Street Performers Juggle at the Fringe

How lucky Edinburgh has been so far for the first few weeks of the Fringe. Apart from a shower or two the weather has been kind, the sun has been out and the skies for the most part have been blue. And for those performing on the streets, with little or no shelter from the elements - and believe me, they can be really unkind north of the border - a sunny day can be a real bonus. Crowds are bigger, people are smiling, children are content to sit and watch ..... and folk are more willing to put their hands in their pockets and pop a pound or two in the collection.
I love the street performers. Unpredictable, zany, risk taking, breathtaking, entertaining, they are for many the highlight of the festival. Descending on the city from across the globe, countries as far-flung as Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the Far East and Europe, their amazing skills leave many audiences gasping, daring the performers to take their act to another level, to push themselves to the limit.
And they do. Time and again these daredevil lunatics astound and astonish with their skill and dexterity - none more so than the jugglers.
I could stand for hours and watch the jugglers. If you can pick it up, they can juggle it. Balls, swords, traffic cones, skittles, guitars, vinyl records (remember them), stuffed toys, flaming torches, even chainsaws, they are all there, thrown into the air and caught again, over the head, behind the back, between the legs, three, four, five, six at a time ...... and rarely dropped. If they do, then it's all part of the act, or so they say! And they don't all stand still. On a unicycle, balancing on a make-shift see-saw, climbing on the back of an unsuspecting member of the audience, teetering on an upturned suitcase, it's all been tried, and very successfully.
These performers love audience participation. Some acquired their skills in a circus, others were self-taught. Many pick on members of the audience to come out, assist, join in the fun. And there is no point hiding at the back or pretending you are busy with your camera. If they want you, they will come and get you. So be prepared to dress in strange hats, catch, throw, lay down, stand up, be climbed over. People will laugh, whistle, cheer, applaud loudly - and think quietly to themselves "Thank God that wasn't me" But you may be next, so don't be smug, don't get complacent. 

Edinburgh Festival Fringe is fun, it is great fun. And this is how you must approach it. Laughter is the order of the day. Join in, embarrass your family - especially the kids - laugh at yourself, laugh at everybody else. Above all, enjoy yourself. Go home with memories of the batty, the bizarre and the brilliant. Go to bed with a smile on your face, wake up with that smile still firmly in place, and go back for more. You never know ..... there may be a secret juggler inside of you bursting to get out. Start with balls and work your way up. And you could be out there next year, cap in hand, entertaining the festival crowds. Anybody can get out there and perform. The whole world is a stage ...... and Edinburgh is a small, but very important, part of that stage. So what are you waiting for. Need any ideas? Well, I didn't spot anyone juggling haggis. But someone out there may know better .......