PNWJC 2009 - HLGCB
DSallee
Our second fest, so hopefully there will be a few responses to this post
to get some feedback for us organizers that might miss out on a few things
:-)
And it’s dedicated to Ed and Tim, jugglers that couldn’t be there, but
really wanted to. Perhaps you’ll get another opportunity.
Highs: Lots of stuff here actually.
1. Heat in the Fieldhouse – it was almost TOO WARM in there. Even at
night! Who knew such a large building could get so comfy?
2. LaSells Stewart Center for the theater – Super nice theater with a
great tech crew keeping things running smoothly. They were quite helpful
and efficient at meeting our performer’s needs. Plus, they really enjoyed
working with the performers.
3. Rhys Thomas came down for Saturday. Was cool to see him at our
convention. Turns out we even got him onstage (thanks Louie!)
4. Great press coverage. Really nice “pre-convention” write-up in the
Entertainer and a nice article after the convention was over.
5. Sunday – my own day of enjoyment :-) I got a chance to chat with
people, do some fun juggling, without the stress of planning anything at
that point! (thanks Crizzly) I even got a chance to pass clubs with my
wife!!!
Lows
1. A surprising amount of flash photography at the show. As a glow guy,
it’s really not much fun for those to be going off.
2. We had some special lighting for the show that projected stars on the
walls, and looked super cool. Or at least it would have if we would have
remembered to actually turn them on . . . heh heh. No one to blame but
myself there.
3. Comes with the territory, but it would be nice to figure out a great
way for the director to really enjoy the entire fest (I feel for ya
Jeremiah)
Goals
1. Have a great Fest! – Total check
2. Put on a great show – Another Check
3. Provide crash space for camping jugglers – Check
4. Get some pointers on working on 5 ball Mills – Sensei Check!
5. Attend Matt’s Factory Workshop – CHECK! (it was the only workshop I was
able to go to)
Crush
1. The organizing staff in general – Way to pull off a great fest!
2. Renegade Vince – Yeah, you know what I mean . . . heh heh
3. Becky – She does so many ridiculous moves on a Unicycle and has no idea
just how good her performance was! I think she used every inch of the
stage, even though there were spots that could have spelled disaster for
her.
4. Brenda – Thanks for taking Matt and Lisa back to the airport, as much
as I really wanted to do that, it was best that I stayed at the fest for
the closedown. You ROCK, and I love you :-)
Bane
Let’s just say the juggling portion of my performance in the show was very
disappointing.
Surprises: Plenty here too.
1. Winning 5 ball endurance. Probably the shortest endurance comp I’ve
ever seen. I was doomed when going to one foot, so it was pure luck that
I managed to outlast Tony Duncan.
2. It actually CAN get warm in the fieldhouse. Who knew?
3. The fieldhouse actually worked for Camp Renegade, with the Netting
curtains
4. How smooth rehearsal stuff went. Giving everyone 45 minutes made sure
there wasn’t any pile-ups and the crew was excellent with their note
taking and getting all the performers settled.
5. Only two people for the 7 club passing workshop? Guess Fridays really
aren’t the best for workshops like that . . . or just a general lack of
interest. They did get some personalized attention though :-)
Thanks to everyone that came to the fest, I had a great time and hope you
did as well!
David Sallee (Happy to drop the “Director” title :-)
--
----== posted via www.jugglingdb.com ==----
Dan Holzman
Highs: finally hitting my 3 up double stage with a 6 4 pattern
The amazingly comfortable restoom facilities in the gym and at the
theatre.
Finding a cheap hotel room near the festival with both free wifi and
shuttle service.
winning the late night poker tournament when my straight flush beat a
full house
The 7 club passing workshop being small enough to get some personal
attention.
Lows:
The angry looks I got for using me flash during the show.
Rhys Thomas walking right by me as if I wasn't there, and then
pretending he didn't know who I was when I tapped him on the shoulder.
Not being asked to be in the show.
Goals:
To attend a festival where I didn't go to any workshops, yet walk away
with a lot of new tricks
To be asked to be in the show, then shrug and say "sorry I don't think
so"
To stay low key, and make sure I have enough me time.
