poppet and I use gags a good bit; I have her hold a large ring of jangle-y keys in one hand- NT with her fingers thru the key-ring, but just grasped. If she drops them, I stop, and make Absolutely sure she is ok to continue- but she and I have been together long enough I can read her body-language fairly well, too. basic thing is, I focus on 'her'- not the audience, or what someone watching might think- just her.