Magic with knives

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

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Magic with knives

Postby greedoniz » Jun 12th, '08, 13:15



I have thinking about a routine which would involve the use of a knife but am unaware as to the laws stance on such things here in the uk.

I am sure it will be ok for the performance itself as no specs will be in any danger but as to carrying such an object to and from gigs (I mainly use public transport) I am not sure where I stand.
Obviously the chances of me being stopped randomly by the fuzz are slim but want to knowwhere I stand.
I have emailed the Met directly so am waiting to hear back from them. If I do I will post on here if anyone is interested.

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Postby magicdiscoman » Jun 12th, '08, 13:19

if there carried in a seperate container ie not just in your pocket then you should be ok.

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Postby greedoniz » Jun 12th, '08, 13:53

Yes I intend to carry it inside a container which in turn is inside my bag.

I would also think that to inform the venue of what you are bringing would be a good thing to do.

I did take lighter fuel for my hot wallet once to a venue I was working and the bouncer searched my bag, found it and confiscated it so a knife might be more of a problem.

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Postby Michael Jay » Jun 12th, '08, 14:32

greedoniz wrote:I did take lighter fuel for my hot wallet once to a venue I was working and the bouncer searched my bag, found it and confiscated it so a knife might be more of a problem.


A venue that you were paid to work at? This may sound arrogant, but if I showed up to a venue as a paid for performer and the bouncer asked to rummage through my equipment, I would politely tell him "no" and if pushed, I would not perform at that venue and still charge them my full fee for wasting my time.

I can't even imagine allowing some schmuck to rummage through my equipment, let alone if I were paid to be there.

Unbelievable.

Mike.

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Postby greedoniz » Jun 12th, '08, 14:56

Yes it was a club that had been hired out for the night privately but the bouncers were employees of the club and therefore were insisting on searching everyone going in (it was in a rough area).
I did explain that I was the hired entertainment and spoke to my client but the gorillas at the door were having none of it.

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Postby Michael Jay » Jun 12th, '08, 15:21

Oh...You weren't hired by the club itself, then. Okay, different situation altogether.

Whoops! :lol:

Still, I would have had a real problem with letting the apes rummage around...In all honesty, I cannot say exactly what I would have done, under those circumstances.

Mike.

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Postby bmat » Jun 12th, '08, 15:37

I wouldn't have a problem with an ape going through my stuff. Especially one of those big silver backs. I would just keep very, very still. :roll:

sorry I have my literal cape on today.

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Postby Jobasha » Jun 12th, '08, 17:00

How big are the knifes. It is legal to carry around a blade of three inches or less, so long as the blade can fold away like a lock knife or a pen knife. No fixed blades. You may carry a longer blade if you have a purpose as obviously most chiefs knives are longer, or fishing, etc. The way the dueling society used to do it at uni was the blades had shiefs and were then rapped in corrugated cardboard, so if anyone searched the back it was obvious that the weapons were not intended for quick use. But then if you are searched you will have to demonstrate its purpose so be ready to perform.

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Postby Kevin Cann » Jun 12th, '08, 17:32

Jobasha wrote:How big are the knifes. It is legal to carry around a blade of three inches or less, so long as the blade can fold away like a lock knife or a pen knife. No fixed blades


a "lock knife" does not come into the category of "folding pocket knife" because it is not immediately foldable at all times; (R v Deegan [1998] 2 Cr.App,R 121 CA).

For a knife to be a folding pocket-knife within the meaning of this section, it must be readily and immediately foldable at all times, simply by the folding process. A lock-knife, which required a further process, namely activating a trigger mechanism to fold the blade back into the handle, was held not to be a folding pocket-knife (Harris v DPP [1993] 1 All ER 562); followed in R v Deegan [1998] Crim LR 562,[1998] 2 Cr App Rep 121. The section applies to articles which have a blade or are sharply pointed, falling into the same broad category as a knife or sharply pointed instrument;

It is only legal to carry around a folding pocket knife of less than 3 inches but you could still be prosecuted for it if carried to defend yourself. All pointed or bladed articles of any size except a folding pocket knife are illegal to be carried in public unless you have lawful authority or a reasonable excuse.

Ultimately, if you have a knife you want to use in performance it is best to have it in the boot and in a bag and in a container and have written permission from the person hiring you for the performance. You could still be arrested but you would get off in court !

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Postby Mandrake » Jun 12th, '08, 18:07

How the heck do professional knife throwers get on with all this :? ?

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Postby magicmonkey » Jun 12th, '08, 18:23

I was a chef for years and on occasion did get stopped with my kit on me, and although they looked surprised at not only seeing a 14 inch knife but the carrier appearing not bothered and un-shifty about it, they left me alone realising that they were needed for my work.

It is possible that this would follow for a performance, but as mentioned above I would take into account how you transport it/them. Either a strong canvas wallet would do, or I used to use a tool box with a padlock on. It was with one of these boxes that the police had no qualms with.

I am interested to hear what the met say when (IF) they reply to your query.

I may be able to dig out an old knife wallet that you can have if you intend to go with this and give it to you next time we meet up

not a fan of sigs, so I won't bother adding o..... oh
:oops:
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Postby greedoniz » Jun 13th, '08, 08:08

So it is looking like as long as I have it securely tucked away in a box or at the bottom of a bag then I should be ok as long as I dont wandering about town causing trouble then it'll be ok

Does anyone know the law involving napalm and flamethrowers as I have this stage act........

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Postby Wills » Jun 13th, '08, 12:26

Its never been a problem for me.......

..........but I am from Belfast

(I mean that in the lightest funniest way possible) :D

Can anybody please help me? I'm having terrible problems controlling my streetmagic- I can't walk down a street without turning into a pub.
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Postby Arkesus » Jun 13th, '08, 13:15

I just spoke to a rep from the public protection unit.

His advice, don't keep it in you glove compartment. As lon as it is behind your closed doors there's no real problems, and if it does have to leave the house, keep it secure and with your other magic equipment, and it's just another tool of the trade.

Time Magazines Person Of The Year 2006.
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