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This topic has been referred to in at least two other threads (as needing a thread of its own) so here it is.
Its probably the least clearly-defined area of fireplay, kind of a catch-all. Other activities are defined by their tools (like staff-spinning), or a specific activity like fire-eating - which would in fact fall under the heading of body-play, by some people's definiton. We don't even all call it by the same name.
different fuels and tools are used - in fact, almost any tool or fuel can be used for it, under its broadest definition - even an art installation. If you pass your hand through a candle flame, you're doing body-work.
flame in contact with skin.
OK, I've rambled long enough - anybody want to tell us about their favorite activity or fuel? or ask questions? or debate the definition (or label)?
Its probably the least clearly-defined area of fireplay, kind of a catch-all. Other activities are defined by their tools (like staff-spinning), or a specific activity like fire-eating - which would in fact fall under the heading of body-play, by some people's definiton. We don't even all call it by the same name.
different fuels and tools are used - in fact, almost any tool or fuel can be used for it, under its broadest definition - even an art installation. If you pass your hand through a candle flame, you're doing body-work.
flame in contact with skin.
OK, I've rambled long enough - anybody want to tell us about their favorite activity or fuel? or ask questions? or debate the definition (or label)?
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Unsu...
Re: body-work
Tue, January 20, 2004 - 2:33 PMI'm curious about wanting to play iwth fire in this manner, i'd love to work/play with someone and also do contact fire dance...anyone doing this or interested?
*smiles*
rosy the pyro -
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Re: body-work
Tue, January 20, 2004 - 2:45 PMI am likewise interested in learning this. :) -
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Re: body-work
Tue, January 20, 2004 - 3:15 PMand you've go me thinking about it now...
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Re: body-work
Tue, January 20, 2004 - 2:53 PMI primarily do body transfers and tongue transfers between two torches (one lit, one unlit). Fuel is either white gas or lamp oil depending on the situation. -
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Re: body-work
Wed, January 21, 2004 - 4:32 PMI've been using lighter fluid for my transfers (body and eating). It doesn't seem to burn me as much as when I use kero. One thing I think is really important with body work is to pay attention to your torches. I like to blow them out and re-light often in performances, doesn't let them burn too hot. I've not paid close enough attention before and gave myself some nasty burns during shows and well, you know how that goes . . . just keep smiling, just keep smiling. What do you think works best for body and tongue transfers? What situations dictate which you use? Indoor/outdoor performance?
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Re: body-work
Wed, January 21, 2004 - 4:55 PMCan anyone give any (sound) advice on letting the flame burn on your body for a few seconds? I assume this is done by trailing a little bit of burning fuel from your wicks down your skin...I saw someone do it and it looked amazing! But how long do you let it burn (is it really hot on the skin?), and what is the best way to initiate the skin-flame? Do we need to shave the body part first? -
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Re: body-work
Thu, January 22, 2004 - 9:16 AMHey Mahirah!!! my girl! any way I do alot of badywork love it. I fire eat and do tracing and trailing as well as trail lighting. First truly either you have a heat tolerance ofr you don't IMO I have done candel and wax work for ever fire can easy. My tools..... 3 fonfue forks with a small bit of towel wrapped and tied on there tight. Dipped in colmen fuel white gas. It traces well and since this is a fume based burner thats why you get good tracing and fire eating. tricks I like taking a wet wick drawing a line across the skin hold the wet wickat the end of the trail lite the otherend of the trail withthe burning wick. If it gets a bit uncomfortable brush it with your hand it will brush off. I dothese with my legs arms belly I weatr leather shorts too so tracing a trail arcoss my crotch is always fun ;-) -
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Re: body-work
Wed, February 4, 2004 - 6:55 AMI refer to this as Close Proximity Fire, but that also encompasses fire eating. Anything that is in close proximity to the body really qualifies.
Fuels to use: Well, obviously there are many choices. Kero/Lamp Oil derrivitives should not be used. They have a low flashpoint, which means a low fume output. This fuel will leave an oily residue which will maintain a burn on your skin long past the skin tolerance, resulting in a nasty burn.
Naphtha fuels: White Gas/Camp Fuel, Zippo/Lighter Fluid. These are both in the same family categorized by a low flashpoint which means a hotter burn temperature and shorter burn time but also a greater output of fumes and a moderately quick evaporation rate. This is what you are looking for when doing this type of fire play. The fumes will allow the flames to be higher off the skin and maintain longer. The evaporation rate allows for the fuel to burn off and leave no fire behind.
Many people have allergies or sensativities to fuels topically. So start little. Avoid backs of the knees, wrists, inside the elbows because this skin tends to be more sensative and the skin is not as thick so absorption rates are quicker here.
