Author: arronsparks
I'm a friendly Winter Mountain Leader, based in the Highlands. I feel most alive up high, playing in cold places. I love being out in the Scottish winter hills.
Video of the Week – Lennon’s Circus Poster
Circus Hackathon
I’ve been reading a bit about new ways technology is allowing people to collaborate, things like Google Drive, GitHub etc. It seems as usual circus has a bit of catching up to do!
In Wired a while ago I read an article about Hackathons and thought it would be great to see/take part/organise a circus equivalent. Hackathons are a chance for coders to meet up, work like crazy in small teams and produce a sketch version for a new service or product.
Earlier this year when I was in Montreal I spotted Impro Cirque, something quite close to my idea. Unfortunately I left before it took place but from video it looks pretty fun…
I’d love to see a more informal version done in the UK, perhaps no ‘public’ audience. No one gets paid- All it would need is some interested circus artists and some space (perhaps some pizza and beers at the end of it). Perhaps two days manic work and a fun showing at the end of it? Best team performance judged by a panel wins a years supply of Apple products (or not)?!
Just a thought….
Beta Testing – Creation Week 2
The week started with packed days spent working on various scenes which were constructed in the first week. Trying to tie down ideas and begin to set a couple of the sketches.
Every day we worked on our solo juggling and group technique, which will hopefully go into the final show. Juggling takes time to solidify and become familiar so we’re trying to put the hours in at this early stage of the project.
We had an unsuccessful prop hunting trip to IKEA but will send Matt back next week armed with his van and unusually short-sharpened pencil. Talking of Matt, he spent a couple of hours in his workshop making the first drafts of some exciting props and set for us- more on this later…
Myself and Jon spent the end of the week working on our work-in-progress showing at Out There festival in Great Yarmouth. Matt already had commitments so Jon and I had to rework a couple of old bits and present a couple of new ideas. Under the watchful eye of Matt we managed to slot a rather unusual show together.
The showings went fairly well (I forgot my lines a couple of times, learning speaking parts is still fairly new to me) and we received some kind feedback and ideas on how to improve bits later down the line. Onwards and upwards or just sideways, hopefully not backwards.
Now I’m spending my few days back home soaking up some culture as it’s London Design Festival and there’s lots of inspiring work to be seen.
Next week we’re off to La Breche. Exciting times.
Beta Testing – Creation Week 1
We’ve spent a taxing yet rewarding week working on new material for Beta Testing, some planned from the initial stages of the project, some thought of in the morning mind mapping sessions.
Our average day has run something like this:
8something AM – Get up, breakfast etc. (not for Arron he likes his sleep and can run on air for a few hours)
9ish AM – Go to a supermarket and buy lunch (often various kinds of chicken)
10 AM – Start. Sit around a table with whiteboard laid flat (why is this not sold as a product?!), mind-map, discuss, suggest, joke, inspire, timetable.
11ish AM – work on more spoken word based work.
12:30ish PM – 1 hour lunch – much chicken, listen to Radio 2 ‘Death Hour’, make phone calls, send emails.
1:45 PM- work on new juggling technique needed for the show.
Midafternoon PM 10 min Coffee Break! <– No Such Thing!
4:45 PM – Club Passing practice
5:27:34 PM (allow 15 min-ish discrepancy) Endurance Practice & 6/7 technique
6goingon6:30 PM finish
7SomethingStillPM Craft Beer Pub – drink/food or both if you’re feeling rich!
ApproxPM – bed
We finished the week feeling exhausted, probably juggling more in the week than we had collectively done in the last 3 months. Celebrated a birthday, laughed a lot, picked up far too many props off the floor and probably spent more time than is healthy with each other. All this whilst avoiding getting hit over the head with a chair.
Excited for it to all start again on Monday.
Creating feels good.
Here’s a video of us failing…
Video of the week – Bob Burnquist
Another crazy set of tricks, stunts and images from a genera not immediately associated with ‘circus’ but as I’ve said before circus used to conjor up these kind of events.
Either way it’s a fantastic video that is worth watching to the end!
Popular Lies* About Circus
A few months ago while I was perusing in Shoreditch I came across a book ‘Popular Lies* About Graphic Design‘, as someone with a vague interest in such things I bought myself a copy and read it on a long flight that same day. Since then it’s been popping up in the back of my mind fairly often as it ties into a few other ideas for a project I had planned in my own line of work, circus.
I decided to write my own list of lies told by the circus industry, which I briefly presented at the Lab:Time night at Jacksons Lane a few weeks ago. I was going to go into detail but instead I’ve decided to let you fill in the blanks, there’s an example for the first chapter title to get you going in the right direction…
Circus lies as told by the industry…
Cirque du Soleil is bad
Taking an anti-Cirque stance seems to be the cool thing to do, common to over hear circus students running the company into the ground. Criticising everything from its mega y corporation status to artistic vision.
Sure some of the shows are not my cup of tea but O is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Cirque has produced so much work. Taking into account sheer quantity and breath means it’s very probable you just haven’t seen the right Cirque performance for you.
