talkmagic.co.uk

curious to know if anyone else out there does some juggling? and if they mix jugling and magic in any way.
i generally mix them (probably the other way round to what you're thinking) by using d'lites in juggling routines. but i was wondering how one could put some juggling into a magic routine? i do sometimes put a bit of contact (ball) juggling in as i see it as the only form of juggling that has a magical quality.
but, yeh, any suggestions anyone?

I'm a very keen juggler - I'd love to know if there are any points of reference to make juggling entertaining rather than just 'look at me' type stuff, which, at the end of the day, circus skills are.

I once saw a magician use juggling in his act; he juggled five balls, and got a small child (about 7 years old) to hold an absolutely massive net to catch one ball at a time as the mage lobbed one towards him - it was so funny as the guy juggling would throw one the wrong way and blame the little boy for moving - there was loads of funny business like that.

The only other truly 'interactive' juggling I've seen was 'The Pretentious Juggler.' He would ask a man in the audience to throw him his three juggling knives whilst he was on a Giraffe (6ft) unicycle (the juggler on the unicycle, not the spectator!). He would also have a child help him with his hat manipulation and juggling - and get the audience to clap every time one of his hats was on his head. Loads of business available there too. Very funny. But not a magician.

The only thoughts I've had for juggling as well as magic is vanishes and appearances with the items to juggle with - maybe produce three juggling balls at the end of a cups and balls routine.

Larry,
Juggling makes a great addition to magic, especially if you are working the street. It's eye-catching, colorful, easy to follow, and highly visual.

Juggling sight gag:

Off-stage announcement: "And now, those amazing jugglers, the Ravelli Brothers."

One guy comes on stage with three clubs. He walks across the stage, turns, and gets ready. Then he tosses the clubs, one at a time, across the stage and off into the wings.

When he is finished, he pauses, turns to the audience,and says:

"Of course, it works a lot better when my brother is here."

Blackout!

hehe- i like that.

yes - i do juggling in my child magic shos - though just as a bit of fun. as yet, i haven't been able to incorporate any magic into it - or that is, the other way around.

I have a laugh though, start off my juggling one, to two, then hold three balls but only juggle two e.t.c. make them practice a round of applause - then bow and walk off.

that gets a laugh - though i always come back and juggle for them. i get them all to shout "10...9...8...7..." e.t.c, then clap

at the moment I'm working on a "stunt" to catch them all at the end - yet don't know what to do yet

sorry for rambling on - i doubt that i have been of any help - but i try...alas, i do

stunt to catch juggling balls? i throw them all in the air then take my hat off and catch them in that.
i'll have to upload a video of some contact juggling so you can see what i mean.
at the moment, I'm trying to juggling playing cards, not easy! i can do them fine from my right hand, just need to sit and practise for hours with my left i think. i'll let you know.
there are a few contact juggling moves that you can do with a deck of cards, but it's basically flipbacks and stuff, but you can include various forms of them, and some zero-grav moves (which dont looka s good with a deck of cards). i imagine a chest roll is out of the question here though!

hehe
probably.

that hat one is good though - ill have to try that.

cheers for that Mr Larry!

try getting one in a pocket too, now that gets tricky.
or, wear a silly, and big, hat. then throw all your balls in the air, catch them in the hat, then pull a deck of cards from the hat and go into tricks

I use to do "blindfolded" machete juggling.
You don't have to be able to see much if you're a decent juggler.
I also did it more impromptu with a sheet over my head...not really trying to convince anyone I couldn't see, more just as fun thing.
Another good thing is to do a little mind reading trick while you juggle.
You can use a fingertip flashpot (do they still make those?) to light your juggling torches.
If you repeatedly throw a ball up high-1-2-3 you can make it vanish on the third time, it's more a gag than a real trick.
I like the needle thru the balloon, because it's basically not a trick.
A ball levitation can be a nice addition to a juggling routine as well.
There's a good book called "Body Magic" that has a bunch of fun tricks that can be worked into a juggling routine.
So much of it depends on the environment, not everything will work in every situation.
Good luck!

excellent! thanks for that
next book on my reading list there i think.
blistered my hands up doing poi in a club last night
D'lites go down so well with raveheads!

try juggling cards

Zero000 wrote:try juggling cards

yeah, i included that

Loving the 'practice applause' bit fro juggling with two and holding one. Brilliant.

Just reading this thread has given me a bit more inspiration... some magic books advise to start juggling with 'silk scarves' as it's easier to do because they move slower etc... why not juggle with three 'silk scarves,' (i.e. silk hankies from your favourite magic supplier), catch them in a change bag (previously shown empty by just tilting the bag, think 'subtle convincer'), pull out three juggling balls, and then show the bag empty properly at the next available moment!

Genius!

Damn! I wish I'd kept it to myself now!

Juggling is great.

The way to make it a little more entertaining.

If you work with a partner - swap balls now and again. always good.

If you dont: Juggle with bazzre things.

I do kids shows and something that we do is i juggle with 3 pretend eggs. (go to a farm and in the gift shop or summin....)

I have a real egg and i keep them in a typical egg box / container.

I crack open the 1 real egg to convince them that what I'm doing could make a mess.
I then start juggling and chatting to them.
I attempt some tricks and then i say that I'm gonna do a trick that i've never done before - its gonna go under my leg, over my head, round my waist 5 times and then i will catch it on my chin - I obviously drop it straight away.

They ususally then all go to grab it. and discover that it is fake.
They then tell you and ytou come up with some sarcy comment.

Parents are then relieved.


A COMEDY ROUTINE:

If you stick 3 balls together. - You say that you are going to attempt 5 ball juggling. You build them up to it. And then you do a normal 3 ball routine. They all laugh.
If you can follow this with actuall 5 ball juggling you would be amazing and would impress aswell as make em laugh!

hmmm - i need to get another pack of juggling balls me thinks - i need to work on 4 ball, 5t ball, and eventually 6 ball (hopefully) juggling. how mush harder is it than normal3 ball? as i have never attempted it before.

well 4 is usually done just 2 in each hand, although there is a crossover way of doing it but you need to change the rythm for it.
5 isn't too bad to learn, start with 3 and while doing 3 beats throw them all in the air (like when u started learning 3beat by using 2). if you can have 3 in the air at any time you've pretty much got it.
ok, it's more difficult than i make it sound, i can't do five properly yet anyway so i shouldn't say.
glow in the dark poi makes for some good entertainment, having a couple of balls spinning about around you, you can't go wrong!