But Can He Sweep with It?

July 14, 2012 11:40 AM

Robert James Webber is really good with a broom. [slyt] [via]
posted by quin (27 comments total)

That should earn him a few dollars. I like buskers.
posted by pdxpogo at 11:48 AM on July 14, 2012

Nice. Basically a contact-staff and staff routine with some extra juggling tricks thrown in (contact staff is where you don't use your hands).

Here's a (mostly) contact staff routine by MCP.
posted by adamrice at 11:50 AM on July 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

(contact staff is where you don't use your hands)

I thought "contact staff" was that link in the lower right of every MetaFilter page.
posted by hippybear at 11:52 AM on July 14, 2012 [3 favorites]

If only he were any good at deinterlacing filters.
posted by Nelson at 11:53 AM on July 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

Let's not even talk about the "contract staph" routine.
posted by cortex at 11:53 AM on July 14, 2012 [7 favorites]

Yeah, but look at what showed up in the right-hand previews: http://youtu.be/M9MKMAnEyZg
posted by clvrmnky at 11:54 AM on July 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
posted by PipRuss at 11:55 AM on July 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

Robert James Webber is really good with a broom

How can you tell? He doesn't sweep anything at all.
posted by kenko at 11:58 AM on July 14, 2012

kenko: "Robert James Webber is really good with a broom

How can you tell? He doesn't sweep anything at all."

See title. =)
posted by lazaruslong at 12:02 PM on July 14, 2012

Good to see he's been keeping busy since Bridges of Madison County.
posted by box at 12:07 PM on July 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

Awww...Star Wars Kid grew up.
posted by HeroZero at 12:08 PM on July 14, 2012 [2 favorites]

Put the Star Wars theme on there, and...
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:08 PM on July 14, 2012

Amazing what adding a little bit of weight to one end of a stick allows you to do.
posted by pdq at 12:11 PM on July 14, 2012

That floor doesn't look any cleaner when he's finished.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:11 PM on July 14, 2012

DJ ROOMBA IN THE HOUSE!!!
posted by Fizz at 12:14 PM on July 14, 2012

A regular Spike Spiegel!
posted by Drexen at 12:15 PM on July 14, 2012

Oh hello, memories of pipe band!
posted by Lemurrhea at 12:17 PM on July 14, 2012

"Robert James Webber is really good with a broom

So is Turbo.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:23 PM on July 14, 2012 [6 favorites]

That was a skill I didn't know I didn't have.
posted by OmieWise at 12:34 PM on July 14, 2012 [2 favorites]

Star Wars kid and this guy are both from Quebec.
posted by furtive at 12:37 PM on July 14, 2012

Basically a contact-staff and staff routine

Yeah, but from the huge lump on the end, I'd say he has one hell of a staff infection.
posted by Malor at 1:36 PM on July 14, 2012

So is Turbo.

Came for the Boogaloo Shrimp, wasn't disappointed.
posted by cashman at 1:43 PM on July 14, 2012

I don't know, that broom is no coat rack.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:20 PM on July 14, 2012

What is the song? It's wonderful.


So's the broom act, but that goes without saying.
posted by jrochest at 3:09 PM on July 14, 2012

Thanks for the post quin, Yes, He is very good, it's a nice act.

The techniques he is using with that broom pre-date modern contact staff, they are primarily based around Fei Cha - Traditional Chinese Techniques. I'm not finding any good videos or info about Fei Cha online. For European experts, I would goto MCP (mentioned above), and Allstaffs (below).

As for Contact Staff, try:
Valerie and Josh (Solstix/Allstaffs) - 2011 Contact Promo
Brussels Crew - No Sweat
Linda Farkas (Magma FireTheatre) - Routine
posted by Drew Glass at 3:17 PM on July 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

Step Right Up by Tom Waits, jrochest. From his 1976 album Small Change.
posted by barrett caulk at 3:37 PM on July 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

Meh, I've had better.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:52 AM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]