35-4,p15

Books for jugglers to consider

Reviews by Bill Giduz, editor

The Juggler's Manual of Cigar Box Manipulation & Balance. By Reginald W. Bacon, a.k.a. 'Mr. Slim.' Variety Arts Press, Groveland, Massachusetts.

This attractive 100-page booklet will tell you all you need to know to learn and perform with cigar boxes. The author, an IJA member and convention workshop teacher, is a ten-year veteran of life as an entertainer. He has taken part of that experience and condensed it into a worthy instructional booklet for the beginning and intermediate cigar box manipulator.

Since cigar box manipulations are much easier to draw than most ball juggling moves, the multitude of simple hand-andbox artwork is very helpful. Other decorative illustrations on the cover and at the beginning of chapters make the book fun for the eyes as well as instructive.

It is logically and thoughtfully constructed. Bacon begins with a short introduction and history of cigar box juggling before diving into the instructions.

Following 50 pages which describe more than 200 variations of spins, takeouts, tumbles, cross-hand moves and miscellaneous variations, there are sections on multiple box stunts and public presentation of cigar boxes.

Bacon gives away some flashy starts, comedy tips (including a few using rigged props), drop lines and talks about routining and showmanship.

It is a well-written book from an experienced teacher. Highly experienced cigar box jugglers might not learn many new tricks from reading it, but will certainly enjoy having it in their library nonetheless.

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Circus Techniques. By Hovey Burgess. Currently published by Brian Dube, Inc. New York, NY.

Dube has recently republished this classic compendium of circus knowledge, which was first released by former IJA president Hovey Burgess in 1976. It remains a thoroughly enjoyable and valuable work for the well-rounded performer. Burgess begins in the preface with the statement, "I have attempted to isolate certain universal and enduring principles of circus technique." Subsequent statements reinforce the fact that this fine book is a deeply personal work proudly derived from 20 years as a performer and 10 years as a teacher.

Burgess divides the 162 pages two ways. He breaks down circus techniques into the three basic areas of juggling, equilibristics and vaulting. Each of these areas are covered in the book's three parts, titled "humble beginnings," "pure forms" and "infinite possibilities." The reader is thereby invited to explore the skill at whatever depth he or she wishes.

Excellent photos showing proper form and progression of tricks illustrate the book.

The juggling sections cover everything from balancing a cue stick as a "humble beginning," to foot juggling and knife throwing under "infinite possibilities."

The subtitles of chapters, when strung together, are similar to the complete list of workshops at an IJA convention! He talks about passing clubs, numbers juggling, mixed objects juggling, baton twirling, ball spinning, devil sticks, diabolo, foot juggling and many, many more forms of manipulation.

Burgess addresses each prop in an authoritative, almost scientific manner, which is helpful in understanding the basic physical laws which must be followed to master it. Still, he includes a wealth of colorful information on masters of the various objects and his own experiences with learning them. In short, he writes as well as he instructs.

This book is probably the best volume available for jugglers who are interested in learning about auxiliary skills. It is also a good one for people who just enjoy a good book!

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How to Build Unicycles and Artistic Bicycles. By Jack Wiley. Solipaz Publishing Co.; Stockton, California.

People with a good bit of mechanical ability and inclination to wheel around town can profit from Jack Wiley's spiral-bound booklet, How to Build Unicycles. and Artistic Bicycles.

Its 71 pages detail how to build standard and seldom-seen one-and two-wheel vehicles from scrapped parts available to almost anyone. Interested persons should note that as its name implies, this book is strictly a construction manual and includes no information on how to ride either type of vehicle.

Wiley warns that the conversion from second-hand bicycle to unicycle is seldom

easy, but thoroughly explain the various steps of disassembling, cutting, fitting, respoking and other technical steps necessary to remake scrap into a dream machine. Unless you are familiar with welding and brazing, he suggests you leave these steps to the experts at your local metalworking shop.

Most of the book is concerned with building unicycles. Included are construction tips for the standard uni, kangaroo uni, ultimate wheel, chain-driven giraffe unis, and novelty cycles such as zig-zag frame unis, tandem unis and multi-wheel giraffe unis.

Only the last six pages address artistic bicycles, though many of the steps necessary to build these up-and-coming vehicles are talked about in the unicycle section.

The book appears to be quick-printed, and the illustrations are reproduced for utilitarian, rather than artistic purpose.

In short, the book is not a collector's item for all unicycle riders, but a good handbook for those interested in saving money or building custom machines.

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The Jugglers Hand Book by B.W. Stone; Spiritwood Publishers; Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Stone has taken on the formidable task of devising a system of juggling notation, and explains it in this handbook.

In almost 200 illustrated pages of typewriter script, he proves how versatile and all-encompassing his S-Notation (for Symbolics Notation) can be. It can show in writing everything from an elbow catch to clawing, and takes into account all props. Conceivably, someone who has mastered the system could transcribe an entire act, including pauses, pirouettes, and passing, into S-Notation.

But, be warned that because of all the possibilities it covers, mastery of SNotation will take practice. It is based on a simple vertical line (representing a standing juggler) and a circle positioned relative the line (representing the prop position in relation to the body). Subsequent 'frames' show the prop's movement around the body.

Like juggling itself, the system seems simple enough at first, but quickly becomes complex as Stone refines the symbols to represent such things as balls behind the back and various hand positions. Translating the frames demands concentration, attention to detail, and knowledge of the vocabulary of symbols.

Stone coaches the novice along with English descriptions of the tricks he notates, as well as self-tests.

No one said it would be easy to devise a system of non-verbal communication of juggling's limitless tricks. The English language has proved futile. That's why JUGGLER'S WORLD seldom tries to include descriptions of tricks, and that's why personal sharing of tricks at jugglers' gatherings is so valuable.

Stone is obviously aware of the limitations of his system. He lists specific ones, such as certain specialized parts of moves or particularly unique actions within or as part of a move remain undocumented (e.g., finger movement required for rolling a ball from the back of your hand to the plan of your hand...)"

On the following page, he responds to those limitations in a single sentence: "So. It's.not perfect; what did you expect? "

Bravo! S-Notation is as thoroughly conceived and logical a system of juggling notation as anyone has come up with to date, and that makes it important.

Additionally, Stone's book includes descriptions (in S-Notation and English) of a vast variety of juggling tricks, performance tips and description of props. Another plus Stone's keen sense of humor in his writing.

For the effort that went into its writing, the uniqueness of the subject and the possibilities of S-Notation for those dedicated enough to seriously study it, The Jugglers Hand Book is a good one to read.