Here is my HLGCBS as posted on rec.juggling:
High(s): Walking around the site on Friday the day before the fest and seeing the site and just knowing it was going to go off--seeing all the little details the organizers adde--wow. Walking around Karlsruhe the first day before the fest began with Lisa and Jerry, saying to myself, "Hey, IÕm in Germany for the first time in my life--cool!" Walking the parade route with Lisa, who has never been to an EJC, much less been a part of a parade. Watching Ady Pole open the first night of Renegade with a kick-ass ring routine. The crowd never knew what the fuck hit them. Blasting crazy siteswaps with Ben Beever and Matthew Tiffany outside the Open Stage tent with Sean's crazy cool glow balls (9 balls, db97531, d633633--almost all of them on strobe!). Touring the Henry's Factory with Tony Frebourg, Segev, Ofek, and Mr. Shilton. I really enjoyed the opportunity, especially as it came on a rainy day. Dinners at dusk on the hill with Lisa, Jerry, Void, Alice, Adrian and others. Watching Freddy and Pol's show twice more with Lisa after enjoying it so much at the Dutch Convention. Beating Tom Derrick in the semi-finals of the EKO--that was the real final. Watching the EKO turn out to be a fun little event. Performing on Open Stage Wednesday night and having the routine go reasonably well. Hitting the pirouette-cross arm foot catch and the one-arm freeze right afterwards in celebration. Late night walks back to the hotel with Lisa--just quiet and peaceful as we debriefed the day. Running into Nella and Roman from TrÕespace in the gym late at night and catching up with them and Priam at the Beer Tent. The Japanese dinner with Blake, Void, Alice, Adrian, Jerry and Lisa. The Workshops--in particular the multiplex workshops because Ben Beever, Matthew Tiffany, and Peter Bone were right there learning along with the rest of the folks. Also, the excalibur workshop because I hit the duicide on the first try in front of everyone and then afterward M4U (Marco) took me to school and showed me at least six new tricks. Breakfast every morning in the hotel with Lisa and Jerry--I ate the same thing every day it was so delicious. Finding someone at the Games who actually had a video of my Open Stage box trick--SCORE! MC'ing the last Open Stage on Saturday night--watching Tao Wei hit his routine, the final ovation, and then Y-M-C-A! The final dinner in Karlsruhe with Jerry and Lisa--just chillin' withsome beer in the square, doing HLGCB..
Low(s): Hurting my hip early on in the fest and dealing with it the whole time thereafter. Hurting my finger a day or two later, and dealing with that the rest of the festival. Screwing up my times for the workshops, so that right when I finished the breakdancing workshop from 11-12, people walked up and said, "so, the workshop starts at 12, right?" So, totally knackered, I did the same workshop again. By 1pm I was toast. Lisa getting bumped and cut in front of in several lines by the DDA's (Dreadlock Dumb Asses). Just because you're a hippy doesnÕt mean the rules don't apply to you too. Oh yeah, don't roll a joint and try to smoke it in the freakin' Open Stage tent. If you're that hooked, you've got a problem my friend.
Goal(s): Have another great adventure with Lisa (check) Teach some solid workshops (7 total-check) Perform on Open Stage (check) Learn new tricks (check) Catch up with friends and meet new ones (check)
Crush(es): Lisa, of course. Jerry Martin, for being an exemplary travel buddy and conversationalist. The Void, for making the EKO happen. Matthew Tiffany, for always being down for a trick swap and for schooling me. Jouany, a great stage manager. Daphne and Drew, my great minions. Tao Wei, for rocking the cigar boxes big time. The pizza in the sports hall. The soft cream at the artists' playground. The curry noodles with edible bowls.
Bane(s): The heat in the gym, but no big deal really. Various DDA's--enough said. Lack of workshop space and workshop announcements. My injuries. Not being able to watch every Special Stage and Open Stage (if only it were possible).
Surprise(s): Getting called up by Luke Burrage to try my trick again. Hitting the trick despite the pressure and the hip pain. Finding someone who actually taped it. The diabolo level of Dekel and Ofek.
Final Comments: I saw the 8:30 show on Friday, and I dug it for the most part. I did not like the host that much, but he was tolerable. The acts were high quality, in my opinion. It was a bit long, but the time went by quickly in the second half. Overall, I am really stoked that this was my second EJC experience and Lisa's first time. I was worried that it wouldn't compare to Svendborg, but it basically exceeded it on almost all counts. We won't be able to go to Spain next year, but we are planning on Finland in 2010! My sincerest thanks to the organizers and volunteers who made it happen. Truly an unbelievable, epic gathering of jugglers. I also want to thank Joke Schot for his photos from Open Stage--danke!
To see me hitting the trick of my life when it really counted, click here. Thank you Karen for taping it! I will buy you a pony.
To view the original EJC 2008 site (while it still lasts), click here
To find YouTube videos of the EJC, click here
To check out the EJC Diabolo thread on diabolo.ca, click here
To check out the EJC 2008 thread on diabolo.ca, click here
To check out the EJC 2008 thread on rec.juggling, click here
To check out the handouts I used in my workshops at EJC (and other festivals), click here
