Page 22 May 1982
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Practice
Pays Big for Neisser in College Talent Search Contest
By
Bill Giduz, editor - Davidson, NC How
does $1,000 for a five-minute act sound?
Mark
Neisser from Durham, NH, walked away with that overwhelming sum with
a third place finish in the All-American Collegiate Talent Search
competitions held at New Mexico State University in January.
Now,
how does practicing your juggling 11 hours per day four days per
week sound? That's the schedule Neisser follows to keep in shape to
win the big money and hopefully make a professional career of his
considerable talent.
Contacted
at the University of CaliforniaSan Diego, where he is spending the
academic year on an exchange program from the University of New
Hampshire, Neisser talked confidently of his accomplishments and
future plans.
"I
think I'll take time off to juggle after this semester," he
said. "My heart's just not in my studies. I've applied for a
job with the 'Barnum' production, and have an option to do a USO
tour this summer.
"What
I'd really love to do is a Globetrotters tour. When I was learning
to juggle, that seemed like the ultimate. Of course, I'd like to
work in Las Vegas. I'm sure I can do it, too; confidence is what it
takes to make it."
His
confidence comes from experience gained in the long practice
sessions and many stage and street performances. On weekends, he and
Edward Jackman team up in San Diego's Balboa Park to show audiences
some of the best juggling they'll probably ever see. It's historic
ground, Neisser pointed out; the same spot where Dick Franco and Kit
Summers launched their careers. "It's got a great heritage, but
you can't get rich passing the hat there," he noted.
Neisser
and Jackman work together to gather a crowd, then perform
separately. Neisser described his street act. "I begin with a
fast three ball routine. I really love three balls because you can
express yourself so well. I'm working on character and personality a
lot, and three ball tricks are a good medium for that.
"Then I do ping pong balls with my mouth - two generally but three if I feel good. Then a 12 cigar box balance and a three cigar box manipulation. I do a somersault into catching a fire club, then five and six rings and three, four and five clubs. I end with a torch, machete and apple on a six-foot unicycle. I catch the apple on the machete, jump off the unicycle and give it a big 'Ta-Da!' to end the show."
He
feels like he'll never want to juggle more than seven objects,
concentrating instead on the showmanship and style he thinks is needed
for a successful career.
Because
of the beautiful weather, it's hard for a New Englander to concentrate
on any kind of work in San Diego, Neisser said. But while he may let
the academic homework slide, he rigorously adheres to his juggling
practice schedule in the UCSD gymnasium.
"I
moved to an out-of-the-way comer just the other day to avoid other
people," he said. "I
found when people were watching I'd practice tricks I can already do,
whereas I need to practice new material. So now I do the things I want
to do but can't yet."
The
11-hour day is meticulously divided into blocks of time for working on
separate tricks. After a half-hour stretch to warm up, he works on
rolling a single ball around his head for a solid hour. Then it's four
club back crosses for an hour. Next, five club double spins for an
hour and triple spins for another hour. Then he repeats the whole
sequence.
"I
try to work like a dog, and end up drinking a lot of water," he
said. When he's tired, he works on cigar box tricks over the bed in
his dormitory room. It's strenuous work, but Neisser knows there is no
easy road to juggling fame. |