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0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
I tried posting this in "All Tied Up," but maybe the escape artists don't think a comedy escape treats the art sufficiently seriously. Accordingly, I am trying posting here.
I am trying to brainstorm comedy bits for a quick in-and-out escape. I am most interested in bits while the performer is seemingly locked in (as opposed to a straightjacket or other elaborate restraint process, where the bulk of the humor is aimed at making the set up more entertaining). Anyone care to make any suggestions? |
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Check the Siberian Chain Escape.
Professional sets likely available from Viking and other dealers. Julie |
0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
Thanks, Julie.
I am not looking for a particular escape, but rather the comedy bits that might go with it. I want to see/understand . performance ideas. They could be the shackles, Siberian Chain, rope ties, thumb ties, anything. I am trying to construct a routine with comedy and need inspiration for the various bits. |
Dr. Delusion Special user Eugene, Oregon. 733 Posts |
I remember seeing Harry Allen do a comedy escape on TV. His assistant and him had a contest on who could escape quicker. I forget what the restraints were. For some reason I think he was in a straight jacket and his assistant was tied to a chair. I just remember him knocking her over in the chair because she was winning.
Bob. |
0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
That was Harry Anderson, I believe.
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Dr. Delusion Special user Eugene, Oregon. 733 Posts |
Yep Opus your right, it was Harry Anderson.
Thanks, Bob. |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
The humor was in the contest.
I saw it live when I worked out of the Reno, Nevada area. The closer to you the funnier the bit. Do you use chains as part of your work, is there a lot of snow in your area...(chains for snow tires...) work in a harmonica and do a short working on the chain gang prison riff and lyric... Are you a book reader....a short bit on Marley...."a dickens of a ghost" Of course your target audience will help determine which bits of YOURS will fit the particular audience. Harris still too old to know it all.. reader & "righter"
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Hello Opus,
I used to do a comedy escape where I was tied to a chair and would challenge an audience member to eat a large pot of yoghurt before I escaped. I would be behind them escape in seconds when they turned round after they finished I'd be flicking through a magazine sipping a cup of tea. It went down pretty well but was just too messy (which was part of the fun but not great for people following me) and involved too much prep for comedy clubs. George |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
This is just a little trick I learned in the backseat of the Police Car.
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avimagic Loyal user Hollywood, Florida 235 Posts |
The first segment in my old promo reel has pieces of the in again-out again routine I do (oddly, the one I used as a promo for a long time is not as good as the trick USUALLY goes, because the girl I called up immediately knew when I got out. Most people are oblivious, which makes all of these gags so much more funny).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmiYOnxEXFI |
0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
I really liked the whole reel.
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amirb401 Regular user 146 Posts |
Https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=57847
Cody fisher "lightning" has a wonderfull rope escaping comedy bit, which I cant recommend enough |
0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
I had envisioned a in/out/in/out/etc. routine. As I understand Cody's, it is an instant "out," but no "back in" effect. That is not exactly what I had in mind, but I will take a look at Lightning.
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Thorn (UK) New user United Kingdom 52 Posts |
I used to perform an escape routine many years ago where I set a clock to count down three minutes.
Then later as it became apparent I wouldn't be out in time I'd struggle over to the clock and try various ways of reaching and moving the hands on the clock, finally kicking off a shoe and moving the hand back with my toes, giving myself the extra minute needed to get out. I loved doing that routine but stopped doing it because it was exhausting me out! |
imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1336 Posts |
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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Wravyn Inner circle 3481 Posts |
Look up the Incredible Suit Jacket Escape by Anthony Lindan and Bill Abbott.
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The Crap Illusionist New user 14 Posts |
I am loving this thread...
So much powerful info, and I did not know so much comedy escapology existed... Cheers, Crap
The Crap Illusionist
Medieval Magician, Mentalist and Part-time Escapologist... Member of the Leicester Magic Circle... TWITTER: @CrapIllusionist |
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
Tony Clark's "In-N-Out Rope Escape is funny and easy to do. I think it is exactly what you are looking for.
https://youtu.be/MkGjwaGmYYw
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
Excellent work, Avi!
Quote: On Oct 14, 2016, avimagic wrote:
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
Sealegs Inner circle The UK, Portsmouth 2596 Posts |
Well it's nearly 3 years on and Opus doesn't appear to have his comedy escape routine up and running yet. (at least not as of nearly 2 months ago)
I think the Tony Clark clip shows up some of the issues that this kind of routine can have.... There is a law of diminishing returns with the reaction to the escapes... the first one gets a good reaction, the second one shows you can do it when you want and from then on you need to change things up each time otherwise you're on a downward slope. The barrier created by the jacket being held by the assisting spectators can also present a problem. You can't just turn round to show you're still tied up... you have to walk round to the front to show you are still tied up and then walk back again. It slows up the proceedings. Finally the ending comes as no surprise and can be a damp squib as you are only doing what you've already done previously when you got a stronger reaction. Interestingly Avi's clip shows (IMHO) a better structured (but less well managed) routine. He tries to make each 'out and in" event happen for a slightly different reason. I also agree with his comments on this thread that (with slightly better management of the assisting spectator and the stage space) the spectator on stage usually remains oblivious to the fact you are getting in and out despite everyone else clearly seeing. This element can change the whole vibe of the performance. It also makes the repetitions of the "out and in" moments increasingly stronger rather than increasingly weaker. In the clip of Avi in this thread this unfortunately didn't happen on this occasion. (that's the way it goes sometimes) But still there was a variety of rationales for getting out that were (generally) varied and kept the routine interesting, entertaining, surprising and magically strong. The usual lack of an ending is also tackled by Avi and although it kind of didn't mean much in this particular clip... on those occasions where the assisting spectator is unaware of the escapes that have taken place I could see the final moment playing as a big moment of surprise and astonishment for the person on stage and a 'let in' for those watching. All these factors have to be considered (or at least in my opinion a routine benefits from them being considered) when putting an "out and in" comedy escape routine. Not paying attention to these points can easily result in such a piece being magical weak, slow, repetitive, and with diminishing returns from each "out and in" event. Addressed successfully the results can be an entertaining magical strong routine with a satisfying ly strong ending.
Neal Austin
"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw |
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