Try not to put fuel on the skin in direct sunlight. It will amplify the light and cause heat blisters. I did this one myself and learned the hard way. Yucky!
Tips and Such: Experiment with getting the precise amount of fuel. Too much and it will lead to a dripping trail of fire going where you do not want it to. I have seen this result in a really bad burn from catching the performers clothes alight. Too little and you are risking not enough fuel to sustain the fire so your skin will be burned.
Shave or wax any areas you intend on doing CPF on one day prior to performing. Body hair will act like little wicks, smolder down into the upper layers of skin and cause blistering from the pores. I have had this happen a few times and while not detrimental it is annoying and potentially scarring. I say one day because freshly shaved/waxed skin is more absorbant and more sensative, so not condusive to fuel work. Avoid chemical removals such as Nair. This not only irritates skin but will leave a residue, even after washed off, which reacts poorly with fuel and leaves a nasty rash. I have this not only from personal experience but also other performers who tried this as well.
In general human skin can withstand 3-5 seconds of exposure to flame before it burns to the 2nd degree.
Try not to use sunscreen, bug spray, perfumed lotions, barrier wax or creams for this. They can have unforseen chemicals which also result in bad burns. I have seen this as well.
Keep a damp towel and cool water nearby. It helps to wipe off soot marks and soothe any irritated skin.
Be creative. Anyone can leave a straight trail. There are soooo many cool tools and ways to go about doing this, put some thought into it and take it slowly.
I have taught this many times to performers and in S&M workshops with decent results. As with any fire play, be careful and aware. If doing this on a partner always have a signal to let each other know if something is wrong.
Kindest Regards and Safe Flames,
Pele -
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Re: body-work
Wed, February 4, 2004 - 12:15 PMgood stuff.
A note to those considering doing this or any fire activity for the first time: please do *not* consider this thread a primer. There are some good tips here - and there are others to be found on the net - but thats no substitute for a living, present, experienced instructor. There are things no computer can do - stupid mistakes that no computer can prevent (or correct) - but that a watchful human can.
If you're just learning to cut diamonds or build a microscope, then by all means learn it from a book or from the internet. That stuff's pretty straightforward, and if you fuck it up, all anybody loses is money.
things like how to drive a car, how to deliver a baby, how to field-strip an assault rifle, or how to play with fire should not be learned primarily from the internet. Too much feedback required (to get any good at it anyway) - and theres too much at stake. -
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Re: body-work
Tue, February 10, 2004 - 4:15 PMEXCELLENT note J about,
"to those considering doing this . .
"things no computer can do . . . but that a watchful human can"
Most people are reasonable enough to know better, but everyone of us is subject to the excitement of watching someone doing something we're fascinated with and the desire that is fueled by that.
We can learn so much from so many so readily via the internet these dayz.
There are a lot of engineers that have all the degrees & all the knowledge from years of schooling, that still can't figure out which end of a screwdriver to hold.
There's no substitute for a "living, present, experienced instructor".
Thanx for creating this excellent dialogue & for adding the safety insight.
& thanx for the excellent info Pele & all
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Re: body-work
Wed, February 4, 2004 - 1:50 PMGreat info for the curious! Thank you! What about alcohol? That has a low (relatively) burn temp, doesn't it? Or does it not give that exciting, turns-everybody-on kind of flame? -
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Re: body-work
Wed, February 4, 2004 - 2:48 PM
90% isopropyl alcohol is usually what I teach people with...it doesn't burn as hot & works well to get people comfortable...then work up to Zippo fluid. The flame is a little smaller & the track burns more blue but I have used it in shows when in close proximity with the audience...walking around with a small cup of fuel ...not something you can do with other fuels in this city. I put a pic in the tribe gallery (# 33) no transfer being done in the moment but it'll give you an idea.
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Re: body-work
Thu, February 5, 2004 - 8:30 AMWow Thank you Pele! That was really informative and well written. Nice to make your acquaintance!
~mahira -
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Re: body-work
Sat, February 7, 2004 - 4:31 AM90% ISO absolutely...especially just starting out. It's better if your wick is made of cotton batting rather than kevlar because it holds more fuel. If you have a cauldron with a small amount of burning fuel on your stage, you can redip while it's burning. ISO is superb for body transfer and inside fire-breathing as well.
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Re: body-work
Tue, February 10, 2004 - 2:55 PMI've been fire eating and playing for about 9 years (6 of which I have been doing it on a regular basis). I have tried every fuel and method I hear about. And I swear there is no better fuel than lighter fluid. White gas (colman etc) works but not as well and lighter fluid seems cleaner. I have never had any alergies to it or reactions except for "Butane burps" early in my carreer. Alcohol is good for body work but for shows the amount of light it creats is small and minimizes the effects, also I have never been able to do mouth transfers with alcohol.
