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Interview with Mark Bakalor about the WJF
| The IJDb was able to interview Mark Bakalor, Marketing Director of the World Juggling Federation. He gives a detailed background, information about the competitions, response to the controversy, and predictions about the future. |  |
BACKGROUND:
PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR JUGGLING INVOLVEMENT OVER THE YEARS.My family has been very involved in the juggling community for quite some time. My father has been Championships Director of the IJA, founder of the most popular juggling website and the Committee on Numbers Juggling Records. My parents organized one of the most highly attended IJA Conventions in the organization's history as well as having helped organize a wide array of juggling festivals and shows around the U.S.
For some time, I was the youngest professional juggler in the United States. I won the Bronze Medal in the 1986 IJA Juniors competition, performed for large audiences around the world, street performed in San Francisco, made countless television appearances including a major Japanese television program called "The World of Amazing Kids," commercials for Milton Bradley, 7-11, Burger King and many more. I took a long break from juggling when I entered High School and went on to graduate from college with a degree in Theatre Arts.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN THE WJF.
I've had the pleasure of working with major entertainment companies
(Broadway producers, record labels, etc.) on their marketing campaigns and
web presence over the years. I had not done much in the way of working in
the juggling industry since my performing days and I was very interested
in combining my two interests with this project when Jason Garfield
approached me this past March about working with him on developing a
public presence for the new WJF organization.
I have been responsible for most of the public face of the new organization, from our website to various outside advertising opportunities. I will be actively involved during our event in Las Vegas this December, working to keep those unable to attend the event feel as much a part as possible via our website. After the event I will be working on helping to promote the organization and our future events and products as well as our television broadcasts on ESPN2 beginning in January.
WHO ARE THE OTHER MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE WJF?
The organization began with Jason Garfield, President of the WJF. A wide
array of jugglers and industry professionals have been involved, in a
mostly unofficial manner, in the creation of what is today known as the
WJF. In addition to Jason and I, the move evaluation committee consists of
Ben Jennings, Jack Kalvan and Ben Shoenburg. This years judges are Barry
Bakalor, Alan Howard, Jack Kalvan, Alex Karvounis, Nick Karvounis,
Arthur Lewbell, Scotty Meltzer, Owen Morse, Todd Smith and Jon Wee.
PLEASE GIVE A HISTORY OF HOW THE WJF GOT STARTED.
Jason started the company in 2000 with the vision and goal of getting
juggling competitions televised. He worked on the project off and on until
September of 2003 when ESPN contacted us with great interest. From that
point on, Jason has been working full time on assembling the pieces that
are now known as the WJF.
IS THE WJF JUST ABOUT COMPETITIONS, OR DOES IT HAVE A WIDER REMIT?
Our main focus is on competitive juggling. One of the projects we look
forward to developing is the promotion of our organization and its
competitions in schools and to acquaint as many students as possible to
the sport of competitive juggling. We will work to set up physical
education programs competitions for every class, school, district, state
and country. Our goal is to provide an option that many kids may not know
exists with the sport of juggling. At the same time we will create a
curriculum for technical jugglers who are already in schools that don't
recognize their skills as an athletic activity.
DO YOU FEEL IT COMPLEMENTS OR COMPETES WITH THE OTHER JUGGLING
ORGANIZATIONS (EJA, IJA, AND PARTICULARLY THE ISJF)?
There should be no competition between the WJF and other juggling
organizations. Our goals are completely different. We have a very specific
singular purpose and are tailored toward that interest. Up until now,
there has not been an organization geared towards such an area of
interest. Our organization will attract those who specialize and/or enjoy
watching the kind of juggling that we promote.
THE COMPETITIONS:
WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF THE WJF COMPETITION?To exhibit the best jugglers in the world in strictly judged juggling competitions. These jugglers will compete in front of both a live and an international television audience. We want to push the limits of juggling and see how far these competitors can advance themselves to become better. Without purpose, the current juggling skill levels will idle. With a purpose, competitors will train year after year to become better, knowing that they will be able to show their progress to the world and advance the sport.
HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM OTHER JUGGLING COMPETITIONS?
The WJF has a vast array of the best jugglers from around the world
competing in a format that takes the sport seriously.
WHY WAS IT DECIDED TO HAVE SUCH A STRICT SET OF COMPETITION RULES, AND
HOW WERE THE RULES DEVELOPED?
The rules are strict to encourage only the best juggling. We're not too
interested in sloppy juggling. We want the best juggler to win. The best
juggler exhibits control, dexterity, a high level of skill, and enough
points from moves and execution to win.
The rules were developed based off of the gymnastics code of points. There were then several modifications that needed to be made to accommodate the many differences that juggling brings to the judging criteria. We wanted to allow and encourage originality, innovation, and privacy in the development of original moves and routines while still being able to score it accurately. Every time a competitor creates a new move, it is evaluated and given a difficulty rating. If the competitor requests, the new move is kept off the public list until after the competition.
THE 360'S COMPETITIONS SEEM LIKE AN ODD IDEA! WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
THIS EVENT, TO GET THE COMPETITORS SO DIZZY THAT THEY FALL OVER?
360's demonstrate a repeated control over the pattern that has to be
thrown perfect enough to execute the 360 and continue. This event
incorporates the most athletic, cardiovascular fit competitors that have a
high level of accuracy in their throws.
IS IT A FAIR COMMENT THAT THE RULES FAVOR A CERTAIN JUGGLING STYLE?
The WJF favors the best technical jugglers in the world.
THE 'AUXILIARY PROPS' LOOK LIKE A BIT OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT, WILL THEY PLAY
A MORE PROMINENT ROLE IN FUTURE COMPETITIONS, WITH SIMILAR RULES TO THOSE
OF THE 'MAIN' EVENTS?
They were in no way an afterthought. They were incorporated from the very
beginning. The competitors have agreed that a freestyle version of these
competitions would be best for this our first year of competition. In the
future, as more work is done, we should see a system more like the one for
balls, rings and clubs.
ARE ANY OTHER EVENTS BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE FUTURE? SOME IDEAS MIGHT
INCLUDE JOGGLING, ENDURANCE WITH LOWER NUMBERS, OTHER PROPS, ARTISTIC
COMPETITIONS, ETC.
Not at this time.
HOW DID THE ESPN2 DEAL COME ABOUT?
[Answered above]
WOULD THE WJF EXIST WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ESPN2?
There is no partnership. The WJF was created four years before the ESPN
deal was made. We didn't conduct events until now because our goal was to
have our events televised. We will continue to produce events all over the
world after our first in December. For now, we are focusing our energy on
the Vegas convention at the Riviera to make it the best it can be.
TELL ME ABOUT WHAT THE ESPN2 EPISODES WILL BE LIKE.
There will be five 30 minute programs. A ball competition episode, ring,
club, 6 club passing, and 7 club and above passing. Within each of these
programs will be competitor interviews, highlights from the other events
and educational segments teaching the audience about the terminology,
common moves, and much more.
WHO WILL BE VIDEOING AND EDITING THE ESPN2 FOOTAGE AND WHAT ARE THEIR
QUALIFICATIONS?
A company by the name of Dreamsource, recommended by ESPN, has been
contracted by the WJF to produce our programs for ESPN2. Dreamsource has
done some of the popular poker competitions for ESPN, along with other
sports programming for the network, PrimeTime Live for ABC, and VH1's Rock
Story and Behind the Music. They've also done additional work for MTV, CBS,
NBC, FOX, Discovery, TNN, A&E, etc. Needless to say, production quality
will be excellent.
WILL THE WJF COMPETITION BE AN ANNUAL EVENT?
At least. We may change the dates depending on what country we plan on
holding them in. WJF events will also be ongoing in schools. Our main
events should take place at least once a year.
WILL ANY OFFICIAL WORLD-RECORD AUTHORITIES BE PRESENT AT THE EVENTS?
The WJF recognizes the JIS Committee on Numbers Juggling as the official
keeper of juggling records. They will be present and will witness, verify
and document records set during the events. Guinness has also shown an
interest in coming.
