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Burnt New user England 66 Posts |
Long story but as soon as I saw contact juggling I just said to myself ‘that’s what I want to do.’ And haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.
I went to the Blackpool Magicians conference this weekend and bought four crystals. Three larger ones and a smaller one for practise along with a book. At the moment I can pitch and toss in both hands and can butterfly with my right but am still working on the left hand. I have literally only just stared practising it on Saturday this week but it's a subject I wish to keep up. I find it very peaceful and relaxing and an amazingly enjoyable past-time. Is anyone else here into contact juggling and if so how do you practise? Do you take it in sessions, work in silence or with music ect? Oh and how did you get into it (just an interesting question)? |
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SenseiStrange Veteran user The Dead God's Dreams 345 Posts |
I am a passionate and unmodestly - a fantastic sphere manipulater.
The book Contact Juggling is almost useless. In my opinoin this art form is not jugglery, it is a refined system of magic and optical illusion. How do I practice? Frequently. I practiced about two to three hours a day for my first two years. I am a bit obsessive. Go to http://www.contactjuggling.org for some videos and what not. I have always preferred working with music. I burn incense, turn on some black lights, and trance out while I practice. This art form is great for meditation. If you want any advice, opinions, help or whatever....feel free tp PM me. I love this practice passionatly. Sensei Strange |
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Pokie-Poke Special user Bensalem, PA 883 Posts |
I started because I was bored. I did not realize other people did it.
I now practice when I feel like it, it is not the kind of thing you can force. Sometimes with music as the mood hits.
www.pokie-poke.com
The Adventure cont... |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Hi Burnt,
I'm not that great at the contact stuff myself but have seen some awsome performances. If you haven't checked this site out yet, http://www.michaelmoschen.com/ then go do it now. Michael is probably the best contact juggler you'll ever get to see. You should also try playing around with some clubs too. If you get chance to go to any of the juggling conventions you'll see many people doing contact with clubs as well as balls. One thing I was told many years ago was that you need to keep the balls silent when doing 2 or 3 in one hand because this will help when you come to stacking the 4th ball on top to do the pyramid. I hope this is of some use to somebody. Ros
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
My home online Join me on Facebook Follow me on twitter |
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Burnt New user England 66 Posts |
Yeah Michael was the first cjer I ever knew about when I saw labarynth as a kid then just looked back into it and reserched it. He seems pritty good and was supprised to hear he knew penn.
This guy I know won the blackpool magcian of the year a few times (3 times out of 6 times compeeting) for his juggling (not cjing) and says he's going to teach me how to use the diablo so that should be fun |
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darkp0is3n New user Texas 58 Posts |
I really want to learn contact juggling. BUt I don't think I really could. I don't think I have the money for the acrylic balls either. Is their something else you cold ****ibly learn with? It made me almost gasp when I saw it at the brothers grim sideshow last year. I haven't ever really thought about doing it though? Maybe I will when I have the adequate funds, I will let everyone know if I do pick it up though.
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SenseiStrange Veteran user The Dead God's Dreams 345 Posts |
DarkPoison,
You can use any ball you like. An orange even works. When I choose a ball I prefer one that is solid colored and has some good weight to it. Acrylic is good but not essential. I have steel spheres, plastic, rubber, wood and silicon. Go to a pet supply place and get yourself a solid rubber doggy ball. Cheap and it will do the trick nicely. Remember weight is the key. No keeping the balls silent is not important for making a 4 ball pyramid. Keeping two balls in one hand silent is useful for speed and fluidity. My favorite Sphere manipulator is Victor Key. He puts others work to shame including Moshen's and (ahem) my own. |
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darkp0is3n New user Texas 58 Posts |
Alright, thanks sensei
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damien666 Special user canada 513 Posts |
You can try obtaining a set of Bocci (bochi sp?) balls - they are all metal and are good to learn with because of the weight. I know that here in Canada, they are available at Lee Valley Tools. Do an internet search... just a suggestion... besides, I find that often clear balls are hard to see if you are in a larger venue. I remember seeing a contact juggler in a large theater and it looked like he was just moving his hands around - you couldn't see the balls at all - - - something to think about when choosing the right balls.
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SenseiStrange Veteran user The Dead God's Dreams 345 Posts |
IN response to Damien's visablity porblems -
I have found it useful to back light the balls with a tight light beam. This way the beam hits the balls and it casts out into the crowd. Makes for much higher visability. I also wear a camping head lamp to get a similar effect when I am doing walk around magic. There of course is also a selection of glow in the dark, UV reactive balls that help in dark areas. Sensei Strange Here is Viktor's site http://www.viktorkee.com/ |
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Burnt New user England 66 Posts |
Oh wow I saw that clip a while ago on the tv when the program about Soleil was on. Me and my dad had tickets to go see the 2004 show in manchester but sadly I couldn't catch a flight up there
Well he certainly looks brilliant! Hmm still waiting after a week for my CJ part one dvd very worried! |
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revlovejoy Special user Pennsylvania 765 Posts |
Saturday I went to a new magic shop in my area to watch a contact juggling demonstration from a guy who has a video. Crowd was 1/3 jugglers, 1/3 magicians and 1/3 mall wanderers who saw something going on.
