Yes this is a real thing. I've been to enough juggling conventions to see it in action. It can get a bit crazy but there is only so much of this flying, twirling plastic sausage fest i could stand to watch at that time. It got old real quick.
Actually, thanks for mentioning that as some of the better ones I now remember seeing had some real pro entertaining types that talked some funny trash while they did it. But otherwise it's a lot of sounds of wiffle bats and plastic falling on a gym floor.