Page 6 Fall 1996
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"This
One's For You, Benny" "This
one's for you Benny." In a time when you and your family face a
huge struggle, we want to let you know we're with you. As many of you
already know, beloved New England New Vaudevillian Benny Reehl
suffered a serious stroke in July, hundreds of miles from home. It was
several weeks in the hospital before Benny and his wife, Denise, were
able to return to Maine. On top of all these unexpected expenses, the
Reehls, like many performers, and for that matter thousands of other
Americans, don't have health insurance. Nor does Benny now have any
way to work to cover daily expenses for himself, Denise, their two
children and Denise's ill father.
It
doesn't take a calculator to figure that the combined physical,
emotional and financial strain is more than anyone (no matter how good
a juggler) can handle. Anyone who's ever had any contact with Benny
Reehl knows first-hand just how fully Benny committed his head and
heart to helping New Vaudevillians grow. Now that heart, as big as it
is, needs our help.
While
there's not much any of us can do medically, there's a lot all of us
can contribute emotionally and financially. Let's do it! Let's dig
deep and give whatever financial assistance we can. Whether it's a
one-time gift such as the proceeds of a performance, or ongoing
support, let's put our cash where our caring is.
Better
still, lets team up. Imagine how much good we could do (and how good
we'd all feel) if groups of us got together and organized big "Bennyfit"
concerts. Best of all, by rallying around a fellow performer, we do
If
you'd like to get involved, or want to know of a funraising event in
your area, please contact Randy Judkins at 207/883-2668. For tax
purposes please make all contributions payable to: First Church of
Christ Scientist (with a memo or note designating The Benny Reehl
fund) and mail to: First Church of Christ Scientist; Attn. Leonard
Dermott, treasurer; Augusta ME. You can contact the family personally
at Gardiner, ME.
For
Benny, his wife, his children Meeghan Rob
Peck A
Close Call with the Law A
few years ago a friend and I were standing on the main concourse in
Waterloo Train Station in London. As we had about half an hour until our
train arrived we were swapping some
ideas on 3 balls, and doing a little surreptitious juggling. No one
nearby took a blind bit of notice.
However,
two policemen came over and told us that we couldn't perform here. We
explained that we weren't performing. He told us we were. We told him to
look for clues as to whether we were performing or not - was there an
audience/crowd? No. Was there a hat on the ground? No. Did many street
performers enjoy much success performing while facing each other and
talking, stopping and starting, and dropping all the time? No.
He
then asked why we were doing this. We said "because it's good fun
and we like it."
Following
a short discussion with him (his younger rookie colleague thought it was
all quite amusing) he was forced to accept that we were not doing
anything wrong and with much regret he left.
One
up for the juggling public! Richard
Horne A
Happy Family On
the last night of the festival I was talking to Jon Gates and Steve
Brown (the guy who did yo-yo from the stud in his tongue on the first
night of Club Renegade). Steve said it had been a great week for him. It
was his first IJA festival, and yet he felt like he fit in with the
crowd right away. Imagine that! Being in a group of 600 strangers and
still feeling like you're a part of one big happy family. He also said
he finally felt like he "belonged" somewhere. I said,
"Cool!"
I
think this is one of the nicest things you can say about the IJA. And it
certainly echoes my own feelings. Melonhead Fate
at the Bookseller's Stall Thursday
afternoon at the festival I began to look for a source of old photos of
juggling masters, thinking that if I made some original drawings of the
old masters they would be marketable at Pittsburgh next summer. At one
of the tables I found the perfect book, "Juggling: the Art and Its
Artists." But it was $40, and I just couldn't justify spending that
much for a book.
As
I turned from the table, a woman approached me and asked if I was the
artist of those Sitting Bull posters, and did I have any left?
"Sure!" I fetched the last ones while she went to look for her
daughter. They each bought one, which was kind of ominous because I got
exactly $40 from the sales. I bought the book.
From
there I walked to Gym A for the Albert Lucas workshop. I meekly admit I
had never heard of him, as I am a provincial juggler, living in
oblivion. During his monologue, someone asked him to do the trick
I
got another shock when Albert flashed the 12 rings in the hall. As
everyone gave thundering applause, I remembered my book. I looked
in the index and there was Albert's name - page 233! Then I did
something I have often
said I would never do. I asked for a celebrity's autograph. Now I reckon
that $40 was well spent! Chuck
Roach What
Prompted Expulsion My
wife and I are wondering what an IJA member could do to warrant being
expelled from the IJA. (Sp 1996,
Chairman's Report) When we became members we were not notified of
any code of conduct or rules of order that had to be followed.
We
also feel that anything as drastic as this should be explained in more
detail than a single line in the Chairman's Report.
We look forward to hearing more about the circumstances that led to this decision. Michael T. McGinnis & Barbara McGinnis - Madras, Oregon
(Ed. note - The IJA chairman addresses this matter in his report in the "News" section of this issue.)
Passing
Along Some Lessons Learned This
last year has been financially difficult for me. My school assembly
program just didn't take off. Because of financial difficulties, I was
only able to advertise and host one session of my "Juggling with
Finesse" workshop, and wasn't able to attend the Rapid City
festival. It was the first festival I've missed since 1977.
But
I don't want to tell you my woes. I understand why the program didn't
work and am changing my marketing strategy. I want to tell you what I've
learned.
I
used to send a letter, flier and response card to the principal of a
school. But after talking with Keith and Mary Johnson, who have a very
successful school assembly program, I have changed my marketing
approach. I now realize the people who have the money to buy the program
are school parents' groups and PTAs, so I am now sending them a brief,
quick post card advertising an 800 toll-free response number. I used to
do one mailing and wait for responses, but now I plan to mail out cards
to at least 1,000 schools per month.
Another
thing is that I don't push juggling in promo material, but concentrate
on concepts like "communicating educational concepts through the
use of humor." I
hope these ideas that I learned the hard way will help you in your
performing for schools. I will definitely see you with my workshop next
year in Pittsburgh, or in Las Vegas at the IJA Winterfest.
One
last thing (and the biggest thing!) Mary Ellen is pregnant with our
second child, due
April4! Kit
Summers Adopt-A-School Program Proposed In
my recent edition of Track and Fie
The
article goes on to explain how the athletes adopted a school during the
season, both to share their experiences leading up to the trials and to
educate students in setting goals and working toward achieving them.....
It
seems to me that this has some great potential in the juggling
community. Maybe there are a number of people out there who would like
to "adopt" an elementary school or a class at an elementary
school and share some of their old juggling props, some juggling tips,
and some thoughts and reactions as they get ready to go to a festival
and after they return. I know the track and field community is very
concerned about the future of their sport and how to "sell" it
to our youth... just like the juggling community!
Does this sound like a good idea to anyone? Mike
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