Nov 27, 2002, 7:27 PM
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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i have a bunch, but my favorite is exiting on a tandem before a tandem video pair. This works extra well if the tandem following us is related/known to my passenger. After I open, I point out the other tandem in free-fall. As the other tandem opens, and the video guy continues in free-fall, I yell, "OH MY GOD, THEY FELL OFF!".
Nov 28, 2002, 3:42 AM
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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Been trying to get tandem students to wave their arms around and shout "Yippee, I'm going to skydive" and they move towards the door. None of them have done it yet but I'm sure it will freak the JM out if one ever does.
Nov 28, 2002, 5:38 AM
Post #34 of 114
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Re: [quatorze] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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Erik, Who did you do your tandem at Blue Sky, if it was Ken, his favorite is, "Anyone seen my green pill?"
"uh no Ken, did you lose it?"
"Aw hell, I have the blue and the yellow, ones, that'll make green... let's fly."
No, my first tandem was with Gene Stewart, and my next 3 were with Golden Dickie. I didn't really get messed with too much on my first jump, other than the usual, but Dickie was evil Course that might also be because two of them tandems were at the Harvest Moon Boogie... Hehe
(This post was edited by Cepheus on Nov 28, 2002, 5:40 AM)
Nov 28, 2002, 5:46 AM
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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Interesting topic,,, and we all know that skydivers have great ( twisted ) senses of humor I like to joke around and have fun too.. but It's important to respect the students' frame of mind, and THEIR degree of nervousness,, at the moment they are making their first jump.. I have been videoing tandems for eight years now,, and have seen most of the gags, and heard most of the jokes,, even made up a few over the years.....But I feel strongly that, that sort of stuff should be over and done with, before boarding the plane... sure a little light hearted banter helps while getting geared up, or shooting a pre jump "interview" with the first jump student.... But it really should be "all business" once the flaps go up, after rotation.....That doesn't mean you can't be funny ,, or joke around a little,, but NOT the type of teasing where the "unknowing" student,, is made to feel even a little uncertain... ya know??? We spend much of the training time telling the students, to listen to the TM , trust the TM, the TM will be your partner and "hero" for your jump..... and then go ahead and abuse that,, for some cheap laugh,, which the student,, doesn't even understand...The longtime TM's have developed the techniques to relax the student, keep things light, and still maintain the students' attention and assure that the first time jumper will perform properly... They don't have to rely on sarcasm, or deceit or some "stand up Comedian schtick" ..... which amuses their buddies, or the RW crowd, or the Freaks, or the other TM's,, at the expense of the students' frame of mind.. .It seems like it's the more recent TM's ,,(who by the way, had THEIR knees knocking, not long ago) who seem to think that they are obliged to demostrate their MASTERY, of jumping,, by teasing the person who is basically paying their WAGES on the jump...Think back to EXACTLY how nervous YOU were on your first jump,,, Joke around on the ground,, but once it's wheels up... act professionally.!!....I have never attended a Tandem Certification Program... but I bet there is NO part of it, which says to betray the trust of the student, by making a bunch of macho, and scarey (to a first jumper, whose mind is not always as relaxed as the local "big mouth" experts ) comments, at a very critical phase of a students first jump.....TM's be sparing in your wisecracks,,,, and regular jumpers,,,,,mind your own business,!! Think about YOUR.. skydive, if you say ANYTHING to a student, make it short, sweet, and POSITIVE !!!! or else say nothing.....Save the Don Rickles routine for the fire pit..have fun,,, but be sensible..ok?
Nov 28, 2002, 5:58 AM
Post #36 of 114
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Re: [jimmytavino] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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Think back to EXACTLY how nervous YOU were on your first jump
Actually, I kinda liked all the joking that went on, even after we were up in the air. Just about every single jumper in that plane was messing with me, and I liked the attention. Besides, my TM already had my trust by that point. I wouldn't have jumped otherwise.
You bring up some very valid points, though, but I think it also depends on the person you're dealing with. If the student is obviously freaking out, seriously not being able to calm down, then no, neither I nor anyone else at my DZ would mess around. We'd do our best to calm the person down, assure them that they're going to have a great time, and spend our time helping the student to enjoy the ride up (it's up to them to enjoy the ride down, hehe).
Course, if the student was like me, I was pretty much inviting all the abuse. It was part of the experience, and I wouldn't have wanted to jump in a sterile environment anyway.
Again, you did bring up many valid points to remember, especially for those first-timers who are really freaked out. I haven't met any yet, myself, but I have only just started jumping.
Nov 28, 2002, 6:17 AM
Post #37 of 114
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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Roger That Cepheus...
Thanks man,,, and you are correct,,, there are often exceptions to the rule...and some people are more receptive to jokes than others..... and so as you point out,,,, we must use good judgement... But even so serious joking and "ragging" on someone like you who I can see is very "cool" with it,,,,,is OK i guess...... but what about the OTHER students in the plane,, who are peripheral to the action,,,( but are still hearing all the chatter,,,directed at YOU.)... and it's having an impact on THEM!!! (unintentional as it may be ) ... ya' follow????... so maybe the trick is to have fun,, be lighthearted, but also be thinking,, and be considerate of others....and how they might be feeling on their first jump.... It's ALSO a big difference ,, if you are in a C 182 with just your TM and camera person,,,, as compared to an OTTER load with maybe as many as 5 or 6 Tandems......skydive hard,, skydive often,, skydive with friends..
Nov 28, 2002, 6:32 AM
Post #38 of 114
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Re: [jimmytavino] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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we must use good judgement...
That's all there is to it.
