Adam Savage Learns How Hair Hanging Works!
Adam Savage explores the technical and safety aspects of Cirque du Soleil's hair hanging performance with performers and stage manager Nick. The discussion covers the secretive training techniques, pain management, safety protocols, and the complex coordination required between performers and crew.
Summary
Adam Savage interviews two hair hanging performers and stage manager Nick about the intricate world of Cirque du Soleil's aerial performances. The performers explain that hair hanging is an esoteric art form with secretive training techniques that are difficult to learn, requiring years of practice to develop pain tolerance and proper technique. They describe the physical benefits, including spinal traction, but emphasize the importance of knowing limits since scalp irritation occurs quickly. The performers use custom leather bite grips made in Mexico that must be broken in with their own bite marks.
Stage manager Nick reveals the extensive safety and coordination systems behind the scenes. Every performer's position is monitored constantly, with cameras on motorized winches and multiple safety personnel present during any aerial work. The crew validates all rigging cues when moving between cities and maintains constant communication with performers through ear monitors. Nick explains how he can adjust his cueing based on performers' energy levels and describes the intense first 40 minutes of constant communication during shows. The production requires specialized knowledge from crew members and extensive coordination between technical departments, with performers notifying crew of any changes to their routines.
Key Insights
- Hair hanging techniques are extremely secretive and esoteric knowledge, making it very difficult to find qualified instructors
- Hair hanging provides beneficial spinal traction that creates satisfying cracks down the whole spine, but requires proper core engagement to avoid injury
- Hair hanging training is severely time-limited compared to other disciplines because the scalp gets irritated quickly, requiring performers to listen to their body's limits
- Stage managers monitor every performer constantly and can tell when they have more or less energy, adjusting cueing accordingly based on daily observations
- Performers wear ear monitors during cube acts so they can hear automation cues and coordinate jumps when they cannot see each other on opposite sides
Topics
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