Probably Mandy Dorn had taken over. The staff and diabolo workshops were standouts, and there were two workshops on complex club-passing patterns, which are very popular overseas. The passing posse' included Tarim, Ken Zetie, Mandy (she was everywhere!) and Brendan Brolley.

 

Computer and numbers gurus are always over-represented in the juggling population, and the U.K. runs true to type. There were interested spectators in the hallway, listening to Colin Wright, and watching the simulation program running numbers and siteswap pattems. The graphics were brilliant, and the program had REALLY long arms (like Boppo), which could pass effortlessly through each other (unlike Boppo). The final half-hour of Ben Jennings' three-ball workshop was devoted to show-off-and-tell, my favorite workshop. Interesting showoffy bits included Ben posing like his Bobby May t-shirt, Jay and Morty doing strange things, Joanne with cool multiplex stuff, and Merlin showing the three­ball chase preparation for five.

 

Diabolical:

Seriously high-caliber diabolo fire-power kept the camera rolling. The pantheon included Donald Grant, Fritz Grobe, Guy Heathecote, Andrew Premdas, Sam I Am, and others I didn't recognize, so their innocence is protected. Probably the BJC '96 video (working title is "Box of Shite", and perhaps Serious Juggling will distribute it in the U.S.) will be another must-have for the aficionado of hard-rock diabolo tricks.

 

Donald ran the diabolo workshop, notable for the often brilliant show-off demos the last half. The freshest diabolo trickery was by a blond guy with a mohawk everyone called Dave from Sheffield, who shredded like the scary monster that he is. He did things with two Renegade diabolos that were just unnatural, including popping one out for an end-hole gyro-ride on his finger, before putting it back in the mix. Wicked-scary and yet very, very tasty.

 

The magical diabolo moment was Sam I Am finishing his trick with an attempted blind whip snag. He missed, but stood at the ready, back turned, downcast, string slack. The diabolo took a bounce before landing oh-so­neatly on the string. Sam felt it and tugged, to finish the trick. The crowd just moaned.

 

Laurent Perrelet didn't show off, but his performance in the public show made him reigning maestro of the diabolo. This Swiss 16­year-old is exquisite with one, two and (he biffed this in performance) three diabolos. Bad Taste!

 

If you developed a taste for Donald Grant at the '95 IJA fest in Las Vegas, you would have had your fill in Scotland. Over there it just doesn't seem like he drinks all that much! Donald's greatest talent, other than smoking with (or without) a diabolo or two, or cartooning, is a Scottish past-time referred to colloquially as "talking shite." Practice DOES payoff! Donald got the vendors squared away in the hall, but he talked shite throughout the convention. The raffle, containing prizes donated from philanthropic vendors and jugglers, was Donald's baby, and he pounded it as hard as he does the drink. When the choice vendor donations had been raffled off, Donald collected from vendors again, and returned the second night with dreadful prizes. Odd items and odder acts (a plate of food went out, came back, and was sold off again!) were auctioned continually throughout the fest from the infamous "Box of Shite" (which is Scottish for, well, you know...). Donald kept up a nonstop patter of amusing drivel, talking pounds from threadworn pockets. I gleaned a spinning plate (with stick!) for Steve Ragatz, 'cos he's been trying to win one for years. My Todd Smith euros remained behind.

 

Donald's performances were limited to the "Box of Shite", but no one who saw this horrifying sight will soon forget it, try as they might. Taking the stage following Devilstick Pete's infamous juggling striptease, Donald picked up the remains of the previous act, which were the nastiest shreds of exhausted I've-been-traveling-camping-juggling-and-I­didn't-wash undies you wouldn't care to even imagine. Had I not just seen them removed, I would have assumed they had rotted off, or walked away under their own power! These were Devilstick Pete's well-worn knickers, what remained of them. In a perverse fund­raising frenzy of go-ya-one better, or the supreme act of selfless dedication, Donald gave this evil ghost of a garment a delicate sniff, and then took bids on tonguing them. Some thought the juggling strip, with rigged trousers and very little tease, disgusting, but Donald stooped to conquer with a new low in even worse taste, when he went his own suggestion one better, and, for a price (a small one!), actually stuffed the hideous remnant wholly into his mouth. VERY disturbing!

 

Donald lost face again when Morty's foul toss-in to Jay Gilligan's renegade stage club­juggling indulgence "Scream" went so far wrong Jay didn't even go for it. He stepped back and glared at Morty, while the club continued off-stage to clip Donald's face. Ouch! Donald looked surprised. Jay just looked bored. It WAS a scream, which was what the spectators did while Jay slayed. They went wild as Jay slammed a continuous random assortment of triples and quads and odd halyes off the tent roof. Morty was king of the hallways, with kendama tricks (see the video), rascals, shoulder rolls, and every other thing, but Jay starred on stage. He was all over this fest, even telling jokes on stage Saturday night. No Juniors!

 

That's one good thing about the British Convention. In Great Britain it is called "Springboard," and yes, I went. There are some differences between Springboard and the IJA Juniors. Springboard contestants use better music than American juniors - fewer tired big band standards! Unfortunately they too have a penchant for tacky vests, bow ties, and running through every prop during their routines.

 

A notable exception made me darned proud to be an American. 16-year-old Joanne Swaim competed with lovely multiplex and straight numbers juggling, to the up-beat tune "Walking on Sunshine." She performed a highly challenging technical routine with seemingly little effort, demonstrating innovative tricks with great skill in a polished presentation. The audience responded to Joanne's obvious joy in performing. And what about that casual drop-back from five into four, with the fifth hack-kicked from behind, across the top, over the opposite shoulder, right back into the pattern?! People gasped. Coached by Rick and Jack of Clockwork, her time was obviously well spent. One spectator, stunned, remarked: "I've never seen multiplexing like that before! It seems so obvious, now." If you need a reason to see the video, and you don't like diabolos, see it for Springboard.

 

Joanne placed second to local favorite 9 year-old Luke doing a beautiful job with technical tricks and big numbers beyond his tender years. He put me in mind of certain young jugglers dwarfed by their clubs, including Vladick, son of Anatoli (who was as good at age 8, and just won the IJA juniors) and (dare I say it? I dare!) young Anthony. We will be hearing more about this kid.

 

When Luke's music ran out and he kept juggling, Haggis popped in a tape. Unfortunately, it was Joanne's. The audience response to Luke's performance went ballistic at this point, and they began clapping along in time. Joanne's face fell, and my jaw dropped (although Luke didn't).

 

One of the best things about Springboard was it ended. Then Blink performed a number of pieces from their touring show, which finally gave the Brits a chance to see what their invited guests could do. They were brilliant. It is on video. Jay, Fritz and Morty performed solo pieces, and two ensemble numbers, including the stunning ball piece which provided renegade fodder.