Crush:
The girl in the red dress
Matt Hall, for always being the man, especially when we slow dance.
Brenda for dropping me off by the side of the freeway on her way to
the airport.
Bane:
Wearing my thermals for most of the convention, wh knew it would be so
warm.
losing 5 ball endurance when my 2nd throw collided with my 3rd throw.
Not being asked to be next year's director.
Dan Holzman
DSallee
>
>
> Highs: finally hitting my 3 up double stage with a 6 4 pattern
I'm really glad you finally hit that. Made me feel bad that I had to have
you put out your torches right after that though. Silly University
policies and all ;-)
> The amazingly comfortable restoom facilities in the gym and at the
> theatre.
> Finding a cheap hotel room near the festival with both free wifi and
> shuttle service.
> winning the late night poker tournament when my straight flush beat a
> full house
Gotta love the river card. Crizzly might have considered it to be a "bad
beat", but as long as you kept making those "rasp-martynis" in the shaker
cups, I was more than willing to play. Yummy! (the "paddle ball olive"
was a nice touch as well . . . heh heh :-)
> The 7 club passing workshop being small enough to get some personal
> attention.
>
That is true, good point! I think with just a bit more practice you'll
get some longer runs of "< 4p 4p 3 | 3p 3p 4 >".
> Lows:
> The angry looks I got for using me flash during the show.
Oh, that was you!
> Rhys Thomas walking right by me as if I wasn't there, and then
> pretending he didn't know who I was when I tapped him on the shoulder.
Perhaps he was blinded by the flash.
> Not being asked to be in the show.
>
Yeah, my bad.
> Goals:
> To attend a festival where I didn't go to any workshops, yet walk away
> with a lot of new tricks
> To be asked to be in the show, then shrug and say "sorry I don't think
> so"
> To stay low key, and make sure I have enough me time.
>
Hey 2 out of 3 isn't bad.
> Crush:
> The girl in the red dress
That would be Rachel, she will be very happy to hear she was one of your
crushes.
> Matt Hall, for always being the man, especially when we slow dance.
> Brenda for dropping me off by the side of the freeway on her way to
> the airport.
>
She would have taken you all the way to the airport if you wanted. I
mean, $3 to chip in for gas isn't all that much. It's not like we had you
pay for your own taxi or anything ;-)
> Bane:
> Wearing my thermals for most of the convention, wh knew it would be so
> warm.
A shocker to us all.
> losing 5 ball endurance when my 2nd throw collided with my 3rd throw.
Ahhh, the drawbacks of not knowing where to stand to avoid the Fieldhouse
lights :-)
> Not being asked to be next year's director.
>
I'm sorry, I misinterpreted your jumping up and down yelling "It's not me,
it's not meeeeee!" when you didn't get the short straw as a sign you
didn't want to be next year's director. I have such a hard time reading
people sometimes.
> Dan Holzman
>
>
David Sallee (the first workshop I ever took was taught by Dan :-)
aaron gregg
>
> Pacific Northwest Juggling Convention (that's the PNWJC part :-)
It's amazing how few jugglers on the West Coast post here. I'll try and
represent.
Highs:
Fancy theatre for the public show. HUGE!
Crash space in the gym. This is a huge one for North American fests as I
can't recall another fest offering it. Let alone on a cushioned surface
with nice heating.
Being asked to close the public show. Really? Okay.
All my stuff in the public show going well and the giant plunger wall
getting all the attention a stupidly large prop deserves.
Seeing my friends - really, that's what it's all about.
Tall Matt's routine at Renegade. Honestly, construction can't be where you
do your best work. He's funnier and more creative than most professional
entertainers I know.
Vince and her hula hoops. Hoop-la-la indeed.
The Code Red boys impressing me even more than in Portland with there
routines and Brian screwing around with me on the Rola Bola - I was so
agile.
Lows:
All food stuff being closed after 3:00 am.
The lack of partying on Saturday. Everyone seemed to go too late on Friday
(see above) such that Saturday was a bit weak.
Dan Holzman being there just as a joke.
Goals:
Perform some new bits and get feedback. Super-check as thing went really
well with my "acrobalance" routine.
