Trick of the week!
What have I been playing with then!!!
Updated 11th Oct 2008
Hello there
Welcome to my page of ramblings... Here you can find out what I have been playing with lately and find out what I think!
This week...
This was probably last years, the trick of the year. They were however very difficult to get your hands on. Thankfully that is no longer the case! Although still only available in small quantities. Having been asked for these constantly other the last year or so I have have added them to my stock... Only this week however have I really had a play with one!
This is really cool. I can see why every one wanted one! Imagine if you will...... A card chosen and SIGNED! This card is now lost? back in the deck. You attempt to find it, but find another card. You place this into a plastic holder just large enough to hold the card the card is clearly visible through the holder. Slowly the card seems to morph into the selected SIGNED card, which is taken from the holder (now obviously empty) and handed to the spectator to keep as a souvenir of the occasion. Very visual. You'll have fun just playing...
And whilst I was playing I had a play with this too from Masuda.... Very Very Clever
You may well have missed this...we certainly did. The original description did the trick a real disservice! Ton Onosaka has created some of the real gems in magic. And this is no exception, the English instructions have been written by Phil 'Max Maven' Goldstein with a small idea on the presentation...but you will have no problems coming up with a patter for this!
It is a very clean effect, where there are cards turning over, switching places and even changing colours. Plus you finish clean, which is an advantage that not every packet trick allows. Best of all there is no real knuckle busting moves to get your fingers around, just great visual trick.
This has been one of those tricks that has sold consistantly for me over the years. Because it has been around for some time now it sort of gets overlooked as last years miracle. As do many tricks that when they first came on the market everyone "had to have one" it was "trick of the moment" and with the passage of time it becomes just another trick on the list and you forget the impact it first had... Remember that next time you look through a magic catalouge. There are of course many that just fall by the wayside as "just another ok trick" This howwever is not one of those. I remember seeing it for the first time myself and being blown away... I have since performed this many times... Twice on my wife who on both occasions being the awkward spectator she is, took and handled the gimmick without realising it... Now if it gets past her its got be pretty much fool proof. This really is a fab trick that is one you can work in the real world. And all for £8, far too cheap!
Branded (Mini and Regular Bic Gimmicks and DVD) - Tim Trono
Well once again I have picked up something I didn't think would be me at all and proved myself wrong again! Much of my best material has come about that way. This is not a new effect by any means in fact goes back at leat to the 70s... But all that is explained on the dvd. My initaial though was why do we need another version... Because...This version is by far the most practical there has been. You use it in full veiw of the spectators right under their noses. Looking back I did try Pyro Perception when it came in a few years ago and had, until a few days ago, forgotten the very good reaction that I had recieved from it. So decided to take it out with me last night (wednesday) to one of my regular summer season haunts. A varied mixture of people so it got a good run for its money. Remember also, that unlike my advise to any that ask "Practise it first!" I just jumped in with both feet after spending 5 minutes practicing the handling and formulating a rough routine.
Well it got the sort of reactions that you see on the DVD. Yes, people made audible nosies of amazement. I am impressed. Its very easy to use right under their noses. The shop now has one less on the shelf!
I kept bumping into Joe on and off for many years. He lectured for us down here in Plymouth about a year before his death, in the few days he spent down here I spend a while with him and became quite friendly with him. It was just after this that Joe gave me the rights to this fabulous trick. If I dem it, it sells... Where else would you find a trick that has THREE climaxes... No, not three possible endings but THREE actual finishes. One after the other. Almost like three tricks rolled into one package. One of my all time favorite tricks... Check it out!
Hopping Half (Expanded Shells) 10p / 2p
Wow! Talk about value for money... 2 expanded shells (and very good ones too!) that's almost the value of the trick before you add the rest! This classic coin trick is simple, straight forward and to the point! (search out Jeff Hobson on utube) he was my inspiration for adding this to me repertoire. No skill. And gets them everytime. I personally still prefer to use my "very small coin collection... 1/2 dollar/penny as the coins are larger but I know many of you work in situations were you really need to English money... So here it is! Out standing!
