The Juggling Edge - Small Talk

So I'm off on some travels on Asia on Sunday, and naturally I plan to take my juggling balls, mainly for airport juggling as we have some long waits. However after speaking to a friend yesterday who has had two sets of balls slashed going through security at airports (checking for drugs), I'm now a bit wary of doing so.

Has any one had similar problems before?

# by Jonny, 2012-07-26 01:30 BST

I've taken my juggling balls in hand-luggage through numerous US and European airports. They have never caused an issue and have not once been questioned about them.

Is this a juggling urban myth?

# by Colin E., 2012-07-26 06:47 BST Parent

I remember a juggler having to explain that his juggling clubs were not offensive weapons at Lubeck airport when I went to EJC 2002.

Part of this explanation involved bashing himself over the head with them.

# by Orinoco, 2012-07-26 07:54 BST Parent

I had a similar experience, I went up to the Sydney Juggling Convention with clubs in hand luggage, no one cared. Coming down however I was forced to check them in.

I should have thought of hitting myself on the head with them, that may have shown that they weren't as dangerous as many other things that people bring :)

# by Adrian G, 2012-07-27 02:28 BST Parent

Great, thanks! I have taken a set of MMX balls to the US in hand luggage before and that was fine, but thought beanbags might be slightly different.

Well if they do get slashed for some reason, I'll report it back here (and will have to learn to do some sewing...)

# by Jonny, 2012-07-26 11:54 BST Parent

Australia and New Zealand will cut open all your juggling balls to check for seeds. Never had any such problems in other countries.

# by jamesfrancis, 2012-07-26 14:30 BST Parent

Some countries don't want you bringing in seeds, sometimes they will confiscate your balls and microwave them, you then collect them at a later stage.

A little while back I had a stop over at Mumbai on the way to Thailand. It was not long after the Mumbai terrorist attack so at immigration they were very thorough and there was an enormous queue. As they rummaged through my hand luggage they spotted my (re-plugged) DX balls which they found extremely suspicious. I explained what they were for and did a little juggling, next thing they waved over all the other immigration officers to see the juggling much to the annoyance of the hundreds of people waiting in line!

# by pumpkineater23, 2012-07-26 14:21 BST Parent

That´s the funniest thing I´ve heard the whole day men!

# by Rob van Heijst, 2012-07-26 14:28 BST Parent

May I introduce, the the most hated man in Mumbai airport: PumpkinEater23.

# by mtb, 2012-07-26 14:48 BST Parent

Do people have enough experience to say whether I can take juggling clubs in hand luggage around Europe?

Could do with transporting them around, but don't usually have (much spare) hold space.

# by ^Tom_, 2012-07-26 15:14 BST Parent