hi … i wonder if i could ask for some ideas for a short stage routine or skit
involving the unicycle… for someone who has skills of a rather basic level
(riding around, side mount, jump mount, small hop, a little juggling on uni —
but not idling!)
(at the moment the only idea i have is playing the part of a clumsy waiter on
a unicycle)
it’s a school show – doesn’t have to be impressive, just a bit entertaining.
audience interaction would be a bonus.
any suggestions?
thanks julian
p.s. it’s not going to happen for several months more, so it’s possible i might
learn a few new tricks — if they’re not TOO hard…
Jumping rope is a definite crowd-pleaser. And it’s not a difficult skill to
learn. It can involve some audience participation as they count out how many
jumps you do. They will also likely cheer you on as you intentionally miss your
first couple of attempts. Play it up and make it look more difficult than it is.
If you go out and immediately roll off 15 seconds of perfect jumping it’s not
going to work as well. Mess up the first couple of tries and play it up.
If you are on a raised stage another “trick” that can get the audience going is
to ride towards to the edge of the stage. They don’t know how maneuverable a
unicycle is and they will be sure that you were almost going to fall off the
stage. You don’t even have to get that close to the edge. Ride towards the edge
and then make a sharp turn. If you are going to do a clumsy routine this would
be a good thing to throw in.
About 2 years ago the company I work for did a variety show. I rode my unicycle
even though at that time I had limited unicycling skills. The audience thought
the jump rope was the best part of the act. I was also amazed at how many people
thought for sure I was going to fall off the stage (it was a small stage). If I
had known that I would have played that up by making look like I really was
about to fall off.
Ask the group if you need some tips on jumping rope.
If you do this, it can actually be useful sometimes to not get it on the
first try…
I’ve been riding around campus on my 6 footer lately. I was on foot, about to
head home, when someone asked me, “how do you get on that monster?”… I simply
replied “like this” and executed a flawless freemount (an amazing bit of luck on
my part). He just said “oh.” and I rode off.
Another time, I was riding, hit a bump, or ice, or something that forced a quick
dismount. This time, when I tried to freemount, I didn’t have such success. It
was probably my 4th or 5th try that I finally made it on, and I got applause and
a few cheers. I didn’t even realize anyone was paying attention to me until I
heard this.
Like anything, if you make it look easy, the audience will assume it is. If you
convince the audience of its difficulty, they will be more impressed by that.
(I’m reminded of watching juggling shows with other jugglers – the mass
audience claps at things the jugglers don’t, and the jugglers clap at things the
non-juggling audience don’t.)
jeff lutkus
>If you have a couple months, and access to a giraffe, you have time to learn >how to free mount the giraffe. This is always a big crowd pleaser.
My suggestion is ride as little as possible. Becuase this isn’t specifically a
unicycle routine for competition, riding the unicycle isn’t completly necesary.
If you build it well, ie being clumsy, just riding at the end can ssem to the
audience to be quite an accomplishment.
I did a caveman routine once where the only actual riding that was invilved was
riding off at the very end, but the audience loved it. Audiences ussually
appreciate character and laughs more than skill anyhow.
This is just what’s worked for me Jeff
> hi … i wonder if i could ask for some ideas for a short stage routine or > skit involving the unicycle… for someone who has skills of a rather basic > level (riding around, side mount, jump mount, small hop, a little juggling on > uni — but not idling!) > > (at the moment the only idea i have is playing the part of a clumsy waiter on > a unicycle) > > it’s a school show – doesn’t have to be impressive, just a bit entertaining. > audience interaction would be a bonus. > > any suggestions? > > thanks julian > > p.s. it’s not going to happen for several months more, so it’s possible i > might learn a few new tricks — if they’re not TOO hard… > > __________________ > email: julianlim AT yahoo DOT com > > > Sent via Deja.comhttp://www.deja.com/
> hi … i wonder if i could ask for some ideas for a short stage routine or > skit involving the unicycle…
A couple years ago my son, Woody, rode his unicycles in a school talent show.
He did several of the things that had been mentioned so far. The last trick he
performed was to have the someone lay down on the stage, placed a plywood
board on his stomach (I think the board was around 18" wide and 8’ long), and
then rode over the board. Fortunately the MC volunteered to be the person to
rolled over.
If you have a couple months, and access to a giraffe, you have time to learn how
to free mount the giraffe. This is always a big crowd pleaser.