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manananmaclir New user Port Hadlock 60 Posts |
Hello all. I've been lurking for a while, thought I'd post a question. If you're a complete novice on escapes with no books, equipment, or strong ideas on where to go, but would like to get started in escapes, what would you recommend? I did a search on the forums here, and read Wolflock's excellent escapology beginners forum, but there doesn't seem to be a comprehensive answer here on Magic Café, and Wolflock's seems to be just right in some areas, and a step ahead in others. The wife is supportive, but seems disinclined to open the purse strings unless I have more guidance. Thoughts all?
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Allan Given Regular user 169 Posts |
Hi there!
I would recommend reading as much as possible, talking to as many people as you can and just becoming a sponge to soak up tons of information. To begin with though, I think it would be helpful to determine what types of escapes you are interested in performing. Do you want to do handcuffs, strait jackets, chains, ropes etc? Also, you should determine why you want to learn escapology. Do you want to incorporate an escape into a magic show you currently do, do you want to do an entire escape act, are you wanting to learn for fun? Once you have some of these basic answers down, I think it will be easy to begin guiding you toward the direction for you to go. It is hard finding good material on escapes, but definitely check out Mark Cannon's store at cannonsgreatescapes.com. He has many books and videos available. I think you will love escapes when you get into it! You have great resources here and many people willing to give you advice and help. I did my first escape about 18 years ago and have never looked back! I was hooked! Feel free to holler if you have any questions or let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Good luck! Allan |
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
When I first started, I got a couple of the Novak books from Cannon's. I started with the chain escapes book, which is nice because Home Depot becomes your magic shop. I also very much liked the Hades Encyclopedia of Escapes, very spare in its descriptions but comprehensive. These books are cheap, you can learn to escape from stuff from the hardware store: rope, chain, padlocks.
There are a lot of nice expensive escape props out there, but if you are not entertaining with a length of chain and some padlocks, you won't be entertaining with a $1000 prop, either. The greatest resource is the people here at the Café, who will often give you terrific advice via PM if you ask nicely and say thank you. Yours, Paul |
manananmaclir New user Port Hadlock 60 Posts |
I'm mostly interested in the for fun/amateur angle. As such I'm more interested in handcuffs or other portable restraints than stuff like crates and cans. I would like to learn straightjacket, too, though. Chains and ropes I'm open on. As a married father of two girls, I'm not exactly inclined to drop everything and "heed the cry of the open road" or anything like that. Responsibilites and the like. Cannonsgreatescapes.com looks like a great resource. I'll definitely check out some of those books.
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Houdini man Veteran user USA 343 Posts |
"The greatest resource is the people here at the Café, who will often give you terrific advice via PM if you ask nicely and say thank you.
Yours, Paul" That is sooooo right. PM, try even talking on the phone. It seems like everybody here is a big family ( I said most ) The people here are the best in the business, creme of the crop....Any question can be answered here, some questions the answers you must find. And remember, the only stupid question is the question that isn't asked. Perry ( not to get off subject, but before Wolflock gets here, technically there is a stupid question. I said that a few days ago in school. This ( stupid ) kid comes up to me and says," Can you breed frogs?"......I looked at him with a strait face and said, " now that is a stupid question." Which goes to show you, there are stupid people! I'll stop rambling now Perry
www.magicformagicians.info www.perry-reid.com
The only thing that spererates genius from insanity is success. |
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Manananmaclir,
A pair of handcuffs is about $35, a good deal. Try thumbcuffs at $12 - $15. A straitjacket is about $150-$170, also a good deal. Start with the books, which will help you figure out where you want to go with this. Good luck! Yours, Paul |
manananmaclir New user Port Hadlock 60 Posts |
Paul, I certainly hope my request was phrased nicely. The people on the forums seem to be truly wonderful, and I'd hate to think I was being too bold or impolite! Thank you all for the wonderful advice. Having said that, I don't want to imply that I think this is now a closed subject... please keep talking, everyone.
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Bretigan Regular user Milwaukee 102 Posts |
Hi,
I have been doing escapes for fun / charity once. I haven't had enough time to really to devote to the craft, usually a spurt for a week or 2, then work over loads me. Needless to say, rope escapes are a staple, and that can take you a long time to learn different ties, etc. Like, hands tied together, to the side, one in back, one in front, etc. Then different thickness to the ropes. lastly, you want to find a couple of good tiers to make it challenging for you. I have expanded my escapes to cuffs (good at using a paper clip to pick the lock - haven't toyed with the shim yet... but have them), also good with knowing what my limitations are with stretch wrap, and tried a duct tape escape once, and was much easier than I thought it would be. Going to try that escape again in the future, making the challenge a little harder next time. Practice makes the difference! Good luck. Bret |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
A good practical cheap source is your local magic club, someone there should be able to point you in the right direction.
