Now few people would do it for a kindergarten a fundamentalist church group but at what point does doing blockhead become a BAD idea.

I perform it in a high school show about science and have performed it on the streets and at private parties where there were one or two older kids but I always wonder....when is it TOO much!

Pretty darned good question - hmmmm...

Let's assume that unless the entire audience has agreed to see something - uh... - "challenging", or "extreme", then there's the possibility that someone's gonna raise an objection, and that they'll feel pretty offended (either on their own, or "on behalf of these other people," as in "how can you show this to children?")

Look at some polar-opposite examples. Sideshow tent, banners advertising "bizarre acts and dangerous stunts" - anybody who goes in might (if you're a good performer) be shocked, but they will have no business taking offense. Kindergarten classroom, "now kids don't try this at home" - you'll be lucky to get out before the police arrive. Church picnic, "here's Nick the magician and he's got a hammer and really big nail" - somebody's going to say the key objection: "what makes you think people want to see something like that?"

So maybe we can say that it's not so much the age of the audience (I certainly wouldn't object if my kids were in the audience) or the venue, so much as it is screening who chooses to see it versus who has it thrust upon them unwarned.

Innappropriate times are: small children in the audience under pre-teen age, funerals (unless it was a fellow sideshow performer--21 nail salute), wedding announcements, during births (unless it is a carny-child), maybe when you are telling someone they have a terminal illness, during conjugal relations....

Great times are: When you are helping your friend put a roof on their house and the nail gun "goes off" while he is not looking and you scream as you turn around....

When you aren't getting good reception on the TV or radio at a friend's house...

When you have a really big booger...

While watching FREAKS.

When you are trying to go through airport security and you have the nail really lodged up there quite far (so it isn't so visible) and you set off the detector, so they pull you aside and wave over you with that metal detector and you say, "hmmm its not my keys...could this be it? I was wondering where that went." or "You do know that my doctor said that this is the lynchpin to my whole brain and if you take this out, I am going to leak brain fluid out like a hole in the Hoover dam."

Just before your doctor walks in for your yearly physical...let him know you are having trouble breathing and you think you may be getting too much iron in your diet.


Actually, I think the question is really a matter of taste and letting the people know who have hired you that your show is a bit edgy and may offend, it may not be suitable for small children and parents should be given an opportunity to shield their kids. I let everyone know that no children are allowed in my show. And a few times parents let their kids come. I felt fine telling a few jokes dirty enough to make the Aristocrats seem tame, b/c I WARNED THEM IN ADVANCE. It was their choice.

Now if the host of a party knows, but you don't think the host has done their duty to tell the guests who have brought their kids then it is the hosts fault. BUT, I would probably go to the host (if I had time) to let them know AGAIN, that there is material here that may not be suitable for kids and you are telling them that right now (ie. They better go talk to the guests and give you the thumbs up).

High schools, well, that is where judgement comes in because there are no parents there. So, be a parent. What would you want your kids to see and remember, that some kids will try stuff even if you warn them not to. So, maybe don't do that stuff that you think puts them at risk.

Oh...yeahh..one more great time:

When your friend sets you up on a blind date with a real dog...(unless it is two headed or has five legs...).

Usually, I just sneeze chopped up onions out of my nose....but I am married now, so I have little need for that anymore.

I laughed mu a** off! Thanks for that!

/Ark

Yeah.... that one just MIGHT not be such a great idea, especially if security doesn't have a sense of humour..... which 90% of the time they do not.

A fun thing to do at the airport is blasting Royksopp's "Remind Me" while riding the moving sidewalks.....

I've done blockhead at airport security. They laugh, but still won't let me take a swallowing-sword through.

"It's a weapon" they say to me who's probably read their regs more recently than they have.

"It has no edge or point" I say, "it can't cut or stab".

"It's a weapon" they say, so I check the sword. They let me take my nail, though.

You can do blockhead any time, any place, as long as the audience, and the folks who booked you, understand that you're going to do it. And if someone runs screaming out of the venue, oh well.

You can't please everybody.

In the days when they first started installing moving sidewalks, I could still carry my unicycle as walk-on luggage. I'd ride it through the airport, with the Krishna devotees chasing me, waving pamphlets at my departing backside. And then ride down the moving sidewalks. That's FUN! Especially if there's nobody around, and you can turn around and go the wrong way!

Because you can't ask EVERY member of the audience can you?

I wouldn't consider kids younger than teen age too young for the blockhead, I regularly perform blockhead for audiences at rennaisance festivals that include children as small as 5 years old. It's all about how you present it, I do the human blockhead in an entirely different way for rennaisance festivals than I would for a classic sideshow or nightlclub/bar/18+ crowd. Just My Opinion.

Well, you can screen 'em out by advertising that your show is "extreme" - those who are unwilling to tolerate shocks won't come in, or woin't have any business complaining. That's what I mean by "asking every member of the audience."

Alternatively, you can select your venue - a daycare won't be appropriate - a crowd on Venice Beach - probably OK - a crowd at a punk rock nightclub, you gotta get even weirder.

I advertise that it's a family show, the way I do blockhead hasn't offended anyone yet, of course blockhead isn't a main part of my show so anytime I think it would be inappropriate I take it out or if a venue says "that's too gross" I don't do it. I think you just have to use your better judgement, design your show so you can change things at a moments notice, and if you plan to work in venues where your audience may include children... have enough material that is not "gross" to do if you have to.

What with soft punk, grindcore, emo and other wimpy options, punk rock nightclub guests these days will be more likely to be squealing and covering the eyes and asking their mummies to come and pick them up early.

Emos will be too fixated on their mirrors to notice the entertainment.

Destiny

See "Tickle Me Emo" http://youtube.com/watch?v=4nRNYG_xM2U

Heh! heh!

My wife (who is much cooler then I) took several weeks to explain exactly WHAT emo was.

Me: so their goths?
Her: No...they wear black but they are more street.
Me: Like skaters?
Her: No, more anti authority.
Me: oh...like punk?
Her: not really....

Now, whenever I see an emo kid on the street or whenever My Chemical Romance comes on the radio, I squeal and say "EMO! IT'S EMO!"

-------

I wish my grass was emo...then it would cut itself.

You have to stop when the blood comes out the back of your head...

For a different slant on blockhead used to put a reporter off the scent of pick use in escapology,,,,,see the UKEA video on the All tied up section here,,,
Have a laugh, on me !!!

Ken

Never

Oh how red was her neck after you penatrated her?

Wiht chains that is - see the UKEA web site. I was there she WAS NOT EXPECTING to be on that side of the camera!