have left it in the hope someone more competent might fix it.
el_grimley - #
Hi. Show nerd help required. I saw a cigar box routine sometime in the last 8 years where the performer started with 10ish boxes then progressively reduced down. It would have been at a UK convention or EJC or NJF. May have been one of the BJCs in Darton. Any idea who it was? Thanks.
Not entirely sure, but maybe you're thinking of Lukie? https://www.instagram.com/lukie_boxmonkey/
el_grimley - - Parent #
Not sure however for the purposes of the conversation I was having it might do.
Just your basic ballet, contemporary dance, acro, capoeira, clown, slapstick routine
https://vimeo.com/262506046
It's a bit bizarre & honestly I think half of you will hate it, but I really enjoyed this piece. I think there is a lot of originality here.
If nothing else watch the move at 5:58.
Daniel Simu - - Parent #
That was fun :)
mike.armstrong - - Parent #
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mike.armstrong - - Parent #
Thanks Jon. It was mostly for Orin's "benefit", but I'm glad to know that it was appreciated!
lukeburrage - - Parent #
Why do you think anyone would hate that?
Well, there it is 9 minutes long, there is no toss juggling involved & it is very experimental compared to mainstream circus acts.
Now that I've used the word experimental I'm wondering when an experiment is deemed a success when it comes to circus/theatre which is something I've never thought about before. Probably when it gets copied by others!
lukeburrage - - Parent #
To me, this isn't very experimental. It's a fun dance/acro/dance routine, and while it has an interesting mix of styles of body movement I've not personally seen before, it isn't really pushing the boundaries of contemporary circus. Compared to traditional circus, sure, if that's what you mean by "mainstream", but this, to me, is very much in the mainstream of contemporary circus.
Daniel Simu - - Parent #
What does experimental mean?
It's definitely beyond the stage of experiment, they know very well that the stuff they do on stage will "work". But a lot of the moves are original, and their relationship not easily definable... But then again that is the case in a lot of contemporary acro shows.
I loved it, the first bit looks like it is played backwards! Very cool.
(Thanks to Sadie, who knew I'd like it and sent it to me in a message)
Parsnips & Pancetta
We haven't had a good simple camping recipe for a while. I've been enjoying this quick & easy recipe at home for a while but hadn't had a chance to do it 'in the field' so to speak. It was a little bit fiddly peeling the parsnip with my small knife but nothing too taxing, I might have to add a proper peeler to my camping kit. If you want to keep it a one pan meal swapping out the pasta & adding chopped onion when you fry the pancetta also works well.
Ingredients
olive oil
pancetta
rosemary
parsnip (finely sliced)
pasta
butter (optional (not optional))
Boil the pasta in salted water, set aside.
Fry the pancetta with the rosemary in a splash of olive oil for 2 minutes.
Add the sliced parsnip, cook for 3 minutes or so until it has softened, stirring regularly.
Add the pasta & mix well. Stir in a knob of butter at this stage until melted if you've got it.
#recipe #camping
Little Paul - - Parent #
Mmm... sounds nice. Might have to give that one a go not-in-a-field.
Seems like it could take a nice robust cheese on top as well... but then so do most things!
I don't know if it counts as a #recipe - but more people need to know about Toilet Paper Mackerel.
Get a tin of mackerel in oil
This can scorch the grass. Think about where you're putting the tin down.
Remove lid.
Take two pieces of *clean* toilet paper and fold over.
Place on top of the mackerel so that the oil soaks into the paper.
Light the corners.
About 15 minutes later the oil will all have been used up. Carefully peel the ashen wick off. Your Toilet Paper Mackerel is ready.
I eat it with red onion, avocado and bread.
Great idea - thanks for sharing. I searched for a video and found several for tinned tuna. Here is one that used the fire to heat a can of beans. Onion and avocado sounds great too. https://youtu.be/NUZKB3zwPYY
That is amazing!
Now that you've posted this I feel we suddenly need to put more effort into fire breaks at convention campsites!
I just tried it, toilet paper tuna that is. My local Miami supermarket only had mackerel in water.
It went as advertised and was delicious, and I don't ordinarily like tinned tuna. It was warm and slightly smokey flavored.
Whilst watching the process I remembered "tin can cookery" from my youth. This link describes it, the flaming toilet paper tuna could replace what they call a burner. The flaming tuna/mackerel is similar to a sterno can.
Is the BJC dying a slow death?
I've not been for a few years so I was quite surprised to hear how few are expected to attend this year. Fewer than half the amount of people that used to go about 10 years ago.
Is this a sign of a fall in the numbers of young jugglers taking up the hobby or are there just more events dividing up the pool of likely attendees?
BJC numbers are always down when it's in a "far corner" of the UK. Of course, we're well down from the early 90s heyday, but that's been true for years.
