Balancing Act goes array!

[Misjief]

Okay gang...

Here is the idea...

I made a thumb tip that is just the very tip (like a thimble) and it has a 3 inch wire sticking out of it. Then I have a wand with a hole in one end (for the wire) and a fairly strong magnet on the other end; A light metal tray (and maybe some plastic glasses) go on top of that.

My idea is to pretend to attempt to balance the tray and the wand upon the tip of my finger. If people, especially kids, are standing up I think it would be funny to chase them around as they try to get out of my way. Can I do this with my spectators or am I better off using a stooge?

-misj-

[lag]

I think that would very much depends on the kids. Some kids may want to tip the tray over, hence they would touch it. Maybe adding water mixed with flour on the tray(so your patter could be trying to make a dough) would prevent them from trying to grab the tray and stay away from it as you chase them around?

[Misjief]

ok-

I finally got all the pieces together to pull this off...

The thumb tip idea MAY work if I use a thicker wire (coat hanger versus paper clip)- in such a case I will put the "zombie gripper" gimmick in the thumb tip and and the support wire in the wand. - Will try that later and get back to you... I have a couple planned ideas around such a gimmicked TT anyways, but I get the feeling that it won't work the length of the wand gives it to much leverage for the TT and it will ultimately slide about or disconnect.

I tried it with a gimmick I made for a mini zombie - as such it failed on the zombie (and ultimately lead to the double tipper) because of the odd angles and the like. However, It works perfectly for this application!

Basically it is a coat hanger bent in a small u with a extend tail that doubles back, that goes between fingers and grips your palm. The wand slides on to the tail which provides the support. On the end of the wand is a strong magnet. A small metal tray goes on top of that. I have to experiment to see what I can get away with as far for weight for the objects on the tray, but any of my light low profile props have worked great. If it is too tall and top heavy or weighs too much it won't work without shortening the wand.

If everything is magnet friendly and light on top you can go nearly all the way to 90 degrees which is a riot!!

My original question was if the group thought it would be a good idea to chase an audience member around with it.... I guess that will remain a social experiment for later! I think it would be funny - but I have learned to be cautious because I can easily go over the top. It is a personality flaw that I have to learn to work with - What can I say? I am a total spaz! LOL

-misj-

PS- I will get you pictures later if interested, and I manage to find my phone!

PSS- Could an Admin please move this back to Gimmicks? Pleeez!

[Brandon Pomeroy]

I think chasing them around might be a little volatile... everybody loves a tragedy, and I'm sure most kids would be delighted to see it fall. Maybe have it lean towards them quite a bit, pull it back, lean the other way. Make it seem like you are simultaneously in and out of control, if the makes sense.

P.S. Moved to gimmicks, just because it's you.

P.P.S. You add extra "P"'s in Post Scripts, so it becomes "Post-Post-Script" rather than "Post-Script-Script".

P.P.P.S. Yes, I am very nit-picky. Thank you for noticing.

[Misjief]

Ok -

So it sounds like ADULTS are my targets... LOL Thanks for the input and moving this B! You are the best!

-misj-

PS I know I put the extra p on the second ps BECAUSE it was the second ps! Jeez! Work with me here people!

[Brandon Pomeroy]

Originally Posted by Misjief

So it sounds like ADULTS are my targets

I wouldn't say that... This is a great gag that seems straight out of a cartoon. Kids will love it, for sure. What I was trying to say was not to chase around the kids, rather step towards them, then away. Constantly chasing them around as they get out of the way might make the kids frustrated; they'll be too busy running and screaming to get to watch the antics! Maybe have a little step pattern, go forward then back, left then right, things like that. Sorry if I wasn't clear the first time.

[Misjief]

Ah -

Gotcha. Well there is a gimmick to help steady things out, there is still a fair amount of balancing to do so quick fast movements are fairly limited... It is rather funny because the more you pull you fingers back and flatten your palm the more control you gain, and the more you bring in your fingers close to the wand the more you lose it... It is the exact opposite of what would happen unaided so it looks great. When It looks like I am out of control, I am actually in it!

That is part of the gag, as you really can't move in a straight line (and chase a single person). No, this is more of a stuttering staggered shuffle into the crowd, kind of thing. I am still working on it, but you and I are definitely on the same page. LOL

I will let you know how it goes, I want to take it to work with me next week and break it in there.

BTW both yours and Lag advice as to watch out for monsters is probably really good advice, as it previous NEVER occurred to me that the bratz might go out of their way to sabotage the act. Yikes! Definitely something to be aware of. It took a while for it to perculate as to what you were actually saying and match that up with what I wanted to hear versus reality. Sorry if I appeared to have blown both of you off. As I said it took a moment to register. Thanks!

-misj-

[mgsjack]

hope it wotks well