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The Lizardman Frequently Asked Questions
Version 1.0
October 2005
Who are you?
I am the Lizardman.
What is your real name?
'Lizardman' is a real name. For those who simply must know my
given name, it is Erik Sprague.
How do you prefer to be addressed?
I'm not particularly hung up on names but there are pragmatic
reasons, and also business related reasons, for me to use Lizardman
rather than my given name in most situations. Only family and
some friends refer to me as Erik and they generally know when
it is more appropriate to call me Lizardman. If there is any
doubt, then use Lizardman.
Where do you live?
Austin, TX.
How old are you?
I was born June 12, 1972 (do the math).
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in upstate NY (Ellenburg, Clinton County).
Do you have any siblings?
I have a younger sister (3 years) named Erin.
Are you married?
Yes. I married my wife Meghan
on November 19th, 2003.
Do you have any pets?
My wife and I have four
ferrets.
What is your educational background?
I was a national merit scholar finalist, attended Hartwick College
(Oneonta, NY) on a full academic scholarship and received a BA
with Honors in Philosophy in 1994. In 1996 I began doctoral studies
in philosophy at the University at Albany (Albany, NY). I left
my doctoral work (ABD) in 1999 in order to pursue career opportunities
as a performance artist full time.
What do you do for a living?
I am an artist / entertainer. I primarily make my living traveling
and performing around the world. My show consists of a mix of
stand-up, spoken word, and sideshow stunts.
What does your family think?
I am very lucky in that my family has always been nothing but
loving and supportive. I probably would not have managed to do
all this without them. While it may seem hard for people looking
in to understand what I do, my family has seen me develop and
grow over the course of my life and they can see it as part of
an overall whole.
Why have you transformed yourself via various body modification
processes?
My physical appearance is part of a transformation project I
began as an undergraduate working in body based performance art.
What is the transformation project?
While in college I hit upon the idea of using body modification
procedures (initially tattooing) for a body based art piece that
would explore the idea of what it means to be human from a linguistic
standpoint. I was working with philosophy of language and it
occurred to me that some of the principles put forth by Wittgenstein
in his later works offered an interesting potential for exploration
in relation to the transformation ideas I had been working with
in art. Broken down it goes something like this: (1) Wittgenstein
suggested that one way in which we are able to apply one term
to many different objects is because they share a sort of "family
resemblance" (2) Focusing on how this principle related
to the use of terms like 'human being', 'person', etc in the
sense that people identify others as humans more based on observation
of surface physical characteristics and behaviors I decided to
modify those aspects of myself in manner which would significantly
differentiate me from other 'human beings' (3) In order to achieve
this differentiation I chose to use permanent body modification
procedures because I felt that a permanent commitment to the
artistic statement was preferable if not necessary.
Why a reptilian theme?
I felt I should choose something that would work well for a total
body theme (fit all areas, age well) and, even more importantly,
something I would like for the rest of my life. After considering
several options (mazes, stories, spots, stripes) I settled on
the reptilian theme because I liked the look and it made a good
fit with other ideas I had for the future at the time; like my
tongue and teeth, which did come to pass.
What about the non-reptilian elements like the earlobes
and 'freak' tattoo on your chest?
The nature of the project is not wholly restrictive to purely
reptilian aspects. My body is still mine and I have chosen to
incorporate other elements I find desirable. If you really need
to nitpick then think of it as a lizard-man with stretched earlobes
and tattoos on his chest and arms.
When did you start work on the project?
I began contemplating and designing aspects of it as early as
1990. The first real work I had done (my first tattoo sessions)
came 4 years later in 1994 after much consideration and design
work.
What body modifications have you had done?
I have undergone an estimated 650-700 hours of tattooing. I have
several piercings, of which I currently retain and wear jewelry
in my one-inch diameter ear lobes and half-inch diameter septum.
I have had five Teflon horns subdermally implanted above each
of my eyes to form horned ridges. Four of my teeth have been
filed into sharp fangs. And my tongue has been bifurcated. Further
information and details can be found in the body
modification section of this website.
Who performed the procedures?
Since 2001, Mike Tidwell of Obscurities in Dallas, TX does my
tattooing. Previously, I was tattooed by Mad Pup in Plattsburgh,
NY. I pierced and stretched my own earlobes. Keith Alexander
pierced my septum and then I stretched it. My implants were performed
by Steve Haworth of Phoenix, AZ. My teeth were filed by Dr. Harvey
Winter in Albany, NY who I was referred to by Dr. Lawrence Busino
who split my tongue. Further information and details can be found
in the body modification section
of this website.
How much did all of this cost?
I have not kept an accurate record of the cost, as it is not
a central issue to me. I have been fortunate in that much of
the work has been done free or at reduced cost. An estimated
cost / value for all of the work done at full price would be
close to $250,000.
How long has it taken to get it all done?
I have been actively getting work done since 1994. My work and
travel schedule greatly restricts how much time I can spend getting
procedures and healing but the progress continues.
Are you finished? Will you ever be finished?
