Stilts???

[Richard]

I just picked up a pair of Drywall stilts at the local pawn shop. They're adjustable although I haven't messed with that yet. Are these stilts OK for use in performing or are there other types of stilts performers use? Any safety advice besides the obvious helmet & pads would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[ 09-23-2002: Message edited by: Richard ]</p>

[Stretch]

HIGH! RIchard!

AFTER you get them ajusted, treat all the nuts and bolts with Loctite.
Available at a hardware store in the U.S., this product will help prevent the nuts and bolts from losening. (Any body got a spel checker?)

The canvas straps should either be duct taped for every use, or replaced with velcro straps. Use about 3 times as much velcro as you think you actually need. If you don't sew, try an awning fabrication shop, or old time shoe repair shop.

Check your stilts often for cracks and wear. Before every use. The calf plates have been known to break along with other esential parts.

Practice a lot! Good luck!

Bill "Stretch" Coleman
Home of Stretch the nine foot clown and his twin 18 foot tall giant puppets!

[Joel Tacey]

Richard-

In addition to Bill's extensive safety list, you may also want to visit your local fabric store and buy some "high-density foam." Have them cut a couple of strips for you to put around your calves to make your stilts much more comfortable. It will cost you about $0.50 [American], but is well worth the investment.

If you already haven't performed on the stilts, prepare yourself for every third person asking you 'how the weather is' and every fifth person shouting out "Hey there Stretch!" (and then they usually wink to their friends to show how clever they are).

Have a blast on your new stilts!

Joel
www.joeltacey.com

[Stretch]

"If you already haven't performed on the stilts, prepare yourself for every third person
asking you 'how the weather is' and every fifth person shouting out "Hey there Stretch!"
(and then they usually wink to their friends to show how clever they are)."

Here they yell out "Shorty" and I yell back: "Call me Stretch!"

Years ago, a very well known performer related to me his responce to "how's the weather". I NEVER copied his routine, but well, . . . I've been tempted once or twice.

"How's the weather . . .?" "Looks like rain" as he reached for his fly!

[Richard]

Thanks Stretch & Noel for your advice. I just bought these stilts on a whim and have practiced on them a few times. Innitial thoughts are it's scarier than you'd think up there. I just keep thinking to myself if I fall don't fall on your wrists, don't fall on your wrists.
Stretch, are you the one I read about running a marathon in stits? That's an incredible feet! I ran a marathon once without stilts and it about killed me. Are these the kind of stilts you use?

[Stretch]

"if I fall don't fall on your wrists, don't fall on your wrists."

First time I fell, I was worried about breaking a collar bone. So I dislocated an elbow instead! All I knew was it hurt. iced it day and a night for a week. Accidently re located it about the time I was giving in and near ready to call the doctor!

Pad your knees and try practicing falling on your knees. On sod. Rough on the costume, but good practice. If you can't find sod, find "somebody soft"! Me, I mostly practice NOT falling! After a few dozen miles on all kinds of surfaces, you'll develope some muscle memory. That is a big help. Yes, I have stilt WALKED the Dublin Ireland marathon twice now. Once in '99 and again last year. Last year was "really boring" ;&gt [img]wink.gif[/img] I didn't get LOST . . . TWICE!!! like I did in '99 !!! 1999's marathon was 27 miles long!

Since I didn't get lost, I didn't have to stop and ask directions from very friendly people with incredible accents who tried to give me all the shortcuts!

I also didn't run out of water after all the water stops had closed. So I didn't have to wait in line at a neighbor hood store to buy water! And in '01 I never did find the then 10 year old who tried to pull my pants down in '99!!!

So except for the wind that tried to blow me sideways, it was "really boring"! ;&gt [img]wink.gif[/img] Took an hour and a half off my time!

I've about a half dozen kinds of stilts, but love my Bigfoots the best.

Stay verticle!

Bill "Stretch" Coleman
Stretch's Lair

Wat wd I do w/O a spl cekr?

[Magic Mickey]

With your dry wall stilts it will be a lot easier to move the articulated foot if you take off the spring.