I'm sorry, but I'm rereading the entire Hitchhiker's series and by coincidence I actually finished "So long and thanks for all the fish" yesterday on the train. I just couldn't resist.
When I was in fifth grade, I had wanted to become a geologist after I read Journey to the Center of the Earth. A year and a half ago, when I took geology for one of my college lab requirements, I became glad that I had reconsidered. It is interesting, but since my math education was not adequate, I ended up barely being able to complete a lab assignment. I nearly failed. I've been embarrassed by that ever since.
Hmmm... when I was younger I really just wanted to do what my dad did. And guess what? I do now. So yay. ^_^
The only other thing I can remember wanting to do when I was younger was be a fighter pilot. But even then, I could tell that my calling was to create things.
An engineer, going to college at MIT. This was me at 3. Slowly evolved into chemical engineer, then a brief, confused stasis, eventually settling on computers when I was 12 or 13.
For a while, I wanted to be a chef. I bought a nice knife set, and taught myself, what I call, the "color wheel" of cooking (ie, what flavors go well with what), and even made a few recipes. I became very good at pasta based dishes and appetizers especially Deviled Eggs, which relatives ask me to make for many family gatherings. I'm trying to gather up ingredients to try an new recipe (cream cheese filled fried jalapeños).
Then I wanted to be a Voice actor (like all anime fans at some point think of).
Sometime around 16-17 I realized that I loved computers, so I wanted to be an IT Manager or Sysadmin. Then around 19, I discovered I love performing for others so I'm heading towards radio.
For a while, I wanted to be a chef. I bought a nice knife set, and taught myself, what I call, the "color wheel" of cooking (ie, what flavors go well with what), and even made a few recipes. I became very good at pasta based dishes and appetizers especially Deviled Eggs, which relatives ask me to make for many family gatherings. I'm trying to gather up ingredients to try an new recipe (cream cheese filled fried jalapeños).
I'm teaching myself to cook right now, and I'm going to take a break in between grad/med school for a year (deferred acceptance). I'm hoping I can at least try my hand at professional cooking.
When I was 13 I decided to take the performing arts class at school, with a view to being some sort of comedy actor. After a diversion to study music production at university, then a few years working in TV production, I'd pretty much returned to the original plan. This year I'm creating my own theater company, so I'm taking things to another level again.
During my last cruise someone asked me: "When did you know you wanted to be a professional juggler?"
I thought about it for a few seconds before replying: "Exactly ten years ago today."
Which, to be honest, is only half true. Ten years (and now ten days) ago I didn't know I wanted to be a professional juggler, but I knew I wanted to be a juggler.
Back in April of 2000 I'd only attended two conventions, both of them a Chocfest, a one day event in York. I'd had a lot of fun at both, but hadn't made any effort to go to any others.
In 1999, the British Juggling Convention visited Durham, just a few miles from where I lived. I drove down to Cornwall instead, to go surfing.
In 2000 I lived in Scarborough, attending university, and could go surfing more often. More to the point, I'd got far more interested in juggling by then too. I discovered the BJC would be in York. And Anthony Gatto was the big name guest.
How could I not go?
So I went. The weather was terrible, so I slept in my car. The parade was awful too. But those were my only two complaints. Apart from that, I had a really, really good time. I have lots of good memories, but two are relevant here. 1: I saw Anthony Gatto training in the gym. He had the whole gym to himself, and did about two hours of juggling for the hundreds of people watching. I had my camera, so stated filming.
He equaled or broke a number of juggling records right there in the gym, without even trying hard. The only reason these records became official world records was the fact that I videoed them and sent the footage to the JISCON. 9 balls and 7 clubs are the ones that stick out in my mind.
2: I saw my first big convention show. And I mean it was a big show, not just for a big convention. Even to this day it is one of the best juggling shows I've ever seen, and I don't say that just because it was my first.
Sure, Anthony Gatto headlined, but I'd seen him do more in the gym the day before, so while it was amazing, it wasn't the best part of the show for me. Other things acts that stand out: Ben Richter/Ben Smalls. He did two acts, one with balls and one with clubs. The Gandini Juggling Project. Due to having a large group from performing daily in the Millennium Dome, Sean put together a two 12 person acts. Jamie Fletcher, doing his classic 3 ball routine. Curious Eyebrow, doing a hilarious random-prop-based comedy routine. Feeding the Fish, with the first ever public performance of Aerotech's programmable glow clubs.
The audience went crazy for the show, just as they had for Gatto practicing in the gym. I thought "I want to get that reaction!" Not that I want to be the center of attention (though I sometimes do) but I wanted to get good enough at something to be able to get that reaction.
At the end of the convention I set myself two goals: 1. To break a juggling world record for myself. 2. To perform in the biggest juggling shows.
