Quote:
Originally Posted by Nettie Belle
Pardon me ... but I have stilt questions since I started thinking about them earlier.
First of all, how do you keep your balance? I can't imagine walking on stilts so high up.
Second .. are regular clown stilts the same as "drywall" stilts?
Third ... how do you make costumes to fit over stilts?
I think that's about all ... I saw lots of them on ebay. I think it might be something my grandson would love, but I wouldn't want to risk him hurting himself.
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1st - you just work on balance. It's really just a matter of your center of gravity moving upwards. I was on stilts my first time more than 25 years ago - to date I've only fallen once. The fall happened on a set of wooden peg stilts that critically failed (one of them broke in mid stride), the fall was quick and easy - so no harm, no foul
I did slip once when trying to show someone how to get up off the ground on powerisers without anything to hold onto - all I did was slip out on my jump and lay back down - second attempt was a success
2nd - they are similar. Big Foot stilts and Stiltwerks have a similar design, but have more features. If you have the $900 difference in pricing to buy a set of brand name clowning stilts - get them; if not - don't. I use to wear only big name stilts; but over the years have down-graded. Even if I have to buy 6 sets of the brand I currently wear - I come out saving about $400 as opposed to buying 1 pair of Stiltwerks. Buy the $150 Warner Stilts, and spend the difference on magic and clowning - imo.
3rd - Just a matter of tapering the pants. Picture a normal set of say - scrub or pajama pants - a little oversized but basically normal; then gradually taper them out into mega-bell bottoms. Hard to explain in text; but if you make a donation to
Wise Fool they send you a catalog on how to make alot of street theater stuff that doubles in clowning.
Giant Puppets, Peg Stilts, Stilt Pants, etc
More on stilts
There are a few different types of stilts
Drywall stilts are the basics of what you will probably want - again thee are mega models in Big Foot Stilts, etc - but they share a basic design as Drywall stilts. You can stand still on these; and will probably be what most people here will want.
Peg Stilts are more for stilt dancing and more finesse movement. The base of them is similar to a cane. They have their uses; but are much more difficult to walk in. Stilt Dancers and acrobats are more likely to use them than the average clown. Peg stilts are dying out in favor of articulated stilts (think drywall stilts that move along with your foot -
very nice, very expensive - expect to pay $2,000 for a decent set of articulated stilts
Velocity stilts - Powerisers. Stilts with a carbon fiber spring that you can do all sorts of fun stuff on. a hybrid of peg stilts and drywall stilts (sort of) as far as walking goes. Add in the spring and think of having a trampoline on your feet.