Can you entertain at my child's birthday party?

Absoluetly. Your child and his / her friends will be thrilled to watch balloon twisting, magic and juggling up close. I will create a variety of balloon fun animals, and perform various tricks with 3, 4, and 5 ball juggling.

What can you make with balloons?

I can twist balloons into the likeness of dogs, cats, monkeys, hearts, horses, swans, bears, elephants, reindeers, moose, frogs, snakes, giraffes, flowers, many different hats, dachshunds, tigers, poodles, rabbits, parrots, mice, squirrels, dinosaurs, and octopai. I will make balloon swords ONLY upon your approval. I use only high-quality Qualatex balloons.

Do we need to provide you with anything?

All I need is an electrical outlet for a CD player, and space to perform (About 8ft X 8ft square. But if you got less than that -- I'll improvise). Other than that, I will provide all of my own props. I typically arrive 15 minutes early to set up my table and magic trick trunk.       

What do you charge?

Please see the Options and Rates section of my website.

What forms of payment will you accept?

I will accept cash, check, money order or Paypal. I am NOT set up to accept credit cards yet. Please make your check payable to Michael Pacyga.

What is your availabilty?

Mon - Fri.........Evenings

Sat - Sun.........Anytime

What will you wear?

Who wants to see a ballonatic juggler dressed in a Polo shirt and Khakis? How boring! I will attend your special event dressed in Renaissance style clothing. Juggling was a very popular form of entertainment during this period.

Can someone learn to juggle in 60 minutes?

It depends. Adults can learn to do several throws and catches within an hour. For kids, it will take longer, but some will have 3 or more successful throws and catches. With my instruction, they will have a solid understanding of how the balls need to be thrown. After that, it's just a matter of additional practice. That is why I recommend follow-up lessons.

What is your teaching method for juggling?

To be a good juggler, the throws and catches of each ball must be mastered one at a time. Students will start with one ball, then two, and then move onto three. I will make my rounds and assist anyone who is having trouble. If anyone gets frustrated, I tell them even the world's greatest juggler's drop the ball sometimes.

Why do you charge per student for juggling instruction?

I think it is the only way to be fair. Say I charged $120 per hour, regardless of how many students you have. If you only had 12 students, you would be paying the same price as someone who had 25 students. And that my friend, does not seem fair to me.

Do you teach with scarves?

I choose not teach with scarves, and I find them overrated. Scarves can be used to teach the basic pattern, but this is not what makes juggling difficult. The pattern is easy. Juggling is difficult because you have to train your mind and body to make accurate throws and catches. Even if you learn with scarves, you will have to transition to something that falls at the speed of gravity. Best to start with balls first. By the way, I've never had a heckler yell, “Do Scarves!”

Do you juggle knives, torches, and chainsaws?

I have juggled knives and torches, but I have never been crazy enough to do chainsaws. I will never be crazy enough to juggle a chainsaw. Given the fact that I want to instruct children in proper juggling technique, I decided to exclude these types of juggling props from my instruction. Plus, knives designed for juggling are not sharp. And even if a juggler caught the wrong end of a torch, they wouldn't hold onto it long enough to get anything more than a first degree burn.

Do you do any Volunteer Work?

I do a limited number of "freebies" per year, in which I donate my time, balloons, gas in my car, etc. If you are non-profit or an organization with a struggling financial budget, and would like balloon twisting and Juggling Entertainment, be sure to book your event early.