Innovative Magical Tricks: How I Renovated My Straight Jacket Escape

Disclaimer/Copyright Note:

The routine described below is derived from my own work and performance rights are strictly withheld. Permission must be sought before recreating any aspect of this routine for a show, whether paid or amateur.

A lot of my material is inspired by techniques I've seen that really peak my interest. One of my favorite self-created routines is my straight jacket escape. For context, I bought my straight jacket when I was 18. For many years, I did the usual routines: getting put in it, making the same old gags, and then escaping in a minute. It was good, but eventually, it was phased out of my show as more interesting tricks came along.

The Evolution of My Straight Jacket Escape

Recently, I was planning a new show and considered using the straight jacket again. I could still fit in it, which was a nice surprise. Initially, I thought about using a Mission Impossible theme, but it didn't hold much interest for me anymore. Straight jackets had become overused, and the basic escape in big, bold moves and looking exhausted had lost its appeal. It had been done a thousand times.

I wanted something that was amusing and still told the exciting story of my escape from a jacket. My original routine could be condensed into a mere 3 minutes and didn't tell a story; it was more of a "look at what I can do" style trick, which I now hate. In my new show, it would stand out like a sore thumb and look like a filler trick rather than an integral part of the performance.

Innovative Music Integration

I knew the key to making this trick longer and more engaging was to play with the music. I remembered how I used music to cue myself during my original escape. Certain points in the music guided me to specific actions, and I could escape on the final notes. This process could be turned into a storyline for the audience.

So, in my new routine, I set the scene while getting into the jacket, explaining that many magicians use music as a cue for the next action. You wouldn't necessarily hear the cues, but the music is guiding them. This is what I want to show them.

Mission Impossible plays, and I start my escape with some comedy. Then the music shifts to the stripper theme, and my actions mimic that song. It then turns into "I Want to Break Free," where I turn around and mime the song mid-escape for extra comedy. The music changes again to "Jump Around," followed by a medley of other songs, each one mimicking a part of the escape. The routine concludes with "Dizzy," where I fall on the floor, and the music transitions into "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, where I am out of breath. I get back up, motivate myself, and restart the music as "Hot Stuff" comes on. After an appropriate full monty-style dance, it merges back into Mission Impossible, and I finally escape.

Evolved and Engaging Routine

I love this routine now because it has great humor in it. I can look like a bit of a fool, but it also has a good story arc to it. The escape alone lasts 4 minutes now, with each part of it entertaining enough to keep any audience glued to their seats.

Conclusion

Renovating old tricks and routines is an ongoing process for magicians. By carefully integrating music and storytelling, a simple straight jacket escape can become a dynamic and engaging performance. The key is to create a cohesive narrative and ensure that the routine is entertaining to the audience throughout its duration.

Magicians, feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on innovating your routines in the comments section below. Let's learn from each other and grow as performers.

Do you have any tricks or routines that you perform differently from others? Share your experiences and insights in the comments! We would love to hear from you.