The IJA festival is going great as expected. In addition to seeing some great juggling, and doing a little myself, I decided that this is a good time to learn to whistle the loud way. You know, the kind where you put your fingers in your mouth and deafen everyone around you. It’s pretty funny. Just like with any other skill, you have to practice to be able to do a good finger whistle.  More specifically, you have to spend a lot of time getting spit all over the place and not making any noise before you can do a good finger whistle.  I think I’ve finally got it though. It’s still not 100% but it’s getting pretty good. Of course you have to have the right technique, but I’ve discovered that the real secret is just to blow really hard. The juggling festival is a great place to learn since there are so many shows and the crowd of jugglers is both so much more relaxed (ie: tolerant), and more responsive than your average audience.

The location for the late-night, open-mic Renegade Show is especially good this year. We’re out on a 6th floor balcony of the hotel I’m staying in. Aside from the great convenience, it’s really nice to have the show outside. It’s been warm here the last couple of days so we usually have a nice warm breeze blowing on us for the show. The fact that a breeze could be warm has kind of freaked out the Canadians, but we’re all enjoying it. Since we’re so high up, and it’s so late, there is very little city noise and the open roof and enclosed sides give us really nice sound quality.

Tonight I am the MC for the Cascade of Stars Public Show. There are only two acts, so it should be fairly easy, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the show myself. Also, today at 2:00 all the top spinners are getting together for a “breakout” which is always a great time. Tops are awesome.