The IJA Juggling Super-Circus Gathers In Atlanta
Huber, relieved to awaken from his revery to the real world of hectic convention activity, sighed
that he had dreamed "that only three people came to the
convention and they were walking around in the gym pretending like
they were having fun."
In
fact, the multitude had so much fun that sleep was a low priority
with most people. The most important ingredients for family reunion
success were on hand - food and friends. The relief of a respite
from life on the road or from juggling alone in backwater burgs
swept jugglers up in practice sessions, passing formations,
story-telling, business,. and partying that continued well past
their normal bedtimes.
Many
stepped gratefully into the massive, air-conditioned cavern of
The
daily routine inside the gymnasium included visiting with the dozen
prop manufacturers and their dwindling store of equipment. Business
was good, most prop makers said. Reports of sales increases over the
past year ranged from "steady" to "phenomenal."
Richard Powers of Jugglebug expressed a common optimism for the future
of the industry in his statement that "you ain't seen nothing
yet. " However, he maintained that the reality of today is "mayonaisse
sandwiches and Post Toasties" instead of caviar.
Optimism
reigned on an administrative level as well, as the IJA board of
directors voted to found a Hall of Fame, plan for a "Juggler's
Homeland," institute a system of achievement level awards, and
begin a yearlong membership drive and incentive contest. Members
took up the organizational banner by taking home almost 10,000 new
membership brochures to help recruit their friends and acquaintances
into the ranks. |