Then try to make friends with a capable ea,,,,the one to one method is the best. Good hunting. Ken. |
Wolflock Inner circle South Africa 2257 Posts |
As you can see, this is not a stupid question and you will get lost of help here, if you just ask. Thank you for your comment on my Section. No one ever comments on it and I have no idea if it is helpful or not. Please PM me with what you find a bit to be a bit ahead so that I can either help out or try better the explainations. PM me and I will also give you a nice little escape which is pretty easy to get out of and is not pricey at all.
Regards Wolflock
Wolflock
Pro Magician & Escapologist Member of JMC (Johannesburg Magic Circle) South Africa |
manananmaclir New user Port Hadlock 60 Posts |
Well I took step one last night. I ordered the Encyclopedia of Escapes from http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.com . I was all set to get some hardware, but was ordered by my wife to read the book first. Such are the tribulations.... I'll try to comment as I find stuff, Wolflock. After rereading everything on magicformagicians.info's escapology forum, I can't find anything that's currently confusing. Some of the discussions might benefit from pictures of what you mean, but that's the only helpfull comment I can think of right now. You guys are great. Thanks for all the great advice. I'll keep you posted.
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AJP807 Special user New York City 559 Posts |
Hi Manananmaclir, (is it Chris by the way? that's easier to type ) I see that you are from California so in case you didn't see the link on the Cannon's website, I would highly reccommend that to think about attending the Cannon's 3rd Annual Escape Artist Convention, which will be in Ontario California this October. It's a fantastic place to learn, meet people and try out different products. You will really see if this art is for you and it will be one of the most enjoyable weekends you will have all year long. I hope you can make it there.
Best regards, Tony Parisi |
manananmaclir New user Port Hadlock 60 Posts |
Tony, yes, Chris works much better than Mananan Mac Lir. The nym is a little pretentious (he was the Celtic god of the sea), but it's almost always available. I may be out of state in October, but if not, I will defintely try to make it down south to the convention. I've never been to the L.A. area, so it would be a double first for me.
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Wolflock Inner circle South Africa 2257 Posts |
Chris
I am working on having a section which I use pictures to explain everything. Will be a little while though as I am working on so much at the moment for the WEAR Challenge. Regards Wolflock
Wolflock
Pro Magician & Escapologist Member of JMC (Johannesburg Magic Circle) South Africa |
manananmaclir New user Port Hadlock 60 Posts |
Update! I got the Expanded Encyclopedia of Escapes over the weekend and started reading through it/trying things out. I've stuck with the short rope escapes since that's what I have around the house right now. My wife's comment was "I'm not sure how I feel about tying my husband up." I'm sensing impending trips to the hardware store. Cannonsgreatescapses.com was fast! They have a bewildering array of stuff, though! Anyone have any thoughts about the different types of straight jackets available?! They have like two full pages of them.
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Arkadia Special user Sweden, Sundsvall 866 Posts |
I started of with a traditional Posey without belly and side loops and it has worked great! Or you could go for a Humane. (I belive Posey is a bit easier - but I havn't tried the humane.) The gimmicked ones surely work but I feel great beeing able to let the audience examine the jacket consistently. I bought the Novak book with my jacket which I much appreciate. A great book.
/Ark
Don't miss out on the great new mentalist magic: www.metalwriting.com
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
If you are getting a strait jacket, I'd also recommend the Jay Leslie videotape. I like the Novak book also.
My strait jacket is an ungimmicked number in nasty black canvas and leather bought from a supplier not associated with escape artists or hospital restraints. It's cruel, but I figured if I learned to escape from that one I could escape from other, easier jackets. If you search for "strait jackets" in the escape forum at the Café, you will find many opinions on jackets. Your choice should reflect whether you intend to use the jacket in some sort of timed/danger escape or not. You will find many people arguing against using gaffed jackets. I would not use a gaffed jacket myself (I don't do the timed/danger escape with a jacket). The ungaffed ones are cheaper, and you don't have to worry about having someone discover something. Good luck! Yours, Paul |
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