A NUMBER OF WORLD-CLASS JUGGLERS ARE NOTICEABLY MISSING FROM YOUR
ROSTER. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THAT? WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CHANGE THAT IN
THE FUTURE?
We have invited all the best jugglers from throughout the world. However,
if any have been overlooked, they are welcome to come and enter the
competitions. WJF competitions are closed to nobody as we are interested
in having anyone who is a great technical juggler involved. Some potential
competitors couldn't make the Vegas convention this year due to scheduling
conflicts, others didn't view juggling as a sport. The competitors we have
are very excited about the WJF and very much like the format that we have
introduced.
WHAT IS THE ROLES OF THE SHOWS ON THE FIRST AND LAST DAY? HOW DOES THAT
FIT WITH THE SPORTING GOALS OF THE WJF?
One of our goals is to provide an entertaining convention. Whereas the
competitions are entertaining in and of themselves, the show at the
beginning of the convention will help to set up the competitions by
featuring teaser exhibitions from most of the competitors with
explanations as to what competitions they will be in and what the rules
for that competition will be. We are also incorporating some artistic and
comedic elements into the show for variety. These shows will be very fast
paced and cover everything you need to know about the week to come, even
if you don't know anything about juggling at all.
THE CONTROVERSY
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THE WJF WILL DESTROY THE CREATIVITY WHICH JUGGLING CURRENTLY ENJOYS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?I really don't believe this is possible.
There is plenty of room for creativity in our competitions. Nobody has to do anything that's ever been done before. If you have a unique move, or a routine full of entirely unique technical juggling moves, you are more than welcome to submit them for evaluation of a difficulty rating.
Jugglers who enjoy creativity will continue to create. We're not trying to convert anyone. If you want to be creative with other styles of juggling that don't fall under the parameters of our competitions, that doesn't mean you can't keep doing them in other existing venues. The WJF is adding to juggling, not taking away.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE FOLLOWING QUOTE FROM THE LATE FRANCIS BRUNN: "I
DON'T BELIEVE IN JUGGLING COMPETITIONS. IT'S LIKE SEEING WHO CAN PAINT A
PAINTING THE FASTEST!"
I think the comparison is flawed. Brunn viewed juggling strictly as an art
and he was entitled to his opinion. The WJF's competitions are not a race.
They are a skill based competition to find out who is the best at that
given skill. One can't pick the best artist because everyone has different
tastes. We can pick the best juggler because the points competitors
acquire in their routine will lead to the best in that category.
The WJF recognizes that there are many different interpretations of juggling. We specialize in competitive juggling. Other organizations are free to do what they want. The WJF is adding to the world of juggling, not taking away.
JASON GARFIELD'S PERSONALITY AND INVOLVEMENT WITH THE WJF HAS CAUSED
SOME CONTROVERSY, ARE THE VIEWS HE AIRS ON THE WJF SITE HIS PERSONAL
OPINIONS OR THOSE OF THE WJF?
All of the competitor interviews are the views of the competitors and do
not reflect the views of the organization. I think it's obvious that many
of the videos are intended to be humorous.
THE FUTURE:
WHAT WILL ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE WJF TO HAVE FUTURE EVENTS?A successful first event, well produced television programs, good turn out at the convention...
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF THE WJF?
In addition to the goals I've talked about above, one of our long-term
goals is to open juggling facilities in major cities worldwide,
paralleling the best health clubs with the addition of private and public
practice space for juggling, coaching and more.
ARE FUTURE EVENTS LIKELY TO BE HELD OUTSIDE OF THE USA?
Yup.
DOES THE WJF INTEND TO BRING JUGGLING TO THE OLYMPICS?
Nope.
WHAT WILL YOU DO IF THE WEEK AFTER THE CONVENTION ANTHONY GATTO BREAKS
ALL INDIVIDUAL RECORDS SET AT THE WJF CONVENTION?
Congratulate and invite him, once again, to the next WJF Competition. He
would have done exactly what it is we are attempting to help do: raise the
bar and push the boundaries of sport juggling.