Hey, folks!
What a contest! This year’s event drew a whopping 72 videos from 7 countries, representing a wide variety of juggling and circus disciplines. (You can see this year’s entries all on our YouTube account if you haven’t seen them all already!)
To date, the IJA’s annual Video Tutorial Contest has produced 217 tutorial videos (that’s over 17 hours of lessons, available for free, online!)
It was a difficult task for our judges to pick their favorites, but somehow they managed! A huge thank-you to all of this year’s judges for donating their time, the IJA’s distribution manager for donating his garage, and to our wonderful sponsors who made the whole thing possible.
Every year, people ask me how what exactly goes into making this contest happen, from an administrative standpoint. Our judges put in a combined 65 hours watching videos, tabulating scores, and writing summaries this year; our sponsors donated over $3,500 in prizes; Rob Detweiler, the IJA’s Distribution Manager, will spend quite a bit of time packing up prizes and shuttling them to and from the airport. Between finding judges, creating graphics, revising rules, maintaining the entry database, soliciting prizes, and writing this article, I will have put in over 150 hours for this contest. Shipping prizes all over the world costs a fair amount, too. Noone on the Video Tutorial Contest team makes a dime – it’s all for the benefit of the community. Is it worth it? You tell me!
Did you like this year’s contest? Did you learn something new? Do you value the content that it produces? Consider supporting the IJA through buying an annual membership. The International Jugglers’ Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to “…rendering assistance to fellow jugglers.” Your membership dues make this and other programs possible. Don’t have the means to become a member? Consider donating your time, instead. We’re always looking for festival reviews, interesting stories, and other content for our electronic magazine, eJuggle. Drop a line to Scott Seltzer, the eZine editor, if you’re interested! ezineeditor@juggle.org .
Thanks again to everyone who made this year’s event possible, and congratulations to this year’s winners!
All the best,
– Thom Wall
Director, IJA Video Tutorial Contest
PS – If you’re a winner, be on the lookout for an email from me soon outlining the next step!
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10 – Meagan Nouis – Romeo’s Revenge
Marko – “Meagan has clear and calm voice. Studio like background makes video very easy to follow. Also It’s amazing to see how well she uses figures drawn over the video to share the idea. The video annotations get even better the longer one watches the video. Video is also organised in easy steps to follow which also helps learning and practicing the trick. I had really hard time deciding if this was better than the first tutorial from her, but finally ended placing it little bit lower than her first video.”
Norbi – “A tough trick to explain, but she did it well. The graphic overlays were used tastefully and with good reason, each step was well broken down, AND most importantly for a tutorial is that I found her voice very enjoyable to listen to.”
Efren – “I really liked this video’s explanations. It’s a pretty trick, an entertaining video, and you said what you needed to – nothing more, nothing less!”*
9 – Mike Moore – Passing Siteswap
Marko – “When I wrote on my bio that I’ll be expecting annotations I didn’t even think somebody would make such a massive tutorial with annotations. Video has fun intro and didn’t expect much from it. It was definitely good thing for Mike to remind to have annotations on. This video has by far the best pedacogical value. I’m personally a big fan on non-linear learning. With this video I was able to go back as many times I wanted and jump around checking out things that were interesting.
Robin – “This has to score well for how it’s put together and also how in depth it goes. It’s a great introduction to passing siteswap packed full of facts and stuff to think about. Not the most entertaining but definitely a definitive into to the subject. Does what it claims to be.”
8 – Richard Hartnell – Arm Spirals
Lucas – “The trick names going up and fading away deserves a special mention. Loved it! Loved the fact the Richard went to many places to produce the tutorial. Really well explained and with a good duration (not too long). GREAT! + created subtitles in Spanish. This is important!”
Norbi – “Well presented in a clear and enjoyable voice, well shot in numerous beautiful but unobtrusive locations, and did a great job of explaining the trick whilst keeping me interested. It repeated itself a touch and could have been cut down by a minute or more.”
Robin – “I liked this one a lot too. It had some great stuff in it and some great tips, plus it showed you a bunch of ways to use the trick once you had it.”
Efren – “I liked this one! It was a little slow at times, and you might lose interest. The explanations and the editing were very, very good, though.”*
7 – Scot Nery – How to Roll a Coin Across Your Knuckles
Lucas – “I like how it has a “show” format. 330,000 views in one month? WOAA really impressive! I never got that with all the videos on my channel in this period of time. Only one thing: the end charts are really long. No problem about that but 5-10 sec would be good. It was good to see a tutorial with a common object. I’d like to watch more of it.”