Party like it's 2009. Check.
Prove to the organizers that it was a good idea to invite me again. Check
(unless David and Crizzly are lying).
Learn something new. Check (thanks Isaac).
Crushes:
It's a well-documented fact that Joe Showers has been progressing very
fast in his juggling. He says that he practices a lot but I'm pretty sure
natural ability has a lot to do with it. I've got a crush on that Joe.
The organizers for offering so much and yet everything being free. Great
fundraising my friends!
Bane:
Geez. I guess that my having to do tech rehearsal on Saturday meant I
missed out on some fun. That's it.
Surprise:
Everything's free!
Thanks again for having me and I hope I added to the convention. I'm so
impressed with the freeness and the crash space in the gym. You set a very
high bar for festivals in North America and I hope to see you in a couple
of years.
-Aaron
DSallee
>
>
> Goals:
> Prove to the organizers that it was a good idea to invite me again. Check
> (unless David and Crizzly are lying).
>
You did great Aaron! We were all very happy with your performance and
were glad you were able to make it to the fest!
>
> Bane:
> Geez. I guess that my having to do tech rehearsal on Saturday meant I
> missed out on some fun. That's it.
>
Hey, if that's the worst that happened, then that's not bad at all! :-)
> Surprise:
> Everything's free!
>
It continues to surprise us as well.
> Thanks again for having me and I hope I added to the convention. I'm so
> impressed with the freeness and the crash space in the gym. You set a very
> high bar for festivals in North America and I hope to see you in a couple
> of years.
>
> -Aaron
>
In the "good news" department, we actually wound up coming out slightly
ahead of breaking even. Which is far better than we expected. Plus,
we're already starting the fund raising process for 2011 (Never too early
to start :-)
Our goal is to always be improving the fest and I think we accomplished it
this year. 24hr gym space / crash space was a huge bonus this year.
The University will be rennovating the fieldhouse between now and the next
festival, so we'll see how that impacts things.
Thanks for taking the time to write up the info!
David Sallee (already pondering the next glo routine . . .)
MasterKatra42
>
> HLGCB
>
Oh boy! I love filling these out... but I'm always apprehensive to be the
first one to do so. Here goes!
High:
24 hour gym, guh!
Juggling fear factor at Renegade, and now willing to franchise out for a
nominal fee.
That pizza place! Oh man, so good!
Getting to go to the west coast baby! It's such a different atmosphere
out there. I'm sure if I moved and practiced out there long enough, I
might actually be happy with my juggling level.
SEEING PAUL!!! (Quick side story) Paul "The Crazy Gnome" was one of the
first people who ever taught me how to pass clubs. At the time, he was
living in Pennsylvania, so he came to a few of the northeast festivals,
then outta nowhere, just disappeared. I figured he stopped juggling in
lieu of something more important in his life. THREE YEARS LATER... I step
into the fieldhouse, and BAM! he's staring me right in the face. I had an
instant flashback to how much fun I had juggling when the world was in
front of me, and I had nearly every trick ever to learn yet, back before I
even owned a set of five clubs or three matching hackysacks. Passing with
Paul was a highlight not of my juggling career, but my life, sir. If he
ever reads this, thank you so very much man, hope to see you again.
Now for something completely different. Show routine was good. People
said they liked it. Too droppy for my likes, but whatever.
Hanging out with west coasters in and out of the gym. Aaron is a funny,
funny man.
Crash space was crazy good!
Lows:
Feeling like a bag of ass Saturday morning. Friday consisted of 11 hours
sitting in a car, at an airport or on a plane. Followed by juggling face
until my arms wanted to fall off. This was quickly remedied by a trip to
the wonderful shower facilities located AT THE MOTHERFU*KING FIELDHOUSE!
Great place.
Goal:
Try not to disappoint the west coasters and be an adequate east coast
representative (check is for them to decide I guess...)
Qualify five club bxx (fail, that trick is considerably hard)
Learn something from Sensei Hall (check, check, check)
Pass with Melissa (check)
Do something crazy with volleyballs (check 97531)
Crush:
Lo, you're cute.
