quadroped arm stilts

[Allen H]

hey guys,
I was asked to make a tutorial on the arm stilts from my talk at transworld. Since I needed a few sets this season I had my actors put this video together.
Any questions please ask.
Allen H
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqre5XD5jYs

[shawnc]

Great idea. Simple but very effective.

[Jim Warfield]

And You Have Camoed the Crutch

So the poor cripple you stole them from will never find them!
Stealing the crutches from a cripple one recent Halloween was the most fun I could have spontaneously discovered!
The cripple was a city alderman who had been sitting on his porch watching the Halloween parade. The parade was long over as we were walking passed. I slowly walked up , in costume, of course , he looked up from his book and said something like "Trick or Treat?"
I slowly grabbed both crutches and said, "Trick." Turned and walked away.
He began pleading and begging. (For real!)
I walked to the end of his sidewalk about 20 ft. away before I turned around and brought them back.
He recouped from falling off a ladder and doesn't need crutches anymore.
I don't think he knows yet that it was me, my Wife was right beside me in costume too.
She was my audience.
What fun would this have been without an audience?

[Allen H]

Funny you mention that...
I always buy mine from good will stores, but I wont buy them if they only have one pair. I figure If someone needs crutches and cant afford them then I dont want to be the guy who bought the last pair for a costume. Normally its not an issue as they have a barrel of them a pair for $3 cant beat it.

[Octoberalles]

excellent idea and tutorial. The adaptation possibilities are endless! thanks for this.

[jscarry]

I bought several pairs this summer at yard sales for $1 a pair.

[Twin Locusts]

Simple, effective, what's not to love. Well done tut, a fun bunch of actors.

[Jim Warfield]

If My Meanest Worst enemy..

Who I was in a physical battle with broke a leg I would not buy the last pair of crutches either, maybe notch them heavilly then duct tape the notch to hide it though.
Really though Allan, I too have such abstract thoughts concerning things like that. Maybe it's a curse? Or the sign of an imagination?
With no imagination people can't commiserate with their fellow human beings , imagining (" What if that was ME? In a bad situation?")

[Ironman]

Great idea Allen. You know I'm addicted to the whole plant thing, so this worked into play really well. I watched this earlier today, and when my 15 year old got in from school this afternoon I showed him and he banged out two pair of them in no time. Thanks guy.

[Allen H]

These are super effective, Its amazing how well they camoflauge you from guests. Its cool you knocked out a pair ( two even) so quick. Let me know how they work in your show.
And again thank you all for your kind words,
Allen H

[Ironman]

Well, he did have some help. I had the crutches cut and all the materials gathered together for him. And he's pretty well versed in my shop too. Plus....the Conservatory room, where all our plants are, is his room in the haunt. His ghillie suit, started the whole plant idea in the first place. I will pick up the foliage today so he can finish them out when he gets in this afternoon.

[GraveStalker]

Thanks

Thanks for sharing your knowledge/ideas! I think we are going to give these a try..

[hauntedghost]

hey Allen, can it be any type of crutches?

[hauntedghost]

oh and one more thing too i will post a video of what i did... love your idea

[Allen H]

The aluminum ones are the easiest. The kind that already have the arm cuff are normally much more expensive. Cant wait to see your version Haunted ghost.