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AntonDreaming Special user Gloucester by the sea 622 Posts |
Recently Justlary posted a video of himself performing his version (a very good one) of the walk of death. This is a trick used by many a juggler and many people have mixed feeling about the risk of the bit.
I would love to hear what everyone (esp you Lary) thinks about the bit and the risk involved. For me, just the fact the knives are supposedly dull (dube still weigh a ton and will cut you) makes the idea of a mistake in this trick just to scary. The smallest cut on a spectator would not be well recied. I would love to hear other opinions though. Anton |
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ns Loyal user Canada 238 Posts |
Can you post the link to the video? I'd love to see it.
Thanks in advance |
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AntonDreaming Special user Gloucester by the sea 622 Posts |
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itshim Elite user Milton Keynes 417 Posts |
Personally I feel that performed competently there is minimal risk to anyone. There is no way with normal throwing action that you can miss the knife and hit someone beneath you. To hit somebody you would have to throw so that the arc of the knife was high but narrow (like badly trained beginners try before they learn to juggle clubs), even then most people naturally throw wider than a body width so they would have to deflect the knife back on to the victim.
In 15 years of performing this trick (with knives, fire, eggs etc.) I have not had one accident even though I have had more than one drop. I have even had someone turn the lights out. I know of one accident (no-one was actually harmed but clothes were set alight) and the person who was doing that show was both incompetent and working in a difficult enviroment (low ceiling). In fact I would say that performing the walk of death is much safer than most things in life. I'd rather do it than cross a busy road, Nigel walk of death workshop, anyone interested?
I knew a man who kept saying "pliers, pincers, scissors". He was speaking in tongs.
www.itshim.co.uk |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
I love this stunt. Always performed it ever since I was about 15. I like to put some chops in when I'm over the person's head.
I also tend to use fire than knives. Talking of knives, what do people here tend to use?? I've got a set of Dube, but find the shape a little too un-like real knives and so don't use them all that much. Now to check out this video......
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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itshim Elite user Milton Keynes 417 Posts |
Now doing chops increases the actual danger considerably. The movement is bringing the knife downwards at some force and towards the middle.
Nigel
I knew a man who kept saying "pliers, pincers, scissors". He was speaking in tongs.
www.itshim.co.uk |
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AndyComic Loyal user 211 Posts |
Yeh I use to do this act and dropped once. But as stated above if your juggling a normal cascade the knives are flying sideway and will land to the side of the person as it did in my case. Perhaps an extra wide pattern is best. Its a pretty old trick though, like eating the apple, juggling a chainsaw and pass juggling around a person. time to move on I think.
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AntonDreaming Special user Gloucester by the sea 622 Posts |
Well classics are classics for a reason. But I agree that there needs to be inovation for any art to continue.
Anton |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Time to move on... yes I agree totally.
But I also think that the classics should also continue to be performed. Like the linking rings in magic. As for adding chops making it more dangerous... it probably does, but if your chops are as solid as your normal cascade then it really shouldn't be a problem at all. The difficult bit is chopping whilst walking over them.
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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just_larry Veteran user 330 Posts |
Wow um well.
1st I didn't know when I first did it that it had been done before (cause walking over someone would look cooler than just standing over them!) It started as a way to get back at hecklers. 2nd. as I said I did to get back at hecklers, so screw them if they get hurt!!!! JUST JOKING! I feel very confident in my skill as a juggler other wise I would not do this . As I have just learn from you guys (boy do I feel dumb) about the Walk of Death (you go over the person) In my act I stand to one side of the person knives going left /right, their head/feet. then I go to their head and I lower myself to juggle right over their face (scaring the bu-jesus out of them!) This routine is the edited routine for time, for this contest. I used to do some skills over the spectator (doubles, chops) and then I showed some skills after (back crosses, under legs, etc.) but ever since doing it that way that I do it on the video (they get up after I have finished) it a gets bigger applause so that is how it has stayed since. I do not feel this is old/classic because it is my routine done my way. Like cigar boxes they have been around forever, but yet they get me hired everyday, and the audience goes Nuts for them. So why should I stop them because they aren't new! There mine and I like them. Just, Larry Ps. Roslyn, I use Dube. I like the heaver weight. |
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AntonDreaming Special user Gloucester by the sea 622 Posts |
Well its a great piece. And the walk of death is somthing a lot of us do at some point or another. Its good when done right and you do!
