Juggling Skit

[Wowza]

I've been thinking about a juggling skit for a while now, and think I finally have it all pieced together. Please let me know what you think.

This skit is all done silently. A clown walks on stage carrying a large, oversized notebook entitled "How to Juggle." He looks around on stage for a place to set up the book. With no area sufficient, he grabs two other clowns to act as an easel, opening the book to the first page so that each clown is holding one section of the book and are free to peer around the outside to see what is on the page. The page reads: Step 1: Feet shoulder width apart; Step 2: Move hips; Step 3: Move shoulders; Step 4: Move hands. These are arranged as a list on the page. The clown does some light stretching to get ready, then peers back at the book. With juggling balls in hand, he places his feet shoulder width apart. Then he begins to move his hips side to side in an exaggerated motion. Then he moves his shoulders in exaggerated circles. Finally, his hands begin to move as if juggling. The clown's expression grows with each successful step as he thinks he is getting it. At the end, with his hands moving, he realizes he hasn't thrown the balls and gets disappointed.

Clown moves to the book and turns the page. Page two says: Step 5: Throw balls. Clown moves back to middle and begins again, standing with feet shoulder width apart, moving hips, shoulders and hands. Then clown throws balls one by one, but they all fall to the ground. Clown is clearly disappointed.

Clown moves back to the book and turns the page. Page three says: Step 6: Catch balls. Clown moves back to the middle and performs again, this time throwing and catching the balls one time. Joyfully, the clown turns to the book and the other clowns. Other clowns look at each other, shrug their shoulders and then look back at clown as if to say "That's it?" Then one of the clowns turns the page of the book. Page 4 says: Step 7: Repeat Steps 5 and 6.

Clown moves back to center, goes through routine and finally juggles in basic routine. One of the other clowns closes the book, moves over to juggling clown and motions as if to ask the time. Clown throws all balls up and checks watch, letting all balls fall to the ground. Clown then chases other clowns off stage.

Whaddyathink?

[bugaboo the clown]

Ok I will admit I can’t juggle. I have tried and have taken several classes. I still do a juggling routine in my magic show. I walk out with 3 juggling balls and ask if anyone has ever seen a clown juggle. Someone usually says yes so I say Great…now I don’t have to do that trick now and throw the balls back in the case. When the kids respond to this I say trust me you do not want to see me juggle…kids cry, things break and adults hide under tables.

[tim]

I like it. The only thing I would add is to first get the OTHER clowns to do those primary steps, then have them get upsetm slap you: "Not us, YOU!"

[GiGi]

I like it too. I also like Tim's idea.

GiGi

[Baloo]

I like it just the way it is. nice set up, classic blowoff, and no violence. I wish I could juggle, make sure the audiance can read the lists, 1-4 may have to be on two different pages.

[saphireSue]

I like it, you could even use audience participation if needed to hold the book up for you. I can't juggle, anything but the sticks so far.

[OkiDoki]

Wow sounds great. I would say give it a try and see what the audience think.
I use juggling a lot in my performances and there are quiet a few ellements in this skit I use myself pretty succesfully.

If you allow me I did some brainstorming myself:
- The clowns holding the book could also repeat (repeating works always great I think) the movements 1 till 4 that you do, after wich they look at eatchother and the audience with a face of: "Do you understand, where he is all on about". Holding the book while copying step 4 gives a nice problem situation as well.
- Before actually juggling the basic routine (cascade) you could act as if in the first place you are not able to control the balls. I do myself uss an unorganised combo of duplexen, windmills, backkrosses, headbounces etc. to create this illusion. Works great. Only a cascade that is going hig, low, left, right, to the front to the back works also great. A colleague of mine does it this way and lets the children clap. The louder they clap the higher the balls go.
- Wouldn't it be nice when you are with more clowns to integrate some simple passing/take out routines etc. Like for example when you want to watch the time while juggling, a problem you can play with through for example first throwing 3 balls high which gives you to less time to watch so you just about catch the balls again. Then you throw one ball to another clown so you can do 2 in one hand but the other clown throws it back in to soon. You throw all three balls to the other clown but he doesn't know how to juggle the cascade so directly throws all 3 back. You could finally stand next to another clown and do the cascade while one of you does the left hand and the other the right hand etc. etc.
- I'm thinking if I would personaly use a book. This is personal but I like to keep the amount of props as small as possible so it all fits in a suitcase. This act can also been done without through having one clown without any juggling balls trying to explain the other clown with the balls how to juggle. The clown with the balls copies the movements of the clown without the balls going through the same steps. It's just a thought.

