Steve Healy
Steve Healy
about managing the unofficial worldrecordlist and Jugglers Against Gravity ...
Interviewed by Daan Yperman, 02-01-2004
- You're webmaster of www.bogleg.com/records, the unoffical record page, what is it about? What's the purpose of it? How does it work?
- It is motivational for me to compare my progress to others. The simplest way of doing this is by tracking my personal bests. The site started as a simple list of people's personal bests with 9 balls, but over the years has grown into much more. You can now view and enter records for all sorts of different tricks in a giant online database. The new site allows people to log in and maintain their own records, as well as view all the records in the database in many different formats. The site uses PHP/MySQL for the interface and database. It displays animations of the tricks using Jack Boyce's excellent JugglingLab applet.
- Can you give a bit more information about 'Jugglers Against Gravity'? Why that name?
- I like it because it is humorous, and can be interpreted in many different ways, and it has a catchy abbreviation -JAG. My preferred interpretation is using "gravity" to mean "seriousness". In other words: "Lighten Up". ;)
- Some time ago there was a discussion about Jason Garfield on rec.juggling. What do you think about him? What about Anthony Gatto?
- Jason Garfield: He's a fantastic juggler, and a very funny guy. I've seen him perform in person a number of times, but don't know him personally. Anthony Gatto: Arguably the greatest juggler alive, although it is very hard to compare the greats when their skills are so different. I just saw him perform recently for the first time in person, and if anything my opinion of him increased.
- What country do you think is the greatest country for jugglers? Why?
- I'm not sure what you're asking here. Do you mean which country has produced the best jugglers, or which country is the best for jugglers to perform in, or which has the best living conditions/politics etc? Regardless I don't think there is a good answer to this question. I like that most jugglers I've met don't care where you're from or what language you speak. Juggling is the common language.
- What's the best convention you ever have going to?
- My first will always be special to me - the Nordic Convention in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1991. The EJC in Hagen, Germany in 1994 was the biggest one I've been to, and also one of the best. My favorite regional festival is the Lodi, California fest.
- Who inspires you?
- Other jugglers, lots of them. Too many to list and many I don't even know their names. Festivals are great inspiration, as is the JRDb (Juggling Records Database). I saw a couple jugglers on TV as a child that first got me interested in juggling. They were all on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I'm pretty sure one of them was Edward Jackman, and another was a Russian which might have been Popovich.
- What does your family/friends say about the fact you juggle?
- They're used to it by now, but it's still an oddity. People always tell me when they see other jugglers and ask me if I know them.
- What kind of juggling props do you use?
- Anything I can get my hands on. I have a huge prop collection. The only brand that I don't like is Radical Fish. They're just ugly.
- What trick do you find the greatest?
- The greatest thing about juggling, which has kept me interested for the past 23 years, is the variety. Interest in individual tricks comes and goes. However, there is always something new to try.
- How long do you practice (on average)?
- It varies greatly. I've done 8+ hours a day when I had the time and was obsessing on stuff. I've also gone over a month without juggling at all, when work and personal life distracts me.
- Do you always juggle alone, or also in groups ?
- Both.
- What do you find the most difficult trick you can do?
- Juggling 8 balls, or bounce-juggling 5 basketballs.
- What are your aims concerning juggling?
- I'm currently working on longer, more consistent runs with 7 balls and 5 clubs. Juggling for me is exercise, entertainment, and also a social outlet.
- What's the greatest thing you've ever done, concerning juggling?
- Probably my contribution to the internet community. Besides my presence in rec.juggling, I worked on the World Juggling Day project for several years, I have my own personal website with some tutorials and juggling stories, and then there's the JRDb.
- Who do you think will break the next world record, 13 balls?
- I don't know if anyone will. We are already very close to the limit of human ability with 12 balls. (Only 5 people have flashed it, and no one has done more than a flash, and none of those people can do the trick reliably - some have only managed it once.)
- Who do you think is 'the best upcoming juggler'?
- Thomas Dietz
- What's a site that you think quite a low number of people know of, but is a fantastic site?
- the JRDb, of course! ;) http://www.bogleg.com/records/index.php
- Do you juggle to music? If yes, what music ?
- I like all kinds of music. I have performed to Dave Mathews.
- Do you do other things concerning circus?
- Unicycle, Rola-Bola, Diabolo, Unsupported Ladder
- What do you want to say to all starting jugglers?
- Seek out other jugglers. Go to the IJDb and find a local club or festival. The best way to learn is in person, from those with experience.
- Do you want to say something else to jugglers?
- I think I've said quite enough for tonight. ;) Time to juggle.
- Thank you very much!
- You're welcome. It was fun.
Interessante links
- http://www.bogleg.com/jag/
- Jugglers Against Gravity, Steves schitterende jongleer site.
- http://www.bogleg.com/records/index.php
- Steve's Juggling Records Database
- http://www.bogleg.com/
- Steve's startpagina
Vorige pagina
Interview Overzicht
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