Bed of Nails/Nail Board

An act that originated with the Fakirs of India. The surface of a board covered by hundreds of nails, points up, on which the performer lies down to show he or she is immune to pain.

Frequently, the performer will have audience members stand on him or have a concrete block broken on his chest with a sledge hammer while lying on the bed of spikes. Also see FAKIR.

Performers doing the nail board act are variously called “torture kings (or queens),” “fakirs,” and/or “pain proof,” etc.)