Medieval Juggling?
Brian Milner
What should I do, and what should I avoid, for authentic Medieval Juggling?
Alternatively, how do you disappoint 75 six year olds without being a complete
and utter bastard?
--
==Brian Milner, The Computer Centre, Brunel University, West London, UK====
========== Think of it this way - in 100 years time who'll care? ==========
=======WWW Home page - http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ccusbdm/ ===========
Andrew John Conway
ccu...@brunel.ac.uk (Brian Milner) wrote:
>I'm being threatened with a gig at a school during its 'Medieval Day'.
>What should I do, and what should I avoid, for authentic Medieval Juggling?
>
*Do* eat with your fingers, blow your nose on your sleeve and die horribly
of the Black Death. (The kiddies will love it.)
*Don't* make jokes about the Conservative government - I know it seems like
they've been in power since Medieval times, but in fact only their policies
are that old.
>Alternatively, how do you disappoint 75 six year olds without being a complete
>and utter bastard?
If the event is being held indoors just wave a torch under the smoke
detector until the sprinkler system goes off. (The kids will have such fun,
and the little beggars could probably use a bath.) If it's outdoors it will
probably be rained out without any effort on your part.
Andrew con...@bdt.com
My home page is now at http://www.bdt.com/home/conway/
Bram Cohen
Brian Milner <ccu...@brunel.ac.uk> wrote:
>I'm being threatened with a gig at a school during its 'Medieval Day'.
>What should I do, and what should I avoid, for authentic Medieval Juggling?
Four- and five-ball siteswaps were all the rage back in the 1500's, as were
tricks with two diabolos and complex passing patterns, like a five-person,
twelve-club star.
Or maybe those are the predictions for the early 2000's ...
It would be kind of hard for people who couldn't read to understand siteswaps.
For that matter, someone doing tricks with two diabolos would probably have
been burned for witchcraft back then.
And a five person star would constitute an entire neverthriving ...
I'll go work on group passing theory now ...
__
___ ___ / \____ ############################
/ \_/ \ \_ __ \ # Bram Cohen #
/ \_/ / \/ # bco...@acsu.buffalo.edu #
/\ ___/ # Just trying to be myself #
Brunette
>I'm being threatened with a gig at a school during its 'Medieval Day'.
>What should I do, and what should I avoid, for authentic Medieval Juggling?
Well, their's a couple of things that you can do.
---Cloths
First, and most important is your cloths. Tights and a sliple tunic
with a belt would be the most authentic, and make you look like the the
biggest fool.
---Equipment
If you want to be perfectly authentic some hand sewn bags, filled
with sand and some wooden clubs. But your equipment dose not make that
much of a diference.
Or you could always wear a for loin cloth and juggle rocks and
sticks...or is that the stone age? Oh well, I'm always getting them
confused.
Seriously, if you want to be perfectly authentic I sugest you ask your
question to alt.fairs.renaissance og rec.org.sca (The society of creative
anacranists(sp.))
Peter
Andrew Premdas
> It would be kind of hard for people who couldn't read to understand
> siteswaps.
>
Andy P
Mail: A.Pr...@mmu.ac.uk Tel: (+44) 61-247-3485
"LIFE is like a ten speed bicycle -
most of us have gears we never use." ... Schulz
Alan MacDonald
>On Tue, 3 Jan 1995 13:06:01, Brian Milner wrote:
>
>>I'm being threatened with a gig at a school during its 'Medieval Day'.
>>What should I do, and what should I avoid, for authentic Medieval Juggling?
> Well, their's a couple of things that you can do.
>---Equipment
> If you want to be perfectly authentic some hand sewn bags, filled
>with sand and some wooden clubs. But your equipment dose not make that
>much of a diference.
I agree, equipment probably doesn't make much odds, but...
If you're willing to spend some money, you can get hand made
leather balls filled with split peas from "The Leather Man",
H Phil Qualington, on 0920 461 304. They are 4 segments, not
quite round, about 130g, various mixes of colours. I would
have thought they are vaguely authentic.
He sells a set of 3 with leather pouch for about GBP 20. (Price may
have increased a bit since 1993 when I got a set).
Al.
---------------------------------------------------------
Alan.Ma...@brunel.ac.uk, +44 895 274000 x2323
Elec Eng, Brunel University, Uxbridge, MIDDX, UB8 3PH, UK
_________________________________________________________
Mr Aardvark
> Brunette <brun...@maroon.tc.umn.edu> wrote:
> >On Tue, 3 Jan 1995 13:06:01, Brian Milner wrote:
> >
> I agree, equipment probably doesn't make much odds, but...
> If you're willing to spend some money, you can get hand made
> leather balls filled with split peas from "The Leather Man",
> H Phil Qualington, on 0920 461 304. They are 4 segments, not
> quite round, about 130g, various mixes of colours. I would
> have thought they are vaguely authentic.
would the kids notice the difference.......all this money seems like
a bit of a waste unless brian wants to continue with
a medieval character
by the way can someone mail me if they read this post as i am not sure
if our news system is working properly
thanks for you help
phil
Jon Lockhart
> I'm being threatened with a gig at a school during its 'Medieval Day'.
