From Matt Hall 2006 Most Mind Bending

My Groundhogs Day Festival experience is limited to one time, but it was certainly a special event in my eyes.

 
Stud juggler and DDR god Jimmy Robertson hooked me up big time on this one. I've always wanted to go to this festival because I've heard it's a blast, and because they have the Groundhog "Phil" trophy competition, wherein a trio of randomly picked non-juggling civilians whose only qualification is that they know NOTHING about juggling picks the top three entertaining acts out of a bevy of juggling pros and amateurs alike. If you look at the names of people who have won this award over the past quarter century, you'll see names like Gatto, Gilligan, McGuire, Nations, Daymont, Kariotis, McKinney , Brown, Panic, and Boehmer. One of my juggling goals has been to join that list of names. Pure ego, but heck, if Jimmy was kind enough to fly me out for the event, the least I could do would be to make a good show of it. Winning one of the awards was my highlight for the weekend, especially when there were other names in the running like Tony Duncan, and David Dimuzio. Otherwise, I just really loved hanging out with Jimmy and his crew at the family estate outside Atlanta . Going to lunch with the Mills after the contest was cool. Getting to know Fettucini Steve Langley was a definite plus. The late night diner sessions were awesome. Watching Dimuzio win every 7 ball endurance contest and do 50 five ball 5 ups in a row made me realize that Benji Hill is one freaking good coach. Dave passed on some tips for which I am most grateful. Last but not least, MC'ing the short but extremely fun Midnight Show at a great venue, with hot acts (Michael Garner, Alex Burke, Matt Ritter, and Dan Howard-my JKP/LOT bitch), with beer onsite was a definite capper to a great weekend."
 
Any mention of me in the scrapbook definitely needs to mention Jimmy Robertson, my host and benefactor. Jimmy paid for me to come to GDF 2006. Without him, quite simply, I would not have been able to fulfill one of my lifetime juggling goals.

As for how juggling has influenced my life, wow...that's a big one. Put simply, it's the best hobby I have ever had in my life. It is probably the thing I am best at, in my entire life. I am not sure I am a better teacher than I am a juggler, but teaching is my chosen vocation. Nevertheless, the enjoyment and self-knowledge I have derived from juggling in the last ten years or so is in many ways equal to or greater than the enjoyment I derive from being a teacher. I guess the main difference for me is that juggling is more self-oriented, and teaching is outward directed. In the long run, looking to others is better for me.
 
Thanks to juggling, I have been places, seen things, and met people that I would never done otherwise. I know with absolute certainty that my life is richer for it, and that I will always love it.
 

 

I leave for the Scottish Juggling Convention in about two weeks--that's a repeat invitation for me.
 
I have also accepted an invitation to perform at the Dutch Juggling Convention in late April, early May. I am really excited about that one because I have never been to Amsterdam before. Of course, the convention is outside the city so I will probably only get to pass through. Still, it's another new country for me.
 
Just last Friday I got asked to perform at Princeton University in mid-February, so I will probably do that as well, provided they can come up with the dough. I just did Cornell University in October another goal down. I am confirmed for RIT 2009 and Up for Grabs Festival 2008. Both firsts for me again.
 
Last but not least, I have been invited to perform in the first week run at the Moisture Festival in Seattle , WA , in March. I am excited for this opportunity as it represents a new direction for my performing.

2006