So for the last 5 years, I have been closing my Stand Up Act with Snowstorm in China. The way I "was" doing it was the way that McBride teaches...use 2 glasses, tear up the paper, soak it in water, grab the fan with the ##### sitting atop the handle, pull out the pieces of paper from the water, do the switch as you appear to dry the wet paper and TADA! You've got snow!

This is my favorite closer. My presentation is quite original and I ALWAYS get the waterworks from my audience. It's rare when this doesn't get me a standing ovation.

Ok...so about a month ago, I was doing a show and realized that during my set up, I set the fan...but forgot the water and the glasses....AND THE PAPER to tear up at the beginning! DOAH!!!! Hey...it happens! So I just grabbed the fan palming off the #####, did some sleights to show both hands were empty, opened up the fan and let it rip! I got the BEST REACTION YET doing it this way. It flowed much nicer than doing the hubbub with the water and soaking paper etc.

So I've done it ever since this way. I go into my story, pull out the fan while I talk, show both hands empty...and BOOM! IT's Christmas Time! The only thing that will make this routine better now is when Victor Vokito finsihes his snowstorm fan which I must have.

So I'm curious which methods you guys use (who do SS) to pull it off. Does anyone do the way I just described? Do you think it's a good method? Do you have any suggestions to make it better?

The only thing I can think of is to do an actual snowstorm, but I don't want to spend over $1K to do the effect...especially since I get such a great reaction from how I do it now!

Hoping this will be a good topic...

Suggestion: Throw up a background screen and project each of the four seasons as you perform in front of the screen; start with springtime and pink Cherry Blossoms blowing from the trees; then summertime and fireworks on the fourth of July (switch to red silver and blue mylar stars); then autumn (switch to yellow, orange, red and brown leaves blowing in the breeze) and finally end with Winter and the white snowstorm. Or, maybe it would end better with the fireworks of summer- you can perform it in any order.

Very Good! Why use the glass if water if you don't need it! I think in the original version of this effect the ##### was placed under the bottom of the goblet, and delivered when you got the water. These now seem to be unecessary steps with your method. I never understood why you would soak the pieces anyway.

Jim

Soaking adds the magical value to it. Y?
the idea is like a dove pan on fire produce a live bird, how can a destructive elements like fire create life?
well, just a thought.

Yeah....I think the "magic" comes when my empty hands produce snow.

I know it's CALLED "Snowstorm in China" but that's just poetic naming. The basic effect is that you tear up paper into strips, wad it up and soak it in water, and when you fan it, the wet paper turns into dry confetti. That the confetti appears "snow-like" is what gives the trick its name, but I don't believe anyone believes it is actually snow. Unless you have a snow maker hidden backstage or in the ceiling and produce real snow that falls down on the audience, very few people, if asked, would guess that the trick is called "Snowstorm in China," unless, of course, you make a point of telling them, as Christopher Lyle does.

So, if your story is good enough, the water is not needed. Magic happens in the mind, and that's what the story sets their minds to see. But if you wanted to perform the effect silently and get them to see "snow" instead of confetti, here's a way.

Tear up the paper and immerse it in a clear goblet of water. Then begin blowing on the goblet. In seconds they see the goblet frosting over and they see your breath, as if it is getting colder and colder. When you invert the goblet, the water has turned to solid ice, with the paper concealed inside. Now when you break open the ice and begin to fan it, their minds may turn to snow. But that's a lot of work, when it is so much easier just to weave a story and let the magic happen internally.

Spellbinder,

WOW!!! I love that idea. Very cool...(pun intended).

I only called it Snowstorm in China in my thread so everyone would know that I wasn't actually doing a SNOW effect ala Kevin James or DC. If I could afford something like that, believe me, I'd be doing it. Just can't see spending big bucks on an effect when the audince gives me the same response for the lesser.

My presentation revolves around Christmas being my favorite time of the year and how I was married over a White Christmas...blah, blah, blah.

I used to do the Snowstorm with a fan. Now I prefer to use the Kevin James Snow Animator in a box. The confetti flies higher and will not stop until I turn off the motor.
I made some modifications and changed the motor. I have 2 sets. One for quiet operation close up and the other for a big stage / theater with a turbo fan.

Don't forget to follow up with a broom production. Clean-up is one of the biggest downsides to this effect.

LOL!!! Classic!

I think that Larry Maples and Raven brought out a little booklet called 'Secrets of the Snowstorm". You might find some ideas in there.

Oliver.

In David Devant's "Tricks For Everyone" (London, 1913) this effect is entitled "The New Drying Machine", and the presentation is just as you mention above with the glass of water etc.

In Tarbell's course it is called "Wintertime in China"; again everything is as you describe.

If you are not doing the waterworks, but just producing the snow, check out my "Snow Leopard Vest" - a black velvet waistcoat becomes white dotted underneath a snowstorm.

Lee Alex's vest is great for Snowstorm performances. I think check that for your performance.


magicially yours,


Nedim Guzel

Variant of K.James Snowstorm without paper and water.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XxgbzV9hnI0

I once saw Aturo Brechatti preform the snowstorm in his show at Wintergarten in Berlin, Germany he was wearing a cape Cloak during the act that climaxed with the snowstorm effect. He spun himself around in the snow storm and the cape became covered with dots, much like Lee Alex's vest. It was a very beautiful and magical presentation.

Personally I had an idea of doing it with a hair dryer instead of the fan for a modern look.

I once saw a Asian magician (I think he was Japanese)do the snow storm with soap bubbles instead of confetti. He blow a couple of bobbles started to fan them and they multiplied in mid air into a kind of snowstorm. Very effective.

...and DANDRUFF!!!

Hold the snow storm pack in one hand with a comb and the hair dryer in the other and just go

I wont to get the snowstorm fan from Viktor Voitko is the best standing ovation to finish the snowstorm.
Look the video in http://www.magic-voitko.com/index.php?o=1
"magic products" look the video!
Is Great...

Paulo

I agree Paulo. Victor Voitko's fan is great for any snowstorm act. Do you know if he start to sell that item?


magically yours,


Nedim Guzel

He have this effect: A fan appears.
Snow-storming automatically! A lot of confetti!
The fan is vanishing less than a second with a Explosion of confetti!
I will send a e-amail to Voitko to ask when he start to sell the fan.

Paulo