I am not finished but I do hope someday to complete my tattooing
and other planned procedures. I won't say absolutely that I will
be finished though; as new technology and ideas may arise that
I can incorporate into my own work.
Does it hurt?
Yes. It all hurts and if someone says it doesn't then they likely
have a problem with their nervous system. The very nature of
what is done during these procedures (needles in skin et al)
means they should hurt but pain is no reason not to do something.
Lots of things hurt but they are worth it - childbirth for instance,
or so I am told anyway.
What about when you are older? What if you regret it?
My work has been done by some of the best and the design has
good potential for aging. Given the risks I take professionally
I will be more than happy to live long enough to become a wrinkled
and faded old Lizardman. Regret is always a possibility for everyone,
you could say the same to someone joining the army or going to
law school. I have done my best to consider and plan for the
eventualities that could cause me to regret my decisions - further,
in fact, than many people I know went in considering far larger
decisions like having children. I do not think that I will regret
this; if I did I would not have done it.
What acts/stunts do you perform in your show?
I choose from a variety acts I have learned since starting with
fire manipulation around 1990. In the course of a one hour set
I will generally do anywhere from 1-12 stunts, my full repertoire
consists of over 36 acts with many variations of each. I am also
constantly inventing, researching, and training in order to expand
my repetoire. Shows are tailored to suit the occasion. For more
information visit the Acts section of
this website.
Do you perform suspensions?
Yes, I do suspensions. I have worked with Allen Falkner, T.S.D.,
C.o.R.E., and I am a contributing author to the BME Suspension F.A.Q.
How long have you been performing?
I have been performing my current style of show for over a decade.
Previous to this, I was actively involved in more traditional
theatre and other forms of performance art.
- Does performing the stunts hurt? Are they dangerous?
- Many of the stunts and acts involve some pain or discomfort
even when done correctly and almost all of them are dangerous
if not potentially fatal. No one should attempt to mimic or otherwise
perform such feats without proper training and instruction.
Where did you learn the stunts you perform?
Through careful research and training I was able to teach myself
the majority of the acts I perform today. The rest were shared
with me by other performers.
Will you teach me? Where can I learn?
I do occasionally do small seminars and workshops for performance
or theatre groups but for the most part I do not teach acts or
stunts. Those wishing to learn should seriously consider the
danger and seek out qualified professional training (it would
have saved me many years and scars). The sideshow school at Coney
Island is an excellent start and is run and taught by friends
of mine like the incomparable Todd Robbins.
Where have you performed and with whom?
I have performed all over the world (four continents) and tour
the US nationally twice a year as host of the Jagermeister Music
Tour. Besides working as a solo act I have appeared with The
Jim Rose Circus, Sideshows by the Seashore (Coney Island), Todd
Robbins Carnival Knowledge, and the Brothers Grim at various
times. Some of the bands I have toured and performed with include
Godsmack, Staind, Breaking Benjamin, Hed (PE), Saliva, Chimaira,
Fear Factory, Slipknot, Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, Corrosion
of Conformity, Disturbed & Slayer.
How often do you perform?
My schedule varies a great deal but generally keeps me on the
road for nine or ten months out of the year.
How can I see you perform?
Dates and venues are posted in the tour section
linked from the main page.
How can I book a performance?
Contact me with the details and
we'll work from there.
Do you have any videos for sale?
I am currently working on some DVD projects involving special
stunts but I do not have any plans to release my show as a DVD.
Performances are meant to be experienced as live entertainment.
Have you been on TV?
Yes, several times. Many people recognize me from the Ripley's
Believe It or Not first season and ad campaign that included
NYC Billboard images of me. I have also done several programs
for TLC, Discovery, National Geographic and appeared on a number
of talk shows. See the media section
of this website for a more complete listing.
Have you been in newspapers and magazines or on the radio?
Yes. For the past several years I have made and I continue to
make several media appearances every year. See the media
section of this website for more information.
Have you ever been in a movie?
I appear in the movie Modify and have a cameo role in Boxboarders.
Are there any books about you?
I am mentioned, discussed, and/or referenced in several books
including the annual scholastic press Ripley's books. See the
media section of this website for more
information.
Have you written any books?
I am currently working on a couple of book projects and looking
for publishers.
- Do you have any other writing currently available?
- Yes, I contribute a regular column to BME News.
Do you have a blog?
I maintain an online journal as part of the IAM:BME community:
http://iam.bmezine.com/?The+Lizardman
- Do you have a myspace page?
- Yes: http://www.myspace.com/the_lizardman
Are you religious or spiritual?
No. I do not adhere to or believe in any faith or supernatural
views of reality and I would rather not hear about yours, thank
you.
Do you really maintain and produce this website and answer
emails yourself?
Yes, I do all the work myself - which should go a long way to
explain the very basic html approach, typos, and slow updates.
When you send mail to thelizardman23@gmail.com
it goes directly to me and no one else. Maybe someday I will
be big enough and have enough money to get underlings for these
duties but I doubt it. Besides, I actually often enjoy it.
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