British Juggling Convention

The British Juggling Convention (BJC) is a yearly Juggling convention put on by British jugglers from a city or a university Juggling club. The event usually takes place in the second week of the Easter holidays, lasting from the Wednesday to Sunday. The event is not just for Toss Juggling but all forms of juggling. The BJC usually features a large list of workshops during the day, renegade shows at night, and a public show on the Saturday.

Cost

The BJC usually costs;

• Pre Reg - This includes the show ticket
  • Adult - £50
  • Child (11-16) - £25
• Registration - £60
• Day ticket
  • Adult - £25
  • Child - £12
• Show ticket - £10

but prices can vary according to the financial requirements of the event so take these prices as guidelines only

Facilities

The convention usually has;

• a 24 hour juggling hall
• a Camping area
• Beer tent/bar
• An area for Vendors of juggling equipment

Vendors

Stalls are set up around the 24hour juggling hall to sell equipment. They usually open on part way through the Wednesday until the Sunday. This can be a good opportunity to get juggling equipment cheaper than usual.

Attendance

The BJC usually has from around 450 - 1000 jugglers attending the convention with the largest BJC being Coventry with over 2400 people. Most arrive on the Wednesday, but usually everyone is there on the Saturday to see the Public show. Most people will camp when on site until the Sunday; however those who are performing or can afford it may stay in a Bed and Breakfast for the convention.

Public Show

The public show is put on every year for the BJC featuring a line up of professional jugglers. This show is also open to the public. The show features a compere who talks between the acts while they set up. the Show is usually in a theatre or similar venue and often requires a bus ride to get to. the BJC organisers often have to organise transport many miles for up to 1000 people

Fire Show

There is also sometimes a fire show. This will consist of a range of skills using fire being displayed, including Fire Breathing, Staff, Fire Clubs. This can only be done if the site gives permission for fire to take place on site.

The Parade

The parade usually happens before the games on the way into the town centre.

The Games

On the Saturday of most conventions there will be games put on in the local town centre. The usual games include;

• 5 Ball Endurance
• 5 Club Endurance
• Long distance passing
• Gladiators
• Unicycle Gladiators
• 3 Coin Endurance

However whoever is running the games has the final say on what gets played.

The games usually last an hour and prizes are awarded to the winners of each game. The prizes are donated by the vendors that are at the convention.

The Meeting

At the end of the convention there is a meeting, which anyone can attend. The discussion includes how the BJC ran, positives and negatives of the week, and usually a decision on who will host next years BJC.

British Young Juggler of the Year

This is a show/competition for young British jugglers to compete in to win the prize of British Young Juggler of the Year (BYJotY). This was first held in Perth 2005.

Competitors in the BYJotY are 21 or younger, British and are a juggler.

Each juggler performs for 2-5 minutes, using any prop they prefer.

Awards

The main title‚ "British Young Juggler of the Year", is voted for by the audience. It is left up to the audience as to what they think that title should mean. So if a juggler wants to win this prize they need to be either the best juggler of the night, or the most entertaining, or (better yet) the best, most entertaining juggler. Everybody in the audience is given a piece of paper and at the end each juggler will stand in front of a basket to show whose basket is whose and then the audience will go and put their vote in a basket.

Gold and Silver Awards are decided on by a panel of three experts. The judges look at each act on its own merits, based on how well the juggler does what they do. e.g. If a juggler presents (with few or no drops) a choreographed routine of high professional standards in terms of technique, choreography, costume and music, and the judges feel they would book that act for a professional show, they could receive a Gold Award or, if presented with a street show style routine, the judges think they would put £10 in the hat at the end, that juggler would get a Gold Award too or, if shown a purely technical juggling routine, the judges think it could rank at the WJF, that juggler may get a Gold Award. In other words, if a juggler does what they do really well, they get Gold. If they are not so high standard they may get a Silver Award. For comparison, a BYJotY Gold Award Routine should be of the same standard, or higher, than an IJA Juniors Gold Medal.

Judges Choice Award. The judges get together and decide which young juggler was the most professional, stylish and skilled.

Convention Awards. Organisers from other conventions and festivals can award a place in their own public or gala shows to their favourite performer.

BJC's

2007 - Nottingham

The 20th BJC will take place in Nottingham, run by the Nottingham Juggling Club [1]. It will be held at Harvey Haddon, running from 11 April to 15 April. The BJC2007 is also featuring the WJF UK, that will be run alongside the BJC. The BJC2007 will be the 20th BJC.

BJC2007 official site [2].

Nottingham Juggling Club site [3].

2006 - Bodmin, Cornwall

The 19th convention took place at the dragon centre in Bodmin, Cornwall between 20 April to 23 April 2006.

