ContactJuggling.org

I am interested in contact juggling in public but I always psyche myself out about it. I have a sort of performance anxiety that gets in the way. The anxiety mixed with being pretty introverted is the main problem. I tend to get pretty nervous when performing in public and I end up forgetting half the tricks I know. Does anyone have any tips or introverted success stories for getting more comfortable with performing in public and getting past the fear?

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"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a nonlinear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff."
-The Doctor

The trick is to tune out the audience. They are part of the environment and not what you are doing. It helps to practice outside, near people, but not FOR people. Inevitably, someone walks over to ask about it or watches out of the corner of their eye. I have never gotten a negative reaction other than "so?"

I hope this helps!

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You control the inertia, it doesn't control you.

The trick I found is to PERFORM MORE. Perform frequently, perform everywhere. Perform all the time.

I'm more comfortable with performing now then I was when I first started- However, I've been at it for over a decade, and it comes a lot more naturally now. Its going to be really hard for now, but just work at it. Though I really don't want to disagree with Dizz, if you tune out the audience, you miss out on a very special connection you get while performing. If you are performing for an audience, then you are performing FOR an audience. Just think of how happy you can make them- And show them some incredible things. Have you tried thinking of a character or routine? When you get into a performance that way, it may help distract you, while keeping that connection to the audience alive.

Best of luck~

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Never underestimate the complexity of buttered toast

That would have been the second part of the advice needed. Bandaid just asked about being in public. After you are used to that, you can start to think of performing.

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You control the inertia, it doesn't control you.

You're going to forget some tricks when people are watching, same as the amount of distraction that happens when a camera is on you or you're spinning fire.

If it's half of your tricks now, well, learn more tricks. To get over the fear, just f'ing do it. The worst that'll happen is you'll get ignored, and you're probably not the worst performer the world has ever seen.

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http://www.gravitydefiance.net

I've always practiced in public places, I find that helps keep the fear down.

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"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."

Hello to Jason Isaacs

The key is to perform naked. That way, remembering tricks is the last thing on your mind.

What I did was I invested in a stage ball, and that just goes with me everywhere. To the Store, to Ikea, to my friends house, the mall, to in-n-out. I have ordered a double-double with a ball on my head. You will eventually start catching people watching you, and for me it helped my confidence cause I wanted to perform for them. So I would turn so they could get a better view and gave them a little show. And majority of people enjoyed that I payed attention to them and it was great experience for performing for people. Last summer I basically had nothing to do and decided I am going to go do it. Grabbed my acrylic, walked out the door, and drove down to New Port Beach. And forced myself to find a spot to perform. You just start with some basic tricks and eventually you will remember the harder tricks you know as you get more comfortable being out in public.

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Contact Juggling at work, starting to annoy my co-workers every time I drop it ^^;

http://www.youtube.com/user/shadowbuster
rabitjuggling.com

Thanks for all of the great advice. I guess the answer is to kind of fake it until you make it. It's probably very similar to how I made myself more outgoing by forcing myself to talk to people. After a while it just became normal.
I honestly do think that the best advice given was from Oct though. You had me cracking up for at least a minute, man.

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"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a nonlinear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff."
-The Doctor

I've been performing for so long that I get more excited about being in front of an audience with it than fearful...you can really feed off the energy of an audience, and it's a great feeling. I think a lot of people's fear is just that of being imperfect, but one thing to keep in mind is that at some point, you're gonna flub up in front of people. Everyone does it, even the professionals; A good example would be when I worked for Ray Stevens...He would occasionally be in the middle of a song and forget the words. Even Moschen has dropped a ball at some point...just roll with it; it's no big deal in the long run...the world won't end, you can always recover and go on with your act, and people will usually still be impressed. That's not to say that you should try out moves on an audience before you know you're ready (which I'm totally guilty of and trying to break the habit) or not work on precision or anything...just work on being confident with what you're doing and remember that the audience isn't anyone to be nervous about...they're just other people too.

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Help! The law of gravity has been repealed!
What doesn't kill you makes you harder to insure.

I have to agree with Bri here. Just perform perform perform and you will get used to people watching you.

And instead of getting naked myself I performed in front of a naked audience one week ago...and nobody was nervous.

It all works - you only need to get past yourself and your fears, the other people aren't a problem at all, if they don't like what you do they will turn away or vomit on your feet - either way it is not your fault - so remember that.

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Real friends don't need to be the same

Silly Germans

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Never underestimate the complexity of buttered toast

You should buy my book, download my podcast or attend one of my conferences - "Feel The Sphere And Do It Anyway"

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Nihil est...In vita priore ego imperator romanus fui

More great advice. I guess it is important to realize that messing up only really matters to me in the long run and that getting my audience naked is a good thing...? Ok, I'm not really sure how to take that naked advice but thanks for it anyway.
As for buying your book or attending a conference... I'd have to know what the book is to buy it... And I doubt I'll be in England anytime soon for a conference. The podcast is doable.

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"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a nonlinear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff."
-The Doctor

I guess really that depends on the attractiveness of the audience at any given time...

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Help! The law of gravity has been repealed!
What doesn't kill you makes you harder to insure.