Based on Don Waynes - Room Service, which is Koran Medallion type effect where spectators chose a 3 digit number that turns out to be "engraved" on the key fob that has been on display all the time! This is a fab presentation that is as diverse for the original presentation you can get!
The spectators make up a name for your furry pet dog... Then it is disclosed that on his dog tag around his neck... "Engraved" is that very name! John uses the original room service gimmick for this. BUT due to demand has had made these new gimmicks. Basically the gimmick is same as "Room Service" the ONLY difference being that one side has a small bone engraved on it. This however would not stop you taking it putting a key on it rather than a collar and doing the original "key" routine
Great routine. I am not sure yet whether I prefer this presentation or the the original "Room Service" presentation. Still working on that bit. I think I may swop between the two. I'll let you know at the end of the season!
By the time you read this it may already be too late. Once these are gone I may not be able to get more. It was a limited run and I know that no more will be produced. These are VERY nice. And strangely seem to provoke greater reaction than a jumbo 1/2 dollar. It think it is simply because it it a recognizable coin. Certainly is getting great reaction for me. It has become my new table opener!
Telethought Wallet - Chris Kenworthey
Stupid question right now... It is of course the "Telethought" wallet. This was the hit of the Blackpool convention. Which I missed as usual but a very good friend (Gary Jones - Duality - Out of sight) brought his in to show me. I was VERY impressed. But I was told that Chris Kenworthey was not wholesaling them to dealers here in the UK! Well... Time passed and another good friend (name dropping now! - Wayne Dobson) had conned some out of Chris Kenworthey... I conned them out of Wayne... Well, he kindly let me have them so he could go home! I kept one for myself and started playing! I soon discovered what the major drawbacks of most peek wallets were. Either you have to go back into the wallet to get the peek OR you could not show the wallet cleanly all round. This wallet has neither of those problems... so very simple and direct you put the info in the wallet close it and place it on the table right infront of the spectator and you are now looking directly at the "info" the spectator sees NOTHING!. OR you can close the wallet place it straight into your top pocket and see very clearly as you place it in. Unlike some of the other wallets you also get to see about 85% of the card so you should not miss any of the information on it! How... Space age technology or real telepathy?!
Suffice to say it went in my act within a week... I know, shame on me for not practicing more. But then it is incredibly simple to use.
I sold out in three days. Got hold of Chris and he kindly gave me permission to sell them here in the UK! The first batch sold out in a week! The 2nd bigger batch has nearly all gone too. This certainly has proved to be one of my best sellers ever!
And I swore I'd never use a peek wallet!!! This is outstanding and you will use it!
Well to be honest I haven't been playing with this, but I will be! I went to see Fay Presto lecture at one of our local societies. And I was VERY impressed at last a lecture that dealt with things we need to know. Fay has worked 1000's of tables over the years and knows what she is talking about! If you have chance go and and see her.
She closes at the table with Norm Nielsens Bottle thru Table. To see Fay do this is to want to add it to your act.
I have had my lock for more years than I can remember... I think I bought mine from Alan Alan when I was about 19ish... (i'm 45 now!). I have used it on and off all these years. Occasionally in close up, but also as a cabaret item. I actually chopped the original casing up and made a sort of see thru box into which I place my watch which the spectators can win. In this manner the 4 spectators can each try the lock with me a long way from it! Then for the final key I have the spectator come around the back of the box "so everyone can see" and of course the lock opens in their hands, all hands off as far as I am concerned. Packs small plays BIG! You could quite easily grab a cheap music stand and bulldog clip and do the same for the perspex holder supplied and you have great cabaret-stage routine. Or of course it will just slip in your jacket pocket ready to use at the table!
Just what more could you possibly want from a trick!
Having just done another dealer dem this is one of the items that once again I sold out of!!! I think that says it all!
