Hey,
I was always interested in escapes, but I have no clue how to get started. Does anyone have any recommended readings or DVDs to get started on? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks a lot.

A quick search of this forum would set you on the right road! Use keywords such as "beginning" or "starting", etc.

Read all you can on the art, then choose what area of escapes you'd like to get into and work on that.

My own personal starting point was the straitjacket.

Good luck.

While I've been doing magic as a hobby for 25 years, and professionally for a year and a half, I had never done escapes. I wanted to learn, so I purchased the Dixie Dooley series and watched them several times. I then added a thumbcuffs routine to my restaurant work. Last week I purchased a straitjacket, and yesterday, I ordered Jay Leslie's DVD on straitjacket escapes.

I say all that to let you know how this "beginner in escapes" is getting started. I've yet to perform the SJ escape, but I'm having a blast practicing!

Brian

I started with the Novak books available from Cannon's. First I got the chain escapes book, then I eventually got them all. The Hades Encyclopedia of Escapes, also available from Cannon's, is also very good.

The hardest part of escapes is presentation. Here, each student must find his or her own way. The greatest asset here is a good teacher.

You will see the same advice given here again and again: start simple. If you can't be entertaining escaping from rope or chain, you will not be entertaining escaping from some sort of Death Device built by an illusion maker that costs thousands of dollars.

Yours,

Paul

Thanks so much.

I'm also rather interested in learning escapology - to add it to my trapeze work. I'll check out those DVDs as suggested... Dixie Dooley, is it?

My only concern is that Escapology seems to be a very male dominated field and I'm definitely a girl... Will that affect the way in which things can be done drastically?

There won't be any teachers for me - There aren't many people in Australia that I know of who will be willing to teach anything.

What amazes me is how many people actually know how to get out of thumb cuffs.. It shocks me! I have met many that can do it and explain how its done.

Here is one book that will keep you full of ideas for a long time...Bill McLaury's “ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ESCAPES II”

But I have to agree wholeheartedly with Doc Wilson



Start reading then get a friend to help you practice and always keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas and inspirations. Beginning with rope and chain makes it easy to get props at Home Depot, Tractor Supply Company, or their ilk.

Michael
http://www.ProfessorFountain.com

If you want an overview of the world of escapology, see the DVD "Understanding the Art of Escaping". Yes, I am the author but this is exactly why I put so much time and effort into it- to help the person who wants to explore escapology. Its available at Amazon or ebay. Hope it helps.


Clyde