How to Juggle One Cigar Box

Cigar box juggling is one of the easiest techniques to learn and also one of the most visually appealing. It was popularized in the 1920s by vaudeville and movie star W.C. Fields and remains a staple in any juggler's routine. All you need to begin are three standard juggler's cigar boxes, a little hand-eye coordination and some patience.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Take your three boxes and line them up end to end so that the small sides are touching. Grasp the right and left boxes with your right and left hands, securing your grip with your thumb and index fingers. There is no need to crush the boxes; apply enough pressure so the boxes won't slip out.

2. Press the outside boxes gently into the middle box, maintaining your grip from Step 1. Lift all three boxes using this pressure. Move the boxes up and down, to your left and right, back and forth until you feel comfortable with their bulk and weight.

3. Bend your knees and lower the boxes to your waist. Next extend your knees to your normal standing posture, and raise the boxes to your chest at the same speed. When you reach the point where your knees are straight, quickly pull the outside two boxes apart and clap them back together trapping the middle box again.

4. Practice this move several times until you feel comfortable enough to pull the boxes apart further and for longer periods of time.

5. Move onto more complicated tricks once this first step is mastered. A more advanced trick involves touching the right and left boxes together while the middle is in mid-air and then clapping the three together again.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are having difficulty clapping the three boxes together after separating, focus more on keeping all three horizontal to each other. This ensures an even connection.