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Billybonkers Loyal user Diamond Bar L.A 251 Posts |
Hi everyone,
I am a recent proud owner of a disecto arm chopper and am trying to think of a funny, not too scary presentation for it for kids. Or maybe I'm being too optimistic and you think I should keep sharp(ish) blades away from children? Any suggestion or ideas would be greatly appreaciated. I'm hoping you guys may be able to spark my creative juices. Adrian |
TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
Adrian, there are going to be people that jump on this thread and state "You should NEVER perform cutting tricks for kids!!!" Never ever, the golden rule, rules rules rules!!!! Me personally, I throw all rules out the window when performing for kids except the rule "have fun."
For years and years I have performed disecto in my kid shows BUT not for the real young ones. Not for day care/pre schools. When performing for b days I do not perform it for 4, 5, 6 year old birthdays. I USED to perform it for that age and sometimes I still do if there are more older kids and adults in the crowd, but mostly I reserve it for the ages of 8 and up. You will have some young kids cover their eyes when you perform it. You say you are looking for a funny, not too scary presentation but the fact is, it IS a scary trick and no matter how much you play it for comedy, it IS a danger trick and to the young mind it IS scary. I have a lot of funny one-liners. I use a bowl with a fake bloody hand. You can make it as funny as you want but when it comes time to perform the penetration, like I said, to kids it IS scary. So, why do I perform it? I have always liked that "element of danger" in my act. Two questions kids always ask "Are you going to pull a bunny out of your hat? Are you going to saw someone in half" . Have fun . . .
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
You will be relegated to the deepest pit in Hades for using this with kids!*L*
OK, now that it has been said, you can give young children nightmares with this, and lose business. I think it could be a blast with 8 y/os, but I wouldn't do it with ANY younger kids around. The problem is most 8 y/o parties have younger siblings around too. The other issue is if some mom thinks it is inappropriate she will probably warn everyone she can about you. Because of this, I decided not to use it on kids, period. I then used a MAK Disecto on an adult at a birthday party, and the blade grazed him, drawing a fine cut (yes, blood). It was no big deal to him (thankfully) but I freaked. I still remember the feeling, like my stomach dropped out . . . Never used it again. |
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
The "trick" to using Disecto safely every time is to be certain both the front and back swinging curved pieces of wood that hold the wrist in place are locked securely.
You really must study how this is accomplished. (There is a right way and a wrong way.) Of course, you always want to select a helper with a thin wrist> most big strong men will have a wrist that is too large. Julie |
jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
The best way to use a Disecto is to put it in your closet and leave it there.
Jim |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
When we first started I used lots of material like this - I think it was down to my Roman Catholic education, always being in Church looking at statues of suffering, and being taught about torture and Martyrs during the English Reformation. I still have an interest in the macabre - but would never ever dream of doing anything relating to amputations, spikes in arms etc. at kids shows these days.
I agree, the best way to use these sort of props is to lock them in a cupboard (or sell them!) :) T. |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-08-14 09:16, KC Cameron wrote: I own an old Abbott's Disecto. I disassembled mine, reworked it and rebuilt it. It works exactly the way I want it to. I haven't used it in a kidshow, but I could manipulate the presentation to make it cartoonish, so it's funny without being so scary. |
btedeski Veteran user Pittsburgh PA 322 Posts |
>>The best way to use a Disecto is to put it in your closet and leave it there.
That is were I keep mine,,,, |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
The BEST ARM CHOPPER on the PLANT is Choppo! by Jimmy Fingers. No Gimmick! Can be examined before during and after the routine. Nothing to find and extremely deceptive!
http://gimpysmagic.com/choppo.html
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Daniel Ulzen Elite user Berlin/Germany 490 Posts |
For the right age - if the kids can take it - it is a GREAT trick.
In the book "Professional Magic for Children" from David Ginn is a great routine for this trick. |
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