I have recently come into a set of three nice 1/2lb juggling balls from Higgins Brothers (“The Physical Intelligence People”).
Teaching myself to juggle has been a great learning practice. I first learned how to juggle in 1984, with three tennis balls, in my parents basement. The flow kicked in while I was watching the CBC news magazine program “The Journal” as Barbara Frum was interviewing the Ethiopian foreign minister about the famine in his country. That is how sharp my awareness was that evening: I can remember exactly what was happening when I finally got three balls to cascade.
Fast forward about 20 years and here I live on this island with a whole bunch of homeschooled kids around me. One of them, my 15 year old friend Calder Stewart is an excellent juggler and a good juggling teacher. And his dad, Paul, is even better. Paul juggles all the time. On the ferry, waiting for the bus, in the line up at the store…and he always has a new trick or two that he is working on.
And then, my friend Ashley falls in love with Thomas Arthur who is the best space sculptor I have ever seen and he comes to visit with Ashley and shows me a few things. So I’m a lucky guy. Lots of teachers around, lots of people better than me and a nice set of good tools.
And all of that goes to facilitating flow, because for me that is what it is all about. Keeping three balls in the air, and making them do things like change direction or bounce off walls is a beautiful, accessible physical flow practice for me. When we reach flow, we are more likely to practice, and when practice more, we reach flow more.
Calder and I were talking today and he was saying that he drives his dad crazy because he never “practices.” I told him that I never “practice” either. I just play. All the time. Whether it is music or juggling. I never pick up my flute ormyt jugglign balls just to practice. I always pick up my tools to play to get to flow. Play as practice, practice as play.
Maybe one day I’ll get like this. The thing to notice about this video is not the technique (which is astounding) but the flow he is in. Imagine being in THAT spot? Wow.
Wait till Thomas posts a video of his work sometime and you’ll see someone who does even more amazing stuff with a much simpler approach.
ahhh, sweet flow.
Nice to see you got some new props. Lovely. In my first few years of juggling as a kid I used those cheap spongy rubber balls you can still get for two bucks in the single aisle of toys at your local drug store. Then I bought three lacrosse balls and in that one instant I was literally twice as good a juggler simply due to the equipment. That’s when I really started practicing and became addicted to the flow state. It was like a drug. Still is. . . ~~~:o)
I’m doing short shows in Vancouver at the 30 Days of Sustainability mainstage Friday (March 17) at 6 and Saturday at 5:15. Stop by if you’re in town.
http://www.30daysofsustainability.com/sustainability-and-you-online-schedule
Thomas…I’m in Chocago this weekend, but Caitlin and Finn are going to try and stop by tomorrow. Have a good time, and thanks for being a great teacher, in many ways, even from afar.
Me too – I love juggling – and when I occasionally come across a great juggler I pester them for tips etc. I’m still a novice but love it nonetheless. A few years ago a friend showed me how to make juggling balls out of balloons and rice. Now I keep a box full so that when young children visit I can pull out the juggling balls and we can all have fun learning how to juggle. Adults get hooked too. I have to replenish them often as everyone always wants to take theirs home!
Cheers
Viv
Hi Chris: I blogged about Chris Bliss’ juggling a few weeks ago, linking to his site — he’s an outstanding standup comedian, and the juggling is just an extra schtick — he doesn’t claim to be a good juggler. So it’s interesting to see this, more difficult, routine, by Jason Garfied, done as an act of one-upmanship, a ‘diss’ of another performer’s performance. I think that story is as interesting as the juggling itself. Who is to say when art is good? And is improv, an important skill that Bliss is practiced at, something really very different from art?
It would be interesting to hear Thomas’ideas on this, Dave. I read the diss not as a shot at Chris Bliss per se (maybe a little), but rather a shot at the speed at which Bliss’s video travelled the net with wide amazement riding its coattails. Other jugglers looked at the routine and threw their hands up…”he juggles three balls to the Beatles and gets lauded as amazing?” Then, Garfield makes his video, and amazed and enchanted as I was with Chris Bliss’, Garfield’s is like watching a top rate jazz player… and that brings me back to your last question…improv certainly is art, of the highest order.
That’s one more thing we have in common, Chris. I taught myself to juggle 15 years ago. With apples. I’m now graduating to clubs which is a whole new challenge.
And if you want to try something a little easier but still fun, check these out: http://www.astrojax.com
Hey all.
I thought Jason Garfield’s Bliss-diss video was somewhat amusing. His whole act is built around dissing what he calls hack jugglers, so it’s pretty much in keeping with his persona. I’ve had so many people send me the Chris Bliss link it’s starting to feel like spam. When I watched the clip I wasn’t moved much beyond the thought–okay, he’s got his thing down, I can see why folks find him amazing. The quality of his movement and presence didn’t much appeal to me though. (By the way, Chris started as a juggler twenty years ago, at one point touring as an opening act for Michael Jackson. Then he started doing stand-up and his juggling became a way of closing his show.) For me, what’s inspiring in this piece is actually the music. Good choice. (I doubt he’s paying royalties for the rights to use this tune, so I wonder if he’s at all concerned about the wild spread of the video.)
I think his work is entertaining and skillful, and fits perfectly in the context of his overall performance, but I don’t think it reaches the level of compelling, good art. (Hey Dave, I guess I’m the one to say when art is good, eh ~~~:o)
Hey Chris,
I started with 3 balls from a childrens playpen, determined to learn the basic cascade and had quite the difficult time considering the balls were light and fluffy. But determination (and a set of beanbags) paid off and I’ve had quite the pleasure in learning three ball, four ball, devil stick, clubs, torches…. it’s addicting. And I love it.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get as good as Chris Bliss. But I can’t think about that, that’s too far ahead. I’m more excited just learning the next trick, learning what’s over the next hill. Tryig not to think what others feel about it but to me it’s art and I love it.
Word!