I
heartily agree with you regarding your discussion of the "time
block" of the contests and have some other thoughts relative to
contests.
Harry
Lind, George Barvin, Art Jennings, Vin Carey and I sat until near 4
am (the first Convention Committee) making plans for the first IJA
Convention. We wracked our brains, and due to Art's fertile mind
which stimulated us, we came up with a pattern which was a natural
for all, the beginners, the better ones and the best.
We
considered seriously the inclusion of a contest. Harry Lind,
one of the all time great club jugglers, George Barvin,
a good semi pro, Art Jennings, a great comedy juggler, Vin Carey, a
clown comic and Crosby, then a top amateur at clubs, considered the
contest as not suitable.
The
reasoning at that meeting was that professionals would not be
interested in competing against each other.
The
entire idea was to promote and preserve juggling and we
needed the professionals with their willingness to teach and act as
inspiration to the others.
The
pattern was a free one and the anxious enthusiasm to teach and to
learn saturated the atmosphere. We were not divided into an audience
group and contestants. The hospital shows offered a chance for
nearly all to do a bit - for which they left happy. Those of all
grades of ability performed and it gave us lesser lights a lift to
be in such a program with the great ones.