I got into stiltwalking accidentally. A friend of mine suggested that
I attend a circus camp, just for a change of pace. At that point all
I could do was juggle, badly. At the camp, I picked up
a love of trapeze,
unicycle, and stilts. I have been doing circus
in my spare time for over ten years now. I still juggle badly.
I can be reached at stilts@maxham.com.
Be sure to put 'stilts' in the title to make it past my spam filter.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I generally work close to
home, but I can travel if needed.
I have a set of seven wooden stilts that I made specifically for
teaching. They have adjustable-height food rests, padded feet,
and foam-padded knees for comfort. They are sturdy and time-tested.
Events
I have taught at birthday parties, company gatherings, and
for Big Brothers Big Sisters (as a volunteer).
For instructing, I need a flat grassy area to work in, plus a stable
place for stud
ents to sit and suit up. Picnic benches work well.
Fun things to do include stilt skits and stilt parades.
Safety
So far I have zero student injuries. :)
I do take safety seriously, and I don't try to push students
past their limits. I also emphasize safe stilting, including use
of wrist guards, attentive spotting, and teaching how to fall safely.
Star pupils. Me on tall stilts.
Backflip!
Curriculum
Beginner
Basic getting-up-on-stilts, escorted by a spotter, using the shortest
stilts.
Intermediate
Learning stilt safety, including controlled falling. Students may
use the medium or tall stilts. An intermediate graduate should be
safe to walk without a spotter.
Advanced
Stilt performance, including juggling and dance. Very tall stilts
may be used.
I can perform on tall stilts or spring-loaded
jumping stilts. I was (briefly) in a 7-up commercial that ran in the 2004 Superbowl.
Look in the lower-right of the frame during the last two seconds.
I have some basic costumes and can get others custom-made by my
wife, who does costuming.
I can make wooden stilts to your specification, or custom
fiberglass stilts. I'm not really in this for the money, but
they do take a bit of time and equipment, so they aren't
cheap. The wooden stilts are great for kids. A serious
performer might be interested in the fiberglass stilts
because they are extremely lightweight, super strong, and
made in nearly any shape.
Last updated 22 Sep 08 by max