The last 2 with figures for attendance on https://thebritishjugglingconvention.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=BJC_History (both in Darton) are over 900. That's pretty good. I'm sure Perth will have been well down on that, and I guess it makes sense for Canterbury to budget on a low figure too. We'll see how it goes, I guess....
I wouldn't have called Kent a far flung corner. Not compared with Yorkshire. I suppose I'd need to know more about the concentration of jugglers around the country but I would have assumed London and Bristol to be hotspots.
Anyway I hope you're right because 500 seems a small number to me.
Where are you getting 500 from? *If* it's their budgeting figure, that's presumably a worst case scenario, and therefore it wouldn't be unreasonable to *hope for* 600-700. Dunno, I'm guessing...
From the horse's mouth. Budgeting figure is even lower.
Good to know the last couple were around 900. That's a good number.
When people are deciding between BJC or Catch it can't be a good thing.
There has to be a number where it is no longer viable in its current form.
Mind you, under 500 and we could do it at Hulver farm
British Balls Up anyone?
There are no numbers on that site for attendance for the last 2 (anyone know?). 900s were 2014 & 2015.
Well, here's hoping...
Cedric Lackpot - - Parent #
> When people are deciding between BJC or Catch it can't be a good thing.
Why not? I see that it's a risky situation, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong. It seems to me that the BJC does not have a right to be pre-eminent, it needs to earn that status.
I meant it can't be a good thing for the BJC. It might well be a good thing for juggling.
It already seems quite hard to get people to commit to running one, if numbers decline who's going to take the risk of making a big loss?
Maybe both can be successful?
Anyway, come to BJC and eat at Montegriffo's.....
Richard Loxley - - Parent #
I wouldn't have called Kent a far flung corner. Not compared with Yorkshire
Spoken like a southerner ;-)
I'm currently a southerner, living in Bristol. But I'd still rather travel to Yorkshire rather than Kent! There's this annoying thing called London in the way, which adds stress and considerable time, whatever method of transport you use.
I will make the effort anyway, because I want to go to the BJC. But I can see why anyone in the Midlands or above would think twice.
Canterbury is more than twice as far from the centre of the UK population as Darton is.
Where's the centre of the UK population?
About one in seven live in London, must be getting on for a third of the population are South of Watford.
From a comment on an Ordnance Survey page: "Yes, one of our Twitter followers suggested this too. It’s not something we’ve worked out ourselves, but @MurrayData says that using a population weighted approach centre of GB is approximately 433924E 309573N (Measham Rd Swadlincote Leics.)"
Click the pic link in the tweet: @JugglingEdge Pic for Monte: pic.twitter.com/Bitwm1Fb67
— The Void ザ・ヴォイド (@TheVoidTLMB) March 10, 2018
Cedric Lackpot - - Parent #
Yeah, erm, Swadlincote's in Derbys not Leics - only just, but Derbys nevertheless. Not a good start, although if I had to guess the GB population centre I'd probably go for somewhere not too far from Swad.
Also, Swad is mostly an unmitigated shithole, but then that probably makes it a good representative of some sort of median of the British population. I have worked a lot in Swad.
These Swad facts brought to you by Cedric Lackpot, who has nothing of value to add to this thread, but knows a damn thing or two about Swadlincote!
Mike Moore - - Parent #
I'd like to subscribe to Swad facts by Cedric Lackpot please.
Cedric Lackpot - - Parent #
J. Thomas Looney died at Swadlincote in 1944. 'Nuff said.
Llama_Bill - - Parent #
Measham Road to Darton BJC - 1:20
Measham Road to Canterbury BJC - 3:07
lukeburrage - - Parent #
The main reason I won’t be returning to the BJC again soon, and the reason why I don’t recommend it to European jugglers when they ask me about it, is the time of year and the accompanying high chances of bad weather.
That’s the reason I’m not going again this year. The better time of year is also the main reason I’m going to the Catch festival this year.
If the BJC was held in July, I’d probably go every year.
That's rather a silly reason not to recommend it, Luke. Yes, some BJCs have had awful weather, but plenty have had good weather, even the ones held in the far flung North. Also, last time I went to the Lakes in the summer we had really quite a lot of rain.
There's no guarantee of good weather at any time of year, although it's likely to be a lot warmer in the summer of course. I'd be more inclined to talk about the shows, workshops, halls and general vibe of the BJC than the weather - if nothing else, to avoid becoming a national stereotype!
lukeburrage - - Parent #
Not, it's not a silly reason. It's a major factor for me, and judging from the feedback I get from non-UK jugglers who visit the BJC, it's also the main complaint they have.
