ContactJuggling.org

Wasn't but a week ago I was busking in downtown Asheville when this passing woman stopped dead in her tracks, and instantly became pantaloon soilingly excited because she is throwing, of all things, a Labyrinth themed party, and had no idea where to find a contact juggler.

Figure the odds.

_________________
The Aeon is a child at play with colored balls

Wow, that's amazing. Did she hire you?

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

Well she took down my information, and made all of the appropriate noises.
However, considering the plethora of past experiences where people have been all excited about hiring me for a show (they invariably always approach me about it), but I never hear from them ever again, I'm not holding my breath.

If it happens, it happens.

_________________
The Aeon is a child at play with colored balls

Well we have finally got some nice weather in here in Regensburg! so i am going to go busking...for the first time in a foreign country...where i don't speak any German....should be fun!!!

_________________
I am a mother pheasant plucker.
I pluck mother pheasants.
I am the most pleasant mother pheasant plucker, to ever pluck a mother pheasant.

Not my story, but it was quite funny at the time.

I was watching "The Amazing Kenny" at the Tampa Ren Faire and he was doing his routine while sitting on some pylon type poles stuck in the ground. At the beginning of his show he pulled his bandana down as a blindfold and was quietly going about some of his tricks. From behind him in the direction of the bar, a biker looking couple walks right next to him and almost underneath him. They nearly stepped on his hat before they look up and notice him, and all of the audience in a circle. At this point they drop a few dollars into his hat and walk to join the circle. Clearly they were intoxicated, and when their backs were turned Kenny tipped his hand like he was drinking his ball.

After the show a few of us stuck around to talk to him and told him what happened. He had heard us laugh but had no idea how perfect his timing was.

Hey all,

Just figured I'd stop by and throw a picture at ya. I've been on deployment (Navy supporting Army) in Africa lately. The other day, we stopped at a school in Ethiopia and I entertained the kids with some impromptu CJ. They were probably the best audience I've ever had (no one made a sound...except applause) and they loved it:


Bigger Image: http://theamazingking.com/images/africa/eth-cj.JPG

_________________
-the One-and-Only,
JK_the_CJer

awesome, but they do keep a safe distance dough. when i was in mali i experienced that juggling was something they couldn't Imagen but they were all standing so close.

I am IMPRESSED! That must have made an amazing memory for those kids.

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

That has got to be the coolest CJ image I've ever seen. Way to go! I'm sure those children (and a few adults in the audience!) rarely get opportunities to see a skilled performer.

_________________
"Giving me a new idea is like handing a cretin a loaded gun, but I do thank you anyhow, bang, bang."
- Philip K. Dick

Couple really amusing moments that stand out from various places busking:

Middle aged black couple walk up as I'm on the sidewalk, watch me do palm spins for a little bit. The husband thoughtfully mentions "You know, I bet you could massage a girl's cl*t like that!" The wife drags him away as I collapse in a fit of laughter...

Pack of ghetto kids are wandering around the stretch of street that I'm hanging out on, and stop and watch for a bit each time they pass. Each time, they stay a little longer, and let their guard down a little more and a little more. Finally, I decide to tell them the "secret" and break out the string trick. In the middle of it, one of the kids cries out triumphantly "Aw, I see it, I see it, it's a black string, right there!" The rest of the pack teases him unmercifully as they walk down the street.

Best tip I ever got: little girl gave me a four leaf clover once

These stories are great, keep them coming!

_________________

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night"-Edgar Allan Poe-

Well, I've still not been busking properly, but me and my ball have been having a lot of fun State-side. I've definitely levelled up my head stalls over the last couple of months and I've been strolling around large swathes of New York and Chicago with a ball on my head. The responses have been a lot of fun. Only a few people have tried any mischief with me (drivers trying to startle me by honking their horns when I'm crossing a road in front of them have proven something of a recurring theme). My favourite response so far came from an old man who just looked at me and tutted "ridiculous!" before walking on.

The closest I've come to busking yet was at a medieval fair in NY last Sunday. There was a contact juggler there performing in costume, and the friend I was with persuaded me to break out my ball on the grounds that I was quite a bit better (modesty aside, it was true). I didn't perform for very long, but I managed to generate a crowd quickly enough (it was that sort of environment) and had a bit of fun. It was a strange experience - a couple of times I paused when trying to think of what to do next and the crowd took it as a cue to applaud. I was quite taken aback (but flattered too of course). At the end someone even came up and gave me a card and asked if I'd be interested in performing at a Renaissance fair next year, which I sadly had to decline.

Sadly it's pouring rain in Chicago at the moment, which is somewhat curtailing my chances to practice outside. I feel another head stall stroll coming on instead...

_________________
"Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There is mischief to have. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all."

iMark - I know full well what you mean about cars honking. Since i perform not even 2 feet from a 4 lane one way street, most of my hecklers are the cars passing by trying to make me screw up. I get beeped at, screamed at, insulted, and called every name in the book from people quickly passing by in their cars.

However, the ones that get stopped next to me at the red light give completely different responses. When there is a red light up ahead, some people stop 100ft short so they can just watch me, others yell out profanities of amazement "HOW THE F*CK IS HE DOING THAT!", and one tab a cab driver even gave me a $10. But the people that are going slow enough to actually see what i am doing usually banter positive remarks to their passengers.

Fixerated

_________________
One Love, one heart
Let's get together and feel alright

whoops! dont know why i thought it was noise, thanks elsie

_________________
www.billybellew.com
http://www.youtube.com/billybellewcj
www.facebook.com/wbellew
www.myspace.com/billybellew