Category: Juggling

Circus 4 Ever

September 19, 2013

I’ve got some exciting news. I have partnered with some other jugglers from the Christian Jugglers Association and we are happy to introduce to you a non-profit called Circus 4 Ever. This is an organization that exists to make an eternal impact on lives around the globe using juggling and circus arts. Our primary objectives…
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Meet Fellow Christian Juggler Bob Cates

September 19, 2013

Here is a video introduction of a friend of mine who is also in the Christian Jugglers Association. I love his heart for God’s Word and his skill at quality entertainment. Bob Cates on Faith Family & Show from Bob Cates on Vimeo.
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Developing a 45-minute Show

August 27, 2013

For many variety performers out there, one of the challenges is filling a 45-minute window of time with engaging content for hundreds or thousands of people. Since I work mostly with audiences that include lots of kids, I have found 45 minutes tends to be a good length of time for family audiences to enjoy…
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Juggling-Themed Comic Clippings

August 7, 2013

Thanks to juggler Jonathan Root for collecting and documenting this treasure trove of juggling-related comic strips (and even some editorial cartoons). To view the album of over 200 clippings, visit the facebook album here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.171943646300156.1073741829.161343814026806&type=1&comment_id=597513&offset=0&total_comments=5
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Stick to the Word

July 23, 2013

Last night, as I was setting up for my speaking/juggling presentation at Crosspointe Church in Norman, Oklahoma, my host wanted to make sure I was going to really teach the Bible rather than just entertain and then briefly mention the Bible at the end. He told me how he has seen some entertainers simply do…
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Hello, My Name Is…..

July 15, 2013

A few weeks ago, I got to speak at Covenant Cedars Bible Camp in Hordeville, Nebraska. The weather was sunny, breezy, and in the 70’s all week. It is a wonderful camp on a river in the middle of rural Nebraska – a perfect location for a retreat from the noise and busyness of everyday…
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4 Great Apps for Teachers

April 25, 2013

I love using big fun visuals for kids when teaching or leading games. These are some apps I recently found that I will definitely be using for my camp teaching this summer. I’ve been looking for apps likes these. It is important to note that these are apps that work best when you can use…
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Bobby May: The Classy Juggler

March 14, 2013

We all have influences in our craft. One of mine is a fellow named Bobby May. He died in 1981 and started performing in 1922 (alongside Bob Hope). He is considered one of the greatest jugglers, particularly of American jugglers. He worked the Vaudeville circuit and performed flawless routines with ease. He also had tons…
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Busy Days

March 11, 2013

This is “Upward Season”, as is known to many of us Upward entertainers. We are all criss-crossing the country, performing at some of the 3,000-4,000 Upward awards programs across the land. I’ve done 11 shows in the last two weekends alone. I love it, but it uses a good amount of energy. Today, I’m enjoying…
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Top 5 Games for Summer Camp

February 21, 2013

I travel to a lot of summer camps around the country each year. I have seen with my own eyes what games kids are drawn to the most throughout their given week of camp. And they are the same games no matter where you go. Kids are kids! Here are the 5 games that I…
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The Impossible Paper Cut

February 19, 2013

I asked a group of elementary schoolers if they thought I could cut a hole in a regular 8.5″x11″ piece of computer paper large enough to fit 6 kids through it at the same time. We were able to do it with no problem! Are you also skeptical? Here’s how you do it…… Step 1:…
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Less is More

February 12, 2013

When I was in Port-au-Prince, Haiti last month, I had the privilege of visiting a children’s home/orphanage of about 30 kids between the ages of 10-17. My host, Scott, asked if I would be willing to teach the kids how to juggle. I was happy to do so. The only problem is that I did…
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No Chainsaw Juggling on a Plane

February 8, 2013

As both a chainsaw juggler and a frequent flier on Delta, I took notice when Delta’s newest safety video showed a placard disallowing chainsaw juggling. I love it! Watch the video and notice the sign at the 1:33 mark:
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Five Things You Should Know About Haiti

February 5, 2013

Haiti is on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (shared with the Dominican Republic) in between the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico. I had the chance to visit two weekends ago and perform my juggling show six times in three days for children at various events (a school, some orphanages, and a church). My hosts…
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This Is Why I Love My Job

January 14, 2013

Every so often I hear feedback from people who see my show. And over the years, I’ve heard the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s amazing, though, just how powerful some stories can be in inspiring you to continue doing the job/ministry/vocation you do. This is one of those letters….. I recently got this…
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When Children Grieve: From Bethlehem to Newtown

December 21, 2012

On a mild autumn morning twelve years ago, I found myself in front of a primary school class full of grieving children. I was their entertainment for the day – a juggler from halfway across the world, doing whatever I could to bring a little joy to their lives. The children were Palestinian kids from…
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How to Win at Heads or Tails

December 3, 2012

I can teach you a secret to winning at heads or tails – every single time. You can flip the coin a thousand times and call the heads or tails to your friends before you all look at the coin. And this is all using a real quarter. There are a few conditions: This works…
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My Take: Dumb Ways to Die

November 29, 2012

This catchy and artsy music video will either make you laugh or make you a little creeped out, depending on your sense of humor. I thought it was hilarious, especially the character who “sold both kidneys on the internet.” Would you believe that this is a public service announcement from the rail Metro in Melbourne,…
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Free Photo Editing Resource

November 27, 2012

If you’re like me, then you know enough about photo editing to use basic programs like iPhoto but other big programs like Photoshop scare the begeebees out of you. You see, I want the versatility that Photoshop provides with the ease of use that iPhoto provides. Plus, I don’t need 98% of the bells and…
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Risking My Life for Food

November 25, 2012

Join me this Wednesday night at the Robinson Theater in Richmond, VA (2903 Q St, Richmond, VA 23223) from 7pm to 8pm as I do my first indoor performance of the chainsaw juggling act. This is a comedy juggling show for all ages. Admission is one canned or non-perishable food OR $1. All the food…
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How to Save Three Dollars

November 20, 2012

So you want to learn how to juggle but you don’t quite have the budget to go out and buy $5 balls, $7 rings, and $30 clubs. I have the answer for you. You could just use anything currently lying around the house, like balled-up socks, tomatoes, or kittens. But if you use socks, you…
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Why It Helps for Children’s Church to Be Fun

November 4, 2012

Let me be clear: The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not need a circus of pizazz to penetrate the heart of a child (or anyone for that matter). The love and grace of Jesus stands fine on its own to regenerate the hearts of children. But it sure does help to present…
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Captivating the Attention of Children

November 1, 2012

Anyone can captivate the attention of a child – or a group of children. All it takes is a smile and a little energy in your face. And those things come from a sincere heart to connect with the child/children. It helps to be able to perform some astonishing feat like a magic trick or…
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Every Child is a Winner by McCaslin and Biehl

October 30, 2012

Caz McCaslin runs Upward Sports, a global youth sports organization that promotes Biblical values, equal play time, and ultimately, the person and work of Jesus Christ. He wrote what he considers a “parent playbook” called Every Child is a Winner (Broadman and Holman: Nashville, 2002). My family and I got to visit the main headquarters…
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How to Do the Chinese Yo-Yo (aka Diabolo)

October 4, 2012

The crowd favorite of my show is the Chinese Yo-Yo. Quite honestly, there are a lot of people out there that are way more skilled than I am at the Chinese Yo-Yo (also known as the Diabolo). But my intermediate skills at it still cast a spell over any crowd. Why? Because the object itself…
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