In Europe, if a convention is held in the winter, camping isn't expected. It's an indoor sleeping convention, with entire sports halls or other rooms set aside for people to lay out mats and sleeping bags. If the convention is late spring to early autumn, camping becomes an option. The BJC insists that camping is an option, even when the chances of bad weather is worse than good weather.
For example, Berlin held its convention in September last year, due to some date conflicts, and everyone expected the weather to be fine. But it wasn't. It was waaay colder than it is in May or June, the normal date for the event, and it got dark way earlier. So now the convention has moved back to the summer again.
Just so you know, the shows, workshops, halls and vibes at the BJC are no better than other national conventions in Europe. There is nothing to recommend them above conventions at better times of year and with better weather than the BJC. The chances of bad weather in March in Scotland though? Camping on the top of a mountain in Yorkshire in April, with tents being blown away? No thanks!
Rain isn't so much of a problem if the temperature isn't too bad. Just the difference from March to May was enough for it not to be too stressful for us to camp at Bungay. But the BJC that same year? Nope, we got a B&B.
Stephen Meschke - - Parent #
Canterberry in April:
Cumbria in July:
lukeburrage - - Parent #
If you are wondering about reduced numbers of people at the BJOC, I think the comparison you want is Perth, Scotland, in March and anywhere in the UK in July.
Perth in March:
Average high 6.4°C
Average low 2.1°C
Canterbury in July:
Average high 22.8°C
Average low 12.9°C
Penrith (closest city to Appleby) in July:
Average high 19.4°C
Average low 10.5°C
Conclusion: if the BJC was in July, anywhere in the UK, I'd probably go and be okay to camp every year.
Little Paul - - Parent #
What’s with the crazy units?
Cedric Lackpot - - Parent #
I may not agree with a whole lot of what Luke has to say - and I'm pretty confident he's perfectly cool to be disagreed with - but I confidently and assertively agree that the climate is not a silly reason.
And it's certainly nowhere near as silly as saying that the British climate is unpredictable at all times of year, and therefore implying that the probability of seasonal or non-seasonal weather is immaterial regardless of the time in question!
There are a number of good reasons to hold BJCs at or around Easter - the weather is not one of them.
I have to agree, the damn weather and having to camp is always a factor that is lurking in the background, taking the edge off my anticipation. I am not the best camper - can't sleep well in a tent, so this year for the first time we have opted for the local Premier Inn. It does feel like a cop out but seeing as my hot water bottle is going to the IJC I couldn't face a week sleeping in a cold tent.
That being said the British EJC in 2019 will be in August and I am hoping that it will be considerably warmer and with little rain! Newark is only 50 miles from Swad so not far off being pretty central and we really really hope that we can entice as many jugglers, hoopers, diabolists, aerialists etc to it as we can.
As it is in Britain I am hoping to attract not only all the wonderful people from all over the world who come to EJC but all of those Brits that have never been to one before.
I know there is another EJC before it (2018 - Azores) but I am just slipping it in now so it's in your subconscious!!
PS the EJA are looking for a team for 2020, so if you know someone who might be interested in finding out more about organising a huge event like the EJC then send an email to info@eja.net
lukeburrage - - Parent #
Let me ponder my BJC camping history:
2000 - so wet I never pitched my tent, and slept in the car instead.
2001 - some nice weather, but freezing cold one night and as it pouring with rain on the last day, it was the least pleasant final day of a convention ever.
2002 - after two years of terrible weather, I skipped the BJC completely! I went to the Israeli convention instead. The weather was amazing.
2003 - didn't camp, got a room at the university instead. People complained about ice on their tents. This was Brighton, not Scotland, so the location isn't always the most important thing.
2004 - performer, and was provided accommodation.
2005 - performer, and was provided accommodation.
2006 - performer, and was provided accommodation.
2007 - performer, and was provided accommodation.
2008 - performer, and was provided accommodation.
2009 - got myself a B&B, but as this was a summer convention, I would probably have been happy to camp.
2010 - BJC switched back to a winter convention again, and I decided to skip it again.
2011 to 2013 - nope.
2014 - borrowed my parents' camper van.
2015 - camper van not an option, didn't want to camp in the same place where the previous year peoples' tents had blown away.
2016 - nope.
2017 - B&B again.
Ah look, I literally only camped at a BJC once! The only reason I kept going was being either by paying for accommodation myself, or being offered non-camping options for performing various acts in various shows.
Premier Inn is not a cop out, it's the only way sensible adults will keep returning to a camping convention in the winter/early spring!
This seems to be a wall of evidence that you have very little experience of camping at a BJC, but didn't enjoy it one time 7 years ago.
