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An IJA Convention personality primer

By Dick Lorditch Youngstown, PA

Are you going to the Cleveland Convention? If so, we'll probably meet each other. But if you're not thinking of going, let me try to change your mind.

Last summer after having spent a little over a year learning to juggle three balls, rings and clubs, I decided to make the trip to the IJA's Fargo Convention.. To list all of the people I met and the tricks they showed me would be impossible, but let me introduce you to just a few.

Robert Nelson, the Butterfly Man, was a juggler easily recognized from Newsletter photographs. Robert gave me a lot of gag lines which I immedialtely wrote into my notebook. He also gave a group of us a 1 a.m. solo show, complete with his poem on four balls. If you meet Robert in Cleveland, it will make the trip worthwhile in itself. He may even offer you a little "pot" as he did for me. It was an aluminum one about five inches in diameter!

Watching Edward Jackman in action will surely impress you unless you can juggle eight rings as well as he does. His wife, Amanda, is very good also and together they do some beautiful takeaway club juggling.

Paul Burke, also known as Waldo, was the first guy I introduced myself to. Paul is a wonderful all-around street juggler jumping through cigar boxes, working clubs or ball manipulation equally well. He is rather shy, but if you introduce yourself and ask he'll surely help you as much as he did me, and that's a lot.

Paul Smith and his son Martin showed me how to do a three club start from one hand. Martin will be in the juniors competition this year and will be tough to beat.

If you see Dave Heine you'll know him right away. He has bright red hair and a hat balanced on his nose. He's planning on using a pencil on a nose balance for this year.

Michael Kass, last year's senior champion, is unbelievably good with clubs and demonstrated a three ball start for a few of us outside the dining hall in Fargo.

Stu Raynolds graciously explained how he makes his fine clubs.

Jim Gagnepain showed me a few tricks with cigar boxes and let me use his for awhile.

Steve Dearmont, like Waldo, is a little shy, but upon meeting him he'll show you some six and seven ball moves that are amazing.

John Schneider wasn't the best juggler I met but he was definitely one of the nicest people. We shared a lot of meals and a couple of beers together and had an all-around good time.

There were many more who showed me everything they could with my slight ability and their great patience. If you're going to Cleveland you will be able to meet these people and others. Just walk up to anyone and introduce yourself.

That's all I did and it worked wonders. If you're not going to the convention this year, you'll be cheating yourself out of one of the greatest learning and companionship events in your life. Bring a notebook and pen to write down all the workshop data and Nelson's jokes.

I'll be in Cleveland and hope to meet you to show you what I can and learn what you'll be kind enough to show me. If you see a big, good-looking guy doing some super juggling, just walk up and introduce yourself. It won't be me, but he'll be friendly and may be able to point me out!

Hope to see you there.