Alan Gutierrez

Reading the Copyblogger, Brian Clark, who makes Seth’s point, in Why Emotion Matters, as well as Seth does in It’s How You Tell It, regarding the Chris Bliss three ball juggling routine, and the five ball parody created by Jason Garfield.

The point is that Chris still puts on a better show. Why? Because, Jason makes juggling look boring.

Bloggers, what a useless lot. We are a community of critics. All we ever make are observations. Seinfelds one and all.

This is what happens when people set out to be clever in their observations, they state the obvious, but with an inflection that says, “Do I get a cookie now?”

Obviously, the purpose of Jason’s performance was to make Chris’ exertions look especially comic in light of Jason’s display of skill and ease. It was brilliant showmanship.

Yes, it does tell a story. Not with the maudlin sentiments of corporate communication, but with panache.

Moreover, the video he released on the heels of Chris’ viral distrubtion, meant that his video is now everywhere where Chris’ video is found. I tip my hat to such opportunism.

By far, my favorite overinflated bout of observational bather, the one that so clearly displays the lofty contempt the observer has for the specimens du jour is Sue Pelletier in Technical Brilliance is Not Enough.

As I watched Jason juggle, it was obvious that he is fantastic at what he does. But I wouldn’t hire him for a corporate event. He’s just not engaging. He looks alternatively show-offy, bored, and angry. Bliss seems totally engaged in what he’s doing, excited about it, even a little worried. He pulls us into his experience through his showmanship and makes it ours. Jason seems to be doing it all for Jason.

At breakfast, in the morning, after the day that I offer my opinons on the talents of complete strangers in terms of which complete stranger I would hire for a corporate event, feel free to put however much arsenic in my scambled eggs as you see fit.