Here some more totally other juggling related skit possibilities:
- eating a apple while juggling. One of the jugglingballs is replaced by a apple. How to take a bite while juggling? Taking a bite out of a jugglingball jagh. etc.
- Before juggling clubs you could first try to do some bowling with them but the clubs fall down everytime you let them go to get a ball etc. Play with how you put the clubs on the ground like upside down, far from eachother, against eachother etc.
- Depending on your skills juggling tricks itself can be brought very funny. A nice example I think is this video:

http://www.jugglethis.net/files/vide...IJA%201986.mov

[Saxlampouxlas]

I also use juggling ( 3 - ball patterns ) in my performances and I was wondering how can you get kids involved to a fun - juggling routine and not get bored looking a clown do some tricks with balls?


I usually put some music,dance,do some juggling tricks and then "accidentally" let a ball drop in the floor.Then I request from a kid to throw it gently in the air and I continue juggling in a fancy way.

Any other ideas?

[OkiDoki]

-I mostly don't start directly with 3 balls but just only once and ask them what can be done with a ball. They probably come up with things like throwing over,football, rolling the ball, playing baseball etc. etc. Do all this with the participation of a volunteer out of the audience. As a clown you've got loads of possibilitys to make it into a big laughter by not catching,kicking the ball properly.
Build up to two
-Then 3 balls. How should I do this? I only got 2 hands?? React on their explanations. You will see this is big fun.
- When finaly juggling 3 balls act as if you are losing control over them. (Also a good way to create more space for yourself)
- Let the children participate with yelling yeah when you catch all balls and ahh when you drop a ball.
- Let them participate by the louder they clap their hands the higher the balls go. Getting out of control when they clap too loud and the balls have to go too high.
- Build up the tension for a real difficult trick by letting them clap in a sertain beat faster and faster. Or let them imitate the circusdrums by stamping their feet or with their hands on their knees.
- When you drop a ball you could also ask a child to put this ball on your foot. But your foot is constantly moving. Finally when the ball is on your foot do a kickup start. (I use this one sometimes in my 4 or 5 balls routine but should also be nice with 3)
- Let a child stand behind you with a fishingnet and end up your routine by throwing the balls behind your back. The child have to catch them in the net.
- In the beginning with one ball you can also do an imitating act with a few volunteers (older kids). You can do things like throwing under the leg, behing your back, bounces on your knees, elbows, headrolls, armrolls etc. etc. use your imagination.

[tim]

Originally Posted by Kleanthis_Greece

I also use juggling ( 3 - ball patterns ) in my performances and I was wondering how can you get kids involved to a fun - juggling routine and not get bored looking a clown do some tricks with balls?


I usually put some music,dance,do some juggling tricks and then "accidentally" let a ball drop in the floor.Then I request from a kid to throw it gently in the air and I continue juggling in a fancy way.

Any other ideas?

You could always try the old standby, "Pickup and drop". Though it might work better with either clubs or scarves than balls.

Basically, you just drop a club. Ask a kid to pick it up for you. When they hand it to you, you drop another club in order to accept it. This can go on forever if the kids get into it. You just keep dropping a club/scarf/ball in a creative/funny way every time they try to hand another one to you. Some kids will go wild competing to see who can get the thing you dropped and hand it to you. They never tire of it.