juggling.tv

First Look Hat Routine

The hatstand made its debut at chocfest 7, where I was compering. After a period of prototyping and refining, I built the version that worked. I demoed this a couple of times then it broke. I replaced the elastic and set it up for the big day, used it on stage and it worked, then broke next time I used it. Be prepared to spend significant tinkering time in between uses, and for frequent breakdowns. That said, it's never let me down when I've needed it. All in all I've found it a great way to get chicks[1], if you don't count the long evenings spent honing the design and strewing the house with geeky construction equipment, and the fact you'll be laughed out of most nightclubs if you go in wearing a topper. But on stage it works, and it has drawn admiring glances from fellow jugglers and even won us a bag full of croissants on one occasion. Sweavo, June 2003 [1] facts may vary From the TricksWithHats archive

Throw to Foot - Throw the hat to your foot as if it was a hatstand. Hold the hat crown up above the shoulder with an inside grip. Lift the leg and keep it straight, flexing the foot as much as you can. With a flick of the wrist throw the hat straight to the foot with a single spin. This trick looks best if the throw is as straight as possible. Foot to Head is a nice return trick from here.