Doesn't seem fair to the British scene to spend so much time and energy discouraging others on that basis Luke.
lukeburrage - - Parent #
It's not just the camping. It's the general wet and cold atmosphere. In 2009 the convention was in the summer in Norfolk. I went to the FIRE SHOW. I sat outside and watched the fire show and it wasn't the most miserable moment of my entire year. Do you know how amazing that felt? A BJC fire show which wasn't utterly unbearable to watch. Wow. And in the evenings we were hanging out on the grass between the gyms. The renegade show tent didn't need space heaters. Nobody was wrapped up for winter for no reason at all except the sun had gone down. We could watch the Sharpe brothers do their street show, just outside one day, and it wasn't remarkable that the wind wasn't so bad they couldn't do any diabolo tricks.
Then my next BJC, when hosting the games, I had to make announcements that people's tents were blowing away, and they should go check on them before we left for the gala show.
It's not about my camping experience, it's about having a relaxing time at a convention.
Again, the Berlin convention miscalculated with holding it in September last year, and the very next year it is back to June, based ENTIRELY on the weather and how soon it got dark. How did it take them one year to learn the lesson but the BJC keeps at it?
I hope that after the Catch this year and the EJC next year, people will finally learn, and the BJC can be a summer convention from now on. Or at least a late-May to late-Augst convention.
It is true the BJC fire show is consistently unbearable to watch, but I have never attributed that fact to the weather.
*Tries to donate a fiver to The Edge, for that comment*
*Finds out there's a minimum £10 donation*
It wasn't *that* funny. Cash at BJC do ya?
Little Paul - - Parent #
It’s no Crawley fire show that’s for sure
As others have said, you've hardly ever camped at a BJC so I don't think you're really qualified to comment. I've camped at BJCs since 1993 (Birmingham) with a few gaps and I've never felt particularly cold, been woken up by bad weather or had a leaky tent. It has *been* cold, I agree, but with decent clothing and a good sleeping bag that's not a problem. Yes, it can be cold & wet outside but I've also sat outside on the grass in a T-shirt some years. In fact the one time I've been flooded out was at EJC Ptuj (which was the very definition of wet and cold and miserable).
Of course the BJC could be in the summer. It has been, in Norwich, after plans for the usual time fell through, as you said, and it was lovely and warm. It could be any time from late May (but don't you dare schedule it against Bungay, otherwise I shall be *really* scathing). It could be at Christmas. But someone has to stand up and volunteer to run it at that time and this bid has to be voted through at the business meeting - you know how this works. They'll then have to contend with competing with other festivals (including non-juggling ones), university exams and all the others things that may not have such impact in late March/early April/Easterish, availability of venues not in the Easter holidays and lots of other factors.
There's no point writing 'people will actually learn' in the hope it will happen - it will take someone to stand up and come up with a concrete plan for a summer BJC. As you know, there's no British Juggling Association running BJCs <nails lid firmly back on big can of worms> just whoever stands up and volunteers a year of their life.
I think we have an interesting situation this year with Catch! which is kind of an alternative BJC-ish thing in the summer with great acts in the show. This may well prove that a summer BJC-ish festival could work, in which case I look forward to many more bids of this kind.
lukeburrage - - Parent #
No, I think I am qualified to comment. The point of my comment is that the bad weather has been the deciding factor in why I decided not to go to the BJC. And not just once. After York and Cardiff, I didn't go back to the BJC, and went somewhere else instead. Same in 2010. Same in 2015. Same in 2017.
The people who are happy to camp in the ice/snow/wind/rain/etc of the UK in March/April? You don't have to worry about them. But what about all the people whose first BJC was Derby in 2004? How many people didn't bother coming back the next year? Even though I didn't camp, I drove home to Newcastle with two people who did, and the stop in a pub on the way home for dinner, and sitting in front of the fire, was the first time they had felt properly warm and comfortable for the previous five days.
The people who don't go to the BJC are the ones qualified to talk about why they don't go, and are 100% correct about the reasons the numbers might be down... at least for the number they represent.
The people who DO go to the BJC, by the fact they can cope with the stress of bad weather, are not qualified to talk about the reasons the people who don't go aren't going.
Daniel Simu - - Parent #
I've gone to the BJC once (I think 2015?). I had to sleep inside on the last night, it was a rainy festival.
I'm going again this year, very happy to bring my campervan!
pumpkineater23 - - Parent #
That's a good point, no one likes going anywhere when it's cold and sodden. Why don't they hold the festival mid-summer?
The historic reason for the BJC being at Easter rather than in the summer is that performers are much more likely to not be working at that time. Whether as a performer in the show who charges less than their normal fee or as an attending performer who doesn't want to miss out on the lucrative summer months Easter makes much more sense. Touring circus often runs from after Easter until sometime in Autumn, so the timing would help them to attend. Nowadays BJC does not have as many professional entertainers and so this is not as good an argument as before. It still might mean that it is difficult to get the best professionals, although Rosie seems to be showing that a summer convention with enough funding can do that anyway.
