juggling crystal ball?

[kittynh]

in the middle of this youtube video is a clear ball that seems to float. My daughter kitten2 would love to get one to "play" with, seems like it would be fun to learn to use!

But where to get one? What is it called? Really cool! But we cant find one!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=93WBPuwmjB8

thanks!

[Lisa Simpson]

It's called contact juggling. Terry just bought one, so you could ask him where he got it.

[kittynh]

cool! We even found the cheap knock offs on Amazon! Problem is, what size for a small hand such as she has?

[Brown]

Here is one web site (http://www.jugglingstore.com/products/balls.html) that sells contact juggling balls, and there are many others.

A few words about contact juggling:

First, do not practice it outdoors in bright sunlight with a clear sphere. The sunlight can become focused and burn your hands. Clear spheres look neat, but experienced contact jugglers use opaque (or sometimes translucent) spheres in bright sunlight.

Second, see if you can find video of Penn Jillette's juggling buddy, Michael Moschen (http://www.michaelmoschen.com/press.html). Michael is one of the best I've ever seen. The video on this website called "Light" is one of his best.

Third, practice with a lacrosse ball. It will help you get the "feel" of a sphere, and it will not break, crack, chip or scuff if you drop it on a hard surface. When moving to a clear sphere, practice over a bed.

[rebecca]

Honestly, Kitty, she'll most likely never learn contact juggling. It's one of those tricks that looks much easier than it is, the opposite of more traditional three-ball juggling. Get her the Klutz book of juggling -- it comes with beanbags and costs less than $20. If she conquers that, then move on to contact juggling.

If she wants to skip ahead to contact juggling anyway, get a 3" stage ball (http://www.dube.com/dube/index.html). We can pick one up next time you're in town, if you want.

[rebecca]

Okay, that sounded mean. What I'm saying is that most people who try to learn contact juggling give it up after 30 seconds because it seems truly impossible. Here's the contact juggling Bible (http://www.amazon.com/Contact-Juggling-James-Ernest/dp/1898591156/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-3383545-5615308?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173463217&sr=8-2), but I really do recommend you start with regular 3-ball juggling.

[Terry]

I bought a shiny steel contact-juggling ball from Dube. And the book Rebecca recommended. Tough going so far, and I can toss-juggle somewhat. But then, I've always been a clumsy person.

[kittynh]

I like the lacrosse ball idea. Hey, she probably won't get it! But she will have fun trying. What she is currently trying to do is her yo yo tricks. Do you know there is a $500 yo yo you can purchase.

Oddly, it will be her BF that will get the contact juggling! He can juggle anything. So I think he will take it up after she gives up!

But I think she will stick with the yo yo, which she loves.

Let us know how it goes terry!

[Azrael 5]

Now this is floating! Just don't leave a coffee mug on the table!

http://www.losander.com/Site/Clips.html

[NobbyNobbs]

I bought a shiny steel contact-juggling ball from Dube. And the book Rebecca recommended. Tough going so far, and I can toss-juggle somewhat. But then, I've always been a clumsy person.

Dube is my favorite place to get juggling equipment. I started juggling many years ago by practicing with lemons in the walk-in refrigerator during my lunch break (lemons are the perfect weight). I got the hang of it around December, but just to be sure I would hum "The 12 Days of Christmas" to myself and juggle on the beat. If I dropped one, I started over. When I could get through all 12 days, I knew I was ok and it was time to start learning tricks.

Now I'm juggling clubs, and can get up to about 6 days before my arms tire out. I would love to learn contact juggling. It's next on my list.

[treble_head]

Now this is floating! Just don't leave a coffee mug on the table!

http://www.losander.com/Site/Clips.html

I didn't even have a clue Jeff Daniels was doing magic these days.

[Brown]

Now this is floating! Just don't leave a coffee mug on the table!

http://www.losander.com/Site/Clips.htmlLosander was almost at TAM2. While I was at TAM2 (at the Tuscany), Losander was selling his floating tables at the Magic Convention at the Riviera. And I had a front-row view of Losander demonstrating his newest table. The others in attendance, most of them professional performers, were impressed.

Levitation (not contact juggling) is Losander's specialty. He levitates stuff on a small scale and on a big scale; but he's known for levitating tables.

[Azrael 5]

I saw him lecture and perform at Blackpool convention,his close up stuff in teh lecture was amazing! To be sat three feet away and not see the secret was cool.His table's are a thing of beauty,nearest thing to real magic I think.

[Brown]

I saw him [Losander] lecture and perform at Blackpool convention,his close up stuff in teh lecture was amazing! To be sat three feet away and not see the secret was cool.His table's are a thing of beauty,nearest thing to real magic I think.There is something surreal about being really, really close to a mystifying performer. What was interesting about Losander's "performance" at the Riviera was that it was not so much a performance as it was a sale. It was almost like he was selling an automobile, telling other magicians to look under the hood, kick the tires, etc. He went out of his way to demonstrate how much of the prop could be freely shown to an audience, including folks who were standing right next to it. Considering the cost of one of his tables, buying one would be a very extreme investment for most performers, so Losander had to take pains to show that they would be getting their money's worth.

Back to contact juggling: Michael Moschen has something in common with James Randi. Both are MacArthur Fellows. Moschen was named in 1990, Randi in 1986.

[Garrette]

I didn't even have a clue Jeff Daniels was doing magic these days.Hah! That was my first thought, too.

My second thought is that when all of you guys pitch in to buy me a birthday present because you love me so much, I want you to get me at least one of his tables. Two would be better, but one would do.

[rebecca]

Now this is floating! Just don't leave a coffee mug on the table!

http://www.losander.com/Site/Clips.html

This is why magicians don't get laid.

Once upon a time in a small village called "Winkels" there lived a boy who had a dream that magic was real. His grandfather told him of wonderous things that existed in the world outside this little village and in other worlds beyond. "Magic is like a bubble" he said "and if you can suspend a bubble in time just for a moment, you can see all the potential of what can exist and experience the essence of real magic, than it will stay with you forever, even after it has vanished." And so with a dream and a vision in his heart, this young boy grew up to become the man who creates magical dreams from "thin air"...!

[Garrette]

This is why magicians don't get laid.I had no idea, Rebecca.

Don't despair. The right guy will come along.

[rebecca]

I had no idea, Rebecca.

Don't despair. The right guy will come along.

Good point. My reply should've been more specific:

This is why boy magicians don't get laid and girl magicians get regularly assaulted with a drooling army of magical virgins.

[Garrette]

Good point. My reply should've been more specific:

This is why boy magicians don't get laid and girl magicians get regularly assaulted with a drooling army of magical virgins.You're on to me. Guess I better get a refund on my flight into Logan and give my old man back his Old Spice.

[Azrael 5]

If you continue to be photographed with strange appendages on your head rebecca you get what you deserve.. :)

[treble_head]

did anyone watch the losander clip and catch the extra hand? I'm not saying he's not good, but he needs a better editor. It's when he's got a little bit of "chief waggling over his shoulder. just before the 2/3 mark. That's just sloppy.

[mollyblack]

Good point. My reply should've been more specific:

This is why boy magicians don't get laid and girl magicians get regularly assaulted with a drooling army of magical virgins.
Even us practicing and attempting older female magicians get regularly drooled on by gorgeous virgins of either sex.

It's just like magic.

(I'm a geek and that's why they seem to line up. ;))

[Calcas]

A little off topic but I love this music video by Fatboy Slim with Vova juggling.

I had never heard the song before but it goes perfect with the juggling. Vova is awesome.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aEb3YknGUks