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blockhead stuff
my friend and i are learning the old nail in the fact trick. thing is, he can get 4 inches in, and i can't even get 3 before it feels like i'm hitting the back wall of my sinus cavity. am i actually hitting the back wall, or could i go farther? i'm just wonder why he can get a nail so much farther in. is it some physical difference in our sinus cavities, or could i do it too?
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Hey Orange,
If it hurts, stop. If it bleeds, you stopped too late.
As you gently insert the nail (which I am sure by this point you have dulled with sand paper, right?) do NOT, either by intention or mistake, let it point upwards.
The idea is to make it look like it is going more 'up' than 'back', but in real life it is indeed simply going into the back of the throat via the sinus cavity.
If you are already attempting the stunt exactly as I have described, then you are a mutant, or possibly a 4 year old kid having fun here on the boards.
For future reference, when ever you might want to try this stunt again, or any other stunt where you put an object into your body (regardless of location or intention) which is by nature harder than your own skin -- make damn sure it is CLEAN and DULL. Flavored and ribbed is another discussion altogether, but I hope you catch my drift. A sinus or throat infection brought on this way is too close to the brain to play games. -
Orange,
I gotta agree with Chance on this one. If you don't know what you're doing -- STOP NOW! In my view, of all the side show skills, this one is the most deadly. If you muck this one up, you're dead, no questions asked, no second chance.
If you absolutely must learn how to do it, find an old sideshow performer and beg and plead with them until they relent and teach you. Even then, you're playing with your life when you do this one on the street.Comment
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No sweat Orange.... It ain't as bad as Sean says if you are not a moron... of course, if you ARE then you can always get chalked up for the Social Darwinism Award for Self Sacrifice for the Good of the People... The idea is up and in. And listen to both Chance AND Sean... then do a search on Melvin Burkhart, and read everything... that is, if you dont poke your brain out <img src="graemlins/haha.gif" border="0" alt="[ha ha]" />
Oh yeah, what is it that Zamora says?... "Go Ahead, Try it at Home!"
[ 04-19-2002: Message edited by: Doctor Eric ]</p>Comment
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let frack give some wise frack advice. never try this trick when have a runny nose, or the flu or anything where your nose isn't normal. did this once with a runny nose and hammered the nail in and couldn't feel it going in nose cause of flu. well thought it was going in straight but didn't. realized it when pulled nail out covered in blood. so just some advice. the crowd might enjoy seeing the blood but frack didn't. yep yep frack attackComment
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Although you've already tried blockheading with a nail, it's a good idea to first start with a q-tip. Wet the cotton and stick it on in -but make sure you hold on to the other end otherwise it'll get stuck up there. Once you feel comfortable with that you can start using different size nails until you find the one that best fits your nose. Not everyone can do the same size, it all depends on the size of yer head. I saw one of Bobby Renolds guys use a table knife. Yikes!Comment
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A couple of things I have found with this trick.
First off I have to totally disagree with Sean. You cant muck this one up. Either you slide it into your sinus or you dont. There are no two ways about it. If you slide it in and you hit something hard and you cant push it further and you begin to hammer and you really hurt something, then it is God's way of weeding out the stupid. Sorry to sound so harsh, but it is true. When you do this dont really hammer it in. The hammer is a small guide of force, but you should have one hand holding the nail just under the head, that is slowly guiding the nail in untill a majortity of the nail makes it into your sinus, then you can let go and "hammer" it the rest of the way back. The hammering motion is simply a push with the hammer head that pulls or pops back fast to make it look like you are "hammering" and makes a great noise.
I have a small sinus cavity in terms of diameter, so I make my own nails out of stainless steel rod.
This trick can also work with the arm of glasses. You can slide the arm of eye or sunglasses down the sinus and then the bendy part, will drop down and hang slightly in the back of you mouth by your uvula.
Clean them (glasses, nails) first or you will taste all kinds of yuck as well as make yourself avaliable to all kinds of infections.Comment
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I don't disagree with what you're saying, Todd. I have never heard of anyone getting seriously hurt from doing this, but I would rather put the fear of death into someone learning this for the first time, especially on their own, then have them think it's something that easy to do. If you have a healthy dose of respect for the skill and know what can go wrong in the first place, then you are more likely to take the time to learn it right to begin with.
I use this while working the streets and have had countless people come up and ask me to "Stick that up my nose again." If someone who's interested in learning this were to do so, the damage could be severe and they'd be up for a Darwin.
Presenting the Blockhead on stage and in the street are two different things. The effect's the same, the setting is what will get you into trouble. Even after make sure that I've set up and defined my space well, I've still been bumped from time to time while doing this. People, myself included, can be morons.
What you said about the hammer was right one and I find not fault, but I still think that it's possible to muck this one up especially if you are trying to learn it on your own.Comment
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With the greatest of respect Sean, my post was to counter the miss information of your first post on this subject.I find that statements such as "the most deadly of sideshow skills" and "if you muck this up you are dead" is simply wrong.
Round peg, round hole. No contact with brain matter at all.
Besides fire-eating has far more risks involved than the block-head. Slow poisoning of the liver, risks of wind blowback, the fuel being out for anybody to kick over, etc make the block-head as big a 'whistle-blower act as the bed of nails. (How does it work? Lay on it and physiscs takes over)
While your observations in your last post about the dangers of people running into you in a street situation are correct, your original post did not adress these matters at all. Besides the risks posed by an audience member walking into your space are great for any performer, juggler, unicyclest, block-head, etc.
But applause to you for your wanting to keep him safe and looking out for anothers well being.
Onward
ToddComment
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First, when performed correctly the blockhead is not dangerous in itself but does put you in a vulnerable position with a nail pointed at your brain. Second, can we please get our anatomy straight? The nail enters the nasal duct which connects to the top of the throat. Sinus cavities are small enclosed air pockets in the skull with pinhole membrane opennings and are never envolved in this stunt. It's this kind of misinformation that make the blockhead impressive to the average person. Yes it's possible to have only three inches of useable nasal duct. You can try the other side which will be slightly different but not necessarily longer, but my suggestion is don't perform it next to your friend and nobody will know.Comment
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re
hi, i was searching blockheading on google and your forum was what I was looking for, I am am member on various sites but this disscusion seems right,
anyway...
...i have been interested in blockheading for a while, and I have not yet tried, as I would like some advice where to start, and if anyone has any diagrams or videos that they think would be a help then please let me know,
I will be very gratefull for any advice you could donate,Comment
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I'm working with this guy this month, and he's a good egg. You might want to email him your questions.
Peace, ks
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also what is a q tip/Comment
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may be a little late but a q-tip is a cotton swab on a cardboard stick.
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