Nigel
lukeburrage - - Parent #
If you get 2,000 people at the convention, you can pay professionals to be there. It’s how the EJC works. There is no reason a BJC in the summer can’t attract 2,000 people.
I wasn't arguing in favour of an Easter BJC. I too enjoyed the summer BJC (although it cost me earnings). I was giving one of the traditional arguments for an Easter BJC. It makes sense for professional entertainers. I'm not sure it makes much sense for the majority of people who now attend the BJC.
Nigel
lukeburrage - - Parent #
Yes, I understand. My first BJC in 2000, it seemed that the main influence on a large portion of the jugglers there was street performers and circus performers. These days the largest influence is other amateur jugglers. Why would anyone have a pair of stilts or a unicycle to take part in a parade? Why does the parade even exist? Does it still exist?
Little Paul - - Parent #
Oh god. Parades. Please make them stop.
I know it's quite often a hook you can dangle towards the local city council to get some money off a venue, or land some other source of funding, but when you promise them a "colourful entertaining parade of jugglers acrobats and circus folk!" they picture an old fashioned circus parade. They picture tumbling acrobats, sequins and clowns. They picture free facepainting for the public, they picture ringmasters and jugglers and absolutely everything you can't deliver.
What they inevitably get is a bunch of people half heartedly walking along juggling 3 clubs or spinning a diabolo while talking to their mates and shuffling down the local high street. At best you might get one or two people wearing balloon hats, or a teenage unicyclist trial riding on every park bench or raised flower bed they can find.
Parades are at their absolute worst when everyone is only there because you made them attend the parade as a side effect of getting the bus into town for the evening show.
Parades are shit. "Because we've always done it" isn't a good enough reason.
Stop it
Just...
stop.
(and.... *breathe*)
lukeburrage - - Parent #
EJC parades can still be good fun if the weather is nice. There's often an open air show on a specially build stage at the end of it, and those are usually worth seeing, like Smashed by the Gandinis in Almere (though not like 8 Songs by the Gandinis in Lublin).
Little Paul - - Parent #
Is it the parade which is good, or is it the "show on the open air stage" bit which is good?
Because I would wager that of the two, the open air show is the bit that could stand on it's own. Do that, do more of that. Advertise it locally, get the public in as well, make a big deal of the fact that there's a show in town!
Who is the parade for?
If it's for the locals, then we're doing them a massive disservice (even EJC parades are closer to the atmosphere of a protest march than they are "rio carnival")
If it's for the jugglers, then what's in it for us apart from a show or "the games" at the end of it? If it's a show/games then why do we need to wander round the streets for an hour first? Why can't we be dropped off next to the show and just get on with the good bit?
Want to do something for the locals that actually shows jugglers in a good light? Put on more shows, run a street performing competition, run free-fringe style events in small local venues...
Just please, not a bloody miserable death march through town.
Daniel Simu - - Parent #
As a young juggler I really enjoyed my first 5 parades or so.. Now after 15 at least it gets a bit unexciting yes..
I've really enjoyed the EJC parades I've been on, simply due to the amount of jugglers taking part - I think there's a critical mass. EJC Almere was particularly fun (especially our Ben occasionally pausing to show the crowd his single diabolo trick and getting rounds of applause - he was 6 at the time) and EJC in Carvin was mad, as it was at night and there was fire (health & safety??). I agree some BJC parades can be damp and disappointing.
I have exactly the opposite logic. BJC is my preferred convention because it's much cooler than in the summer. This means that I can juggle a lot without getting too hot. I don't care much about being outside. At most EJCs I've been to I'm unable to juggle most of the time because of the heat and I don't like to be outside in very hot conditions because of sunburn and other risks. I normally only go to the more northerly EJCs, although Joensuu didn't work out as I expected (40°C).
Also no fun when you have to leave your tent at 8am because the blazing sun is hitting it and roasting you alive. I've camped at every BJC I've been to and the only time I was cold was 2003 in Brighton because of the ice/snow.
pumpkineater23 - - Parent #
You're not a tropical creature like me. Give me the early morning roasting sun anyday. I'd just go and find a nice shady spot and finish my sleep there. Or go to bed earlier. Camping in the snow.. are you quite mad? I went 'wild' camping at Brecon Beacons after the green man festival. It was horrible, damp and miserable.. couldn't wait for it to end. The only enjoying part I remember was when I was sitting in my car with the heating on.
I'm going for the first time from the continent just because it's close to the border! Don't kill my hype :P
Llama_Bill - - Parent #
You'll have a great time. I've enjoyed every BJC I've been to. I am excited for this one.
You will indeed have an excellent time. Sadly I don't think I can make it this time (due to foreign travel for work the next week) but I'll certainly miss it.