I have two rules I teach when I am showing people how to eat fire and play with it.
1. NEVER ever under any circumstances inhale.
The fire will go down your throat burn (although it does make your throat glow). The fumes will go into your lungs and you could have a lung collapes. (A friend was using Kero to blow fire and did have this happen)
2. This one seems obvious but for some people it doesn't quite make sense. "If it hurts your doing it wrong or for to long"
You do not actually have to feel pain and "work through it" to eat and play with fire. If you do refer to the rule.
Your body have natural oils and proctects all over it that will natural repel a little burn at first but repetition will remove these till it has a chance to build up. for this reason I don't recommend a freshly cleaned body. however I also would not recommend oiling up or a dirty body. On of the worst burns I recieved at BM was a little glob of sun screen that flamed and blistered in secs.
My two cents
tabasco -
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Re: body-work
Wed, February 11, 2004 - 10:57 AMColeman/White Gas and Lighter Fluid are actually all the same fluid. They are Naphtha derrivitives. Coleman has a few more additives.
Isopropyl is not recommoneded because of the fumes it has when it burns. These are concidered to be noxious and therefore more dangerous than the smoke of others.
All this can be found on fuel MSDS reports, or through speaking with an arson investigator.
As for lung injuries from inhalation. If you inhale flames it will burn but extinguish before it gets to the lungs, causing most of the damage to the throat. Technically, lungs do not "collapse" from inhalation. They fill with secretion from the alveoli which can then harden in the lung and suffocate you if not properly treated (moist oxygen and anti-infammatory medication). This can and does cause scar tissue not only in the esophogeal tract but also in the lungs and on the vocal chords. This limits the amount of air intake and gives the feeling of a collapse. Also with an inhale you can cycle the fire around into your sinus cavity, which can cause damage to your nasal passage as well as to the area behind your eyes. Not a pretty event. The epiglottis is a "flap" that moves between the esophagus and the trachea (wind tunnel), generally it functions to keep things going in the right direction so you don't inhale your food. This also suffers damage in the event of inhalation. It took me two weeks to learn to swallow again and a over year later my epilglottis is finally beginning to funtion correctly again. Tabasco is right, inhaling is something that shouldn't be done, however, you can be done with the stunt..stepping back to inhale and have things still go wrong, that is what happened to me.
I still have 1/4 scar tissue in the bottom of my left lung and my vocal chords are irreparably scarred, thus limiting what used to be a marketable singing voice that I had.
But this has been a tangent from body work...sort of.....
Sorry.
P -
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Re: body-work
Wed, February 11, 2004 - 1:29 PMPele, want to thank you again for joining our forum -and you too Tabasco! - and for being so open about your experiences. I know it still can't be entirely easy to talk & write about..
> Coleman/White Gas and Lighter Fluid are actually all the same fluid.
No two fuels are ever the same - even sometimes when they have the same name! see fuels 101 thread for more details. -
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Re: body-work
Wed, February 11, 2004 - 2:25 PMLOL..if you read I said that Coleman has more additives. However, the burn temps and flashpoints are within the same range...but it is chemistry and such that I should let Jason (the chem based arsen investigator I work with) explain. I'll switch it over to the other thread...........
Speaking of body burns...
I was recently asked about avoiding the soot marks that torches can leave. I personally like a good horse hair brush. (synthetic fibers in paintbrushes have this way of getting icky from the fuel chemicals.) Any other thoughts? Ideas? Etc.
And eventually John, I will get a photo up..when I am home more than 10 minutes with my web person!
;)
Pele
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Re: body-work
Thu, February 12, 2004 - 2:49 PMHard to talk about....? not really I have been teaching for 5 years now. I'm just glad I can do it now without pissing off people (or as many anyway)
My pleasure to be here, it's a good forum.
Tab
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Re: body-work
Thu, February 12, 2004 - 5:10 PMWhen teaching beginners I have to agree with Willow. Using Iso is the best. Does not burn as hot and I think that is imporatant when tying this out for the first time.
You can even start students with 70 % and then up it to 90% and then graduate to lighter fluid.
Another beni if the iso is it is not as brutal to your bod as lighter fluid chemically speaking.
I first learned this technique from a woman who does fire play in the s&m community. You can draw patterns on a persons body and then light it up. It is a pretty dramatic effect, this is something you would never do with lighter fluid.
OTher great things for body-work include flash string and cotton. Used correctly it can create an intersting effect for performance in a more intimate setting.
When creating a wick for iso work....cotton wrap with a cotton finger cot tied at the bottom with cotton thread really works well.
Donia -
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Re: body-work
Fri, February 13, 2004 - 10:22 PMI would love to know more about this flash string and cotton technique!
Laura
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