I'm performing in a show in a weeks time!! :S

[kragen]

In a weeks time (next saturday), i've offered to perform in a show along with the rest of the juggling society! All its going to be is a load of us from the society juggling on stage while someone at the back juggles giant inflateable balls! So its not going to go on for ages (were just one act in a massive show) and i'm not going to be the only one on stage, but im still really nervous!

The thing is I cant do loads of complicated tricks without being 100% sure I'm going to drop it (and probably the most impressive thing I could do is to go through the performance without dropping the diabolo every other trick!).

I'm stuck doing things like the basics like whip-catch's, suns, around the arm and around the leg (a couple of variations like around the leg with one hand), scoops around the arm and around both arms (if I'm lucky), plus some easy suicides.

Potentialy I could do something looking half-impressive, but only If I can think of ways of linking tricks together with things like fritz-releases etc...

Its a shame the show isnt about 2 weeks away, otherwise there might be the chance to show off some 2-diabolo

[Arjan]

yeah and? you need advise? do a nice sun combo... they will notice that!

[kragen]

heh yeah, I was just wondering if anyone had any general tips / ideas.

I've been looking at vids of you guys all week though! whatever I do, no matter how impressive it looks its gonna look boring for me

I also dont know how long its going to be... I think I might have heard 8 miniutes... when you perform do you have a pre-prepared routine that you know lasts howeverlong... or do you improvise?

I usualy end up spending more of my time deciding what tricks to do next than actualy doing tricks whever Ive been showing off before

[Sean]

Well I'm definitely not an expert on performing, but I wouldn't be worried about not being able to perform some of the stuff you've seen on videos. Most people won't know and couldn't care less. Watch the routine of Axel S. from Germany here:
http://www.axel-s.com/site2_e.html.

He pulls off all sorts of amazing moves... but the single biggest cheer from the crowd comes when he throws one diabolo high and catches it.

Sadly, the two most impressive moves to the general public seem to be the string climb and throwing a diabolo high. Sequences of suns (as mentioned by Arjan) probably come next. Most of the stuff you see on videos by other diaboloists is by far more impressive to other diaboloists... not to those you'll be performing for.

Good luck!:D

[Matt_H]

What is suggest is first of all choose a piece of music that you know well, this will help with the timing of the routine, and yes do prepare a run through the music of specific tricks that will fill the time. I found its also good to maybe try a couple of different routines so that if something dosn't work and you mess up you can always switch to a backup routine of tricks that you maybe feel more confortable with. This works the same as not being afraid to slip in the really hard tricks that your working on if you feel great and everythings working when your on stage.

Matt.

[JGherkin]

I find another trick that always gets a cheer or at least a gasp is the whip catch so make sure you put one of them in    today while showin off at college doin a routine I've bin workin on i managed to get in my latest hard one diabolo trick, a two handed whip catch that straight after the catch you jump over the diabolo and use the string like a skipping rope and bring the diab back round the front...see if u can learn that to perform, u'll get the biggest cheer of the show  

O and on the subject of routine or improvisation? I'd go for half and half, have a rough idea of tricks you can do and link together that slowly build up, but feel free to do whatever takes your fancy if you feel the diab is at the right speed or angle or whatever...go with the flow  

[GbH]

Hi all.  I just found this site, so I thought I'd say hello.

Anyway, in response to Kragen, here are a few thoughts:

 The thing is I cant do loads of complicated tricks without being 100% sure I'm going to drop it (and probably the most impressive thing I could do is to go through the performance without dropping the diabolo every other trick!).  

Why do you assume you need to do lots of complicated tricks?   A selection of simpler stuff, done with confidence and panache will most likely turn out to be more impressive.   Do stuff that people will understand.  Use tempo changes.  Move around the stage.  Establish audience eye contact.  Use facial expressions.  Show the audience that you're having fun.

Alternatively, you could go for the 'arty' approach.  i.e. wear only black, make all your tricks look the same and pull a face that suggests your dog's just died...

 I'm stuck doing things like the basics like whip-catch's, suns, around the arm and around the leg (a couple of variations like around the leg with one hand), scoops around the arm and around both arms (if I'm lucky), plus some easy suicides.

As the saying goes, it's not what you do, but how you do it.  Most non-juggler audiences won't have a clue about how hard stuff is, so it's up to you to tell them by whatever means you can.  If you just rush through every trick, your audience won't stand much chance of figuring out what happened, let alone work out whether it was hard or not.

Potentialy I could do something looking half-impressive, but only If I can think of ways of linking tricks together with things like fritz-releases etc...

OK, why do so many diabolists insist on linking everything together in one long mush?  Yes, I realise that links can be cool, but so are deliberate pauses, hand catches and other bits of 'business' that don't actually involve any tricks.  So, if you've just done a flowing sequence of arm tricks, rather than follow it with some more fluid technical stuff, why not just catch the diabolo in your hand, look up and pull off your best 'give me some applause, now!" expression.  It's cheap, you probably wouldn't do it on an online video, but in a show context it'll work a treat.