Enjoy - and if you have any questions, I'll probably be at the registration / information desk!
Given I barely saw you out of the kitchen, did BJC feel significantly smaller to you than previously? I understand that total numbers were around 700 but hadn't been properly counted when I heard Anna discuss this with Owen Morse after the business meeting.
Nigel
Nigel, in your current thread "For several years now I have been suggesting a juggling competition for older…" you wrote "If the BJC doesn't happen next year (or even if it does)". May I ask if there there is any particular reason for suggesting there may not be a BJC next year?
Cheers,
Chris
During the Sunday meeting nobody stood up and said that they wanted to run a BJC in 2019. During the BJC I heard on several occasions people saying that there wouldn't be a BJC because EJC was in England next year. I am not strongly optimistic about a BJC next year because I haven't heard any great enthusiasm from anyone although I have now heard rumours about people thinking about it 'up north'.
Nigel
I know one person who has an excellent venue and good plans for putting a bid together for 2019. They've never run one but assisted, so know what's involved. Just looking to put together a local team I think. Hopefully their initial thoughts and ideas will come through and they'll make themselves known soon.
Another team was interested and had ideas of a venue but nothing firm.
Does anyone know of any good websites or videos for learning the basics of passing? My friend and I have been doing a bit of ball passing with 6 and 7 but it's been pretty simple stuff and I feel like there's gotta be a whole lot of useful information out there that I'm just not finding.
I tried searching through the threads but I wasn't able to find any good tutorial-ish style threads.
In other news, I got a new 7b PR yesterday with 17 catches and a clean finish!
Daniel Simu - - Parent #
Passing is a social activity, best learned at a juggling club or on conventions! However, there are a lot of pattern resources online: https://passingwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
Particularly for balls I can recommend you get the DVD: Social Siteswaps from Gandini juggling. Face to face passing is more suitable for clubs, balls with horizontal speed are hard to catch.
Trailer:
https://youtu.be/W_G74eLnK1U
www,passingdb,com? (I don't yet pass, so I can't rate it).
Maybe the articles on ezine ["passing" search results], too?
jamesfrancis - - Parent #
I can highly recommend Aidan's book 'The Highgate Collection' which you can download for free here
https://www.juggle.me.uk/passing/
Generally viewed as the passing bible for most people getting into technical passing
Enjoy
Jedi Juggler - - Parent #
Definitely going to be checking this out, thanks!
If you ask for 'passing help' most people will automatically assume club passing. Most patterns can be done with any prop of course so a lot of the material is relevant.
You mention ball passing though so I assume that is what you are interested in. Ball passing allows you to get much closer to your passing partner than club passing which gives you some different opportunities. If you can try & find a copy of Patterns 1 by the Gandinis. It has lots of mostly side by side patterns featuring interweaving your arms in interesting ways. Unfortunately doesn't seem to be available from their store any more though.
Alan & Sadie do some Gandini-esque stuff in their act:
https://youtu.be/bHeonF5wwAk
Jedi Juggler - - Parent #
I was originally thinking face-to-face passing but that performance definitely makes me want to look into some side-by-side patterns, thanks for the reply!
If you're after more side by side ball passing, check out my (probably) favourite ball passers Spot the Drop
And also unreasonably skilled ball passers Lucas Adverse and his friend <something> Rick
If your passing balls for enjoyment rather than stage performance, face-to-face may be more fun. Start with different rhythms, 3 count, 1 count, etc. 7b 1 count is pretty exciting, try 5b 1 count to get the basic idea, one person throws diagonals and the other throws straight. Then there are many mixed counts, I like the 3c, 2c, 1c, 2c and repeat sequence. There are also fast-slow patterns where one person does n count and the other does n-1. The club books will spell out these patterns and many more and they can be done with balls, often more easily.
For those of you who were not at #EJC2016 there was only one proposal for #EJC2019 suitable for being put forward for approval by jugglers at the General Assembly - do the big news is that the EJC is returning to the UK in 2019 after a trip to Lublin, Poland and the Azores in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Cedric Lackpot - - Parent #
An FB thread suggested Newark. No idea who the gibbering mentals kindly volunteer team is.
Richard Loxley - - Parent #
I believe the team is being led by Jane Randall?
She has two successful BJCs under her belt, which in my opinion were both superbly run.
A good stepping stone for the EJC I think.
I think the venue is Newark Show Ground.
I presume you are thinking of the two most recent excellent BJCs in Darton. I believe that Jane also co-ran BJC 2011 in Nottingham.
Cedric Lackpot - - Parent #
Jane "just shoot me if I ever contemplate running a BJC again" Randall? That Jane Randall?
She'll be ace.
mike.armstrong - - Parent #
She's as good as her word...
