Hi Leo!
Nice to see you here and thank you for answering all our questions.

There is a thing I'd like to ask:
Why aren't ther 3 types of twisting competitions?
You've got the one baloon and multiple balloon competition.
I think the multiple balloon is so huge...you can enter a 2 balloon or a 1000 balloon creation.
Why isn't there a 2 -10 balloon creation or new ideas for line twisting or something like that?
I think something like that will give more people a chance and we all can learn more !

O, yes and another thing:
Where is the history of tmj 2006 and 2007??

Petra Meijboom

Quote from: "Thelma Levett"Hello Darling!!!! xxxxxx
Do I get a hug of you if I come to the Jam this year!
xxxx

You bet ya !!

Quote from: "Petra"Hi Leo!
Nice to see you here and thank you for answering all our questions.

There is a thing I'd like to ask:
Why aren't ther 3 types of twisting competitions?
You've got the one baloon and multiple balloon competition.
I think the multiple balloon is so huge...you can enter a 2 balloon or a 1000 balloon creation.
Why isn't there a 2 -10 balloon creation or new ideas for line twisting or something like that?
I think something like that will give more people a chance and we all can learn more !

O, yes and another thing:
Where is the history of tmj 2006 and 2007??

Petra Meijboom

Hi Petra ,
You will remember that we started with three categories : small , medium , large based on a criterium of SIZE that was put used at the first T-jam back in 1999. The reason we abandoned that criterium and kept only a 1-balloon  and a multiple balloon cat. was that there were very few people competing in the Large category and the ones who were competing locked themselves int their bungalow to work day and night on their creation! Every year we had the same five to ten participants ; so we decided to make two categories and  put more emphasis on the stage competition . It is just a criterium . Although I consider a 1-balloon creation a special (and very difficult ) discipline , I don't think the jury gives points based on the number of balloons that is used . They look at the totality of the creation .
I do think that a new category for "new ideas" could be very interesting ! Let's discuss that at the Jam !Perhaps something to launch at  the 10th edition !

Quote from: "Danny the Idiot"Hi Leo,

I came to TMJ and taught there in 2006. I think I was in shock most of the time as I really had not seen such levels of skill in balloon twisting. That and the heat!

My question is this... What are your favourite balloon acts? And what would you like to see in a balloon act?!

See you in November - I'm very much looking forward to it!

best wishes

Danny   8-)

Hi Danny ,
Nice to hear from you !
This is a very interesting question ! A while ago when Ralph Dewey was in Belgium for a few workshops , I had a long conversation with him about balloon acts and we agreed on one point : a good balloon act -and any good stage act for that matter- is about originality and about entertaining ! Balloons are only a means to achieve that ! Over the years ,we have seen some very good acts and some very bad ones ! The good ones always had an original idea to start from and the performer was entertainer first and a twister or balloon artist in the second place. I have seen some very good twisters die on a stage because they couldn't resist the temptation to show off their skills and forgot to entertain the audience ; their act was only saying "Look what I can do with balloons !" and .... nobody was laughing . Perhaps one of the best illustrations of this simple principle is the performance of Tomate  last year . He used only one or two 260's and a step-in balloon but it was an incredible balloon  act that blew everybody away ! An example that you know very well Danny is the Great Avner the Eccentric : he doesn't show off his phenomenal balancing skills or his talents as a juggler in itself  : he only uses those skills to bring world class comedy !
I hope I have made myself clear ... If not ,please email me privately .
See you in November !

Leo

Are there any little snippets you can tell people about why they shoud come over to The Millennium Jam as I have to book the Eurostar at the end of the month.
Anyone else been booked to lecture or perform? any little secrets that your keeping from us all to make the convention even better  Come on you know you want to tell us all!!!

Quote from: "Petra"Hi Leo!
Nice to see you here and thank you for answering all our questions.

There is a thing I'd like to ask:
Why aren't ther 3 types of twisting competitions?
You've got the one baloon and multiple balloon competition.
I think the multiple balloon is so huge...you can enter a 2 balloon or a 1000 balloon creation.
Why isn't there a 2 -10 balloon creation or new ideas for line twisting or something like that?
I think something like that will give more people a chance and we all can learn more !

O, yes and another thing:
Where is the history of tmj 2006 and 2007??

Petra Meijboom

Hi Petra , I forgot to answer your second question .
The history of 2006 and 2007 will be on line before the end of this month .Promise !

what maybe the last trip to Europe of the monumental Marvin Hardy.
Apart from the instructors ,we have invited a few phantastic 'non-teaching' performers for the galas.
I will not give all the names here  ,but one of my favourites is the Spanish duo ,El Retrete de Dorian Gray : two 260's , one immortal song and absolute world class puppeteering . Don't miss it !
If any of you has anymore questions about the Jam ,please don't hesitate to call the Jam hotline : ++32 475 231699
I hope to see many of you again in Mol !