There are of course many other variations on this "7 Keys to Baldpate" trick but I do feel of all I have seen this is the best version there has been! Many of them allow the spectators to try each of the keys in the lock to begin with finding that they do not work, then you produce the key that does. After then mixing the keys a spectator chooses one key... this opens the lock. In fact almost all of the other variations I have come across work on this principal. Theatrically not as good a presentation as working this way around where each spectator get a chance of trying their key and possible winning the ?????
Nielsen Vanishing Bottles® - (UK Exlusive)
I have used this trick for the last 15 years or so on a regular basis. For many years while working the Holiday parks I used the Ketchup bottle. Unfortunately this is now discontinued and I am now using a Budwiser. My routine consists of using a real bottle at first which, having proved it real glass, I place in an upside down bag! Walking by whatever "box" I am using and it drops from the bag into it, with a resounding thud hopefully! Having had the usual round of Boos and Hisses, I explain I have another bottle in the box and will repeat the trick! Which I proceed to do. This time I place the bottle on my hand cover it with the bag and it vanishes off my hand? Still no good... So I screw up the bag and toss it away!
Always got good reaction. For sometime I did try to convince the audience it really was another bottle... Then one day it dawned on me when a young lad was SOOOOO insistant that IT IS THE SAME BOTTLE! I realized the strength of this presentation. It is because people believe it really is the same glass bottle they have just seen. All that hard work trying to convince them otherwise...
The strength of this effect on a lay audience was pointed out to me this week when talking to the compere of the holiday park I am doing weekly! It was, it seems, one of the effects that everyone was talking about the next day!
So despite the fact these two bottles take up most of the room in the prop bag at present I shall of course keep this one in!
Wonder unit update...
In the last week had a play with using an envelope with it! Works well and I am happy with the idea. It does add to the effect, but sometimes I am just too lazy to sit and make them.
Up-up date... Worked this alot over the last few weeks... Going VERY well... Now a permanent part of the act but am working a new presentation...
The Wonder Unit - Jerry O'Connell
A
small note pad which fits easily into the Plus Wallets to add more stunning
effects such as Confabulation and Predicta Lottery Ticket.
Will fit all Jerry's other older Plus wallets too.
Price: £18
Well... I have for MANY years used Alan Shaxons, Confabulation. Great effect, a bit of a pain to set up everytime and I was always a little uneasy about using a "carbon copy". Not that I have ever had a problem with it no one ever questioned it out loud, although once or twice the person reading it out sort of looked at me as much to say.... "looks a bit dodgy". But all in all it always got an outstandingly good reaction, more than worth the trouble to set it up!
Then along came Jerry... He took the idea and made the "Wonder Unit" This accomplishes the same effect without all the hassle. The prediction letter is taken out of the zippered compartment of your wallet rather than an envelope (although if you wish you can still use the envelope idea). And no carbon!
It does come with a couple of handling ideas also for other effects. As with all of Jerry props you can see some if not all the instructions on his website... Jerry O'connell
Do I need an O'Connell wallet to use this... Well, of course that would be ideal, Jerry's wallets are of course the best there are but if you have a card to wallet that you already use then you can use this.
My part in all this... I decided to give this a try a few weeks ago in one of my cabaret spots to see just how well it would play. I wasn't sure about double writing or having just the letter come from the wallet, just how well would it all work. Well of course after all this time I should be able to trust Jerry's judgment especially if Archie Mcintyre has had a hand in it! It did as it had always done... killed them stone dead! The best part is I could leave the letter with the guy to take away, with no fear that they could figure anything out from it! Did anyone care that the letter wasn't sealed in and envelope... NO!
The bottom line... This is one of those effects that require so little work you will wonder just why its so damn good! If you want to add and great prediction routine into your act that can play as big as "a box hanging from the ceiling from the start of the act" type then it just doesn't get any better than this! And all that for £18! Someone needs their head testing.
Yes this is now a regular part of my cabaret!
If you would like to try one its here
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