I can confirm that the proposed venue is currently Newark Showgrounds and the team is led by Jane Randall. The site was selected partially because of the accessibility of Newark-on-Trent to the East Coast Main line [which, if there are no strikes, means that it takes about 4 hours from Paris by train and 3 from Brussels]. The final 5 km from the train stations in Newark to the site is proving the most problematic; we are hoping that given three years notice, we can arrange some form of usable transport for the final leg of the trip.
This far in advance of #EJC2019 we are still assembling all of the expertise required and we are also in post #EJC2016 review mode of what worked and didn't from an organisational perspective in terms of the things that we can do anything about. No point in being overly critical of things that are either beyond our control or not applicable to our site.
Right, now to find all the clown cars in the UK for that final 5km....
Seriously though, congratulations to the bidders and let's plan for an amazing EJC in the U.K. - we have a large, active, experienced and multi-skilled community and between us I'm sure we can do wonders!
Thanks Charlie...
We are currently collating a list of things that we liked / didn't really like that we can actively adopt / alter for our site. Also it includes bits that we liked that our site currently doesn't really allow us to do [such as walk to the supermarket] that we have to think of solutions to over the next few years. At the moment it's a bit of a post EJC brain dump, but it's best to get it while still fresh in the head.
You can add your contributions here in this google doc
Has anyone tried out the "Thomas Dietz 6 panel Ultra leather ball 128g -White" from passepasse.com?
Link: https://www.passepasse.com/catalog/product/view/id/26979/s/balle-thomas-dietz-6-panneau-ultra-cuir-128g-blanc/category/1121/?___store=pp_english&___from_store=pp_french
If so, what do you think about it?
I just discovered it and and saw it was made of ultra leather. What do you think about this: "double layer ball with inner bag for extra strength"? Does Gballz, Sport Co's and Bag lady have double layers on their balls? I don't think so.
I guess this is the only ultra leather ball sold in Europe right now?
Thanks
I don't think they do, but they don't seem to need it. I don't use them myself but people who I know use them and they last for years. Wouldn't 128g be a bit heavy? I would have thought that someone who likes higher numbers would be better off with 100-110g (or Norwiks ;)).
Oscar Lindberg - - Parent #
I didn't mean that it is better with double layers. Gballz, Sport Co's etc. are probably much higher quality.
I just happened to find them, and was curious. I'm very fine with my uglies! :)
I don't think an extra layer is necessary. Ultra leather is quite thick as it is. That gives ultra leather bags what I think is a feeling that their density is too low to feel satisfying in the hand, especially when underfilled. An extra skin can only make that worse and it's not necessary structurally.
There are different thicknesses of ultra leather. From talking to Gregory, I believe that gballz use the thinner one and that the thicker one is much easier to buy (he talked of special exclusive deals with the manufacturer). For me, both thicknesses have the same density issue for my super picky preference. I wonder which one Passé Passé use? It sounds very likely that it's the thick one. Or not ultra leather.
And it's kind of funny to hear the suggestion that 128g is too heavy. I've known several 7 ball jugglers who swore by Spotlight 180s...
Little Paul - - Parent #
Ultra leather is quite thick as it is. That gives ultra leather bags what I think is a feeling that their density is too low to feel satisfying in the hand, especially when underfilled
You're not the only one who doesn't like the density feeling thing, it messes with your perceptions in a really odd way.
I did some tests at a Crawley a long time ago where I gave people 3 GBallz to juggle for a bit, then gave them some thuds to juggle for a bit and asked them which they thought was the heavier ball. Everyone picked the thuds, and did so confidently. The GBalls were 15g per ball heavier than the thuds.From talking to Gregory, I believe that gballz use the thinner one and that the thicker one is much easier to buy (he talked of special exclusive deals with the manufacturer)
I seem to remember Gregory's story being that the thin stuff isn't being made any more, and that he had to pay the manufacturer to do a special run for him?I wonder which one Passé Passé use? It sounds very likely that it's the thick one. Or not ultra leather.
Knowing Chris, my money is on "not ultra leather" but instead, a cheaper substitute he's found from an off-brand supplier. That would fit in with Gregory's claim that he had to work hard to get thin, genuine ultraleather.I've known several 7 ball jugglers who swore by Spotlight 180s...
To close the loop on this, Haggis always used to use double-skinned spotlight 180s which Dave Spotlight made for him specially. I'm pretty sure Haggis was running 7 of them.
I'd quite like to have a go on some 180g ultraleather bags, see if making them a decent weight makes them feel any nicer in the hand.
Little Paul - - Parent #
The Passe Passe site says "Korean solft ultra leather fabric" - so it's not genuine ultra leather.
