I have a few questions for those with more experience then I in straight jackets. I use a Humane standard jacket (non gimmicked as god intended)

- Is it possible for a man of average fitness to remove his arms from the arm holes whilst still wearing the UNgimmicked jacket?

- I notice many people with real jackets gaffed the crotch strap to help escape. Is this normal?

- Do audience's care which hole the pin is in for the arm strap? I've notice some performers get it to the last hole. I have big shoulders and I can only escape from the third hole!

- Is there any patter, pyschology or tips for avoiding people looping the arm strap through the back strap in order to stuff me up!

Wow! What a response!

I've reached a point where I can do TWO of the following.

Crossed Arms
Ungimmicked Jacket
Crotch Strap

But not all three!

If I have crossed arms in the ungimmicked jacket...the crotch strap ruins it.

If my arms are UNcrossed, I can escape.

I do all three. It took me a while. I guess I never knew any better. I've never had a gaffed jacket.

It was a very big help to me to get Jay Leslie's video. There are some excellent pointers there. The other thing that I learned the hard way, and from being coached in person by Ses Carny and Harley Newman, was to get a jacket that was big enough. It fits me, but not like it's a wet T-shirt contest.

I don't know where the average escape artist falls on the average fitness scale.

This is about as far as I can go on a public forum. Get the Jay Leslie video.

Yours,

Paul

Thanks Paul,

You always seem to know the answers!

I stand on the shoulders of giants. At my height, that's rather necessary.

Yours,

Paul

I stand on the glass of giants.


You really have helped me a lot paul. Your thoughts on glass were instrumental in the success of my stage show.

I even mentioned you by name in the acknowledgements!