MacGyver, try here: http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/t173/monkeyfist.html

Thanks John!!!

Now I just have to find a good supply of parachute cord and some marbles(is that what a lot of people use?).

I just got my copy of Defiance II. It was well worth the wait.

I have been doing various versions of the cups and balls for a LOOOONG time, and I have manuscripts on the subject that go back to the 17th century, so I'm not exactly a newcomer to the trick.

All I can say is this. It is one of the most logical routines I have EVER had the pleasure of reading. The method of loading the final loads leaves nothing at all to be desired. In fact, I kind of feel sorry for MacGyver, because he hasn't had to wade through all the other methods!

While I wouldn't normally consider this a routine for a beginner to start with, after reading MacGyver's review, I understand why it might be a very good place to begin. This, combined with some information from the Ammar DVD's would give anyone a routine that will fool the pants off everyone and, if you are any kind of an entertainer at all, it will be very entertaining.

Reed, you have done it again!

What's the running time of this routine?

That depends on how much time you spend on patter and how much of the Dai Vernon routine you put into it. I haven't timed it out for myself.

However, Reed mentions that it is modular, so you can perform as much or as little of it as you wish.

The final load sequence is the part that really makes this routine special. Before the audience has any reason to suspect a thing, the cups are loaded.

I can't wait for egg bag routine... I love egg baggs and I don't know why.

Lee

I LOVE David Williamson's 2 cup routine. How is this better than that?

Thanks!!

Chris

I guess it's a matter of personal preference. I either want to do a one cup routine or a three cup routine. I'm not sure why. It could be that three is a "magical" number.

Also, the final loading sequence would not work with a two cup routine. I can't say any more without giving away the store.

Bill, good point about the magic of "3".

Yes -- it goes back to the middle ages (probably further than that, actually). One and three were associated with God and the Trinity. Two was considered incomplete.

Bill,

Concerning your comment about performance time for the cups and balls, in "Gazzo on the Cups and Balls" Gazzo mentions a time as long as 40 minutes.

I have been wondering if there seemed to be an optimum number of sequences for the routine and had the opportunity to discuss this with Jim Cellini. I mentioned Gazzo's comment, and Jim told me that it was in the patter.

That would be worth seeing!

Dwight

The time allotted to a cups and balls routine depends largely upon your own circumstances. Certainly, the patter is a major factor, especially in the case of Gazzo's act. You have to see (or hear) Gazzo work A LOT, in order to really appreciate Jim's comment. However, if you are new to the cups and balls, I would recommend that you discipline the routine quite a bit until it is part of you.

To me, the cups and balls is about the final loads. And part of the final loads is getting them into the cups without being detected. Reed's idea could conceivably be adapted to working with a gibeciere, if necessary.

Regarding the length of the "preamble," or the moves that lead up to the final loads, that is up to you. Even Vernon had some flexibility to the routine.

There are lots of good resources for the cups and balls, I would recommend that if you are going to make this a part of your act, you study as many sources as possible.

Hmm - I read Brad Henderson's review here:

http://www.mylovelyassistant.com/index.p......;rid=536

and nobody else even comes close to the criticism that Brad had for this trick. Can someone who owns the trick comment on Brad's review?