Four-time Florida State Juggling Champion. Competes on an international level. Member of the World Juggling Federation. Member of the International Jugglers’ Association. Featured on local and national television. Available for events.
These are bullet points on the back of juggler and USF St. Petersburg student Dan Brown’s business card, along with a QR code that links to his website.
Brown rose to prominence after years of practice and patience, developing skills like the “five-club back cross,” where he juggles five clubs behind his back, and the “scorpion kick,” where he kicks and catches a club from his back over his head.
Brown’s passion for juggling developed after watching a friend practicing seven years ago. After practicing with three balls for hours and hours, and teaching himself with a “learn to juggle” book, he became competent at the craft.
“It’s not gonna happen overnight,” Brown admitted.
For beginners, he recommends practicing two hours a day for a year. Today, Brown is able to juggle eight balls. His dedication has led him to juggle as entertainment at many venues and at high level competitions like the World Juggling Federation in Las Vegas.
Brown described the competitive juggling environment as “stressful” because of the strictness of competition. In 2012, he came in third in a competition in South Dakota that aired on ESPN 3.
On the entertainment side, Brown juggles at local events like parties, weddings and festivals. He said he believes these opportunities are a result of giving his card out to so many people. They take it, put it in their wallet, come across it a couple months later and decide to give him a call, he explained.
Brown also does a good deal of juggling outside events and competition, splitting his time between classes, a part-time job and running a club. At USFSP Brown is a senior in the honors college studying criminology. He works part time at the personal injury law firm Abrahamson & Uiterwyk in Tampa. He is also the president of the USFSP College Outreach Mission (COMission), a campus faith group.
Brown said he hopes to use his criminology degree as a springboard for law school after he graduates. He is considering working for the FBI or becoming a military justice attorney upon getting his law degree. Either way, Brown said five to 10 years from now he will still be juggling, regardless of his part or full-time position.
“I’m always going to be juggling until I’m physically unable to do it anymore,” Brown said.
The only hobby Brown has been pursuing longer than juggling is drumming. He also enjoys water sports, weight weightlifting and staying fit in general # a requirement of a juggler at his level.
While many people believe juggling dangerous objects, like torches, is harder than juggling other objects and requires a more skilled juggler, Brown said this is merely a misconception. Still, he doesn’t mind doing it.
Try something new: Brown offers lessons to those interested in learning how to juggle. He can be reached through the contact page on his website, worldclassjuggling.com. Those looking to engage with other student jugglers are encouraged to join the USFSP Juggling Club.
