Bullwhips by the Bay is a twice-monthly peer workshop for those enthusiastic about whips and whip throwing.  It's held at the San Francisco Circus Center, at 755 Frederick Street in San Francisco, close to Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury district.
 

What this workshop is:

Bullwhips by the Bay is intended for those interested in any of the various kinds and uses of whips.  The model being used is called a "peer workshop" since the format will not be that of a formal class.  In a formal class, an instructor has the responsibility to teach specific lessons, and to furnish teaching materials, like whips.  As a peer workshop, there is no guarantee any teaching will be done, besides peers helping other peers with their practice and sharing of knowlege of technique.  All that's guaranteed at any one session is access to space.  Teaching or borrowing whips for those seeking such, may or may not occur, depending on the makeup of any particular evening.

It's intended as a place to be able to come together and safely learn and use skills in wielding the various kinds of plaited leather whips (sometimes referred to as singletails; signal whips; snake whips; black snakes; stock whips; and bullwhips).  All forms of whippery encouraged, but no one style will be emphasized.
 
 

When does Bullwhips by the Bay happen?:

Bullwhips by the Bay will be on the first and third Thursday of the month, 7:30 p.m to 9:00 p.m.  The school retains the right to preempt the class for special events, so it's always a good idea to contact Grizzly in advance, to ensure the class is occuring.  *All cancellations* will be posted immediately on tribe.net, so please check there first.  And a separate email list (with anyone asking to be included, and of all past participants) will be immediately informed.  Since tribe is down often, it's a VERY good idea to send Grizzly your direct email address for last-minute notifications.  If and only if tribe.net is down, will direct emails or telephone calls be entertained to see if class is still occuring.
 
 

What's available for novices:

Ideally, each person attending has his or her own equipment, including whips.  On t'other hand, quite often, someone is interested in whips, but hasn't yet made enough of a commitment to purchase a whip.  It's possible that veteran whip wielders attending will be willing to lend out a whip, although that's not always going to happen.  Ideally, there will be loaner whips available.

I finally now do have the promise of a loaner whip or two, due to the generosity of ArcAngel Leather and Steel, and as soon as they arrive, a limited number of loaners will be available for newbies without their own whips, although all are encouraged to buy their own.  Spare protective goggles are also available to lend out during classes.
 
 
 

What are the rules?

We are very fortunate to have the generosity of the SF Circus Center in the use of their space, so we should honor their needs during our use of the whip room.  While we're there, we should observe the following:
 

*$4 per person fee (all of which goes to the Circus Center) must be paid to Grizzly or his surrogate.

*A release form must be filled out the first time a person takes the workshop. (It would be a HUGE help if you could download the form ahead of time, fill it out, and bring it with you to the workshop.)  If you are under age 18, you must have this form signed by your legal guardian *before* attending this workshop.

*This is intended really as a workshop for adults.  If you are under 18, please first contact Grizzly (events@laughingbear.org) to discuss whether your attendance might be a good fit for the workshop.

*Remove street shoes once in the room, and either be in socks, or gym shoes, while on the mat.

*Protective eye wear must be worn while throwing whips.  (And a good idea any time in a space where whips are being thrown.)

*While not mandatory, protective gear in addition to eye cover is a good idea.  Earplugs for supersonic cracking; wide-brimmed hats for erratic whip ends; long-sleeved jackets, all can make one's experience more comfortable in the long run...

*Targets might be provided from time to time, but we'd like to avoid impact on sentient beings.

*If so many appear that space is at a premium, some space management decisions will be made by Grizzly.

*Please don't ever pick up someone's whips or gear without being given specific permission to do so.

*If not actively throwing whips, please stay conscious of the fact that whips are whirring around you, and stay close to walls when possible.  Idle chattery with those throwing whips (despite the bad example Grizzly will undoubtedly be portraying) isn't the best idea, unless you like being slapped with rogue distracted throws...
 
 
 

How do I get on the email list?

Enroll via tribe.net, or email Grizzly directly at:   events@laughingbear.org
 
 

Where do I go for Bullwhips by the Bay?

