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Alexanderia_the_Great Regular user 103 Posts |
In doing an upside down strait jacket escape on stage rather than outdoors what options have people used to pull yourself up? I supose you could find something sturdy and pull up form there but do they make something reasonable like a portable structure that could winch you up? (God I know I am gonna pay for the use of the work winch Dave).
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gsidhe Inner circle Michigan 1725 Posts |
How high do you need to go?
How portable do you need? I'm pretty sure I can help. G |
dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Yep if you need picking up by the ankles Gwyd the man......
Ok lets get serious (yep I can do that some times) David De-Vals book "Escapology" details a gantry that is quite easy to make. Would possibly work indoors - depends on the venue. Also if you are in a theatre ...... there is often some serious iron girders above the stage that will more than likely take your weight (all the ones I have ever seen have been 2 inches thick with dust as well). Just watch the angles........ Don’t do like Merlin did you Britain’s got talent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBH19297Dvc&feature=related Angles killed him as he had to be so low down! ….well that among other things (like he wasn’t a singer …. And others things still) |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
On stage,,,if Theatre most have there own flying rig so work off of that.
Or use an electric portable winch fixed to a Tower scaffold at the hieght you want to hang from. If you use a builders rig off the scaffold you can use a single or double loop (Car seat belt)From this. Note :- most electric winches are geared down low so up and down is slower than a flying rig. If the stage is concrete (TV Studio type) You could do it off of a Fork Lift truck, this is easy to rig and fast up and down. Some have used a gantry with pulley block and tackle,, don`t rec much on this myself as gantry hieght is low and blocks have to be pulled manualy. Ken. |
Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Kondini's right about the geared down winches. They take so long to get you up, it's boring.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
First off, at least in the US you will need to use chain motors NOT cable winches.
Second, the standard speed is 16 feet per minute. However, you can get them in 32 & 64 feet per minute. All of the above come in the standard three phase, but can be purchased in single phase. Third, you need to carry spansets & burlap, steel(aircraft cable), shackles and/or beam clamps. This is what you will hang the motor with. Of course you will also need the controller, called a pickle. Fourth, you need to see if you can dead hang the motor or if you need to bridle it. All the above is called rigging and should only be done by an experienced person. If you are not, then hire a rigger. Be smart & safe, Kevin
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
MagicJack99 New user North Pole, Alaska 34 Posts |
I did the escape using the exising fly system in the theater, it got me up about 16 feet. I had a pair of inversion boots welded to a solid steel rod about 2 inches wide and a chain. the crew lowered the batton and I simply had the chain wraped around the batton and secured with a carabiner. The only thing that went kind of bad was one of the audience member had tied the crouch strap in a knot after pulling it tight, unknown to me until I was already in the air, so it took a bit longer to get out, and having all the blood rush to your head for a longer time than needed was not fun. also fair warning on upside down escapes, do a lot of situps in training for it. you will be amazed how quick your stomach muscles give out when you try to bend yourself up from that position, especially if you do a lot of "drama" movement while you hang there. Also be carefull they don't lower you back down too fast and bang your head on the floor, be sure they counter weight the fly system ahaead of time, go up and down a few times without the jacket to get used to it.. BE SAFE!!! a lot can go wrong even if you use a Gimmicked jacket.
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
Glad to hear it went well.
A word of advice: One of YOUR people should be doing the flying in/out...or at a bare minimum, supervising the person on the fly rail. Kevin
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
MagicJack99 New user North Pole, Alaska 34 Posts |
I totally agree with Kevin about using your own crew. The only issue I have run into in larger venues is that many are "Union houses" you cant even get near a lightbulb in there, they have a union guy/girl for everything and most get paid for a 4 hour minimum. If you have to totally rely on your own crew, avoid the union venues. on a side note if you work with special lighting you can always ask for copy of their current lighting plot and have their union lighting people preset lights for you in advance. You might be able to sign a waiver to have your own crew do the flys and such but be prepared to paid the union workers also.
I once got a giant bill from the venue I rented out that was twice the cost of the rental for the extra crew. |
Ms. Morgan Veteran user The Garden State 399 Posts |
Richard sells a nice gantry set-up.
http://www.richardsherrysmagic.com/ It's under escapes, scroll down it's near the bottom.
World Magic Award's "Escape Artist of the Year"
www.EscapeChick.com www.illusionbiz.com www.WackyDracky.com |
Alexanderia_the_Great Regular user 103 Posts |
Thanks to all of you. Some great ideas and insight from all.
Thanks Alex |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
To see how a SSJ should be presented go to Harleys new site.
Excellant clip with good hieght, plenty of movement and a unique method of putting the fire out while still suspended. Some of the SSJ clips around today are a complete disgrace and not worthy of film, this however is on the button. Well promoted my friend. Ken. |
Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Agreed 110%. Harley's ssj is awesome.
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
My home online Join me on Facebook Follow me on twitter |
Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Thanks!
I had virtually no budget, and it was requested by the TV show. I figured there were two options. One, the rope burns thru. Two, it doesn't. Burning thru, means a getaway, other equipment that could easily distract the audience from where they should be. Other equipment would also have meant I spent more on equipment, than I got for the gig. Not burning thru, seemed more interesting. I came up with several scenarios, where the storyline was enhanced by the action. This was the idea I liked most. It's simple. You get an idea of what might happen, right away. But the way it plays out, provides a good tense moment, when the audience realizes that the second rope is beyond my reach. I prefer doing this at about 100', and I can still hear people say "OMG". I also like that I end up, right side up. We work hard to provide the feeling that we're in control, at least, most of the time. Had I been USD at the end, it wouldn't have been as strong an ending. In spite of planning and practice, there was one time where it almost didn't work. I had to get completely onto the second rope, and climb up to the crossbar. I recall thinking to myself, "I WON'T mess this up for the audience". As you can see, the second rope is not set up for climbing. My wife was there, and thought I'd lost it. There was an Army Ranger next to her, who was muttering about how you can't climb a rope that thin.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Oh, another detail. I had to hold the second rope with one hand. The other hand had to get my ankles out of the first rope.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
I'm amazed.
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
My home online Join me on Facebook Follow me on twitter |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Yes Harley I could tell you had put a lot of thought into the rig. Several of us doing a season on a double strung unit have found after extreme movement to have ended up in a tangled mess.
Alan Alan had the same thing happen to him while with his run with Bertram Mills,I had it happen twice in one day while working for Globe Victory, funny thing is we both worked out our own identical conclusions,,have the second rope pulled right out of the way during the escape and pulled back into place (By a trusted helper)When ready to descend. A simple remedy but something not accounted for initialy. Ken. |
Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
It always amazes me, how long it can take to find a simple solution. But it's always the best way to proceed.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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