The show featured Ryo Yabe as the headline act, with Matt Hall as compere. The show was held in Redruth, Cornwall.

On site there was;

• Swamptemp - where the renegade, BYJotY, Juggle Jam and open stage took place.
• Food tent - where burgers (including the Bodmin Beast), and hot pasties were served.
• Beer Tent - With a stage and a large seating area and a bar.
• Swimming pool - that was available for use for an hour on Friday (6pm-7pm) and Sunday (6pm-7pm)

The pass was a laser cut surfboard with the BJC2006 logo on it. Children were only allowed the string for health and safety reasons.

Approximately 700 people attended.

Workshops included;

• Beginners club passing
• Beginners devil stick - Luke Browne
• 3 balls blind behind the back (BBB)
• Performing for hobbyists - Matt Hall
• 1 Diabolo vertax - Matt Hall
• Devil stick hand stick release tricks - Luke Browne
• Whip cracking for beginners
• Compèring - Luke Burrage
• Beginners Sharing and Stealing Mini Mansell
• Takeouts in Club passing
• Teaching circus skills to kids: Ideas/trick swap Mini Mansell
• Pirouettes (360s) - basic pirouette technique - Norbi
• Nail in the nose
• First tricks with clubs
• Zen Wrestling
• Beginners bar flair
• Yoga

2005 - Perth, Scotland

The 18th convention took place in Perth between 31 March and 3 April

Games Winners

5 Ball Endurance - Mad Martin - From Nottingham Juggling Club

2004 - Derby

The 17th BJC was held in Derby.

2003 - Brighton

The 16th BJC was held in Brighton.

2002 - Whitstable, Kent

The 15th BJC was held in Whitstable, Kent from March 29 to April 1. It featured a 24 hour Juggling Hall a 24 hour Unicycle Hall Public Show in Kent's biggest theatre, the parade and games, renegade cabarets each night, live music each night, workshops, parties, chill out zones and plenty of juggling, camping, catering and late bar all on site. Also featured the debut of the Vova and Olga (The Galchenkos) in the US.

2001 - Cardiff

The 14th BJC was held in Cardiff.

2000 - York

The 13th BJC was held in York, with an attendance of 1000 jugglers It took place in the sports centre and sports fields of the University of York, UK and was notable for the presence of Anthony Gatto.

The public show was held at the University's distinctive Central Hall, compered by Mr. Jules, and featured:

• Anthony Gatto
• Feeding the fish premiered their Aerotech glow club routine
• Decubito Supino
• The Curious Eyebrows
• Benjamin Smalls
• Sam Foulkes on BMX
• Manomani

Online reviews

• http://www.twjc.co.uk/york.html

1999 - Durham

The 12th BJC was held in Durham.

The event was organised by DCJ Event Management LTD. Directors were Mini Mansell and Nicole Taylor

The pass was a Yo-yo which was sponsored by Vipa juggling equipment

The Public show featured Greg Kennedy, the Gandinis, Tim Foolery, Bruce Wilson and was compared by Rod Laver.

The Venue was the Maiden Castle Sports Centre in Durham.

1998 - Bath & Bristol

The 11th BJC was held at Whitchurch Sports Centre, Bamfield, Whitchurch, Bristol. It started on Thursday 9 April until Sunday 12 April.

it featured a full one hour show by stretch people

in the public show where Kati Yla Hokkola Mika Arden, aka Venus Luke Wilson Peter Panic Tommy Baker

1997 - Nottingham

The 10th BJC was held in Nottingham. The event was held at Nottingham University. The camping was held 3 mile drive away (1 mile through the park) at Wollaton Hall and this reportedly costed £3.5k. Donations had been requested to help pay for this. Minibuses had been put on to take people from the campsite to the gym. The swimming pool was also available for use for a pound ago.

On site there were 3 tents including a Swamp tent. The pass was a pea green wrist band. Jay Gilligan was in the public show.

1996 - Edinburgh

The 9th BJC was held in Edinburgh from April 12 to April 14.

1995 - Norwich

The 8th BJC was held in Norwich.

1994 - Manchester

The 7th BJC was held in Manchester. The event had 1700 Attendees.

The public show was in a Circus Big top No fit state circus and Croisant neuf both provided tops for workshop space and renegade shows

Keith Chegwin visited the site for breakfast Tv.

Circus Fudge and High Voltage trapeze performed for the queue before the public show.

1993 - Birmingham

The 6th BJC was held in Birmingham.

1992 - Coventry

The 5th BJC was held in Coventry between April 10 and April 12. The event had over 2000 attendees.

1991 - Leeds

The 4th BJC was held in Leeds.

1990 - Exeter

The 3rd BJC was held in Exeter.

1989 - Bath

The 2nd BJC was held in Bath.

1988 - London

The 1st BJC was held in London.