🚀 go-pugleaf

>Bob Murphy (rmurphy@aludra.usc.edu)
and others ask:

What impresses a crowd?

IMHO I think the problem here is that people (crowds) don't want to
be impressed.  Actually, I think they would rather see you cut your
hand off with a chainsaw than watch you do something "impressive."
I don't think its that TV has hardened them to impressive stuff either.
It's different when there is somone in person there talking/performing
in front of you.

The problem with juggling and many jugglers is that when they juggle
they are not performing.  Passerbyes don't have the slightest idea
what to make of a juggler trying to do 9 balls or anything else.  If
your not in a circus performing or on stage pouring out one liners then
you are just some kind of wierdo.  Juggling is not at all a mainstream
activity for most americans.  Needless to say that if you were throwing
a football, baseball, or frisbee back and forth, noone would give it
a second thought.  So, people see you and all they can think of is
that your the street performer type.  Heckling you is the only seemingly
natural course of action somone like this could take.  Others, feeling
that seeing you there practicing is a rare opportunity, have a great
urge to say something to you.  When they try to relate to you and your
situation they inevitably say the wrong thing and insult you.  To the
hecklers you should practice putting them in their place.  To the people
who are trying to relate to you, you should thank them, no matter what
kind of stupid things they say.

As far as the impressing part I would say:  Don't try to impress, try
to entertain.  If you want to do any sort of impressing then I would
say that your best bet is to do it through the entertainment process.
Give your 5 ball cascade a funny name.  Get them to laugh while you
perform it.  When you finish, make it a big finish with your arms
outstreached. That will bring out the applause better than any "And
now for 5 balls" statment.

Standard Disclaimer
David Ward
71035.525@compuserve.com