Anyone have suggestions for getting some laughs with your balls? (Besides from twelve year olds whenever you say balls, I mean. Not that there's anything wrong with that ;))

The classic hit-yourself-on-the-head (gotta be a shorter name for that. Head-wacker? Ball-to-crown?) is... er... classic...

Then there's the I-just-can't-seem-to-pick-this-darn-thing-*pauseforbreath*-up! (gotta work on my naming skills) Where you drop a ball, go to pick it up and 'secretly' toss another ball ahead of you from behind your back. Repeat ad infinatum/naseum.

The kick-it-as-you-try-to-pick-it (up) is fun and easy...

A little harder (as in I can't do it... yet.) is the fake toss: where you use a little slight of hand to make it appear as though you threw a ball or three high in the air but they've mysteriously disappeared. If you're really magic (or maybe working with a partner perhaps?) combine with the Ball-to-crown for instant larfs.

I always get at least a giggle if I do something silly when (oh yes, definitely WHEN) I drop a ball or pin. Do a little dance, say "ta-da!' with jazz hands, look very embarrased, pick it up really quick and look someone in the eye with a serious (as you can get) face "You didn't see nuthin'!"

Then of course there's juggling silly things. Rubber chickens, plungers, fishies, screaming toddlers, etc.

So tell me oh clowns of clown forum, how do you maek with the funny with your juggling?

Don't know if it's funny, but when I couldn't juggle yet I did this:

I first tried with three balls, until they fell. "maybe I can juggle with two balls!"
So I tried with two balls, until they fell.
Then I tried with one ball, until it fell.
And at last I tried with an invisible ball until it fell. It would be funny if you heard a sound when the invisible ball falls. :P

Sort of this?
(I'm a newbie, so I have no idea what works and what not)

That's cute. I like it.

Good question, I've been wondering the same thing.

I like the previous ideas. Here's another one: if the audience expects you to juggle (because they saw your juggling balls, because you told them that you're gonna juggle or whatever), then don't juggle.

Try to find problem that would prevent you from juggling (one ball's missing, one ball falling all the time before you start, ... and/or something wrong with you: your hands are shaking too much, or you wear silly sunglasses and you cannot see anything, or etc.).

Something fun that i like to do with the ball-to-head bit, is as soon as it smacks me, I fall either on my butt of my face. When I go to pick up the ball I find that it's to heave for me to lift (you can do a lot with attempting to pick a ball up off the floor). Once you finally get it up, it keeps wanting to either crash back to the ground or float away, higher every time.

Not really funny, but just an idea: when a ball falls, not just picking up, but start juggling again WHILE you're picking it up (or never stop juggling).
It's pretty easy. Took me a few tries. :)
I came up with this idea when I practised the exersize impossible to pick up three things in 2 hands.

It is really not very difficult, but juggle a potatoe, an onion and an apple, then proceed to eat the apple while juggling. Tell the kids you are really hungry, you've been really busy today and did not have time to eat lunch yet. Kids intuitively know that you cannot eat the potatoe raw, and the onion will also taste quite off. Fake taking a bite of the onion and the potatoe, and they will squeal with laughter. Take a bite of the apple and juice will be thrown in swirls into the air and on to the audience. Drop the apple, accidental of course, and the juicy apple will pick up bits of dirt. Pick the apple up and ask anyone if they are hungry and would anyone like to take a bite. Continue juggling and eating. There is a major ick factor here. Mention that there was some sand and dirt on the next bite, but shrug and continue juggling until you are done your apple.

Once the apple is eaten tell the kids you'll next juggle a peanut butter sandwich! Just don't drop it. Opened can of soda? Tossed salad? That would be harder.

toronto boy, funny that you mentioned fruit salad. i was doing a show about nutrition and juggled a cuke, a tomato, and a head of lettuce to make a 'tossed salad'. for the flourish i had a big mixing bowl to catch them all in and my bottle of dressing had coil snakes in it. i thought it was kinda funny but the director told me a little while later that my performance had caused some of the kids to throw their food.

Max,

Do you have your set lines for when you drop?

I often find that the funniest part of the show.

...I was doing a show about nutrition and juggled a cuke, a tomato, and a head of lettuce to make a 'tossed salad'. For the flourish i had a big mixing bowl to catch them all in and my bottle of dressing had coil snakes in it...

How did you get coil snakes into your bottle of dressing? I am not quite picturing this?

Toronto Boy use only the neck of a plastic dressing bottle and glue it to the top of short Pringle's can. I'm sorry but I don't have the prop anymore but I'll make one and post a pic.

You need not make one. I assume the plastic dressing bottle is round, fitting the short Pringles can. How do you get the snake in and out?

glue the dressing bottle top to the plastic lid of the pringles can so that it is removable and the snakes can be loaded/sprung.

Thanks for the explanation. I think I will try your "tossed salad"!

Here is one of seen other jugglers do. Attach a string to one ball, then attach the other end to your belt. When juggling drop this ball, it
will swing down between your legs and with a little luck back up into your pattern.

Using the same string . with a little hip movement you can get the ball to swing in a circle in front of you.....takes a bit of practice but is well worth the time to learn....

Another gag is to keep talking about doing eight balls in a few minutes ....but go on to something else and the kids WILL remind you about the eight balls....tell them in a while....and when they won't wait any longer...take THREE number 8 billiard balls and juggle them.....

Anyone ever hear of The Flying Karamazov Brothers. Hilarous jugglers. Watch some of the videos on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpUQZh9HjJA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpUQZh9HjJA

Just type their name in YouTube for a bunch of entertaining and funny juggling videos.

Heard of them? I even read their comedy novel!

The FKB have been around for quite a while. I saw them in Tampa in the 80's and again a couple of years ago some where in Pa. Their act/show is timeless and up to date at the same moment.

Tickets are always on the pricey side but WELL WORTH IT.

Definitely my source of inspiration...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7VuA7tCINw