Have any of you tried using the swiss warbler in your kidshows? I don't mean the balloon gag bit. I was thinking it could be used as a demonstration of your whistling talents without them knowing you are using one. I could do different bird sounds with it. What do you think?

A friend from Taiwan, Dante Lo uses it together with his miser's dream act and it always gets applause. He pretends there is an invisible bird and he gets coins from it, then he proceeds going to the audience to get coins from them.

I use real whistling and use of a mosquito whistle (from Bob Little)

Rather than a demo of skill I use them in a story(ies). Though my show is very low tech (as far as music) I use a lot of sound effects.

Illusions come in many form....auditory illusions are a lot of fun....

Let us know how yours work out....

Coins and noises also work with this nearly normal guy....

One of my "treasured garage sale find...) was a cartoon noise generator...since then I got a duplicate (good idea) from Ebay.

Harris "Lips" Deutsch

As a walk around gag, it'd be fun to put part of a drinking straw on the mouth piece, and glue a longer part to the front. Pass out regular straws to the kids. With the warbler concealed in your hand, demonstrate how to blow through the straw, while manipulating the end to make bird sounds. After the kids try and fail, look puzzled and say "Hmmmm...Maybe your straws need one of these glued in the middle of them".

Josh,

I still like the old gag where you try to drink with a straw and instead blow into it (making the liquid bubble).

Then you say "Oops, sorry, I put it in backwards". Then you turn the straw around and drink.

I think Lou was thinking of the Swiss Warbler, used in the mouth, rather than a squeaker.

Andy

http://tomburgoon.com/onlinestore.html

SWITZERLAND MOUTH SQEAKER

If you've seen Tom's comedy magic show you know how funny the warbler can be. These are the good warblers not made any more and from Tom's private stock.

$12 Postage Paid

Oh. I was talking about one of these:

http://www.jjcardinal.com/bird-whistle.jpg

That upside down straw bit is funny, Andy.

Andre, the upsidedown straw gag is right up my street. Consider it pinched.

Dan Garrett used to use them all the time. He released a video a while back called "Kidshow Conivery" in which he talked about and used the warbler a lot. He also sells a book about great ideas using the device. Give him a shout!

I think the basic idea here is can you use a non magic prop for the usage of magic? My answer would always be YES! In fact I often go to the toy stores and dollars stores just looking for non magic related items to use in routines. The bottom line is you are an entertainer and if a non magic item can be used to highlight and enhance a routine, then go for it. Use whatever you can and need to get maximum reactions and entertainment value from the audience. It works and it also allows you to open yourself to greater creativity.

Kyle

"Used to use them?" Kyle, I still do, always!! Thanks for the mention.
The late Paul "Elmer" Smith from Chattanooga was a also a master of using the Swiss Warbler in kidshows. He played a stringless violin and made "horrible" violin sounds. Very funny stuff!

Most of the presentations I've seen is using it to make a balloon squeak or sing when it is being deflated. I've also seen the late Bill Boley do it with a toy violin.
What I meant was performing it as a demonstration of your whistling skills that produce realistic bird sounds just like the guys who pitch this.

http://www.SwissWarbler.com

Dan,

I figured you still used them, but I hated to say since it has been a while since I've seen you perform. BTW...I haven't seen you in a great while at all...I drop in at ring 9 every now and then...but haven't seen you there! WHERE ARE YOU HIDING!!!??

Mr Garrett's been up here in the Pacific Northwest imparting a small piece of his encyclopedic knowledge vis an excellent and highly informative lecture.

Met Dan at a lecture in Edmonton a couple of weeks ago. Like Payne, I found his lecture highly informative and his material extremely practical. And, keeping on topic, I intend to pick up some Swiss warblers because of it.

John

Mr. G. is a great combination of schtick and at times killer sleight of hand.
After chatting with him on line a few times...got to see him at a lecture through Ring 129 in KC. Though I don't get to many meetings or lectures these days...his was worth it.

Regarding warblers...as I have stated in the past I prefer the mosquito whistlers from Bob Little...(though I must admit I need to give the warblers a try)
The mosquito plays well this summmer in Catch the Reading Bug Theme at Libraries and Summer School for Elementary Age Students.

My smart father in law said he used to use those whirly things that fall off trees at in the spring. ..

As far as the whistle I do it the old fashion way. At a local jam, we had a world class whistler (Mary Herdon) drop in and share..(WOW)

A Swiss Warbler can be used as a squeaker, but can do much more if you are into it. The simplest use is to touch your young volunteers nose and make a squeak/chirp sound, usually two squeaks in a row. You can also point and look up and begin to chirp like a bird to get everyone else looking up. When you get a little better, you can make the warbler sound like a scared dog (ieee, ieee, ieee). This works best when used with the invisible dog on a leash routine. For the truly talented in music, the warbler can be used as a whistling accompaniment while playing a ukulele or some other hand instrument. Any takers? http://www.newplanetmagic.com