Norbi – “I was sad by the lack of publicity they gave the IJA, it could have been a huge promo if they would have mentioned it properly. That said, it was a very professional production. Fun to watch from beginning to end, well explained, good level of humour, hardly anything bad to say about it.”
Curt – “Great comedy and great production value.”
6 – Kyle Johnson – How to Juggle Five Balls
Norbi – “Can’t go wrong here – listed all the important foundations, and very clearly explained every step towards the goal. I would have liked a touch more explanation about posture and timing, but overall one of the better 5 ball tutorials on the web.”
Robin – “This was clear, entertaining and well thought out. It gave a load of good tips and exercises for a classic trick.”
Curt – “It is like a master class from one of juggling’s best.”
Efren – “All very good, but I think the part with the multiplexes was too much. That part made me not like it as much as the others.”*
5 – Zachary Armstrong – How to Make Bowler Hats for Juggling
Marko – “This was one of the first videos I saw and liked it quite a lot straight away. Zachary has his own style and the video looks personal. Also he makes me feel like all this is not so serious. Watching the tutorial gets my interest straight away and keeps me wondering if he will really succeed making a hat. This feels more like a weekend project for jugglers. I don’t think all the tutorials should be just juggling. And making a hat sounds like perfect thing to do. If I ever happen to stumble to some hats I will definitely give this a try.
Robin – “This one had it all for me. It’s a great subject that youtube isn’t already flooded with tutorials for. It takes you through every step clearly, it was interesting, funny and most of all I just found myself liking the guy and wanting to hear what he was saying. It’s a great project to undertake and a really useful and well thought out video. ”
Curt – “A very useful tutorial that make hat juggling possible for so many people.”
Thom – “LET’S MAKE HATS!! So much personality in this video. I’ve been looking for an excuse to learn some hat tricks, and now I think you’ve given me a reason! You outlined all of the steps very clearly, demonstrating pitfalls, variations, and just about everything else someone who wants to give hatmaking a go might want to hear. Thanks so much for putting this video out into the world!”
4 – Jose Lima – 3 Ball BBB
Marko – “Jose has interesting beginning and explains BBB’s well starting from what equipment to choose. He also gives different techniques that can be used to do the trick. Colours, video and picture is over all good.
Norbi – “Nice lighting, nice explanations and nice little humorous moments. Stayed low on my list simple because at 1:20 he repeats over and over that you can not move your arms…but he moves his arms. “try not to move your arms” would have pleased me more.”
Robin – “I really liked this, it was in depth about several different techniques with tips and advantages/disadvantages to each presented. It was funny and it had some great juggling in it without turning it into a juggling video and not a tutorial which made it really fun to watch.”
Efren – “This had a great explanation, but the tutorial was so-so. I started to lose interest – this trick frustrates me! It’s nice that you share the trick, especially as you’re so friendly!”*
3 – Meagan Nouis – Underarm Catches
Marko – “Meagan submitted two great videos for the contest. Both are very well made so it’s not easy to decide which is better. Video looks good and it’s clearly filmed. I like how she makes me feel that there’s no hurry to learn this trick with calm voice. And I’m loving how she uses two videos next to each other and goes through the common mistake(s).
Efren – “I liked this trick a lot, and it had excellent explanations. The editing was simple, but it didn’t need any more.”*
2 – Rob van Heijst – Five Ring Multiplex
Marko – “Rob has lot of enthusiasm and that sticks to me as well while watching the video. Which makes me want to try out the tricks. I’m also given credit for clear speech and using two angles most of the time. This helps to see how the throw is done. There could have been more tips on which rings to choose.
1 – Eric Culhane – Interactive 2-Diabolo S-Fan
Marko – “Eric’s video is also great tutorial. I hope all of the tutorials would be like this nowadays. Non-linear makes it so much more fun to watch and go through all the things. I noticed that I was actually using much more time learning and watching annotated and linked videos.
Lucas – “Great use of youtube annotations and timings on the description box. I found it really creative. I don’t remember the last time I saw a tutorial like that. It also gives the viewer the power to choose what he/she wants to watch first. Awesome.”
Lauren – “I LOVE that you can pick different parts of the skill to watch. This is an ideal way to learn from a video!”
Norbi – “Great job! I found some sections of the tutorial were a touch vague, in the sense that it was almost a demo “just do this” than an actual explanation. However not everywhere, there were also some great tips in there. Of course the annotations were perfectly used, everything in one video, skipping back and forth to find the right part with easily and brilliantly planned buttons. All I would improve would be more precise explanations of certain aspects, but I am thoroughly impressed by the time and effort put into the tutorial.”