> What should I do, and what should I avoid, for authentic Medieval Juggling?
>
> Alternatively, how do you disappoint 75 six year olds without being a complete
> and utter bastard?
>
kids will be impresed with just about anything you do. Start easy and work
your way up. Make it fun and they'll love you. If it's medevial theme do
a fire spit. Oh ya I've been doing this for years. Balance stuff on your
chin and do ten counts and give your volunteers balloon animals.
Good Luck?!!
Brian Wilson (Cowguy not Beachboy)
Tanner Lovelace
>On Tue, 3 Jan 1995 13:06:01, Brian Milner wrote:
>>I'm being threatened with a gig at a school during its 'Medieval Day'.
>>What should I do, and what should I avoid, for authentic Medieval Juggling?
[... stuff deleted ...]
> Seriously, if you want to be perfectly authentic I sugest you ask your
>question to alt.fairs.renaissance og rec.org.sca (The society of creative
>anacranists(sp.))
>Peter
Seriously, kids are not likely to know what's authentic or not.
As long as you wear comething that looks vaguely medieval, they're
probably not going to know the difference.
Tanner
(known in the Society for Creative Anachronism
as Lord Kendrick Wayfarer.)
--
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Tanner Lovelace | love...@netcom.com | D / C / Fence
Takoma Park | love...@cap.gwu.edu | ()~ --+-\\ Fence
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Non curamus quem regem sit etiam conbibabimur.
David Linton
would "disappoint" a group of six-year-olds, unless you really think that
six-year-olds expect you to make references to current politics and
cultural icons.
When I think of amedieval style show, i keep in mind that few people had
the talent to devote any time to entertainment, so that those who did were
required to be generalists. Juggling is a great talent, but it would be
helpful to also be able to sing, tell jokes or perform feats of
acrobatics. Since many of us do these things anyways (it doesn't hurt to
be a generalist in the modern world, either) the only difference is a
question of content more than "style."
When I perform at Renaissance festivals or similar events, I recite poetry
of the era, tell jokes that fit the period (references to kings and
knights, etc.) and describe my ticks in medieval terms (e.g. "harmony of
the spheres"). Although it would be authentic, there are few groups who
actually want me to make references to religion so I generally avoid it.
After all, our goal is genericly the same as the goal of every jester who
ever wore motley - to be entertainers that our audience will appreciate -
so tailor and tweak your presentation to fit whatever the event may be, but
don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Most of the juggling you do
will probably work; its only that the script needs to be modified.
Good Luck!
David Linton
MULS Office - MINITEX
University of Minnesota
(612) 624-3360
Weberg's Postulate of Unbridled Ambition:
The scope of the project expands in proportion to some number,
the so-called confidence constant, multiplied by the number of steps
successfully completed.
Arthur Chandler
this piece of advice given by one master to his apprentice:
"You must know how to sing and jump, to speak well and play witty
word-games with your audience. You have to be able to keep time with the
tambourine and castanets, and to keep a whole musical ensemble going,
learn how to toss and catch several apples with two knives; learn how to
do bird songs and work marionettes; you have to learn to play the guitar
and mandola, and how to jump through four hoops.... teach a dog to jump
over a stick, and teach him to hold a stick between his paws..."
Pretty tough going back then!
For more, see my *On the Symbolism of Juggling* (in The Journal of
Populat Culture, Vol 25, #3 -- Winter 1991). Reprints handled by The
Juggling Capitol.
Tanner Lovelace (love...@netcom.com) wrote:
Mr Aardvark
> I'm being threatened with a gig at a school during its 'Medieval Day'.
> What should I do, and what should I avoid, for authentic Medieval Juggling?
dont use any of your radical fish diablos :)
use fire clubs and anything that doesnt look like
it was dragged through a hedge of flourescent gunge
backwards.
Wear a jesters hat..available from canterbury heritage centre
at some ridiculous price.
> Alternatively, how do you disappoint 75 six year olds without being a complete
> and utter bastard?
well this is difficult. If it was 6 75 year olds you could just keep them
awake and not let them goto the toilets.
alternativley you try a double suicide with a fire diablo and some
kevlar string and amputate some part of your anatomy. A suicide covers
most of the bodily funtions. And will provide the perfect excuse
"im sorry i cant perform for you but i have just amputated my <insert body
part name here> performing this trick outside, however i will demonstrate
it using these crude stick drawings :)"
phil
has gained another .sig but this one doesnt like the computer and has
decided to settle around his waist. Damn christmas .sigs.
lew...@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
put on a jester suit and don't use plastic props (you can juggle fruit).
.sig points out Arthur was a former Sca-dian, under the name LeifTameon.
Arthur Lewbel
Lew...@binah.cc.brandeis.edu