As for performing in the biggest shows, I did that too. In 2004 I performed in the BJC gala show. That year I also performed in the gala shows at the Nordic and Austrian conventions, headlined the Dutch convention gala show, was the final act in a huge EJC open stage show (though I'd also done that back in 2002), and won the Peoples' Choice Award for my various turns on stage at the IJA summer festival. I'm probably forgetting some other appearances in 2004, but it was that spring and summer when I made the transition from "juggler who also juggles on stage" to "performing juggler".
To me, these were the ends, but they became the means. Getting good enough to break a juggling world record made me a good enough juggler to become a professional. And when I had acts that were good enough to be booked for national and international juggling conventions, I was good enough to quit my job and take up juggling full time.
When I was very young, I wanted to play in the NBA, but I was no good at basketball. When I got a little older, I wanted to work for Nintendo, but then I learned they were a Japanese company, and apparently working for some other company never occurred to me. Then I wanted to do web design because I was halfway decent at HTML when I was in high school. Then I went to college and all my dreams got smashed into itty bitty pieces. I occasionally ponder becoming involved with a professional wrestling group, if even only as the ring announcer or the time keeper, but even that seems a million miles away. I'm just hoping to make enough money to get along semi happily at this point.
An electrical engineer, I kid you not. I'm working on that goal to this day, and hopefully will get my engineering degree through the regular officer training program in the Canadian Forces. Four years or so of school, then five of mandatory service as an officer.
Comments
The only other thing I can remember wanting to do when I was younger was be a fighter pilot. But even then, I could tell that my calling was to create things.
Then I wanted to be a Voice actor (like all anime fans at some point think of).
Sometime around 16-17 I realized that I loved computers, so I wanted to be an IT Manager or Sysadmin. Then around 19, I discovered I love performing for others so I'm heading towards radio.
During my last cruise someone asked me: "When did you know you wanted to be a professional juggler?"
I thought about it for a few seconds before replying: "Exactly ten years ago today."
Which, to be honest, is only half true. Ten years (and now ten days) ago I didn't know I wanted to be a professional juggler, but I knew I wanted to be a juggler.
Back in April of 2000 I'd only attended two conventions, both of them a Chocfest, a one day event in York. I'd had a lot of fun at both, but hadn't made any effort to go to any others.
In 1999, the British Juggling Convention visited Durham, just a few miles from where I lived. I drove down to Cornwall instead, to go surfing.
In 2000 I lived in Scarborough, attending university, and could go surfing more often. More to the point, I'd got far more interested in juggling by then too. I discovered the BJC would be in York. And Anthony Gatto was the big name guest.
How could I not go?
So I went. The weather was terrible, so I slept in my car. The parade was awful too. But those were my only two complaints. Apart from that, I had a really, really good time. I have lots of good memories, but two are relevant here.
1: I saw Anthony Gatto training in the gym. He had the whole gym to himself, and did about two hours of juggling for the hundreds of people watching. I had my camera, so stated filming.
He equaled or broke a number of juggling records right there in the gym, without even trying hard. The only reason these records became official world records was the fact that I videoed them and sent the footage to the JISCON. 9 balls and 7 clubs are the ones that stick out in my mind.
2: I saw my first big convention show. And I mean it was a big show, not just for a big convention. Even to this day it is one of the best juggling shows I've ever seen, and I don't say that just because it was my first.
Sure, Anthony Gatto headlined, but I'd seen him do more in the gym the day before, so while it was amazing, it wasn't the best part of the show for me. Other things acts that stand out:
Ben Richter/Ben Smalls. He did two acts, one with balls and one with clubs.
The Gandini Juggling Project. Due to having a large group from performing daily in the Millennium Dome, Sean put together a two 12 person acts.
Jamie Fletcher, doing his classic 3 ball routine.
Curious Eyebrow, doing a hilarious random-prop-based comedy routine.
Feeding the Fish, with the first ever public performance of Aerotech's programmable glow clubs.
The audience went crazy for the show, just as they had for Gatto practicing in the gym. I thought "I want to get that reaction!" Not that I want to be the center of attention (though I sometimes do) but I wanted to get good enough at something to be able to get that reaction.
At the end of the convention I set myself two goals:
1. To break a juggling world record for myself.
2. To perform in the biggest juggling shows.
And that's what I did. In 2003 I set a new world record with Ben Beever, and passed more objects between two people than anyone ever had before. The record of 18 balls stood until we ourselves broke it in 2008 by passing 19 balls.
As for performing in the biggest shows, I did that too. In 2004 I performed in the BJC gala show. That year I also performed in the gala shows at the Nordic and Austrian conventions, headlined the Dutch convention gala show, was the final act in a huge EJC open stage show (though I'd also done that back in 2002), and won the Peoples' Choice Award for my various turns on stage at the IJA summer festival. I'm probably forgetting some other appearances in 2004, but it was that spring and summer when I made the transition from "juggler who also juggles on stage" to "performing juggler".
To me, these were the ends, but they became the means. Getting good enough to break a juggling world record made me a good enough juggler to become a professional. And when I had acts that were good enough to be booked for national and international juggling conventions, I was good enough to quit my job and take up juggling full time.
It's been a good 10 years!