talkmagic.co.uk

TonyB wrote:Stapling a bank note to your forehead is easy. There are two ways of doing it. The first is to do it genuinely. It stings slightly, but not much. The second is to use a dud stapler, and have a bit of gum on the bank note. Either gets gasps from the audience.

Nail up the nose is also easy. Use a blunted nail, disinfected, about five inches (but call it as six) and push it slowly straight back (not up). It will fit into one of the nasel cavities.

Thanks Tony.

I've been doing the nail for a while now and I'm thinking about upgrading to a screwdriver because I can tie that in with some other bits in the act. Any thoughts on using a screw driver in place of a nail?

MrzOmbie, unfortunately I sneeze time I do the nail bit, so I can offer no advice! It is a think I have done, but don't do regularly. I have seen guys using scewdrivers (use a narrow head) and even one using a drill. He had it spinning very slowly.
The problem with a screwdriver is that there is a suspicion (unfounded, but what can you do?) that the blade might retract into the handle. The beauty of the nail is that everyone knows it is not a fake. I would stick to the nail for that reason.

Stapling a bank note to your forehead is easy. There are two ways of doing it. The first is to do it genuinely.

I have a few pro-wrestler friends who have done this bit for hardcore matches. They all assure me that it hurts more coming out than it does going in.

Back in my jackass days i pretty much stapled everywhere lol and the forehead is easy ! it doesn't hurt its a weird numb sort of feeling.

The first time I did the staple bit I used a dud stapler. Then the bloody thing worked, and drove a staple into my forehead. I was laughing so hard I didn't notice any pain. Jon Kent is right; it doesn't hurt, any more than getting a jab at the doctors hurts.

I'd rather staple my forehead than get a dr's jab lol

I'm curious as to how much research you've done in this area.

I traveled with Ward Hall's side show "Circus Unique" off and on and have worked with other carnival groups long before Jim Rose breathed new life into the niche. In my rather jaded view, I think anyone interested in this sort of thing needs to put some time in, under canvass and get their hands dirty; it will be the hardest work, longest hours, less pay you've ever seen that will bestow upon you mountains of experience, perspective and an amazing education.

Tony has given you some sound food for thought and in that I've but skimmed this thread I'm going to jump in with a few other ideas that you may want to play with IF you are looking at doing clubs or actual "shows" other than conventional busking.

I've used two major Freak Illusions (Spidora & the Headless Lady) for club act bits that went over in a very big way. The Headless unit was actually used in shopping malls as part of an April Fool's Promotion. In both cases Mentalism was the cornerstone; let's face it, spidy senses go a long way when it comes to supporting such phenomena. In the Headless I merged the paranormal with science (fiction) by having a headless psychic who was kept alive through an old 1960s era main frame computer (huge things). The girl operating the thing apparently used Phrenology and Graphology as a way to discern information about guests that took a seat in front of her. . . it was loaded with hilarity! The "Readings, being print-outs.

Spidora on the other hand, featured my old roomy Rod, a professional comic & female impersonator that did a righteous sharp tongued character based on Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller and a hint of Sophie Tucker. We deliberately used the Harbin version of the Spider prop because of how high it sits and so, makes things more visible to the public. We did a classic blindfold and comedy Astrological reading sequence as the highlights to this act.

As a single person routine I think you've already been introduced to the mainstays that are "easy" -- glass or hot coal walks being super simple once you turn your head off and recognize just how safe it actually is. Fire Eating can get you into trouble IF YOU DON'T LISTEN -- safety is paramount alongside common sense. A bit over a decade ago a young lady that knew it all had her own volcano (dragon breath or whatever you wish to call it) flash straight back into her face and put her in the hospital while working a major casino in Vegas; it took that accident to wake her up, please don't let that be your story.

In the book Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant by Mel Gordon there is reference as to how to do several strong-man stunts that you may want to look into; especially if you are not built like a muscle man and can present yourself as a novelty -- a freak of science or perhaps, a wonder of science, depending on how you frame things.

Blood & Gore is NOT a common thing in this arena and thus, less is more. If you have the nerve to do it, look up the Human Pin Cushion and the name Bill Fitch, if you are into piercing this could work for you, especially if you used the Super Needle thru Arm as your kicker.

Craig Browning wrote:I think anyone interested in this sort of thing needs to put some time in, under canvass and get their hands dirty;

Where can you do that in 2011?

Dye Vernon wrote:

Craig Browning wrote:I think anyone interested in this sort of thing needs to put some time in, under canvass and get their hands dirty;

Where can you do that in 2011?

Craig lives in america, so the opportunitys are much rarer than they once where, they still exist. There is still atleast one circus, bristol based if i remember correctly, where you can get a somewhat similar experience in the UK.


Craig, thanks for the reply

I believe if you spent some google time you would find several such traveling units throughout most of Europe. I know of at least one from Scotland and there is a very small Irish troupe that bounces across the pond, doing Renaissance type festivals. . . I don't have contact details or names but they shouldn't be too difficult to find.

My buddy Roderick Russel might be able to give you some pointers too, he is a one-man side-show that traverses New England year round. Look him up, he's on Facebook & Google.

Craig, I wasn't aware of an Irish group doing this sort of material. If you can remember anything that might help me find them, I would appreciate it. I love this stuff.

And if you look hard enough, there are still opportunities, as Craig said. Not many, but thankfully this stuff has not died out. Check out any DVD by Todd Robbins - a great showman with some lovely weird skills. Jim Rose wrote a book called Angles which tipped some of the stuff as well.

TonyB wrote:Craig, I wasn't aware of an Irish group doing this sort of material. If you can remember anything that might help me find them, I would appreciate it. I love this stuff.

And if you look hard enough, there are still opportunities, as Craig said. Not many, but thankfully this stuff has not died out. Check out any DVD by Todd Robbins - a great showman with some lovely weird skills. Jim Rose wrote a book called Angles which tipped some of the stuff as well.

You might check with Wayne Dobson, Tony, he was really into this stuff as is (of course) Tod Robbins, they might have a better handle on that front, but I will look around for you.