Robin – “A little dull but really thorough covering the trick plus a whole bunch of entries and exits. Extra points for interactivity… although I just watched it through so the same menu coming up over and over did get a little irritating.”
Curt – “Great use of links and well shot. Explanations were clear and easy to follow.”
Thom – “Amazing. I’m amazed. This is what online tutorials should strive to be like! Eric’s video was personable, funny, easy to watch, and pedagogically sound. This is a great reference for current and future diabolo players, to be sure.”
People’s Choice Award – Mike Moore
Honorable Mentions (In no specific order!)
Lauri Koskinen – How to Juggle Three Objects While Head Balancing
Marko – “Lauri’s video is well made. He shows the trick, breaks it down to smaller easily learnable parts and in the end he shows how to put it all together. Video does assume that juggler can already throw 3 objects but after that he shows clearly how to balance a club and where one should balance it in middle of the trick.
Alexander Chan – Pen Spinning
Marko – “Alexander has made massive effort with filming all the videos. After watching countless of his videos I think I found golden one! As a non pen spinner most of the terms are quite difficult to understand and when even trick sound weird I started to look for a video that could help me to regroup my thoughts. Also I have graded this video independently from the other ones he submitted.
Curt – “I watched every video and tried every trick. With these videos you could become a pen spinning Ninja. Thank you for all of the information.”
Thom – “And the most determined videographer of the year award goes to..! Shoeman6, you’re an animal! You’ve undoubtedly gotten a huge number of jugglers interested in the art of penspinning – including myself! Time to start practicing!”
Seth Umbenhauer – The Extended Feeding Line
Marko – ” For me the Extended Feeding line was perfect. In the beginning the pattern looks a bit like uncontrolled mess that somehow keeps in the air. By the end of the video I felt like I could easily throw this. Seth clearly explains how it goes bit by bit. Using numbers and text on top of video helps to understand this really well. Also it’s great to hear different names for passing patterns.
Lucas – “Creative and funny (at least for me.) But maybe a little overedited. Some of the effects weren’t really necessary to tell the story (read as ‘understand the trick’) better.
Efren – “The editing could have been better, but the tutorial was really creative. It was entertaining and is well worth watching.”*
Bill Berry – Triplexes and Quadplexes
Lauren – “I loved that the tutorial was done without sound. The different angles for the throws and catches make the skill easy to learn.”
Norbi – “Beautiful location, great shots and nice slo-mo too. Unfortunately I found it to be a demo more than a tutorial.”
Laura Ernst – How to be Awesome at Juggling and Everything Else
Norbi – “A great idea for a tutorial. Some fantastic points, everyone should pay attention to this one. I was really happy to see someone go outside just juggling, but whilst staying so relevant, good job.”
Robin – “I really liked this video, it was interesting, different and had some really great advice on juggling in general.”
Vasil Magaranov – Three Ring Elbow Flicks
Curt – “Loved the break down on this trick it helped me learn the trick quickly.”
Thom – “So glad to see a tutorial come in from Bulgaria! Vasil clearly outlines the trick’s component parts, peppering the video with some of his own thoughts about learning new patterns, as well. His accent might be a little difficult for non-native English speakers to understand, so captions might have been a helpful addition. The trick and all of its steps are so clearly demonstrated, though, that any spoken language at all is almost superfluous! Good job, Vasil!”
Japheth Garulle – Three Club Face Balance
Curt – “Thank you for putting out a tutorial on this fun and visual trick!”
Thom – “Japheth – What a great trick! After watching this video, I went straight to the park to give it a go. The video was very well made, but I wish the audio were better!”
The Tomicide – Rob Henman
Curt – “A lot of great information packed into an awesome little video.”
Siena Barkan – Slackline Drop Knee
Norbi – “Nice to see some non-juggling tutorials, but found it a touch repetitive and not in depth enough.”
Efren – “Great tutorial! It’s the only one for slackline this year, and it’s interesting. I practice, and you’ve really got some great tips. I also loved the scenery! =) “*
Nathan Wakefield – David’s Dilemma
Efren – “The trick is very nice. The video starts off very entertaining, but slows down after a bit. I think the trick is worth learning. I think tighter editing could make it stronger.”*
*Translated from Spanish to English by Thom
Thom Wall
Thom is a professional variety performer, currently touring the world with Cirque du Soleil's "TOTEM." A former member of the Board of Directors of the International Jugglers' Association, Thom also studies Non-Profit Arts Administration at Drexel University and takes the occasional nap.