juggling.tv

description: twhSuperman.mpg

description: This is one of the videos that was filmed for our former site, TricksWithHats, which never went live. So it doesn't have a write-up and is presented here for posterity.

description: twhTeethFloat.mpeg

description: 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.

description: Hold your hat crown up in an inside grip with the fingers spread as wide as you can. Throw the hat gently towards your head with a bit of spin. Look up towards the hat as it spins and move your body (and feet if necessary) so that your head is beneath it. As the hat lands, nod your head forward so that you are looking straight ahead.

description: Thumb Spins - Spin the hat around your thumb Hold the hat in an inside grip and spin it so the top of the brim stays in contact with the thumb. After a single spin catch it again in an inside grip. Once you've mastered singles try longer spins. This trick is very versatile and can be used to add lots of flourishes. Try adding one in anywhere that you use an inside grip, or just throw one in with your hand outstretched or up above your head. From the TricksWithHats archive

description: Forward Twiddle - Twiddle the hat off the head and back on. It's got comedy potential too! Allegedly. Use a palm-up fork grip on both sides the hat, and lift it off the head. Remove the ring fingers from the brim and twist the hat between the fore and middle fingers. Stop the spin by gripping the brim between the fore fingers and thumb. Reverse the process to return the hat to the head. You can get an easy laugh by getting the return part wrong and pretending to hit yourself in the face. Jon Lockwood (of Mushy Pea Juggling fame, now working as with "Company of Fools") did lots of hat workshops at juggling conventions in the mid to late 1990's and started Mike and LP out on the hat road. This was often the first trick he taught...so it's Jon and this trick that ultimately led to the creation of this site. Thanks Jon! From the TricksWithHats archive

description: Twiddled Big Circles - A trickier but nicer version of Big Circles Big Circles is a big, visual trick, but the grip change can be slightly ungainly. The twiddle that this trick adds gives a similar effect but has a smoother, if slightly more difficult, change. Mike and LP disagree on the best way to do this - LP's way, shown in the video clip above, is to do a finger twiddle, as described in the Forward Twiddle when the hat is at the top of the circle. Mike uses a Thumb Spin to adjust the grip. Try both and decide which feels more comfortable to you, there's little point getting both smooth as they look identical to anyone except a hat manipulation geek, and there aren't many of them in the world! From the TricksWithHats archive

description: Steve Rawlings showed me this trick in Birmingham and said that he used to do it in every show, but now that he's older (and a little rounder :-) he can't get it every time any more. Steve uses a china plate for this trick, but it works with hats too which is why it's here! :-) Take the hat in your right hand, using an inside grip and hold it so that the crown of the hat is facing to the left. Throw the hat virtically with some spin, and then do the following while the hat is in the air... Put your right hand between your legs Take the hand around the back of the right leg Stand on your left leg and move the right hand & foot behind the left leg Then, catch the descending hat in your right hand, from that position. Without falling over. Top Tips: Practice the "tangle yourself up" bit first without the catch. Keep your eye on the hat as it decends, practice loads... Luke Burrage managed to get this on video within 30 minutes. I've been trying for weeks and can't do it. It's pretty hard.

description: First learn the Screwdriver When that move flows easily simply "twiddle" the hat as you learnt with that trick, and hold the hat as still as you can while you move your body around it.