Fire eater

A fire eater is an entertainer, often a street artist or part of a side show. The performer places flaming objects into their mouth and extinguishes them. They also practice controlling and transferring the flame.

Related Topics:
Entertainer - Street artist - Side show

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Fire eating was a common part of Hindu Saddhu and Fakir performances to show spiritual attainment. It became a part of the standard sideshow acts in the late 1880s and is often seen as one of the entry-level skills for sideshow performers.

Related Topics:
Hindu - Saddhu - Fakir

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Other than sound fire safety precautions and some practical advice regarding the laws of physics (i.e. "hot air rises"), there are few secrets to eating fire. There is no such thing as "cold flame" nor is there any special substance in the performer's mouth other than saliva. According to Daniel Mannix's excellent 1951 sideshow memoir Step right up!, the real "secret" to fireeating is enduring pain; he mentions that tolerating constant blisters on your tongue, lips and throat is also necessary. It is a very dangerous act and should not be attempted without professional training.

Related Topics:
Physics - Cold flame - Saliva

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