Dear D.ca,
I was just browsing my website at Circusplanet, searching for some basic tricks I could discuss at the workshop I have next Thursday, when I realized my website has gotten old and my own vision on diabolo has changed tremendously. Not to mention the poor HTML!
Anyway, I then got the idea to make something new and use the Diabolo.ca front page as my outlet. Not so much to explain tricks, but rather to present my current vision, my approach to practice, freestyle, improv, analyzing diabolo moves, music, video, making diabolo your own, and more of that matter. Pretty much everything that keeps me occupied concerning juggling and diabolo in particular.
I’m going to kick off with the big question: How do you create something new?
Some people state that they’re not good enough to make up new tricks. That’s nonsense. How are 3 diabolo FTS (feed the sun) combinations going to help you explore the unknown?
Technique, Creativity and Presentation are 3 different elements. You can’t deny either of them, it’s a balanced triangle. Ideally, we should work on all 3 equally, but I sometimes get the feeling that the creative element gets neglected these days. I think it’s great to have something you can put your creativity in and bring the diabolo game to the next level. Wes Peden agrees.
Here’s something I occasionally do that might help. Whenever someone like Busk, William (aka Crackers), or Arjan shows me a new video, it’s often packed with new tricks. Tricks that make you feel: “Man, I wish I had come up with that!”
Later, when I’m practicing, the new tricks are still floating in my head. Although I can’t recall the exact techniques of the trick, the big picture is clear. I remember where the emphasis of the movement, knot, or stick release lays. Then, when I try to copy the movement and explore the concept, I can come up with something completely different and new! Of course, there’s always the chance you actually learn the trick in question, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make here!
This gives you new material to work with and a new angle to explore. Someone else beating you to it is irrelevant.
You can be creative without being original. As long as you keep the innovation juices flowing, it’s all good.
Have fun and see you next week!
Peace,
Martijn
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