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mplegare Veteran user Forest Grove, Oregon 310 Posts |
A while back I yammered, here, about my forays into the world of escapology, and some of you were kind enough to take pity on me and contribute to the thread I created. I just thought I'd let y'all in on a newbie's simple little epiphany. It's one I'm certain most, if not all, of you folks have already had.
I was demonstrating the Siberian Chain Escape for my Mom and Stepfather - they had seen my act but never seen me do this particular escape - and after I allowed Doug (Stepfather) to lock the chain down tight, I told them that I was thinking about making this a self-timed escape. I had been Getting Out as the audience counted down from 15 seconds, in an almost inexplicable flurry of panicked activity. Instead, I wanted to give the audience Art *and* Pain. Escaping whilst reciting Shakespeare. But I didn't have the soliloquy memorized, so I just started riffing... I'm not a dainty man by any stretch of the imagination. A graduate of the International Academy of Weighing Three Hundred Pounds. And I started to speculate on why it is that we don't have more... how shall I put this delicately... *husky* escape artists. While I discoursed, rather than engaging in the frantic flail which I had used during my 15 second 'challenge' escape bit, I very slowly and methodically worked my right hand one hundred and eighty degrees so that my palms both faced to the right. You all know,of course, that this is not required to Get Out, but I found my audience watching with fascination. It hit me - slow down. Really slow. So I kept going. A moment to run my wrong-way-round hand through my hair, and more discourse on, um, Mass, Ability, and the Fallacy of the Inverted Triangle as it came to actual physical strength, and I gradually worked my right thumb out of the loops of chain - abruptly 'popping' it free. A little more philosophy, and I slowlyh got my *left* hand out of the loop of chain, caught the remainder in my suddenly-free right hand, and done. In the post-mortem, my long-suffering wife (She Who Named The Act) agreed with my parent and step-parent. It was the fact that it was slow, methodical movements - legato rather than adagio - that made what is often a quick, meaningless 'trick' into theater. But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know... (side note: Any other Persons Of Non-Wiry-Nature out there working escapes? I know you're out there. I can hear the cuffs rattling...)
Matthew Legare aka Tobias the Adequate! - http://www.adequateblog.today.com - you know you want to.
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Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
I am certainly not a thin man, but I will attest to the fact that the times in my life that I was thinner, that led to greater agility.
Greater agility makes for easier escapes, and the ability to "sell" the work better. It can also make for a more versitile EA. I don't think that you or I could do a good convincing straight jacket escape unless it was gaffed. Anyway matt, you are who you are, good luck and god bless. Cliff
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
Mick Hanzlik Special user Mick Hanzlik 588 Posts |
Of course, here in the UK we did have my good friend Peter McHahon who was a big guy, but his straight Jacket escape was a joy to watch. Sadly as you all may know, Pete passed away about this time last year. He is still missed.
Mick |
Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Slowing down is important. If people can see the drama in what you do, they couldn't care less about the time on the clock.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
Harley said it! You have discovered it! I enjoyed your write-up of your presentation. I would have watched in amazement as you performed it!
I am an under tall (short), portly (fat), older fellow (old as mud!)! A gymnast gone to seed! Of course I am billed as the oldest, still living, and still working escapologist! LOL!!
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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mplegare Veteran user Forest Grove, Oregon 310 Posts |
Many thanks for the kind words and encouragement. The funny thing is that I initially put the Siberian Chain into my act because the stage I was on at the time was (a) noisy, (b) poorly designed and (c) I was losing people due to distractions when I did the Mongolian Pop Knot Routine (which works well in most fair-like situations).
It also gives the audience a chance to choose between "Art" (silk manipulation) or "Pain" (the chain). Ever had 200 people all scream "PAIN!" at you in unison? It's a beautiful thing. Now I just have to see if the non-frantic, more deliberate drama of Fat Guy Demonstrating Physical Skills draws more coin than Fat Guy Flailing About Like An Spazz Trying To Get Free. More on this as it develops during the year.
Matthew Legare aka Tobias the Adequate! - http://www.adequateblog.today.com - you know you want to.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Think dramatic tension. How do you create it? How do you resolve it? how do you use it to build from one place to another?
You'll get there.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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