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avimagic Loyal user Hollywood, Florida 235 Posts |
I am trying to make my comedy 'In again - Out again' shackle routine hit harder and funnier.
It pretty much kills every time, but I want to make it better (especially in the laughs department). Below is a link to a (non professional) video of my routine. I vary certain parts of it, but that's pretty much the routine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_XW8h7_hqU Your ideas and critiques would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Avi |
AntonDreaming Special user Gloucester by the sea 622 Posts |
All I would say is work the ending punch line out better. I have seen people ask the spec to count to 3 and yell go! As soon as they say go you show that both hands are out of the restranint. Just a thought.
Anton |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Get rid of that horrible loop ring,,,get Steve Bakers Transport chains,,%100 better and smaller so that the concealment of your moves are easier to cover,,then work on the patter angle.
Ken |
Joe Marotta Special user Can You Believe I Have 944 Posts |
Hi Avi,
Sounds like your audience enjoyed it. Maybe try some rope instead of the metal loop. It just screams of Magic Trick. Rope would be lots quieter. Try a Keller rope tie. Or like Ken recommended, Steve Bakers Transport Chains. The watch is a good gag. You could always mention how bright the lights are and put on some sunglasses. Or hold up 3 fingers stating you will escape in under 3 minutes. There's lots of gags you can do. I think the end should be stronger though. But you're on the right track. Keep it up! |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
For an ending how about the Eddie Joseph version !
Not for me but done well gets you off to a good hand + you are automaticaly in applause position. Ken I still say look out for your angles your Tube shots exposed them far too much. |
avimagic Loyal user Hollywood, Florida 235 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-02-12 18:01, Kondini wrote: Thank you! Just ordered. |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
You will not be disapointed.
Ken |
avimagic Loyal user Hollywood, Florida 235 Posts |
Thanks so much!
Any idea where I can see the Eddie Joseph version? |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
In print was original Harry Stanley exclusive brought up by Supreme,, I am sure there are still a bunch of copies still around,,,,,around 60`s printing,,,if no luck on here,,try Davenports Crypt.
Ken |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
I enjoy this type of routine...anything to get the audience laughing is GOLD in my book....
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
I watched your SJ routine as well. I thought your gags were great...however, I would have liked to seen more of a struggle with the SJ. You got out of it with ease...I found it anticlimatic.
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
The Donster Inner circle 4817 Posts |
Lylemagic what is the best way to struggle on stage to bring it to a climatic performance. I to get out with ease but I'll like to struggle a bit more and not to mess up a $300.00 pair of shoes ?
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Get some $30 shoes! or even charity shop ...... or do it bare foot on a bed of nails? No worries about your shoes then!
ONly joking ..... if you watch David devals escape video he struggles from the start .... wink! |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
So I'm sure that I'll be flamed to death on here by the REAL escapists, but for me, whether comdey or serious routines all have one thing in common. It's an inner struggle to break free of more than just the SJ. It's about breaking free of the confines of life, working thru challenges and hurdles to accomplish a goal. Yeah...I prefer the "funny" SJ Routines, but that's still relevant. I own 2 SJs, my canvas one I can get out of in about 45 seconds....BUT I DON'T. I play it up and I'm usually get out in about 3-4 minutes of struggling and flopping around on the floor, banging into walls if I'm not on stage, etc.
My shoes are $400 black and white spectator wingtips, I've never messed em up! That being said, my new SJ I just got from Monkey Dungeon (the houdini style jacket...a work of art). It takes me about 4 minutes to get out of that one so no acting is necessary...but it's all leather and suade with tons more buckeles and straps to work thru...and it weighs about 8lbs. So I'm really workin' my butt of to get free of confinement!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
*** you guys have too much mone $300 and $400 for shoes! *** I make do with teh cheepest I can find that fit! But then my braces wear through them really quickly so whats the point.
Donster - I can see chrisis point here - he spends more on shoes than you (does that make him a woman? - Chris NOT calling you a woman just making a point that women spend too much on shoes ...... OK its sexest and no oubt ill be in troue but....) and he does not get them messed up by struggling lots. Now is it that your $300 shoes are not as well made and will not survive the struggle? or are they as good and will???? you know I think you have to just go for it one time - on carpet first - then see how they are - but on teh otehr hand I don't think you need to get on the floor to struggle ..... you can but you don't have to? |
jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Two left - one right or two rights- one left
How about the two escapes from one hand then when you point to the clock at the back of the room your opposite hand is free. I've also seen a pair of glasses used to complement a watch prop, taking them from the spectators top pocket or taking a magnifying glass form the table will accomplish the same effect. Other than that - Looks like you've worked out your movements as a dancer would choreograph. I like it better then the usual "once - twice and - out" under cover of a jacket. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OH! just came to me. Doing a Thumb Tie or Thumb Cuff escape? Use a magnifying glass (with the lens removed). Need I say more?
