who was the first??

[The Amazing Beaumanz]

who was the first to use water out of a lighter fluid container and squirt on ground for a crowd gatherer??

I saw it about 10 years ago and started doing it myself a few years ago with some really cool music. works great.

[Happy Pig]

Water? I've seen people place actually flammable liquids on the ground and light them.

[Evan Young]

it was me

[Rex Boyd]

I saw a fire juggler working in Spain last year that used some kind of fluid to make a wall-like line of fire along the stage that was probably 1 to 2 feet high and lasted for probably 10 to 20 seconds. Anyone who has ever spilled their torch fuel (such as kerosene or lamp oil ) on the ground will know that it is actually very hard to light when it's spilled. Lighter fluid lights very easily but will only make a tiny flame and burns out very quickly.

So there is some other kind of fuel out there. Anyone know what it is.

By the way the Spanish juggler accidentally set fire to some bunting decorating the front of the stage and had to get out the fire extuinguisher. The Spanish audience, who are accostumed to being chased in the streets by bulls and having very lax safety laws about fireworks at public events, were not in the least bit worried even though I, an experienced fire juggler, was concerned that the whole stage was going to burn down. It was all fine in the end but could have been dangerous. Lesson: have a good look at your performing area and clearance before trying this one at home.


Rex

[scot]

There's no such thing as really cool music. Esp. in that situation.

[Barry]

Rex,
having used a wide variety of fuels over the years, I have discovered only one that actually sparks fast, burns hot, stays long enough to make a serious fire...good old fashioned petrol for automobiles...gas-o-line as they call it in the land of my birth. when i worked in san fransisco there was a filling station across the street from the pitch, run by chinese guys, that would let me fill any container with gas. three times i accidently made a serious fire, though, only twice was it dangerous. if you wanna make a good serious burn, this is the shit and it is dangerous as hell. i suspect your man in spain was burning this.

NOTE TO NEWBIES : I do not recommend this

Extra note: after you have fucked up, do not give shopping mall security guards your real name.

[The Amazing Beaumanz]

i was talking about using the the effect of having the people walking by THINK you are going to light the ground on fire.

Although, i used to make a boundry of sand on the sidewalk that i could then soak with lighter fluid, then make one quick pass with some coleman fluid and sparked this up with no disasters to date.

It's nice to work at the beach!!!!

[Rex Boyd]

Yes I've seen the "make them think you're going to do it" but I can't remember by whom. It's sort of like the clown trick where you pretend to throw the bucket of water on the crowd but then you use confetti instead. It's not a bad laugh if it's done right but I actually like it better when Paddy Bramwells uses lighter fluid and REALLY lights a circle of flame around the volunteer its exciting while at the same time revealing that it's not all that dangerous anyway.

About petrol/gasoline..... I once had to use the dangerous stuff instead of normal torch fuel when I was on an overseas gig and didn't have time to find the right stuff and can confirm that petrol/gasoline is a much, much hotter flame, and much dirtier and much smellier than normal torch juggling fuels. After using it once I would be scared to use it again. So I'll leave the wall of flames to the Spanish juggler and anyone else that dares to give it a try.

Rex

[le pire]

I was at a juggling club at Brown University last year (it was more a brick red) and everyone decided to go outside and play with fire.

20 cans of coleman fuel appeared out of nowhere and the poi started swinging and torches flying.

There was this one guy-- I forget his name, but he was in food play-- who got this genius idea. He filled an ALUMINIUM bowl with coleman fuel, set it on fire, held it in his hand and tried to do that plate/ball spinning move where you circle it under your arm / over your head. Einstein forgot, however, that metal conducts heat and when it started to burn his hand he flipped out and chucked the FLAMING BOWL FILLED WITH GASOLENE. He luckily threw the bowl where no one was standing, and he's lucky he was wearing a leather jacket when he spilled a good amount of burning fuel on himself.

Fortunately no one was hurt. But I think that guy is destined for a darwin award.


etienne

[GlassHarper]

Water lines

The water line has been the standard way of defining a stage here in New Orleans since I've been here -- ten or 12 years. One juggler (Chris??) would get a volunteer into the middle of the circle, squirt a water line from a lighter fluid bottle around him/her, and then squirt a straight line between the legs. With appropriate wise cracks it was a great crowd builder.

Water is readilly available from a fountain just inside of the Jackson Square park.

[Doctor Eric]

?!

A better question is "Who will be the last to do it?"

[le pire]

or put another way...

will this ever end?