Their artist care is second to none, from salaries to working conditions no other circus that I’m aware of offers the levels of comfort and care Soleil musters. Sure it’s a business that turns a profit (most of the time) but I don’t buy into the argument that this implies they are evil.
In general Cirque du Soleil’s influence on circus has been massively positive, from changing the publics perception of what circus actually is to pushing artists and disciplines to new heights.
Knowing about circus is pointless
Black costumes are cool
Juggling is boring, acrobatics is fun
Using melancholy music means it’s art
A good idea doesn’t require a budget
Being original and being artistic are the same thing
People will want to watch my show
Longer deadlines lead to better work
The bigger, better known companies make the best work
Sequins are bad
Circus communities = collaboration and better work
Nothing is original anymore
People care about circus
I’m sure some you will disagree with some of my lies and there are other lies you could suggest. I’d love to hear them, comment below or on Twitter.
I’m planning to give a keynote on circus lies told by the public later this month at the Fringe if I can find somewhere suitable to present it.
Here is a draft for my ‘Circus Lies Told By The Public’:
The Circus is full of Wild Animals
Clowns wear red noses/not funny
It’s just showing off
Circus takes place in tents
Trapeze and Tight-wire are the same thing
Circus is overpriced
Cirque du Soleil are the best
Circus is just for kids
Circus is old fashioned
Circus artists are freaks
Love to hear your feedback on this, anyway enjoy finding your own truth in circus.
Video of the week – Petit Bus Rouge
Video of the week – James Kingston
Video of the week – Jay Gilligan
I’m obsessed with TED, so when I saw Jay Gilligan‘s TED talk pop up on my Facebook newsfeed I suspected I was in for a treat.
The Evolution of Juggling at TEDxHelsinki
Propellor Prize
In April Circus Geeks won the Propellor Prize.
The Propeller Prize is a partnership between the Roundhouse, Circus Space, Jacksons Lane, Jerwood Charitable Foundation, Seachange Arts and Le Brèche in Cherbourg.
The prize awarded by Jerwood Charitable Foundation provides a budget, support and space to develop Circus Geeks show which was presented at Jacksons Lane earlier in year. Residencies start in September and lead up to the premiering of our show Beta Testing in April 2014 as part of CircusFest. Dates and more detail to follow.
Exciting times.
Arron
Video of the week – Liquid Underground
Liquid Underground featuring Matt Hennem by visuals by Howie.TV
Public Fan Letters | Penn & Teller
I’m currently reading ‘Steal Like An Artist’ by Austin Kleon which ties in to my interest in what seems to be a changing consensus on the origin and process of creativity, art and copyright law. One chapter mentions writing a public fan letter. Here’s one of mine…
I love Penn & Teller, they are not only my favourite magicians but also two of my favourite artists. I love their open and honest opinions on life and their approach to work. I love their backstory, how they went from street performing carnies to Las Vegas headliners. I enjoy their outspoken (well Penn’s out spoken) views on religion, politics and rational thinking. I try and watch as much of their work as I can and I’ve managed to see them perform live a few times. Each performance is different and there’s always something new to experience.
A couple of years ago I performed at a magic convention in Vegas and was lucky enough to see and hear Teller deliver a presentation on Penn & Teller‘s artistic and technical approach to creating a new piece. It was one of the most interesting and inspiring things I’ve ever seem.
Here’s a nice segment from Teller from a different piece he sometimes gives…
Each week I listen to Penns podcast and when the chance arises I read his books which bring me to tears of laughter. I love listening to Penn argue his point of view which is always phrased in such a informally precise, logical manor and yet, it still manages to take me by surprise.
Their careers have decades of success, with such a wide variety of material and outlets. From an appearance on the West Wing (arguing the right of flag burning), to creating a TV series about (and entitled) Bullshit. From directing Shakespeare plays to producing their own films. They seem to have a tried and tested approach to producing well thought out opinion and conveying it in an original and thought provoking manner.
They are a massive inspiration to me and I can’t wait to see what’s next from them, you know it will be ace.
One of my favourite Penn & Teller pieces…
Inspiration
Already this morning I’ve watched two videos which have amazed and inspired me (isn’t the internet marvellous?)! Both are juggling videos and have some very nice and original content. Interestingly (at least for me) in both cases I see similar inspirations that have been a starting point for some of my latest work, thoughts and ideas.
Obviously carried out (and I have to say, producing better results) in a very different direction to mine. Clearly both videos have other insparations mixed in, as well as a different starting point and intention. It’s not ground breaking stuff to say everyone is different but I like being reminded of it now and again!
Send me some nice acrobatic/aerial videos please!
Video of the week – Hege Eriksdatter Østefjells
Beta Testing #Hype 9
Beta Testing #Hype 8
A couple of extra bits from this weeks progress, from a show on paper (well screen) to a show on stage, come and enjoy/judge for yourself!…
Beta Testing #Hype 7
Video of the week – Dolly Jacobs Interview
(thanks to May All Your days Be Circus Days for the link)
Lab:time 2013
I’ve recently completed another Lab:time project, this time looking at the use of a Kinect camera, video projection and basic juggling. Thanks to Circus Space, Howie and Jon for making it possible.
Here’s some of the results…
CircusGeeks.co.uk 
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