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Aptaker Regular user Boston 113 Posts |
Hello all,
I'm a magician looking into putting an escape routine into my show. I don't know a lot about escape, I've gotten a few books, just to educate myself on the art a little bit. What I am looking to do would most likely not take a lot of skill and I would be focusing on the entertaining value. I am thinking of having the routine be staged with audience volunteers and having it be comedy related. I have a few questions for those more knowlageable in escape. While the routine is comedy I still want to preserve the danger and seriousness of the escape (even if it isn't dangerous) Are there any simple rules or concepts that I should remember about escape when I practice routining, any do's or don't's. I want to create a funny amazing act while still respecting part of our art and creating a fun experience for my audiences. I'm open to all suggustions and help. Thank you in advance, Aaron |
Chance Inner circle 1385 Posts |
Not take a lot of skill? Huh?
How much time and dedication are you willing to invest into your training? How long are you willing to practice behind the scenes before your first public showing, even if it's in combination with your regular magic show? If you think these are meaningless questions, let me put it another way. Let's say you were a professional magician that wanted to branch out and include tap dancing with your regular show. Then imagine you were speaking with a group of professional dancers -- people that had been dancing their feet off for 20 years or more -- and let it slip out that you were planning to include dance into your show after just 3 months of practice. How receptive to your plans do you think they would be finally? (Yes, I realize I'm sort of putting words in your mouth to make a point, but I think it makes sense in this case.) Just some friendly food for thought. Chance |
Aptaker Regular user Boston 113 Posts |
This is a lot of why I am asking these questions. I don't want to disrespect the art of escapes. I do not plan on becoming a full time escape artist however if I am going to perform a routine it would not be something that would give audiences a bad view of the art. I'm willing to practice behind the scenes as much as it takes. I am still learning to do magic and am in no rush to put anything into my show, but I would want to learn about the art for a while and practice techniques before I tried to put a routine together. I wouldn't put a routine in 3 months, and I really do have a lot of respect for magicians, escape artists, and dancers as well as many other types of artists. No I do not think these are meaningless questions, these are the types of questions I was looking for.
As a young magician, I try to work my hardest to honor and uphold our art so that I can be proud to be the future. My not wanting to do a routine without much difficult skill isn't because I am looking to cut corners, or take the easy way out, I try to prefect all of my sleights and presentations, but I didn't start my magic doing double lifts either. I did simple effects that could give me a feel for magic. I was not ready for difficult sleights. I am assuming in escapes I would not try to escape from a straight jacket as a starter, I'd want to look at books, try to watch escape artists and start with escapes like the siberian chain escape. As I do not rely on magic to make my living, I am in no rush to start performing escapes but would like to start to learn about them. I really love the types of questions that you asked me, becasue I am in no way meaning to disrespect any art form or claim to be something I'm not. I see how easily my first post could slip in with the people looking to build marketed effects, or ask for full presentations, however "magicians helping magicians" is why I am here,or in my case Magicians helping Magicians in Training. If you have any more questions please feel free to ask or any places I can start in the world of escapes. Thank you, Aaron |
ufo Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 1185 Posts |
Aptaker,
Good. Thanks for clarifying your intentions. IT sounds like you are on a good path. Read, learn, absorb, ask, observe, try, test, experiment and then,...when you are ready: DO! There are many things in the escape arena that are very distinct to it, including the spicy personalities of those in the community(!), but it is also a very rewarding field. A good bit that I could recommend for your stated intentions in the first post would be the sit down rope tie written up in the "Mark Wilson Course in Magic". It is simple (not to be confused with easy) and direct and can play for comedy as you hope. I remember seeing James Randi do this escape at my university once! Good luck and keep us posted with your progress and questions.
"What's your drug?" she asked. "Hope" he said, "The most addicting one of all."
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Aptaker Regular user Boston 113 Posts |
Thanks, and simple would have been a better word choice than easy. Easy implies no work, simple implies basic but one still needs to put in time and effort. I'll take a look in my Mark Wilson Course In Magic.
Aaron |
james_unlimited Loyal user UK 223 Posts |
Thumbcuffs? with practice are effective.?
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sbroomheadsr New user Retired, so I only have 59 Posts |
You could use some jumper's cuffs. james_unlimited's idea of thumbcuffs are good but would require more practice than jumper cuffs. Or shackles, you know the ones made of the oblong loop of steel bar and 4 pieces of chain.
S Broomhead
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Aptaker Regular user Boston 113 Posts |
Hi all,
Just wanted to give an update. I've started studying escapes through different books as well as trying to watch escape artists on old magic variety shows I have on tape. I've found the routine in Mark Wilson's Course in Magic and have been practicing with that. I still have no intentions on performing anytime soon but I did have a question. Would it be bad etiquette to in the future if I've become practiced in a routine (for example the routine in Mark Wilson's course in magic)to perform it even without being extremely well versed in things like lock picking or more complex escapes. I'm not planning to claim that I'm an escape artist, and if no is the answer I'll understand it but would it be ok (Still far down the line) to perform a routine. Like all of my magic routines I practice until the technique is seccondary to the presentation in my mind so I'm still talking about far down the road. Thanks in advance, Aaron |
freefallillusion1 Elite user Cincinnati, OH 446 Posts |
Aaron-
You are a performer and that's what the audience wants to see. If you can present a good, solid, well-rehearsed routine, do it. Lots of guys do things like a good straitjacket escape (and do it well) without having an encyclopedic knowledge of lock picking. The audience doesn't know this, of course, and because that performer gave a superb presentation, the art of escape is well represented. Do a good job and your audience will believe you. |
Oge Regular user 154 Posts |
Freefallillusion1,
agree with you,..Aaron just do a good job and your audience will believe you. and keep up the good work! |
ufo Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 1185 Posts |
Yes and amen!
"What's your drug?" she asked. "Hope" he said, "The most addicting one of all."
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Bill Fienning Special user 635 Posts |
Harry Blackstone Sr. did a comedy rope tie in his show. I think it may have been a Kellar Tie or some variant thereof. (I was quite young when I saw him.) There was no "danger" angle to it, just a lighter routine to provide a mix in his show. He had perhaps 10 or more men on stage helping him (including one stooge from the audience).
Remember, escape routines require that the performer be able to exert very strong control, by virtue of his personality, over the audience members assisting him on stage. He must be able to do this without appearing obnoxious.
Bill Fienning
"It's More than Tricks" |
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