Another way to look at it is this.  If you don't include any obvious applause points, then there's a good chance that the audience won't clap until either a)  you finally complete your flawless routine or b)  you drop.  In the case of (a), you'll be missing out on the chance to develop a warm and excited atmosphere.  (b) is just embarassing!

Its a shame the show isnt about 2 weeks away, otherwise there might be the chance to show off some 2-diabolo

Don't think like this.  There'll always be stuff that's not quite ready.  Go with the intention of making the stuff you can do look good.  Imagine in your head how a really top performer might execute those same tricks.  Then pretend you're that same person.  It sounds silly, but works!

I've been looking at vids of you guys all week though! whatever I do, no matter how impressive it looks its gonna look boring for me Razz

If you can make the tricks you can do look interesting and entertaining, why does it matter?  You're not supposed to be impressing yourself.  I've been churning out the same routine for well over 10 years now - its trick content isn't remotely interesting for me, but still seems to make other people happy.

 also dont know how long its going to be... I think I might have heard 8 miniutes... when you perform do you have a pre-prepared routine that you know lasts howeverlong... or do you improvise?  

Plan your stuff.  Start by analysing the music, breaking it down into sections, phrases and even bars.  Write the structure out on a piece of paper, so that you can then work out where the important parts are and how the timings will work.  Then sketch in some of your trick or sequence ideas against appropriate key phrases.  Remember to cut yourself some slack - you can easily fill it with applause points or 'business'.  Then give it a try and see how it all fits.  You'll most certainly need to make revisions, but if you've got the basic structure sorted out, it's easy to focus on specific sections.  Finally, practice it.  Show a few friends.  Video it and watch it back.  Take notice of criticism.

I'd forget about the whole impro thing, at least until you've performed the basic routine a number of times and got it dialled.  You'll have enough stuff to be thinking about as it is - worrying about what trick you're going to try next will just make things harder for you.   Also, as a warning, it's WAY too easy to let the presence of an audience warp your judgement about what you can and can't reliably do.  If you stick with what you've planned, you've much more likely to get through it unscathed.

It's even worth planning for drops and tangles.  When you're on stage, have a spare diabolo to hand.  Also, have at least one spare set of sticks ready and make sure the string isn't wound or tangled - they should be ready to pick up and use straight away.  If you do drop, don't try to over-compensate when restarting by going at it faster or harder- you'll just get flustered and end up dropping even more (this is easier said than done - it took me a while to get over this).

I usualy end up spending more of my time deciding what tricks to do next than actualy doing tricks whever Ive been showing off before  

What, when you're actually performing?  That's bad.  Like I said, you need to plan.


Anyway, I hope this has been of some help.  Good luck with the show.

Guy Heathcote

[seán_]

lot of good sense in these replys. I would say not to worry if you forget a bit of the routine because the audience doesn't know what you have planned.

I haven't performed often (certainly not as much as GbH). I learned my routine in short sections that i could do in linked moves or as seperate tricks.

Before performing I thought that a long linking style would go down well but found, like GbH mentined, that  pauses give the audience a chance to react to what you are doing.

Some eye contact helps and looking like you are enjoying it will get a better reaction.

If you drop be calm, walk (skip if you are the energetic type) and pick up your spare kit.

Seán_

[diabololi]

Im doing a performance infront of 60 kids tomorrow and I'm scared!  
I planned out a routine, talking while im doing it. It has got juggling and flowersticks but it's mainly diabolos. Genocides, infinite suicides, sprinklers, vortexes, the lot! It's my first performance and I would really appreciate some tips, before 10 oclock tomorrow morning EEP!

thanks
Oli

[Sean]

Oli, I attached your message to this thread that already exists on this topic. Read above for some advice. Especially read Guy Heathcote's message: perhaps one of the most useful messages written on this forum yet.

Sean

[diabololi]

Great advice, thanks.

IT WENT GREEEAAAT!      

When I went in and saw a sea of 60 kids staring at me, my knees began to shake, literally. It was really embarassing! I just did some basic 3 ball tricks (mill's mess, boston's mess, multiplexes),  some clubs and rings, Flowersticks and diabolo. They gasped in amazement at orbit thrusts, so you can prbably guess what happened when I did chinese suicides, genocides, sprinklers and vortexes!!!

I could hardly get out because of all the questions and when the teacher asked if anyone would be up for learning from me, everybody put their hand up!

Wehey!
Thanks everyone
Oli

[barnesy]

Cool, that's really good to hear!  I've had that same shakey leg thing before.  It felt like it must be visible, but I don't think it was.  

If it wasn't for all this pesky having a job business, I'd be working on my act for chocfest at the moment.  I'm sure that will be fine as well though!

[diabololi]

Can't wait to see it barnesy (or barnsey ) I've never seen a performance before.

By the way, how did your performance go Kragen?

Oli

[Benoit]

I will do a show on school within a few weeks.
Can you guys give some tips? (not trick tips)
just tips for presenting and enjoying public.
thx

[Sean]

Hi Benoit, there is some great advice above in this thread that I merged your post to. Perhaps some other forum members have some additional advice.

[Benoit]

thx Sean, didnt see there was already a topic about this.