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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
Returning to an earlier question (of mine), has anyone ever tried to tool a key out of white nylon stock?
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
I have a question and a philosophical view.
How many of you take a metal detector to a show and invite people to scan you? In that case, aren't you leading the audience to believe that you are devious? They will then discount your ability - because you put an idea in their head - and while they do not know how you escaped, they only need to know that you "did something". Another example would be to mention that the deck of cards you are using is not a stripper deck... doing that will make the audience wonder "Just what kind of a deck is it. anyway"?. Or better yet, telling someone that the strait jacket you are using is not gimmicked - only makes people suspicious and if they had their way, they would examine it for an hour. By telling people that you don't use "this or that" you reduce your entertainment value to being a puzzle-master as opposed to a showman/woman. I would rather have the audience applaud me for my performance then to applaud me because I fooled them.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
I don't use a metal detector, but if your style involves the dismissal of the possibility of using picks or keys, then the metal detector makes as much sense as the classic Houdini strip-search.
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
I dunno
I think that if you tell someone you have empty hands you bring the heat on yourself.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
I play off the metal detector for laughs. Whomever is checking me out, usually finds several humorous items.
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-06-19 20:02, Steve_Mollett wrote: Here is the difference between the strip search and detector. You don't have to explain the fact that you're not wearing any clothes. However, when you use a metal detector, you set-up the scenario that you are still hiding something, but how. On the other hand, if the audience thinks you're hiding something while undressed then you get extra points for bravery. (if you know what I mean)
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Riley Special user Swansea UK 955 Posts |
To answer the original question:
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl......26sa%3DG I have this and it works well. Riley |
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Also these are available:-
http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.com/lockopen.html (scroll down to "NON-METAL CLANDESTINE HANDCUFF KEY") don't have either so cant comment...... |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
One thing that I think is missed regularly in magic and the allied arts is that many performers treat their audiences as though they're stupid.
When it comes to escapes, say from a pair of handcuffs, people know they can be picked open. They've seen enough movies to know that tools can be made in order to aid escape. In fact anyone who's seen Silence of the Lambs will have seen quite a visual handcuff escape taking place. I'm not saying that we should necessarily pick cuffs in full view... Although I personally think this does have its place at times... But I do think that we are only fooling ourselves if we believe a half intelligent audience will believe we can escape from stuff without using tools. If we go through a huge searching process then won't the audience believe we have only hidden the tools elsewhere? In fact won't they believe the tools are hidden in a place where we didn't let them look? Audiences will try to figure out a method if you plant the idea there was a method in the first place. In another topic it was said that escapes are different from magic because escapology is the performance of a skill. In the same way juggling and sword swallowing is the presentation of a skill. I often get asked "how do you do that?" when juggling 4 ball mills mess. Truth is I'm throwing the balls, they know that (they can see me doing it), but they still couldn't replicate it. They have no idea how its done even though they can see how its done. I wouldn't get my juggling balls checked out before doing a juggling routine. Or be searched for ways of getting them to float... Why? Because I'm juggling and not doing a magic trick. If escapology isn't a magic trick then why treat it like one? Isn't hiding stuff and being searched the same principle as having a deck of cards and saying "check out this normal deck of cards". The last thing you want to do is fuel the audience to make up methods as if its a magic trick. Fact is you get put in a pair of cuffs... You then escape from those cuffs. There is no "method" in the same way as you have a method for a card trick. If I were to ask "what's the method for eating glass" the answer is you get a bit of glass and you eat it. Sword swallowing. You get a sword and you swallow it. Riding a unicycle. Sit on it and pedal. Escaping restraints. You get out of what ever you're trapped in. I strongly believe that escapes falls in to the same category as circus and sideshow stunts. The audience loves the fact that you are genuinely able to do something that to them is impossible... I've got no idea if this makes any sense... It does to me, but today is the 15th day I've been working with no down time between gigs so I'm a little tired and tend to waffle when sleepy.
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 |
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Cliffg37 Inner circle Long Beach, CA 2491 Posts |
OK, so after reading this thread all the way through, I am thinking that we are stuck between two points....
Escaping is a show. Our job, no matter how we do it is to entertain. The proof of this is that if we escape well, and don't entertain, soon no one will pay to see what we do. When I get searched with a metal detector and a large ring of keys is found in my pocket, It gets a laugh. The laugh it gets is "what a ridiculous idea". I am not a clown, this is getting caught trying to cheat. Yes, the audience probably knows the gimmick is somewhere else, but I have no problem letting them go off scratching their heads to figure out what. They may or may not remember the specifics of the escape, they will remember the keys that they laughed at. Escaping is an art/skill. On this side, we want perfection. We should leave the audience thinking we can melt right through our restraints. I can't do that, but the audience should leave with complete respect that we got out and they could not. The true answer is probably a bit of both, or somewhere in between. My two cents.
Magic is like Science,
Both are fun if you do it right! |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
I'm liking the keys bit Cliff.
Liking that a lot
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 |
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
Even if we don't ask the spectators to examine a restraint, it should, for best effect, be examinable upon request.
The strength of escapology is in the impression that everything is legit.
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Steve hit the nail on the head. Magic & mentalism may or may not be presented as reality but for escapes to succeed, they must appear real.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Why is it that Steve can say in a beautifully concise way what I tried, and failed, to say in my last essay???
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 |
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
I'm a tech writer, I follow the KISS formula:
Keep It Simple, Stupid! But seriously, one other tidbit of wisdom was given to me by Sid Radner: It has to be perceived as a CHALLENGE. If the performer does not appear to be pitting his skill against desperate odds, it's just 'another trick.'
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-06-19 17:39, Steve_Mollett wrote: I would recommend glass filled nylon - much tougher. Lexan may work if the key is molded, but it requires extreme temperatures to melt the stuff and a water tank to cool it. |
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
I tried glass filled nylons once ..... cut my legs to buggery ...... strangely my feet were un affected, I think the smell melted the glass and the nylons!
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