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Metius Regular user Italy 175 Posts |
I wouldn't like to offend the escapology branch of magic, but I'd need some guidelines to escaping from handcuffs for a trick I'm working on. I'm a total beginner and searches here on the Café have been close to useless for me. Can you help me?
Metius
Eppure una volta avetti sette in latino...(G.Marziano)
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Allan Given Regular user 169 Posts |
Metius-
I would recommend getting "The Handcuff Manipulation Training Kit" or "Modern Handcuff Secrets." Both books are available from: cannonsgreatescapes.com Those would be two fantastic resources for you to begin with... Good luck on your trick! Allan |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
You have a number of directions to go.
If you are working on a routine/trick that includes being locked and escaping from a pair of handcuffs you could: 1. Learn to open a pair of “regulation” (modern ratchet) cuffs. This is fairly easy and can be learned in less than five minutes. You will need a “tool” that you will have to hide on yourself and bring into play undercover. Since you are going to need a tool and have to hide it, I strongly recommend that you simply hide a key and use it! No fuss, no bother, no failure. 2. Use a pair of “tricked” cuffs. That is a cuff designed to open with little or no effort. There are many different models at many different price levels. This can be done in the open with only the slightest of misdirection. 3. Learn to put on cuffs using an old subtlety wherein the cuffs are not really locked on but look as if they are. This doesn’t fool anyone that is on top of you but with good audience management you can pull it off. This can also be done in the open but the misdirection starts as soon as you put the cuffs on (and you or your trained assistant have to put them on you) I am sure that the folks here have a number of other ideas. Of course it would be of great help if we knew what the conditions were for the routine you are going to use. Covered or open, fast escape or doesn’t make any difference, etc.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Metius Regular user Italy 175 Posts |
Thank you both 'til now.
Harry : it really doesn't make any difference, at least at this point.In fact I'd like to know more things before going into modeling the routine.Now I could just say that it should be a fast and covered escape.
Eppure una volta avetti sette in latino...(G.Marziano)
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Wolflock Inner circle South Africa 2257 Posts |
I would suggest going with a gimmicked pair if you are going for speed.
There are more than enough gimmicked sets available. You can get them at Cannon's site too. And don't feel as if you offended any of us. That is what we are here for, to help. I would say email Ian McColl (trunk8) on a Gimmicked set. He will tell you which would be best to use. If you don't mind, could you give us a brief breakdown of your show, It Could Help in deciding what to use. Regards Wolflock
Wolflock
Pro Magician & Escapologist Member of JMC (Johannesburg Magic Circle) South Africa |
Metius Regular user Italy 175 Posts |
Wolflock. My preoccupation was to offend you by seeming like a newbie asking for a "quickie" knowing instead that in magic there's a lot of work behind everything. I'd like to apply handcuffs escape in a card trick where I don't touch the cards and give instructions to the spectator. I put my arms down the table and then...working on. I could give instructions with a free hand just like the rope comedy routine or saying "Thank you" at the end of the trick with my free hands shaking his. But I think that I shouldn't only (for example) take a pair of gimmicked handcuffs, but I should also know the subtelties and the work behind to make them appear as real. Or better : use a pair of real handcuffs.
Thanks Metius
Eppure una volta avetti sette in latino...(G.Marziano)
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Have you thought of using a pair of thumbcuffs? These are real and totally ungimmicked so you can have them examined as much as you like. What's great about them is that you don't need any tools to get out and are perfect for the in/out type routine which you've mentioned. I imagin that what you're going to be doing is some kind of close-up thing? If so, the thumbcuffs will fit in your pocket along with your cards. You can get thumbcuffs quite cheap from ebay, or most magic stores on the web.
Failing that you may want to look at the lightspeed 100 cuff. These aren't inspectable as far as I know (Ian please correct me if I'm wrong) but do offer a completely silent exit and re-entry if you decide to do the in/out type routine. This cuff is available at http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.com/land_down_under_1.html I hope this helps. Ros
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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Wolflock Inner circle South Africa 2257 Posts |
If it is for Close up, then I agree with Ros. Thumbcuffs would be the best bet. If you just want a lightning fast escape and don't mind gimmicks, then I would also suggest the Siberian Chain Cuffs or something similar.
Wolflock
Pro Magician & Escapologist Member of JMC (Johannesburg Magic Circle) South Africa |
jwade New user 13 Posts |
In my opinion don't use gimmicked cuffs. They are too easy to find out unless you make your own from a set of real cuffs. The thumb cuffs are okay but many people I have performed it for know the secret and did it when I was demonstrating that the cuffs were for real on an audience member. I instructed them how to put them on but they blew the secret in front of the entire audience. I told them they were wrong and I would do it the way they thought was impossible. Long story short I lost a lot of skin but got out without using the normal release. So be careful.
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
It depends on how you perform the thumbcuffs. I never put the cuffs on spectators for the very reason you mention. They get the chance to pull on the bows and even to try and pull the cuffs off, but I don't let them put them on.
Also, since the emphasis of the trick in this case is going to be a card trick and not the escape it's not going to be a problem. JWade If I were you I'd work on your audience control technique. It's as important as the actual escape, if not more so. I had massive problems with this when I started out and couldn't understand why I wasn't getting the reactions others could get by doing less. Then it just hit me and suddenly I was doing much better. I found the best place to practice this was by doing street work, 'cos if you're no good you won't even make your bus fare home. And you can see yourself improving by the amount of cash in the hat and the size of your crowd. Good luck.
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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Riley Special user Swansea UK 955 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-05-07 13:27, jwade wrote: Not sure what you mean by that. All gimmicked cuffs are made from "real" cuffs, but the art of using them is proper audience management - this will come with experience/having a good mentor (or both). Regards Riley |
Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
Plus, you've obviously never worked with a gimmicked cuff or lock crafted by Ian McColl.
Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Here, here!
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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jwade New user 13 Posts |
Honestly never have worked with Ian McColl's gimmicked cuffs. Where are they available from? Do you recommend them? Do they stand to examination? I didn't mean that you shouldn't use gimmicked cuffs, I just get real satisfaction from being able to use my school's police officer's handcuffs and get out. That was poor wording on my part.
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Riley Special user Swansea UK 955 Posts |
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Wolflock Inner circle South Africa 2257 Posts |
I would Recommend anything that Ian McColl makes. And I believe that 99% of the EA's here would agree with me.
Wolflock
Pro Magician & Escapologist Member of JMC (Johannesburg Magic Circle) South Africa |
pastorclyde Special user 576 Posts |
Wolf,
I know you were probably leaving room for that inevitable individual who isn't happy with anything but in all seriousness, I have never heard of the 1%! EVERYONE I've ever talked with or communicated with has supported Ian's work 100%- self included. Some of his recent releases speak for themselves. I can only hope to own some of them some day! Clyde |
Wolflock Inner circle South Africa 2257 Posts |
I must agree with you Clyde. But there is that 1% that just does not know Ian's work and therefore will recommend something else ahead of Ian's stuff. :o)
Wolflock
Pro Magician & Escapologist Member of JMC (Johannesburg Magic Circle) South Africa |
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