Anton |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Hi Larry,
The dube's are great for street and outdoor work because of the weight... not as likely to get caught in the wind. But there's just something about the feel of them that just doesn't work for me. As for the stunt not being new... are there truly any new stunts??? Everything's been done before in one way or another, its just the packaging that's different... and it seems that the way you package your stuff really gets the crowd going. Congrats.
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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mark1991 Veteran user Boston, Lincolnshire, England 311 Posts |
Hi there,
Firstly, can I say this has been a really interesting topic! I have learnt a lot and it is great to see so many differing views! Secondly, I wanted to pose a new question about the walk of death - Which is better for the walk of death? Fire or knives? Which do you prefer? This is just out of my own interest as I have seen both versions performed. Which do you prefer? Take care and God bless! Magical Mark Watson (mark1991)
http://magicnewstelevision.com/mn/magicalmark
Magical Mark Watson - Christian magician, juggler, puppeteer, all-round entertainer and lover of Christ! |
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AntonDreaming Special user Gloucester by the sea 622 Posts |
Fire is a prop that here in the states (new england esp) we have seldom a chance to use. I like torches because they ar elighter than knives but there is more up keep. I think either prop works great!
Anton |
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Pokie-Poke Special user Bensalem, PA 883 Posts |
Fire looks better but knifes are safer. to much hair spray, or polyester and poof! but there are fake knifes out there and people know that, there is no fake fire, they know that also.
www.pokie-poke.com
The Adventure cont... |
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just_larry Veteran user 330 Posts |
I don't think I would ever do this with Fire.
Larry |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Fire torches for sure!
And for exactly the same reasons as Poke. Everone knows its real. I don't think doing it with fire is really any more dangerous than doing it with clubs as long as your 3 club cascade is nice and solid... I did see this done with 5 torches by a street performer here in UK (I forget his name) and that was really cool. Also seen (and performed) a version of this on rola bola. General set up = table with rb on top, spec lies on floor next to table. I've got a little piece of netting that I get them to hold and stretch out... they are my safety net and if I drop its there job to catch it. Again I do this with torches. As a little piece of extra comedy I spray the spec with "lighter" fuel (actually water) first. Of course this goes over the net as well and at the end I've taken a torch and touched it to the net. It goes up in flames (its made from flash string). Only used the last bit a few times since making the net is a pain especially since its basically just a throw away piece. But it can be quite a nice "oh, and if things had gone wrong......." type of thing.
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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itshim Elite user Milton Keynes 417 Posts |
So if something does go wrong you have them playing with a fire hazard rather than naturally getting out of the way?
I've just been teaching somebody to breathe and eat fire and spent 90 minutes going through where all the dangers are, how to minimise them etc. The point being that when you deal with something that is intrinsically dangerous you reduce risks rather than increase them. I'm waiting for the day you don't shake off your torches enough and burning oil touches that 'net' and burns your helpers hands. I doubt your public liability insurance will cover you. Nigel
I knew a man who kept saying "pliers, pincers, scissors". He was speaking in tongs.
www.itshim.co.uk |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Then you'll be waiting a long time.
My torches have very little fuel on them when I juggle, so no little drips from me. I wouldn't do a basic walk of death if they weren't. I'm not in the habit of damaging specs. And since I've been performing walk of death for about 10+ years now with torches and zero injuries to me or a spec I think we can safely say I know what I'm doing with the stunt. I'm sure not even you will class me as simply being 10 years lucky?? Besides, why on earth are you putting oil on your torches??????? Parafin is the only fuel I use.
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
For those of you who are new here when juggling fire you must shake your torches very well, or you will get flaming droplets of fuel in your eyes. I know that Ros, and Nigel are not rookies, but it does bear repeating for those who want to try it for the first time.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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