This is the first I’ve heard of the Kickstarter thing and that sounds terrible.
Regardless I don’t feel I was thought-policing, gatekeeping, or bullying to observe that a dude w 25+ years in the community has some cred built up. Or that art is subjective and a lot of people do dig his style.
But I won’t deny that news of the book is troubling and I really hope he can make it right.
I’m glad you said it first. Cause That’s what I thought as well.
Someone asked about this a few months ago on Facebook (when I first learned about the issue) and John replied this in the comments:
“My sons severe autism has gutted my life paired with my best friends suicide I’m slowly trying to rebuild my life after losing my 25 year career. I have been working at a dispensary but I’m losing the battle for my house. l still will fulfill my promise but I’ve been fighting for my life and I need a little more time. I’m so sorry everyone.”
This obviously doesn’t erase the problems here but it gave me a little perspective.
If true then that’s completely understandable, but then why doesn’t he just post exactly this as update #9 on his Kickstarter campaign rather than on Facebook?
He’s gone 19 months without a status update. I’ve lent large sums of money to people I know who’ve never paid me back; I’m seeing similar patterns of behavior here.
What I am going to share with you is neither evidence for the defense or ammo for the prosecution. It is just something to factor in to this book release/Kickstarter equation.
John Higby started his (self employed show) approximately 26+ years ago. Basically a higher level of ‘busking’. Like the guy at the shopping center that puts down a hat and does things impressive enough to earn him some cash.
He has travelled the World, endearing himself(and later in his career, his wife) to amazed audiences full of happy faces. He has always loved to paint and build things. Often, between performances, he stays busy painting just about anything. The guy can’t sit still and usually has little projects lined up…
John, over time, fine tuned his scheduling to make the money he needs ‘to live’ without killing himself. His plan has worked for well over 20 years.
We all try to make financial plans that factor in ‘that unknown expense’. It can be school books, new shoes, tires for the car, an unplanned trip, whatever. And if everything is pretty much flowing along, we just keep using the same formula to make enough money to move on down the road.
About 19 months ago, SUDDENLY, Johns’ formula hit a giant hole in the road! Covid 19= no more shows, no more crowds, no engagements………Zero cash flow.
25 years of bill paying income and the self employed Showman is unemployed with a quickness.
He has a Wife, a house, a few children, and the bills don’t stop. I am not sure of this, but I ‘think’ both of Johns’ boys are Autistic. One, very much so. Needing constant care at no guess of the expen$e.
He has the Book plan in motion and gets totally knocked off course, financially. He’s trying to keep his head on straight and his best friend commits suicide. So now the guy is screwed up financially and mentally.
Then, factor in not being able to make your house payments and the Loan people don’t care who lost their income or killed themselves. They just want ‘the payment’.
I can see how his immediate priorities might change. We don’t have to fully understand his challenge. But I am sure we can all at least agree Higby is much more aware of how screwed up his personal situation is than we are.
I am certainly no mind reader. So I can’t say why he doesn’t post up his plight in at least a few places. We can only take turns guessing.
…Like I said, I’m not defending him or trying to bury him…
But, under these trying circumstances, I certainly would not want to be in his shoes.
Can you share a link to this facebook post please
I do not want to sound like Piers Morgan. But there are any number of Federal programs to mitigate these kinds of stories…
Bump, for a refresher. Anyone hear back about “Everybody YoYos”? Its been over a year again…
Dang i didnt know any of this. I thought he was still beloved till this very moment. Should be more common knowledge so people dont accidentally buy his yoyos. I was heavily debating purchasing a hibgy 888 in the BST a couple weeks ago and would have been extremely sad if i bought it and then read all this.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I never have seen or understood the beauty in a Jackson Pollock painting but some people love it. Art is hard to define
i love me some Higby art…but I couldn’t not recognize these beautiful head stocks.
excellent taste sir.
Enjoy the groove my friends
kgb
The comment bombs people have been dropping on the Youtube channel for the guy that hasn’t sent the Inception has inspired me to go to Higby’s local shows with a picket sign that reads “Where’s my copy of Everybody Yoyos?” I’ll let you know how it goes.
(jk - but I am salty about this)
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Yes, he’s actually been performing his show in a number of different states.
This guy is still selling preorders of his book on his website here
This means that those who aren’t in on the loop will see the website and mistakenly believe that they can preorder the book and get it in one to two months but instead they will only lose their money. Very unfair from Higby to keep the preorder on his website.
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I have asked him about this recently and I know he is definitely still going to follow through and is good for it. He definitely does not plan to run away with the money.
He is a good friend and COVID really disrupted his work life and everything and it hasn’t been easy. Definitely no excuse for the lack of updates from him but he is one of the most kind people I know and he definitely has no intention of just dropping the project.
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Andre isn’t someone that is just representing YoYoExpert. Andre is YoYoExpert. Andre started site, runs the site, owns is the site. And maintains the site.
Andre has been around yo-yos for at least a couple decades now. He has been a highly respected judge and a number of the yoyo contests. He is an organizer, a consultant and an active participant in anything yo-yo related worldwide. His list of highly regarded yo-yo players called him a friend second to none.
He and John have been friends for decades. Andre doesn’t take friendships lightly. Their friendship was forged through years of interaction. I would say without question Andre has a much better view of what John has been through in the last few years.
When people have a true bond, friendship, and they themselves are a man of honor like Andre, there is a tendency to support your friend because that’s what friends do.
In the yo-yo, community, nationally or worldwide, Andre’s reputation is a very high level of excellence. He doesn’t play games. He doesn’t lie. He doesn’t step on peoples toes to get anywhere.
For many years now, Andre, has tried to be part of the solution, because being part of the problem does not appeal to him as a viable alternative.
There is a small group of people it seems, they’re just preoccupied with this mob mentality get a rope point of you. The people that just live to pick up or something do you think it’s bad and then form a small group and then run with it.
Ever since he was a kid, because I have known him that long, Andre is not one to just blurt things out. He thinks of things. Balances things in his mind. Considers his own view, and how it may align or not align with other peoples views. He doesn’t draw haphazard conclusions and make statements out of the blue without first considering the ramifications of what he’s going to say.
Andre’s post simply proves that he is not only a good friend of John, but he sees the good side of John more than John’s detractors and his confidence that this situation will be resolved in a positive way.
Personally, insulting Andre’s integrity, using what you think are facts of a negative nature, without actually knowing what you’re talking about, is a very good insight into how some people can draw conclusions without knowing what the hell they’re talking about.
Knowing Andre, since he was a kid, I have confidence in what he says.
