Would any of these be considered Carnie or side show stunts;

Driving a nail trough wood or a sheet of steel.
Biting a nail In half
Ripping a steal sheet in half or even a phone book.

Or are these just feats of strength. And wouldnt be presented in Carnie Form.

p.s. I hope carnie is an acceptable term, if not please correct me.

And sort of side topic, do any of you or have any of you walked on coals? Just wondering how many actually do this.

And one more (trying to cut down on posts) would lulu hurst fall into this? or could it?


Thanks

'Carny' is not the perferred term for what we do. A 'carny' is a person that usually assembles and operates rides and games in a carnival.

I am a 'Sideshow Performer'.




Yes, these acts are considered sideshow stunts.


Brett.

Thanks for the info.

and if I could I would go back and change it, sorry, I ment no disrespect. I am basically new to this art.

You can call me a "Carny" it doesn't bother me. A well known sideshow performer, Jesse House actually changed his name to Ses Carny.

What is special about driving a nail through a piece of wood or metal?

I think he ment with his hand.


When people call me a carny, it doesn't bother me, but I'm really hardcore when it comes to using words in the right context.



Brett.

People that work the Carnivals are called carnies.
People that work the Circuses... Cirques....
Brett on occasion you work the Renaissance Faires... would it offend you if people called you a fairy? j/k Brett, Credit to Ward Hall on that one though.

I have walked on hot coals...Not in a show and not for a long time.
It is a very impractical stunt. A lot of prep work getting the bed of coals ready, only really impressive at night.
Cool to do if you have the time and proper place.
But always find a teacher.
Two bad ideas...Tripping and leg hair.

Gwyd

If you can entertain the audience, it doesn't matter where it came from. The traditions allowed for variety. Last year, we had a thread going, that mentioned all the acts anybody could think of, that had been in sideshows. There were a couple of hundred.

The old-style shows may be pretty much gone, but the material was used before those shows existed, and will evolve into something else. That gives us a lot of latitude. We can shape it to our own personalities, and the needs of the folks who pay to see us.

Ward called me a fairy???

heh heh!!!


If you talk to him again, let him know I said hey!



Brett.

Yes that's what I ment, drivingit through with bare hands.


And thanks for all the responses.