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
There's an inherent problem with this routine/effect. The funniest and most surprising time you escape and then get instantly reshackled is the 1st time you do it.
After that, from an effect point of view, it's more of the same and so, regarding the effect, the magical/amazment factor and comedic value is lessened with each repeat. This has to be countered by routining and I thought you did a pretty good job. Here's some other ideas for your consideration. Having a spectator up and getting in and out without them knowing is one possible approach. The audience sees what's going on, that you're hands can get free, but the spectator don't. This way each 'in and out' isn't done for it's own sake. ie I'm getting in and out again. There's the increased comedic element for the audience of 'when is the spectator going to catch on'. There's alao a comedic tension created by the anticipation of when the spectator is finally going to catch on and there's comedic possibilities in making the 'in and out's more and more absurd and obvious. You could even get to the point where you've dumped the shackles completely and so the ending would then be, for the assisting specky, that they vanish with the audience being in on the joke. There's a 2nd inherent difficulty to be addressed with this effect. If you've shown you can repeatedly get 'in and out' you can hardly expect a climax of 'getting out again' to really finish off the routine. It needs a finish and doesn't have one 'built in'. That means you have to supply one. If you haven't got a big pay off at the end of the routine or can't come up with one then a nice lead out can also work. Just an eg: With the shackles around the front you get the assisting specky to hold open a bag, your hands go in and come straight out with some type of 'thank you' gift for the assisting specky. Not a killer ending but a sweet way to wrap up a routine especially if they've been kept in the dark throughout it. Another way might be to always do the escape with the same hand. Do it a few times and eventually get to the point where you've just got one hand shackled. Point out to the crowd that you've never been able to work out how to get this hand free...until now. You could then pick up a knife and do knife through arm (I'm not suggesting this for your show particularly just trying to show you how to think about it), or an ax and use a living hand gimmick to end the routine. Or for something similar but lighter, have a spare set of shackles round a rubber hand in your table and switch this in as you get something from your table and then escape by 'unscrewing your hand'. Of course the aubsurdity of the sheer number of times you get in and out can EventuallY start to become funny. But one needs to have a way of getting to this point without losing the audience's interest long the way. If you can't think of anything routine wise to keep the interest and laughs increasing do a short routine. If the you find interest and laughs and impact start to wain after two 'in and outs' just do two. The routine and your show will be stronger for it. Points regarding your own performance; ( you asked for a critique so I'll try and help). Technical points. Your angles looked compromised to some extent on the video and they needn't be. Pracise in front of a mirror standing at various angles to it to see where there might be a problem. Don't stand 'upstage' of your table as you do unnecessarily at the start of the routine. It acts as a sceen and barrier between you and the audience. Position it off to the side of slightly behind you. The in and out sequence can be done fast and can look almost elegant because of it. Using the specky as cover looks somewhat inelegant. It might be worth thinking of doing the the 'now they're at the front' bit during a quick 360 degree turn. The 'in and out's could do with a little more built into them to make each one get a laugh. You do this for example when you go for the watch... but this could be better positioned. The 1st time you escape you don't need to do anything...the getting in and out is a hugly effective moment in and of itself. So you can save the bit with the watch for the 2nd 'in and out'. Going for the watch the 1st time means you lose one opportunity for a motivationally based laugh for one of the 'in and outs'. So like I said I thought you did a good job. Didn't let the routine drag on or get uninterestingly repetitive, kept up the pace and left an entertained audience with a fooler. Cheers Neal.
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-02-16 18:09, jay leslie wrote: No need to say more! that's a great idea ...... you clearly would not want to either 1) break the lense or 2) set fire to anything as the bright sunlight shines through the lense! or 3) scare your audience by looking much bigger than you actually are! or even all in the same show! ;) So nope you need say no more Jay! (wink wink! ) Dave |
The Donster Inner circle 4817 Posts |
Dave my Shoes are all Black and their made by Allen Edmonds. their a bit pricey but I do like trying to take care of things that I own. black and white shoes I'm sure would cost more.
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IndyProillusions New user Waveland, IN 19 Posts |
Back to Avi's question. I perform this routine frequently. Yes, watch for the angle you're being filmed from. I use a female to lock me into the shackles, then I ask her if she's done this before, this usually embarasses her. Wearing a suit jacket or a loose shirt helps hide the actual getting in and out. I do the escape to the Night Rider theme song (1:20). When I get out the first time, I ask her to step to the other side of me. When I turn my back to the audience, I'm still in the shackles (everyone's scratching their heads like "what the heck"). Second time I get out, I compaire the stop watch with my own watch. Turn around again, and I'm still in them (struggling the whole time). At the end of the song I pull them out from behind me and they're still locked! I get a huge applause, and lots of laughs!
Don
"the boundries of reality can always be broken."
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