Inflating a Big Trick

[scooter]

About four years ago Butterfly Man Posted:
>7. Big Trick set up.
>8. hat line.
>9. Big Trick...

Ok , I've got to put together something that I can call TOTALLY AMAZING. But in my own mind, it's totally boring and I'm a hack. Maybe because I've seen it before, but can I really finish my act with the three or four club tricks I know using torches?

I've read lots about hat lines, but what about setting up the big trick? How do you turn something that you can do with your eyes closed into something amazing! The only thing I can think of is passing clubs with a volunteer in the middle. But I gots no partner.

I've got a varied skill set and think it might involve just combining two or three things, ie suiciding a diablo on a rollo bollo or some combination. Here's a list of what's in my grab bag, how could I assemble it into a BIG FINISH.

3 ball (variety of tricks including mills mess)
four ball (can do it for about 20 seconds)
Clubs (Couple tricks, doubles, getting better at chops)
Diablo (about 5 or six tricks and practicing a suicide)
Unicycle (can idle, but not juggle at the same time)
Contact Juggling (I'm pretty good at this but it's more entrancing than amazing)
Magic (I know more than a few slights, card tricks, and false shuffles)
Balloon Twisting (Lots of experience but know I can do better with a crowd and a hat than a line up)

Scooter
Vancouver BC

[Butterfly Man]

BIG trick

First inflate your ego ... get a big head ... you will need this ... it really helps.

then buy or make a big hat ... preferrably one that makes you look like an idiot.

put pointy sticks in it (at least 3) and learn to spin cheap plastic plates on them ... add idling on a unicycle (having a volunteer on either side to help balance you and perhaps keep the plates spinning) ... if you can't spin plates put sparklers in there.

... get a mouthstick - use it for something ...

the show is about you and your relationship with the audience (or volunteers) ... they don't give a rat's ass about your juggling.

[Doctor Eric]

Okay scooter, re-read your post inside your mind... close your eyes... relax. Now answer the questions in your post that can be answered. The ones that can't must now be experimented with in front of an audience. Repeat this process ad infinitum. Eventually, with any luck, this process will be called writing.
Think of yourself as He-Man, raise that balloon sword high into the air and proclaim for all of Canada to hear "I have the POWER!"

[scot]

screw juggling

Scooter, don't use skill. That screws up so many acts. It's great that you can juggle with the aud.'s eyes closed, instead do some tricks. You don't need to write like Eric said. here are the things you can do...

Get some old shoes from the local used clothes shop. attach wicking to the soles of the shoes. Now, put these shoes on thin dowels ( like plate spinners use ) and spin away. Good warm up trick. Draws a crowd and get's people excited about something different.

Make sure you don't spend too much energy at the beginning of the show, it will screw up your build. You must give the feeling of potential energy, with out having an early climax.

So, you're ready to set up your finale... You are going to stand in a tray full of marbles and catch an axe (with a flaming head!) between your legs. The throw will be higher than a house (you exagerate), and will seek a nesting place a few inches from your past employment ( sperm bank jokes).

Once you get yourself more established, you'll be able to turn that tray into a tabletop tray, and you'll be able to burn brand new shoes... Fresh from a sweat-shop!!!

I don't usually give away great shows like this, but I feel sorry for you because your name is Scooter.

Love,
Scot

[GlassHarper]

Rats' Asses

Scot said: "You must give the feeling of potential energy, with out having an early climax."

They don't call it performance anxiety for nothing!

By the way, they may not give a rat's ass about your juggling but they DO give bux for the entertainment.

[Chris Griffith]

my $.02

Like Butterfly said, it's about your relationship with your audience. I've seen technically brilliant jugglers fail miserably doing brilliant things, but neglecting to understand this.

I've also seen performers who really don't do anything BUT play with the audience.

You can light shoes on fire, or throw stuffed animals high into the air, whatever, but you have to play the crowd, and play them well.

Give 'em a reason to stick around!

[Tyler]

I'd say do the entrancing stuff at the beginning. Do your good stuff, then do some of it again on a unicycle (learn to juggle on it) Hint at your climax throughout the performance. Then, as you are around the middle of your show, shout out what you are going to do it your finale, and ask if people want to see it. When they roar out say "No, I think we need more juggling!" Then do more of that. Do this twice again. Then, mount something, be it a rola bola, unicycle, ladder, whatever, and do your climax. Despite often being called hack bits, knives and torches make excellent props for your finale. Or, if you have a fire devilstick or fire diabolo, use that. If I were you, I'd learn some cool throws with clubs, for example: Alberts, Treblas, Under leg, backcrosses. Or twist your wrists and juggle. Then, with enough tricks to satisfy your audience for around a minute, buy torches and learn the tricks with them. Then learn to do these tricks on something. Then, go do your show!
Good luck!

-Tyler