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Mark Boody Illusionist Inner circle 1367 Posts 
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I have been using the Head Chopper as my closer in my Gospel presentation for several years (using a Duane Laflin presentation). However, since the current state of things going on in the Middle East with ISIS, I have decided to remove it from our show.
What are your thoughts? Mark
Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible. Frank L. Gaines
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts
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Hi Mark!
Good call. The reality of it makes me sick. Doug |
Jeffini New user Atlanta 52 Posts
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I agree. I just purchased a kid-friendly head chopper from smokey mountain magic for my school assembly shows... It has a lion in which someone places their head. Then this disgusting mess began and it will have to sit in the closet for a while.
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts
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It is my belief that all illusions involving anything pertaining to the torture of another human being should no longer be performed. This includes all the classics: Sawing in Half, Zig-Zag, Wrist Chopper etc. Stick to levitations and sub trunks!! I also wish they would ban some of the grotesque Halloween masks for kids. The message of Jesus was one of love, peace and joy. Let us try and spread that positive message wherever possible. JR
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wwhokie1 Special user 512 Posts
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Quote:
On Sep 14, 2014, Jolly Roger wrote: I mostly agree. Although items such as Zig Zag don't bother me because they don't seem so violent, its more like body parts are being relocated instead of being violently chopped off or sawing in half. I can do without dismemberment magic, and violent magic. Too much violence in the world. I see my magic as a means of helping people escape momentarily from the craziness of the world to a fun and magical environment. I don't want reminders of the problems we are escaping from. I have seen performances of the head chopper that was very entertaining, and funny. But even then there was an uneasy element for me that seemed inappropriate. It is a gruesome concept even as a magic trick. Some people like that element and it works well for the image they want. It just doesn't work for me. Maybe I am out of touch with the part of society that enjoys the "Saw" movies and similar movies, and takes their 4 year old kids to see such movies. That is something I will gladly be out of touch with. |
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts
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Quote:
On Sep 14, 2014, wwhokie1 wrote: It all needs to go.............everything pertaining to violence, dismemberment, moving body parts around after blades have supposedly penetrated, all of it IMHO. We as performers also have responsibilities to the world. We are light workers. There is so much violence in the world, that we have a responsibility to carry messages of love and peace, and naturally good humour to our audiences! JR |
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themagiciansapprentice Inner circle Essex, UK 1381 Posts
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Removing head choppers from shows in Churches is a good call. At the moment, the concept is too aweful for many Congregations and MAGICIANS to perform.
Truely comic versions are few and far between; with even fewer magicians talented enough to use a head chopper appropriately. Most distract from any Gospel message we intend to give. They are played for an impact of "how gross" and look how clever I am. Only two Gospel magicians in the UK have a Sawing in half illusion. We always think hard about whether to use it ... Or another illusion. Interestingly, a newspaper tear seems to get a better reaction from audiences. It's magic to them.
Have wand will travel! Performing children's magic in the UK for Winter 2014 and Spring 2015.
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts
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What can I say?
It even gets weirder after the three year old girl places a basket under the head of the young boy to catch his head https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2NEZyZcFfI |
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wwhokie1 Special user 512 Posts
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Guess there is a reason some equipment cost twice as much as others. You pay for it to work all the time instead of 99% of the time. That extra 1% can be quite embarrassing.
He deserves the embarrassment for putting such young kids into a head chopper routine. What was he thinking??? |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts
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LOL
It's always funnier when it happens to someone else. I used to borrow a large one for my shows. Early in my career, I had a OOPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS moment, When there were one at the top and one at the bottom. My novice self, handled things a bit different back then. We all have choices, I don't even use my horse syringe through arm illusion any more. A teenager told me a couple of years after a show, that she had nightmares for 3 days. love and prayers Harris trying not to judge people whose sins are different than my own
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7565 Posts
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Lately, I've been thinking about stage illusions for a one-man Magic and Illusion Show for a family audience.
Here are some that I've thought about (some I own, and some I don't own). - Chair Suspension, or Super-X Suspension, or Blaney Suspension 3001 - Wiz Kote (burnt shoe), or other versions (OOPS Machine, Dirt Eradicator, Sneaker Tweaker, S.N.A.F.U., etc.) - Thru Steel (Smoky Mountain) - Instant Fantasy Magician Stand (Smoky Mountain), with Fantasy Magic Costume Prop - This End Up (Smoky Mountain) - Stocks Escape (Fairchild Magic), or Stocks of Zanzibar (Abbotts) - Cross Escape (Fairchild Magic) - Balloon Sword Box (Fairchild Magic) - Walking Thru a Brick Wall (Fairchild Magic) - Tri-section Illusion (Wellington) - Boy to Rabbit (Abbotts or Sommers) - Floating Table (Losander) - The Web (Lance Richardson) Some that may be "on the line" nowadays for a family show: - Guillotine, or Head Chopper, or Lion Tamer Head Chopper Illusion - Bow saw Sawing Illusion - Jig Saw Sawing Illusion - Audience Acupuncture Illusion (invented by Jim Steinmeyer) - Audience Dis-member Illusion (invented by Jim Steinmeyer, built by Bill Smith's Magic Ventures) - Dagger Head Chest Illusion - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts
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Donald......why would you dismiss my COI? It has an incredible effect on the audience, is cheap to make, and is truly magical with no elements of torture!!
 JR |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7565 Posts
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Ah, I was wondering when you'd chime in with your own list featuring your own products, JR.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts
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Quote:
On Sep 16, 2014, Jolly Roger wrote: Well that depends on who you're watching perform it
You can't put a straight line like that out there and not expect me to pick it up
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts
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I remember back in my early days of performing I heard a patron coming back from the bathroom quip, is he still on.
I have improved a bit and not so torturous (is that a word) to my audiences. Someone once said, If we can't laugh at ourselves, someone will beat us to it. Harris remembering why I am a counselor and don't teach high school english!
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts
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Many years ago, I made the conscious decision NOT to use swords, fire, knives, guns, etc in my show (two exceptions---I use a knife for the card-in-orange effect, and I use fire when I do the floating rose)...but neither of these involve any perceived potential harm.
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts
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I gave up fire juggling and eating years ago.
I do eat food, just not fire. Actually I'm on 2 diets One is not enough. Harris.
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
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Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts
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Quote:
On Sep 16, 2014, Payne wrote: That's funny Payne!!!! JR |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts
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I don't perform with fire because my insurance policy excludes it; my insurance policy does not exclude sawing a child in half so I perform it.
I give the audience what they want, and the older kids get all excited and want to be chopped in half; as soon a kid asks if I will chop them in half and mom continues to smile, I go to my magic bus to get the trick; I don’t perform it unless asked and the parents are OK with it, and I don’t perform it for younger kid’s shows. Like every trick performed, it’s not the trick, it’s the presentation. I start the routine off by telling the audience a ridiculous statement and then it’s all fun and patter. The trick is 100% safe; and performed with no mention of torture, blood, gore and no scary patter. |
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Posted: Sep 14, 2014 08:53 pm 
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