If you've gotten pretty good at juggling and you're looking for a show stopping trick, then here is the trick for you. Despite its simplicity, this trick is considered by many members of the public to be among the most difficult juggling feats imaginable (short of chainsaws or flaming bowling balls, of course). This trick is detested by most professional jugglers for precisely that reason. Many jugglers have juggled five clubs behind their backs, or seven balls under double pirouettes, only to be asked the stale and inevitable question: Can you juggle while eating an apple?
Jugglers hate that. But their loss is your gain. Once you've mastered the eating the apple trick, the public may mistake you for the greatest juggler of all time. (FYI, unless your name is Anthony Gatto, you are not the greatest juggler of all time, so don't buy into the hype. Francis Brunn also qualifies, but he is certainly not reading this.) Be honest with people. Don't tell them that this is the toughest juggling trick in the world, because it isn't even close. But do feel free to say, "Hey, do you want to watch me juggle and eat an apple?" People will watch.
(Before I explain how to do this trick, a warning: Juggling while eating an apple can be potentially dangerous. If you do it sloppily, you could wind up choking on an apple. Don't choke on the apple. In fact, don't even eat the apple. Just bite off a chunk, chew it up a bit, and spit it out while talking. Spitting apple chunks in every direction is the built in comic device that has made this trick so popular with the public. But watch out, if you start choking people may think it's part of the act.)
Did you read the disclaimer? I hope so. If not, go back and read it. In case you've skipped it, and now you're continuing to read, I'll repeat it. This trick poses a choking hazard. Don't swallow the apple bits. Just bite, chew and spit.
Okay. To eat an apple while juggling there are two major techniques. The first technique is simply to begin juggling two balls and an apple. Then, throw one ball higher than usual and using the extra second afforded to you by the high toss bring the apple to your mouth and bite off a chunk. Return that hand to the catching position in time to throw the bitten apple and make the catch. This can be repeated with either hand. Anytime the the bitten apple is in the air, you can make the next throw a high toss, catch the bitten apple, and take a bite. And anytime the bitten apple is in a hand you may make a high toss with the opposite hand and take a bite during the pause.
Of course, the difficult part is to remember to continue talking and spitting apple chunks without accidentally choking to death. If you find this trick difficult, continue practicing your basic three ball cascade until it is virtually automatic. Then begin making an occasional high toss. Try tapping a ball to your chin while waiting for the high toss to come back down. Eventually, you will find the timing. (Consult the video for visual demonstrations.)
An even easier way to perform this trick is to learn to juggle two balls in one hand. Learning to juggle two balls in one hand is easier than learning to juggle three balls in two hands, so for you it should be no problem. Hold two balls in one hand. You'll want the balls to stay on the same plane that they are on when you juggle three. They can be juggled in an oval shaped pattern either away from the center of the body or toward the center of the body. Away from the body center is easiest. I believe this is called a two ball outside fountain. Give it a try.
How'd that go? No problem? It's always a good idea to practice with both hands so that your body stays balanced. You will also be able to eat the apple faster if you have the ability to alternate hands. The trick is merely to juggle two balls in one hand while the free hand raises the apple to your mouth and you take a bite. This is repeated and alternated in both hands until the apple is significantly eaten. Then toss the apple core to a happy child.
You can also combine both of the above methods in whichever way you wish. The same trick can also be performed with a banana. Juggle two apples in one hand while using your teeth to peel the banana. Then switch hands, take a bite, switch again and repeat until the banana is eaten. The banana will pose a significanly reduced choking risk. And everybody knows that bananas are just funny.
But don't throw the banana peel on the ground. They're dangerous.
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