Most of the time, if I mess with a student, it'll be very light-hearted, nothing serious-sounding. To me, it's more fun to me that they get the joke and realize I'm joking, than to be scared and worried or not know what i'm talking about... I don't like seeing that.
Also, if there are multiple students on the load, I'll aim my jokes and whatnot at all of them, and not single anyone out. That tends to keep things nice and light.
Nov 28, 2002, 7:13 AM
Post #39 of 114
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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Bought my sister a Tandem and video for her 40th.Tandem Master fakin asleep,acting lost,confused,freaked my sister out.Made a GREAT video. Bought my neice a Tandem and video about a year later.Same TM,tried the same act, DENIED!! My neice told him,"dude,I saw that on my moms video".Oh man,the look on the TMs face is friggin PRICELESS ! That was the LAST reaction he expected
Nov 28, 2002, 7:39 AM
Post #40 of 114
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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We have one TM who use to introduce landscape to student while climbing flight ; " Look, there is cemetery of Malmi!" and "Let's compare altimeters.... you have red one and I have blue one"
If I remember right there is only one student who got the joke (atleast those tandems I filmed)
Nov 28, 2002, 11:11 AM
Post #41 of 114
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Re: [Hooknswoop] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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On my first tandem, all the joking was done on the ground (except for the fake harness hook up problem).
On the ground while I was getting in the harness, the camera guy said to the TM, "Isn't that the recalled harness?". Reply was "Yeah, but it's good for one more jump".
Nov 28, 2002, 11:50 AM
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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Generally, I crack jokes about the 5th attachment point on a tandem harness...
But really, if you want to scare the tandem master right back. Talk about how you uncontrollably ball up when your scared or puke or shit yourself (gotta wear a Speedo for that one). They will start comforting you immediately...
Nov 28, 2002, 5:52 PM
Post #43 of 114
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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No, my first tandem was with Gene Stewart, and my next 3 were with Golden Dickie
El Genio and the Big Dick...wow, you're a brave little man. Did Gene give you your tandem breifing in Spanish or did he play nice? And as for Dick... uh intimidating, enough said.
Quote:
tandems were at the Harvest Moon Boogie
You are a brave soul, CASA, Rodriguez Brothers, Muff Brothers, the Outlaws, the Tuck Brothers... you really didn't need your tandem master to try and scare you, that is intimidating enough
Nov 28, 2002, 6:52 PM
Post #44 of 114
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Re: [quatorze] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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El Genio and the Big Dick...wow, you're a brave little man. Did Gene give you your tandem breifing in Spanish or did he play nice? And as for Dick... uh intimidating, enough said.
Hehe, Gene was having a little bit of fun... I was the only guy who was doing a tandem that day, so we played around. As for Dickie, well, as long as I made sure his hair was decent, all was right in his world.
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You are a brave soul, CASA, Rodriguez Brothers, Muff Brothers, the Outlaws, the Tuck Brothers... you really didn't need your tandem master to try and scare you, that is intimidating enough
Bah, it was all good Nothing better than having a load full of smartasses, heehee Learned quite a bit that day... Even think I made it onto the boogie video. My second jump with Dickie that day was unstable, and whew does he know how to disorient someone... Loads of fun
Nov 28, 2002, 8:46 PM
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Re: [Cepheus] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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everyone jokes a bit at our dz in KY. ive never done a tandem but was watching our new instructor get ready with the other TM. he said to the other TM's student, "when the parachute finally opens, you'll feel a big jerk, but dont worry, that's just jim". i about fell over. and i remember on my second jump a first time student messed with the JM. we were boarding the plane and he looked at the JM matter of factly, pointed to his reserve cord (static liner), and said "so, when i let go of the strut, i pull this?". haha, he caught the JM off guard, im sure the students rarely pull one on the instructors. everyone at a DZ has to have that kind of sense of humor, uptight people arent the kind of people who jump out of planes!
Nov 29, 2002, 4:02 AM
Post #46 of 114
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Re: [eyeinthesky] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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Most times the JM is making sure the passanger has fun on the ride up...usualy someone on the load wishpers in the passengers ear 'don't mind him..he always does that when he's drunk'
Nov 29, 2002, 4:29 PM
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Re: [Ron] Evil things to say to first time tandems on the way to altitude...
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....Yeah Well....
You can be sure that if I came to your DZ with a person who wanted to make a tandem,,, and if THAT person was At ALL important to me ,,, i.e. a family member or friend,,,,,YOU would not be taking them on ANY kind of skydive.. and I ain't kiddin'... There WAS a case a few years ago where a female tandem student felt the TM's flirtatious behavior "crossed the line",, she filed a lawsuit,,, claiming that the guy was a pest from the get go.... and that in the course of the opening and canopy descent,,,he "groped" her.....made for real difficulty for the drop zone,,, the DZO and the instructor.... Lets be SMART out there!!!
Now that´s evil! LMAO..... 
That would be funny as shit... Scare the TM for a change 
I didn't really get messed with too much on my first jump, other than the usual, but Dickie was evil 
,,, Joke around on the ground,, but once it's wheels up... act professionally.!!
....I have never attended a Tandem Certification Program... but I bet there is NO part of it, which says to betray the trust of the student, by making a bunch of macho, and scarey (to a first jumper, whose mind is not always as relaxed as the local "big mouth" experts ) 
,,is OK i guess...... but what about the OTHER students in the plane,, who are peripheral 
from the get go.... and that in the course of the opening and canopy descent,,,he "groped" her.....made for real difficulty for the drop zone,,, the DZO and the instructor.... 
