From my point of view, training does not happen during a single session, or during a handful of sessions. Juggling is trained over a long period of time. In my experience, to master the craft, one must train diligently. Consistency is the key. Working on my repertoire in a systematic way rather than just doing whatever I feel like each day has benefited me notably. Making sure that I work each day, or almost each day, is more important as anything else. The more I can keep the skill "in my hands", the better everything is. Although, always an option, breaking up the routine can be both advantageous and detrimental.

I too didn't like having my routine broken, which is why after my first few festivals, have not gone out of my way to attend them. Usually, I am working and don't feel that if I am going to take time off, that I should spend it doing more juggling. One should get away from it once in awhile! OK, maybe twice in a while...

I can't imagine that someone who is carefully training their craft, can effectively concentrate and think clearly amid the gymnasium din. The distractions are countless. Not even mentioning one's inevitable awareness of being watched, scrutinized and criticized. (Before anyone gets it in their head to argue that all of the jugglers at the festival are such an open and non-critical bunch should review the rec.juggling archives over the past few months. A large number of the posts go something like: "Well, I saw juggler X do 57, or maybe 58, throws at juggle-fest..." - "Well, I have 72 throws with a head balance on a tape that I took on the gym floor..." - "So-and-so was at our festival, and here is a description of his routine:...")

I didn't mention this before, but I know this to be a reality. If you show something on the gym floor at the fest, you might as well consider it public domain. Two instances in particular stick in my mind.

At the Groundhogs festival, in Atlanta, about ten years ago, I was doing some of my devil stick routine in the gym on Friday. There is a class of moves that I do based on the helicopter spin that are quite different from any that I have seen. They are tricks that I have developed over several years of street performing. By Sunday afternoon, at one moment, I counted three other jugglers in the room who were all working on those same tricks.

Several years later, I presented a new diablo technique at a festival in Chicago. The routine was well received by the festival audience. Afterwards, a juggler came up to me and congratulated me on a beautiful and novel technique. He then gleefully informed me that he had gotten the entire thing on video and was going to take it home to "study" it.

Devil stick moves and diablo tricks all look the same to the public anyway, so I don't really care if someone sniches my favorites. I have always been of the opinion to let others steal what they may. It is beyond my control, nor does it interest me to do anything about it. Hell, I have yet to meet anyone who can do my stuff better then I can anyway. If I keep to my ways, I will always be ahead of those who simply learn by watching. But, I also have several techniques that I just won't show at a festival. No mater how badly I want to show off, most of work that I have done that really pleases me, I must keep to myself. C'est la vie.

So, I can't imagine that anyone would, or could, effectively train under the gym conditions, nor could I imagine that someone who had devoted the time and resources to master the craft would be willing to just hand over their proprietary techniques without something to gain. What could you gain? Respect, notoriety, and a glimpse at a celebrity status that our profession does not enjoy with the mainstream public. Is it a price worth paying? Sure. I like to show off!

- Steve