That thing .. how heavy a ball feels versus how heavy it is, is very interesting .. I found out, smaller balls of a same weight feel much heavier .. so if you juggle different sizes mixed, the smaller balls need to be lighter if you want them feel same. Also balls of same weight feel heavier when harder (and the softer ones feel lighter), i think.
It makes sense if we respond to the pressure (force/area) on the skin. A cushioning effect of the covering could also come in to play with the dynamic loading whilst juggling.
Juggle Dream have bought out a new ball that is worth a look. It is not ultraleather, but feels very similar. Linky
Haven't been around long enough to know how durable they are, but I'd certainly say they are worth considering.
37th European Juggling Convention Millstreet, Ireland HLGCBS
H: The Legends Show
L: The Gala Show
G: Eat at Monte's. Yum.
C: Brian for making the Legends show happen, or Boss Ali for getting me there.
B: Hippy drummers
S: The number of unprovoked kendama players?
#hlgcbs #EJC2014
H: Headline Act for the Irish Show. Fantastic and well executed concept
L: "That" act on the first showing of the Gala Show.
G: 5-7 ball multiplexes. Reached... and was taught an 8-9 ball multiplex.
C: Erm... all the jugglers? Especially the guy teaching me ridiculous multiplexes.
B: Samba Band.... just no
S: Surprise coach from Mallow to the Venue?! Juggling-wise... Eddy performing on Open Stage!
H: Meeting new people, including some legends. Working on 11 balls with 6 other people. Meeting and talking with Michael Moschen. Watching Poki from the US learning the dual balance.
L: Parts of the Gala show.
G: To juggle a lot and meet new people. Achieved,
C: Elk Fest.
B: Dusty and dark hall. Having limited good space to juggle in. Non-ideal tent pitching surface.
S: Bumping into my step-brother, who I did not recognise.
lukeburrage - - Parent #
H: Various parts of the Legends Stage. Landing a near-impossible squeeze scissor catch at the end of my squeeze catches workshop.
L: Putting our tent up in the rain on the first day. We then abandoned the tent, inflated the mattress in the hire car, and slept there for the rest of the convention.
G: Win Fight Night: Fail. Inevitably I lost to Jochen.
Organize Fight Night: Win, but with some issues. This'll be the last time I run it.
Run a juggling workshop: Win. Twice. Squeeze Catches and How To Not Suck At Combat.
C: Viktor Kee on stage too obvious? Patrik Elmnert too.
B: Being in a venue designed and maintained for horses. Next time can we live like humans and not livestock?
S: From those who walked out of the first Gala Show, I was led to understand that it would be utterly awful. It wasn't. I actually quite enjoyed it. It was, however, the slowest and down-tempo-est Gala Show I've ever seen. None of the acts were bad (in the second show) but there was very little variety of tone.
H: Difficult; it was a GREAT convention. The banana manipulation was a definite feel-good moment though.
L: Samuel Youde. Also much illness on the way home.
G: Practise tapbacks. Achieved, but levered off my nail using stupid non-ball-shaped props.
C: Toilet corridor violin guy.
B: My sandy dusty throat.
S: Darragh McLoughlin's whistle piece - I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this considering how little juggling there really was in it.
Also the campsite. That ground was pretty surprising...
niallkelly - - Parent #
H: Attending a lock-in in the bar that included Viktor Kee and Marco Paoletti with lots of drinking, singing and banging of tables!
L: Sam's act and Mathias telling everyone to get the f*** out before the interval (He wasn't speaking for the organisers).
G: Catch up with friends, volunteer, and watch some good acts. Check.
C: Michael Moschen's workshop. I only caught the last 40 minutes but it was quite interesting to hear his opinion on various things.
B: Continuously failing to get out of my tent before the sun hit it.
S: Steve Mills.
H: Ireland what a great country with such friendly people. Winning trophy for coming third in the Millstreet soap box race.
L: Noel C Duggan (site owner) deliberately driving into my brand new awning and bending the struts.He was a complete nightmare and eventually the organisers had to call the police after he knocked one of them over with his forklift and tried to steal the rented generator.
G: Get my kitchen, staff and several tons of kit safely back to Hulver Farm after a journey of over 1000 miles. Succeed
Win soapbox race. Fail (came third)
C: Barry from the smoked meat stall.He took a day off after the convention to show me around Kinsale and Cork including a trip to Charlesfort.I love a good castle.
Also Tony O'Brien the local butcher who bent over backwards to deliver meat and veg to me on site. He also organised the soapbox race and found a kart for me to race with.
B: Bloody American tourists at Blarney castle who queued for 2 hours to kiss the stone but took absolutely no interest in seeing the rest of the castle. I even had to tell one off for throwing his litter on the floor.
S: High cost of many foodstuffs in Ireland. By the time I got home I had barely broken even.
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