Juggler remarked that it was weird performing for magicians. "They watch you differently than anyone else, like they're looking for secret moves or something." What he was doing, I would compare more to stage manipulation than traditional juggling. Conceptually, things don't disappear and reappear, but the skills seem more Jeff McBride than (fill in famous juggler here, I'm not well-versed.) |
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rden New user Sugar Land, Texas 75 Posts |
A nice Viktor Kee performance is on the Cirque de Soleil DVD Dralion. Watch it and be humbled.
Also try http://www.viktorkee.com/ |
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MagicJared Regular user 120 Posts |
Contact juggling is well worth the practice. Some people will just sit and watch hypnotically. When I started, 5-6 years ago there was nothing out there to learn with except the book and one web site explaining the butterfly move, I had to learn most of it myself. I'm really suprised at what it has become since then.
The book is worth having around, but yes its difficult to use it. I use it mainly for ideas on what to learn next. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Contact juggling is a beatuiful thing to see and quite difficult to master, but much like XCM, poi, or club swinging it has very little value in the market place, so if your intention is to entertain yourself go for it, but no one else will care.
Al
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Gideon Sylvan Special user Deerfield, IL 541 Posts |
What is cantact juggling?
You know you are a magician when you have boxes full of lecture notes you have never read, but still are excited about going out and buying more.
www.gideonsylvan.com |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Google it.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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SenseiStrange Veteran user The Dead God's Dreams 345 Posts |
Juggleral,
No market value? I keep myself quite busy performing with the spheres and poi. I am a passionate artist, and people seem to really appreciate my work. It is like any other art form I suppose. By and large 3 ball toss juggling is the most boring thing to watch in the whole world. However, sometimes an artist comes along and really surprises me. I say, if your intention is to truly amaze people, study sphere manipulation (CJ) and practice till you make magic. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Dear SenseiStrange
You misunderstand me I think contact juggling is beautiful to watch and extremely difficult to master, if you have suceeded to present it in an entertaining way at a paid performance MY HAT GOES OFF TO YOU. Poi is a joke and an in general an imbarrasment to all serious jugglers on this planet. Break a leg my friend Al
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Pele New user State of Bliss, USA 29 Posts |
Juggleral, I am another who has made years of my living off of poi and contact juggling. Evidentally, it is not a joke if it is done well and both, as many, many object manipulators have found, have huge stage appeal. With all due respect, because you are entitled to your opinion, I have read you on here a bit lately and find your views on alternate forms of object manipulation to be quite limited which is truly sad. I agree that 3 ball juggling is boring, and so do many audiences I have experienced, but I still encourage people to try it instead of offering a close minded, non-constructive opinion. You never know when someone will take something you find boring and turn it into music.
Onto the CJ-ing question, the one thing I would like to point out is that while black lights are lovely, be careful of other light sources through acrylic balls. Speaking from experience they act as magnifiers, which can start fires and burn your flesh. I do all of my arts training/practicing in sessions, but only because that is how I work best. It is different for everyone. I was told once by a mentor that when you start to get frustrated with a stunt or an object, move on to another until your are past your frustration. I do find that helps. I actually practice in silence. Because I am a dancer as well I find that I am influenced subconciously by the rhythms and I will inadvertantly attempt to adjust the speed to match the music. It gets pretty silly depending on what I am working on. Again, that is a personal decision. When I am choreographing a piece is the only time I CJ to music (other than performing of course). Here is something I found accidentally but was useful for me in learning to control multiple balls. When I was first working on cj I took my balls everywhere, and I would work with two or three while riding in the car. The turns forced me to really work to maintain control because when I didn't the balls would just fall out of my hand (obviously, I wasn't working on the butterfly or body rolls in the car. ). It really helped me nail down control faster than I think I would otherwise. I got into it backwards. I had been doing Boleadoras, and use the acrylic balls for the ends of those. I had seen Labyrinth and Dralion (video) and suddenly put two and two together when I was placing an order for the balls one day (I know..DUH!). I went to a poi gathering and a guy showed up with extra cj balls and he gave a smal group of us a quick tutorial (and a broken toe for one!). I fell in love, so instead of using the ordered balls for Bolas, I practiced cj with them. I do find it very meditative as well. My Viktor Kee story. I was visiting a friend in NC and it just so happened that Dralion was going to be in town the same time. Viktor Kee was still on the line up at that time and I was sooooo excited! When the show got going there was an alternate act, and aerialist, in his place. I was so disappointed and I have yet to see him perform live. *le sigh* Someday. The ever wordy... Pele
If, of all the truths in the world, you choose one and follow it blindly, it becomes a falsehood and you a fanatic.
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