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Championships Changes Needed

As all of us who attended the St. Louis festival know, the championships award system needs to be changed. Here's a proposal I think would work.

We should have the first, second and third places as in the past so that there is a clear-cut winner and runners up. We should also award gold, silver and bronze medals of excellence, with lower standards than those applied this year.

With this system we would always have a first, second and third place, but they could receive any of the three medals. That would give us a clear-cut champion and tell us how they did against a "standard of excellence." Clearly something needs to change because of what happened to Doubble Troubble.

Dan Howard Marietta, Georgia

Let's Boost Entertainment Scores

I think the IJA stage championships need more emphasis on presentation. With the scoring set to 50/50 between technical and presentation rather than the current 60/40, entertainers would have a better chance to demonstrate their personality and showmanship.

Under the current system with the emphasis on technical, we are mostly seeing a tech run-through on stage which is the same as someone going through their tricks in the gym. High technical skills have other venues, such as the numbers competition and the Three Ball Open, where presentation is not a factor. The Stage championship should be theatrical and emphasize character.

A former championships director said that the championships is the IJA's way to prepare jugglers for television shows and big-time gigs. People booking for big shows want an act that demonstrates character as well as technical skill. I think it's only fair to go to a 50/50 scoring system.

Bob Whitcomb Columbus, Ohio

Angered By Festival Faults

I am not the type to complain, but there are a few things I feel I need to say about this year's festival. Speaking as one who has prepared festival proposals, I can appreciate how difficult it is to find suitable facilities.

But aside from the lousy food and the poor juggling space, I was embarrassed by the theatre arrangements. After LA where the sound system was great and any seat in the auditorium was a good one, the contrast was stark. Sergei Ignatov hadn't performed in this country for more than a decade and we treated him to a gymnasium.

And if you were not a life member you didn't have a decent seat. I'm sure The Swordsmen had a good act, but I'll never know. People all around me had no idea what was being said. The same is true for The Flaming Idiots. I moved to four different seats in an attempt to find one where I could hear. The seats in the stands above were terrible, but the emptiness of the main floor testifies that they were the better choice.

I will not go on about how disappointed I was, but let me close by saying this: perhaps the reason there were no gold medals awarded this year is because the stage and theater were not conducive to that caliber of performance!

Mica Calfee Duncanville, Texas

Inspirational "Academic" Theories

The Spring issue "Academic Juggler" was excellent! The author made a good choice to do away with the "usual math" and replace it with wonderfully insightful theories that are as important to the future of juggling as the basic cascade. I, too, have been doing juggling animation on my Amiga, and found the article as meaningful and inspirational as the Ignatov article preceding it. Keep up the good work! I'd like to see more in this direction. .

Terry Hurd Bonita Springs, Florida

Chadwick Responds To Responses

I'd like to thank everyone for their responses to my first letter regarding Billy Gillen's article on "Le BatIeur" of the Tarot They were fine responses and well thought out. It was interesting to me that an article endorsing the Tarot, numerology and other belief systems only received one letter in response, while one letter endorsing Christ received four letters - some seeming rather angry. I did not intend to anger anyone.

Those who know me best do not use words like "self-righteous," "smallminded," "fascistic" or "close-minded prude" in describing me. I in no way wanted to be "self-praising." I only wanted to lift up Christ in equal opportunity to the Tarot article.

I understand the role of"Le BatIeur" historically and ecclesiastically. That was not my point. I was simply advocating equal opportunity of expression. If Juggler's World offers a point of view on the Tarot (which many perceive to be an occultic practice), why not a point of view glorifying God through juggling? I am in no way advocating any church, only Christ, because of what He has done for me.

I tend to use my juggling (feeble as it is) in a ministry context. Ms. Harris or the others don't have to. That's OK. Many refer to Christ as one of the world's greatest teachers. Check out what He taught. You won't be disappointed. .

Thanks, also, to Juggler's World for printing my first letter. That showed a lot of integrity in so controversial a topic, Mr. Gillen, thanks for apologizing for me. I need to apologize to someone, it seems, daily. Thanks, too, for keeping what I perceive to be a good perspective on things. I truly didn't want to insult you, merely to present a different view. Juggle up, all!

Todd Chadwick East Randolph, N.Y.