Hoola Hoops, you entrance me.
Code Red, you restored my faith in club spinning and hoop isolation with
your performances at renegade and the stage show.
Aaron, you think I'm cool, and that's cool.
Bane:
Holy God it rains out there...
No combat?!?!
~Joe "Honorary west coast juggler for a weekend" Showers
Emman
>
> Highs:
> Crash space in the gym. This is a huge one for North American fests as I
> can't recall another fest offering it. Let alone on a cushioned surface
> with nice heating.
>
Montreal's and Quebec's festivals. We know how to do it here ;)
Emman
aaron gregg
>
> aaron gregg wrote:
> >
> > Highs:
> > Crash space in the gym. This is a huge one for North American fests as I
> > can't recall another fest offering it. Let alone on a cushioned surface
> > with nice heating.
> >
>
> Montreal's and Quebec's festivals. We know how to do it here ;)
By the looks of the festival video I saw you certainly do know how to do
it.
Sorry about my oversight on gym crashing, and in my own country no less.
Well done all round then Jongleur Quebecois.
-Aaron
Matt Hall
bit. But I can't let this thread fade without throwing in my two
cents:
Highs:
Walking into the Armory and realizing it was HEATED this year. SCORE.
Being back in Corvallis with Lisa and walking the campus with her.
Seeing Curt C. again after a hiatus of about six days.
Seeing Dave S. and company after a hiatus of almost two years (not
counting Karlsruhe)
Driving to Corvallis with Dave S. and then having a lovely lunch with
him, Crizzly, Kristen, Andrea, and others.
Driving to Portland with Brenda and having a nice chat
The Renegade Show on Friday Night with co-MC Curt. Good times! That
freakin' robot! Aaron's act and my Buddhist response!
The Public Show--dusting off the bounce routine after 6 years and
having it go quite well, and then rocking the second act in the second
half!! Whoo hoo. It's been a while since I've got 2 for 2, or 1 for
1, for that matter...
Sunday Morning--learning to free-mount again thanks to Andrea's
support
Lows: Virtually none.
Lisa's headache on Friday night that necessitated her missing
Renegade. I was worried about her. =(
Still having problems with the club multiplex workshop. I've got to
figure out better pacing and sequencing....grrr
Goals:
Teach some good workshops (mostly check)
Give the people a good show in the public show (check)
Catch up with the Oregon crew (check)
Spend some quality time with Lisa (check--eating pizza together after
the public show--magic =))
Crushes:
David S.--what a great host and a superlative festival organizer. The
Neon Ninja rocked!
Crizzly/Kristen--as Dave's lieutenants, they were beyond compare.
Joe Showers--hadn't seen him since Cornell, and we jumped right back
into kendama siteswap like it was nothing.
Curt C. --I just love MC'ing with this guy. Yay us!
Lisa--duh! Great to see her putting up the five balls and the four
clubs.
The Public Show Tech Crew--AMAZINGLY professional and patient.
Banes:
Like I said, virtually none. It rained a little bit, but no biggie.
Surprises:
How pleasant the Armory was in terms of temperature.
How sweet the stage was for bouncing--that's rare...
The Void
> Joe Showers--hadn't seen him since Cornell, and we jumped right back
> into kendama siteswap like it was nothing.
Do you mean 'trickswap'? If not... whuh?!
The Void
..........
Too cool for school
Matt Hall
wrote:
Didn't you know? Joe and I have developed a form of notation for
kendama that allows you to describe any trick using just a simple
number.
Actually, I should have written "...kendama/siteswap...".
Sorry to have teased you...=)
matt
The Void
> > > Joe Showers--hadn't seen him since Cornell, and we jumped right back
> > > into kendama siteswap like it was nothing.
> >
> > Do you mean 'trickswap'? If not... whuh?!
>
> Didn't you know? Joe and I have developed a form of notation for
> kendama that allows you to describe any trick using just a simple
> number.
>
> Actually, I should have written "...kendama/siteswap...".
>
> Sorry to have teased you...=)
:-D I'm not sure if I'm relieved or disappointed!
The Void
...........
Everest to Aeroplane is *damned* hard