755 Frederick Street in San Francisco.  Map, directions, and public transportation info here.

Find the white post outside with "755" painted on it.  There are concrete stairs going up the side of the building housing the Circus Center.  Go all the way up to the top of the concrete stairs (not as far as the private condo building.)  To your right is a double door painted red.  This is the main entrance to the Center.  Go in, and continue through the next set of red double doors directly in front of you.  That is the "Theater Room" in which Bullwhips by the Bay is held.
 
 

What should I buy if I want a whip?

First, you have to decide if you're serious about learning to throw whips.  If you are, it's worth investing money for a quality whip and time to slowly break it in.  If you're not sure, it may not be worth your money and time investment.

If you decide it's worth the investment, in my opinion you can't do better than to buy whips from Mike Murphy in Australia.  I think he makes the best whips available, and has competitive prices.  His custom whips are both responsive and gorgeous.  And his economy line of whips are often better than some U.S. whip makers' best custom whips.  His economy whips are among the least expensive around, and vastly superior quality to the only other cheaper whips I've found.

There's also a very interesting inexpensive whip option I've recently discovered.  While your interest in whips may easily not be in the smaller varieties, if you do like short whips, ArcAngel Leather and Steel has the least expensive small signal whips I've yet seen.  They have kangaroo signal whips (shot bag, leather core, 8 plait belly, 12 plait outer belly) around 31 inches, for under $50.  They also have a variety of other whips.

But of course any leather whip you buy takes considerable breaking in.  The better the whip, the more layers (bellies and bolsters) it will have, and the more tightly they'll be plaited.  The thicker and tighter a whip, the more time it will take to break in and become an extension of your hand.

If you're looking for the least expensive longer whip you can find, and very little breaking in time invested, buying a nylon whip made from paracord is your best choice.
 

Type and length is harder to suggest.  If your only interest is what some term "indoor" play, then a signal whip, of no more than a four foot length, is probably your best choice.  For performance art, the most common lengths I've seen used seem to be six to eight foot whips, usually either American style bullwhips or Australian stock whips.  I'm beginning to think the best first whip for someone serious about learning all styles, might be a six foot bullwhip, to cover most bases.  But having long conversations with veteran whip users and whip makers, should they be willing to spend the time with you on the phone, will give you a better idea of what fits your personal needs best.  In my own case, I have a four foot signal whip, two four foot snake whips (at some point for double whip practice, but until I break in the newest, one with a very short fall, for use under tight ceilings, the other with a full length of fall, which probably gives me close to a seven foot whip range), and an eight foot American style bullwhip.
 
 
 
 

Upcoming Whip Peer Workshop Dates
 
 

May 2008:

Thursday, May 1
Thursday, May 15
 

June 2008:

Thursday, June 5
Thursday, June 19
 

July 2008:

Thursday, July 4 (this may change due to the holiday)
Thursday, July 18
 

August 2008:

Thursday, August 7
Thursday, August 21
 
 
 
 
 

Whipping Rules of the Road at Whip Peer Workshops
(thanks to Andrew John Conway for plagarizing his script, below...)

Bullwhip Workshop Safety

Bullwhips can cut flesh, break bones, put out an eye, or slice off an ear. Treat them with respect and use these common sense safety precautions to limit damage to the occasional welt.
Protect Other People
 • Be aware of the space all around you, including directly behind you and over your head. Allow plenty of room for your whip to crack.
 • Do not fool around with a whip or threaten anyone with it. Uncontrolled and unscripted use of a whip can have unpredictable results.
 • Never use a whip where it might pick up dirt or gravel and fling it at someone.
Protect Yourself
 • Wear protective clothing. Eye protection is required. Gloves will prevent blisters on your hands. Ear plugs will make the sound level more comfortable. A stout jacket and pants may save you some welts.
 • When you are not cracking, stay near the walls of the gym. Do not enter anyone else's space without warning them. Remember they may be wearing ear plugs so make sure they acknowledge you.
Protect the Whips
 • Do not crack the whip too loud. It is bad for the whip and unpleasant for other people. True control of the whip means you can crack it as quietly as you like.
 • Do not use anyone else's whip without permission.
 • When you are not using the whip, do not leave it on the floor where someone might tread on it or trip over it.