How to Start and Nurture a Juggling Club

Many new jugglers are eager to share their enthusiasm for the art by forming a juggling club in their hometowns. But what's the best way to go about this formidable task? 

We've asked that question to leaders of several successful juggling groups, and compiled their responses here. The list of suggestions they've supplied should be considered a "document in progress," and we welcome your input and ideas that others may have missed Please send feedback to Bill Giduz, IJA affiliates director;  Davidson NC. 

And please pass along this document to your juggling friends and encourage them to get a group together. It's easy if you know what to do! 

FIND A PLACE TO MEET 

Likely places could be a church multipurpose room or gym, municipal gym, municipal park multipurpose facility, college or other educational facility room, library public room, shopping mall, civic club meeting hall or health club. Many arts groups have stage or rehearsal space that they're happy to rent out at attractive rates, and they understand juggling better than many groups that don't regularly deal with artists. 

In any case, you'll need to work out some arrangement with the management. If you're lucky they'll let you have the space for free. But they may ask for rent, or you may negotiate with them to provide occasional services such as shows or lessons in exchange for the space. One group got space in  a YMCA by agreeing to teach lessons to interested members of the Y. Public parks are often searching for activities for area residents, and pitching your group as wholesome fun for kids might receive a warm reception. 

Approach the person in charge professionally, because most folks are unfamiliar with juggling clubs. Present a typed proposal letter along with a copy of Juggler's World and an IJA membership brochure. Emphasize juggling as a healthful activity that improves hand-eye coordination and promotes confidence and social skills. 

You might want to identify two venues - indoors for poor weather and outdoors in nice weather. Juggling in public outdoors provides a lot of exposure for the group and might attract more new members. The outdoor location should have access to bathrooms, and should be in a high-traffic area. It is also nice if it has a shelter in case of sudden rain. 

PICK A GOOD TIME TO MEET 

Talk to the other jugglers you've met and pick a time. Most clubs meet weekly, but some meet twice weekly and some meet only once a month. Whatever you choose, make it regular and depend- able. Don't cancel because of a big ball game or other personal commitment. Make sure someone is there every time the group meets. It has been said, "If you juggle, they will come, but if they come to juggle and there ain't nobody there, they ain't coming back!" 

LEADERSHIP IS CRUCIAL 

Someone must lead the group. The leader should be at every meeting, rain or shine, and contact others to urge them to attend also. The leader should maintain a list of contact information for those who show up to juggle so that they can be encouraged to return and to attend special events. The leader should also be the group's contact with the outside world, promoting the group to the press and those who want to book entertainment. During meetings the leader should greet newcomers, welcome people at the door, circulate around the room talking to people, and introducing jugglers to others who can help them improve their skills. The key to success is often the willingness of the leader to make everyone feel welcome and show them that juggling is fun. 

HOW TO GO PUBLIC 

Send out a press release to the media saying the club is starting, invite the press to an early meeting, put up fliers in likely places, and create a mailing list of people who show an interest so that you can contact them directly. Call local newspapers and TV stations regularly to let them know of your special events or charity performances. This keeps the name of the group reappearing until people want to join. 

Print up business cards telling when and where the club meets so that members can hand them out to friends and distribute them when the club performs or teaches in public. Put up signs or distribute fliers at the local magic shop. Check in the IJA Roster for other jugglers in the area and con- tact them by letter or mail to ask them to join you. 

Some clubs publish a newsletter to send to members, describing events for their club and surrounding clubs, as well as talking about the performances of members 

Have an Internet home page where you can post information about club activities, and have a club e-mail address so that folks can get in touch with you that way Register your club meeting on the Juggling Information Service so that the whole world can find out about you. Maintain an e-mail list of interested people and send them regular information about group activities, and leave info as a recording on your phone answering machine for people who don't have e-mail 

WHAT DO YOU  DO ONCE YOU'VE GOT THEM THERE? 

Help people with their juggling and teach them new skills If someone loves to teach three-ball juggling to beginners and is good at it, outgoing and friendly, assign him or her as a general ambassador. 

Call everyone together for a few minutes at some point during meetings to welcome them and ask if anyone has any ideas for projects and activities. Have music at meetings, because it puts people at ease and gets them talking. 

SPECIAL PROGRAMS - THE SPICE OF CLUB LIFE!

 You'll keep people interested if you break out of the weekly meeting run by planning some special activities. Have a picnic when the weather gets nice, have a pizza party, plan for a teaching session in a public park, stage a regional festival, or devote a meeting to teaching large passing patterns. 

Stage an "Alumni Night" to bring back people who used to come but don't any more. Hold a special night-time meeting for juggling torches and glow props. Have a video night at someone's house to show juggling videos. If there are other groups not too far away, get the group together to drive over for one of their meetings. Offer to juggle and teach juggling at a fundraiser or public event for charity groups. 

If you're really ambitious, you can stage a regional juggling festival! (More on that in another article!) 

NURTURE YOUR GROUP AND BUILD MEMBER ENTHUSIASM 

Foster an atmosphere of support and inclusion at meetings. More advanced members should work productive time each week. 

Communicate with members regularly outside of club activities. This keeps interest in the club going and gives insight into members lives "outside of the cascade. "You might discover many member talents that allow you to delegate to them club duties that match their skills and hobbies. 

COMMUNITY SHOWS

 It's quite likely that once people find out about your group you'll get calls from local civic and youth groups, retirement homes and festivals to ask if you attend an event to put on a show or teach people to juggle. Do not turn these down. They are free publicity, and you may entice people to learn how to juggle and join the club. It is important that you score points with the community, because that's where you will draw your membership and support. 

Many of your members may be shy about performing in front of a crowd, but almost everyone enjoys teaching others in an informal atmosphere. You may want to leave solo stuff to any club members who have busking experience, but perform as a group and have fun. 

If you are ambitious and creative, you can put together a formal show with members of the club. That will build group identity as nothing else will, and can become a significant source of individual and club revenue, but it's hard because it requires talent to create and commitment from club members to learn, to rehearse, and to perform. Another major enterprise is to stage a regional mini-convention. 

EQUIPMENT 

It's nice at meetings to have beginner equipment that you can give away or sell to new members so that they can practice at home and maintain their enthusiasm. If someone can sew, you can have him/her make beanbags to sell at low cost to newcomers. Water-injected tennis balls are so cheap and quick to make (with the proper equipment) that they can be given away Lacking water injection equipment, you can cut slits in tennis balls large enough for a funnel, then fill them with rice or beans and tape or hot glue the slit shut. 

It's nice also to have a wide range of props on hand for people to try. Most jugglers are willing to share their props, but you might consider amassing "club" equipment if you can afford to buy it. Bring catalogues from major juggling manufacturers to meetings so that people can consider purchasing equipment of their own.