Project: Tightrope
While I was out at Xara in San Diego two weekends ago, a tightrope appeared behind the stage. I was toiling drums, and all of a sudden, there it was: a free-standing 10' long 30" tightrope. Some circus folks brought it from San Diego, assembled it in the dust, and set it out for all to try.
You can't dangle something like that in front of me and not expect me to try it. I can walk in a straight line, can't I? Well, sure enough, I hopped up on the tiny platform and took my first tentative steps... And started dancing on the tightrope.
Okay, so I love walking tightrope. I spent two full hours playing on that thing that afternoon in the hot sun, sweating from exertion, and excitedly calling people over to watch. I managed to walk the tightrope with four fire poi, backwards. There was no tutu.
So last week, I got it in my head that I needed my own tightrope. So working from the design of the self-tensioning tightrope I played with at Xara, I put together a design, and ran around the city gathering materials. Two days ago at the Smashlab, with Kenny Abney's help, I cut, grinded, and welded the feet and the uprights together. Last night, I finished attaching the uprights to the feet, and Kenny crimped the 1/4" cable for me. I have my own tightrope at the Smashlabs!
Massive thank-yous to Kenny for teaching me to weld (again), fixing my crappy welds, and giving general overall design oversight, advice, and keeping me from losing fingers on the tools. And to Vicki, who only complained a little bit that I was abandoning her to make circus equipment.
Pictures to come tomorrow.