I spent a winter in Gib-Town. Helping Ward & Chris fix up the bunk house, the show front, and give the illusions a freash new paint job. While I was there Chris taught me how to throw knives. I became pretty darn accurate, but occasionally will bounce a knife or two. I felt comfortable doing it as a demonstration, but didn't feel I was ready to have anyone stand for me, just yet. Which of course is what brings all the thrills and chills to the act.

I have been told by magicians and even a few layman of a gaffed board in which the knives spring out. Apparently the audience gets conditioned to the action and sound. By throwing the first "warm up" throws for real, but once the girl is standing for you. The gaff comes into play. Along with some strong misdirection.
Its not that I don't wanna keep it real. I'm just wondering

1. If such a gaffed board exhists?

2. If it looks & sound anywhere close to the real thing?

3. Wouldn't the illusion of danger be better then repeatedly placing
my girl repeatedly in harms way. (by avoiding any margin of human eror)

Your thoughts.

Jess won't be your target girl?

Knife throwing is very much like glass eating. People will think it is fake unless you work very hard to convince them it is real. So if you do fake it, no one will be fooled.

Those boards do exist, however. They ain't cheap. A 10 knife dizzy board (best to go with spinning style), with both sets of knives, and remote release will run you about 10g's, custom ordered.

I haven't seen any 'off the rack'
:)A

You could lead in, with the skill, and then switch over to the old clown gag.

The best and most elaborate version of the clown gag was done by Penn & Teller.

In my opinion, the best of many <or most> acts has been done By P&T.
;)

Impalement Acts are Fun...Why not just keep Practicing...till you gain confidence...I have not thrown for three years...yet with a few warm-ups, I would throw with my Lovey standing there....Gaffed Board!, Harry McEvoy must be spinnin in his grave.....

I would have no problem throwing knives around and at Pat,,,,I have had no practice, never done it but would love to give it a try !




Don`t tell her,,,please.

They're out there...

just sayin'

For the record, I'm all for chuckin' knives whilst my ex stands for me.

Elton? Detroit Elton?
I know you!
I'm going to weigh in on this...If you can't do it for real, don't do it on stage. Not in a sideshow act. It disrespects the artists that do it for real.
Sylver and I are working on knife throwing and some other target arts. To think that someone would take an act we have worked hard on perfecting and fake it feels rather personal.
We have cut everything that is faked from our act except for one thing, and that one is revealed as such for contrast.
If you want to do Magic...So be it. I still won't like the gaffed knife throw, but I can accept it there. Sideshow...No way.
Gwyd

The gaffed board works great on tv where the cameras and sound can be controlled... in real life, not as much. Maybe Throwdini will come in shed some insight . I love P and T's volunteer from the audience throwing knives at Penn bit, it's great.

This reminds me of the Laverne and Shirley episode were Laverne is the assistant to the knife thrower; to make her comfortable they blow the gaff for her. Ruined magic for me forever, that is until I learned the difference between magic and actual skilled performers like Throwdini.

I've seen the clown gag a lot of times, almost always lamely, due to the poor quality of the clowns. But to me, it's one of the best, right up there with Washerwomen and Carpenters.

P&T do a phenomenal job with it. They have such an admirable ability to define what they're doing, make routines their own. It's a quality for which we should all strive.

I don't think mixing it up detracts from anything. It all depends on how you do it. If the audience perceives a solid story line, and is entertained, that's the most important thing. If they can't follow the story, all we're doing is bragging that we have a skill, and we always end up playing for shock value, and we become second-rate, diminish our art.

One of the themes I've had a lot of fun with, the last few years, is the difference between a trick and a stunt. In my new show, I'm not differentiating, and it's very interesting to watch the responses.

It could be a great presentation, to start with the skill, flip into the clown gag, and then end with one really good throw.

Todd, Harley, everyone I really apppreciate your input. I'm working on a framing up a show that mixes magic, mentalisim, and sideshow arts. My partner and I we're talking about working up the knife act. She actually has had experience standing for Matt Molotov. We performed out in Houston together. He was a great guy and gave me some pointers on throwing.

A magician friend told us about gaffed boards and swore up and down that its what the majority of illusionists use. Maybe they were thinking of Penn & Tellers act. I agree with all of you that If we're going to put it on stage, we should do it right.

Mixing magic, mentalisim and sideshow !

Hell you must be very talented, it took me thirty years to get a half decent sideshow act together let alone anything else.

Ken.

I'd like to throw in a thought. My show partner and I are performing a knife show at a Ren-faire right now. No gaffs, just long hours practicing. If we can do it, you can too. Don't gaff the act. : )

Welcome, Ses!

Thanks Harley!!! How have you been?

Kondini, It's a two person act. We both have stregnths in different areas. Jessie is an accomplished stage illusionist. She grew up in the buisness and is considered one of the top female magicians in the country.

My background is in theatre. I have been a working magician for over a decade, but have spent years studying hypnosis and the allied arts of the sideshow.