TIPS & TRICKS

Carey's Juggling Bartender

Here's a routine used by Vin Carey, an early IJA member and comedy juggler. We reprint it from an "IJA Newsletter. ")

The illustration shows the props as used. The table is constructed in the form of a three-fold screen with an overhanging top which is about 18 by 24 inches. Overall height is 34 inches. The sides are 14 inches wide and they are hinged to fold flat to the front panel.

There is a shelf set about 12 inches from the top and makes a place to dispose of various articles after they have been used. Articles are numbered as follows:

1) Table made as described above.

2) Three juggling rings painted and lettered and hung on table to represent the Ballantine beer trademark.

3) A bowl which will fasten on to the top of pole no. 10 for a chin balance. It contains juggling balls painted to represent fruit and the bottom has some confetti in it.

4) Juggling balls painted to represent fruit, or use real fruit.

5) Trick pitcher sold by magic dealers as "the milk vanishing pitcher."

6) Spinning tub representing a small champagne tub. This is either wood or painted to represent a wooden ice tub.

7) Artificial ice cubes from pieces of plastic.

8) Three bottles turned from wood and painted to represent champagne bottles with labels from regular bottles. The necks or handles are painted with gold paint to represent gold foil on regular bot­tles. These are juggled like clubs.

9) Large white napkin wrapped around a bottle.

10) Balancing stick for the fruit bowl.

11) Stick for the spinning tub.

12) Stick for spinning the napkin. (These sticks rest on hooks on the back of the table or can be in a sort of quiver fastened to the back leg of the table.)

The Routine

Juggler, dressed in white shirt, black tie, bartender's short jacket and black trousers, pushes on the portable bar. Do your best routine of three, four or five balls using the fruit or balls painted like it. Balls are replaced on the shelf under the table. Then do three rings.

The empty fruit bowl is then placed on top of the balance stick, (but is actually fastened to it by means of a bayonet catch) and wine is apparently poured into the bowl from the magic milk pitcher. All is balanced on the chin, but the juggler loses the balance and it looks like the audience will get doused. Instead, the bowl tips out confetti rather than wine.

Then juggle three bottles in a club routine. The napkin that was around a bottle is now spun on the stick, which has a small pin in the end.

The fake ice cubes are removed from the tub and the tub is set spinning on stick no. 11 and balanced on your chin. Three or four cubes are juggled while balancing the tub. Finish with a high throw of the ice cubes, knock the stick from your chin, catch the tub as it falls and then catch the falling ice cubes in the tub for a big finish trick.