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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Imagine this:
I am in a straitjacket - standing on a 3 feet high table - would it increase drama and excitement if I was blindfolded, when I escape from the SJ? |
Mark Tripp Regular user 148 Posts |
I am not sure.
Honestly, I do not think so. In our presentations we can focus on two things; A) Degree of difficulty B) Penalty for failure In the minds of an audience B is always better than A. However, a "show" needs peaks and valleys and has to build to a climax, so a blend of both is key. An example of A is to throw water over the jacket once it is on. Audiences, knowing how hard it is to take off wet clothes, feels the escape is now much harder. The classic "upside down" presentation is another example of A, that in reality changes nothing. An example of B would be something like doing the jacket over the mouth of a cannon. Classic example of A and B is upside down with a burning rope. However, I would suggest getting a hold of the late John Novak's "Art of Escape" books, and reading the one on the jacket. You will find many performance ideas, and I am sure others here will assist as well. Good Luck. Mark Tripp |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Mark thank you that was of a great help.
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FacadeTheStiltBoy Elite user Greensboro NC 474 Posts |
I think that is a great idea, currently I do the SJ on stilts, which is dificult in it's own rank. (gotta look out for the stuff that will trip you, AND the stuff you can hit above you)
Best thing to do though is start doing it on a table, then the blindfold. Also, aren't you afraid of knocking off the blindfold off durring the escape? |
Reis O'Brien Inner circle Seattle, WA 2467 Posts |
I think you would increase drama and excitement if you were wearing a rubber monkey mask. But then again, I have odd taste.
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Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
Why mix methods? Would a blindfolded spoon bend do anything for you? Our faces convey so much, why destroy that basic principle?
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Mixing methods is a pro and con thing. If you have a solid script (there I go about scripts again), it works. Many folks, however, try to do this, and get too many themes going, and the audience understanding is muddled because of it.
Simple is best.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
Steve Baker - Mr.Escape Loyal user 273 Posts |
Robert,
If you can get out of a straitjacket,then you can get out of it blindfolded,what's the big deal....OH,the table,.... so you stand in one spot in the center of the table,NO BIG DEAL,and that's what the audience will THINK also!! KEEP IT SIMPLE,....AND MAKE IT LOOK HARD!! Steve Baker |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
You are right concerning the blindfold. but wrong in the use of the table.
I am a streetperformer and my experience tought me that hight is important. because more people can see the more money I get in the end. because of the table I double my audience. thank you for your help I dropt the blindfold idea. |
DavidEscapes Inner circle I'm Special! 1003 Posts |
The three principles of street...
Height, Fire, Noise. Raising yourself up will increase your audience, but it will not add to the drama of the escape, it might even lessen it as you will be more restricted in your movements. To my mind the table is simply a prop to make you higher up, and therefore more visible, I don't think it should be mentioned as part of the escape. If you are going to do it that way I think you should tell the audience that the table is there so they can see you, if you say that it is there to make the escape more difficult they will spend the whole time questioning that claim rather than enjoying the escape. The few who would not have questioned that claim will see the table as an added danger anyway, so referring to the table in this way is win win. Alternatively, come up with something else to stand on! I have a pair of stepladders that got a lot of use in my act. They are old style wooden ones, brightly painted. They looked extremely unstable, in fact they were pretty solid. I could do straitjacket escapes standing on the top of them, fire eat up there, sword swallow, do handstands on them, fire breath and more. They were great for attracting a crowd. Cheers David
David Victor - The artist formally (and still occasionally) known as David Straitjacket.
My Website Add me on facebook |
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
I will mention to my audience that the table is there so they can see it better. good point
thank you david. |
DavidEscapes Inner circle I'm Special! 1003 Posts |
If the escape was a comedy routine though, then the table could be brought in really well.
"Some people escape while suspended over hungry crocodiles, some while hanging 100's of feet in the air from burning ropes, others risk death by leaping from planes chained and shackled. But today, I shall outdo them all, for today I shall make my escape while standing on.. DA DA DA DAAAAA!!!!.... This terrifying, all wooden table! It just might work!
David Victor - The artist formally (and still occasionally) known as David Straitjacket.
My Website Add me on facebook |
The Donster Inner circle 4817 Posts |
Sounds like a Winner Great Patter David.
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ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
.......... I shall outdo them all, for today I shall make my escape while standing on... THE TABLE OF DEATH.
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DavidEscapes Inner circle I'm Special! 1003 Posts |
It is good to see that street performers are still upholding the tradition of putting the words.. 'OF DEATH' after the names of things! I used to get a lot of laughs with that, once or twice it became a running joke and people would call out 'Of Death' everytime anything new came into the act, no matter how mundane and ordinary, passing the hat became passing the hat OF DEATH and so on
David Victor - The artist formally (and still occasionally) known as David Straitjacket.
My Website Add me on facebook |
magicusb Inner circle 1135 Posts |
Beware of the Novak book on Straight Jacket Escapes. Very bad advice on how to do the one from the burning rope. You'll die doing it that way. If I remember correcty, he suggests you have a rope near by, and jump to it before the one your hanging from burns through.
Regards Dorothy Dietrich Houdini Museum & "Haunted! Mind Mysteries and THE Beyond" Scranton PA
Check out http://HoudiniOpoly.com
Houdini Museum Tour & Magic Show. Only building in the world dedicated to Houdini. http://Houdini.org http://HoudiniDisplays.com http://PsychicTheater.com Scranton, Pa (570) 342-5555 "The truth shall make you free, but first it will make you angry." -Robert Ingersoll-Atheist (on the mind of Houdini when he died.) We are thrilled we were able to bring The Grim Game to the world! Thanks TCM. |
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