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PepeRuizSJ Loyal user Dallas, TX 250 Posts |
There are all kinds of comments about Perrier with a Twist by Kevin James that range from people saying that it is the best effect ever to others who say it is the worse effect they have purchased. I would like to see if we can reach a consensus about the pros and cons of this effect following with the tradition of respect in the Café
I don't own the effect, so I am interested in hearing about how practical is this routine to perform in the regular basis in a table hoping environment? How smooth are the transitions between the different parts of the routine? How dirty/clean is it? I understand it needs some serious practice. If you could answer these questions assuming that all the time needed in terms of practice has been put into it. Is there's anything else that we might need to know? Thank you in advance. |
PepeRuizSJ Loyal user Dallas, TX 250 Posts |
This is the description of the effect from Kevin James' website (www.kjmagic.com):
This is a routine that Kevin developed in the trenches performing in restaurants and private parties for many years. It is a powerful multi-phase routine that is perfect for strolling environments. You begin by lighting a piece of paper and it visibly turns into a bottle that is handed out for examination. A 50 cent coin penetrates in and out of the bottle very cleanly and visually right through the glass. The magician explains that he can tell the secrets and sticks his finger through a "trap door" in the bottle. Then he unscrews the bottom of the bottle and screws it back on! Then passing it out for examination. You then take a cocktail napkin and cover the bottle, poking a hole so the top of the bottle can be seen. The performer pours water from the bottle and then crushes the paper into a ball. The bottle vanishes!!! The napkin is given to the spectator as a souvenir. |
Mediocre the Great Inner circle Rich Hurley 1062 Posts |
I’ve seen this routine performed well, and it’s a beautiful piece of magic.. If you buy the routine from Kevin and invest the time it takes to perfect it, you will have a highly commercial, entertaining and amazing effect.
I never actually put it in my repertoire for several reasons: - I don’t have the pocket space to carry the bottle - I don’t like using this particular gaff coin. Just a personal preference. - I don’t usually wear a jacket when I perform. True, it does resent instantly but it’s not the MOST practical routine you can do. You will need to have a jacket and you will need to have the appropriate gaffs and props ready for action. However, you may be in a situation when you can borrow a bottle and make appear it very impromptu. I have considered changing the routine to make it a little more practical, but I hate to mess around with such a well though out and perfect routine. Virtually all GREAT routines have trade offs. Keep in mind: - you need a coat to “pull” it off. - you’ll have to manage all the quirks of the F*****g coin gaff. - The bottle requires pocket space – it’s bulky. (or you’ll need one handy to borrow) - in my opinion it’s better to use a quarter because you can borrow one and it’s more ordinary. - The transitions are beautiful. Smooth and well motivated.. - The routine is nicely paced, so you don’t have to worry about being dirty. Kevin has some really nice convincers that make the routine look totally fair. - The ending with the Nielsen bottle neck gimmick is stunning. Great! Someday I may pick up the routine and polish it for performance level. I like it very much. However, I have so much strolling magic that is easier to perform and doesn’t require the gaffs and props. You’ll have to decide for yourself if this will work for your style and performing situations. I hope this feedback helps you.
Mediocrity is greatly under rated!
-------------------------------------------- Rich Hurley aka Mediocre The Great! www.RichHurleyMagic.com |
Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5203 Posts |
I saw Kevin do this on swedish TV many years ago, looks very magicial.
VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ury5DPsoG50 OWN IT http://www.kjmagic.com/catalog/effects02.html |
nonvpro Inner circle 1844 Posts |
I think the routine is practical, if you want to put in the time it deserves. I love certain aspects of the routine. I've taken segments and incorporated them into my own routine. As far as pocket space is concerned, I just consider the bottle as any other routine that I need pocket space for. I use two bottles. A Coronita Extra 7 oz. bottle that stands 8" high with a 2" diameter. Or I use a Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay 165 ml. bottle that stands 6.75" high with a 2" diameter. Either bottle will fit into one of my back pants pockets with no problem. Or I use one of the extra pockets I've had sewn into my coat. I will either do a "Coin in the Bottle" routine or "Prohibation" cap in the bottle routine. I can use either bottle for either routine. I've finally figuered out a way to remove the bottom of any bottle and with a little sanding I have a perfect bottle bottom ala Pierre with a Twist. I've attached a very small metal loop to the bottle bottom and this allows me to attach any type of holdout or pull to vanish the bottle bottom when I'm done with it. Depending what I'm wearing, will determine what type of holdout or pull I will use.
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mystre71 Inner circle martinsburg west virginia 1693 Posts |
Nonvpro
Care to share how to remove the bottom of a bottle. As I can find the right size Pierre bottle for Kevin's routine, around here. thanks, Joe
Walk around coin box work check it out here https://www.magicalmystries.com/products
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nonvpro Inner circle 1844 Posts |
Very carefully score the bottom of the bottle with a glass cutter. Any glass cutter will work. You can get one at Home Depot for a few dollars. But be sure you completely score where you want the cut. Then take some yarn or somewhat heavy string. Wrap it around the bottle about 1/2 dozen times then push it directly over the score on the bottle. Soak the yarn or string in lighter fluid and lite it. Let it burn completely, as soon as it goes out, I place the bottle in ice water for about 20 seconds. I remove the bottle and simply tap the bottom of the bottle on a hard surface and the bottom will come off. Sand as needed.
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
I bought this when it first came out. I immediately tossed the Perrier bottle in favor of a brown beer bottle (Budweiser actually).
I had a glass cutter make me a number of gimmicks in brown bottle, clear beer bottle, and green beer bottle. I also bought a set of Neilson vanishing bottle gimmicks to match. Yes I know this seems like a lot of work but I liked the sequence of the routine and felt the gimmicks I made played better in the venues I worked and with my performing persona (blue collar kind of guy). I invested maybe an additional $40.00 in all to have the props that suited me. Also I tended to use a quarter rather than a half-dollar. I just don’t run across any half dollars when working. I always try to borrow the quarter for the routine. OK that tells you I like it. The pro’ are that it is a well thought out and well blocked routine. Everything makes sense. Every action is choreographed for you. The framework allows you to add your own performing persona/personality and not just be a Kevin James clone. The cons include all those listed above. You need a jacket (hoodie, un-tucked over shirt, etc.) to perform. The things that can break probably will at the worst time because you don’t replace before every outing/show. Trying to get a dozen shows out of rubber band is simply asking for trouble. The old fashioned method of getting the bottle bottom out of play can hang up if you are a beat off or haven’t rehearsed it well. This is not a “works out of the box” trick. It is a routine that takes more than practice it takes rehearsal.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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nonvpro Inner circle 1844 Posts |
Harry,
I always use a half-dollar. I produce the half and then I do the bit and show the half is flexiable by bending it back and forth and then hand it out for examination. I always change the rubber band before each evening. I make it a rule never to use the same band more than one evening or event. When you mention that getting the bottom out of play it can "hang up", what are you referring to? I think you mean the bottom can get hung up on the edge of your coat. |
nonvpro Inner circle 1844 Posts |
I might mention how I get the bottom out of play. At the proper moment, I lean slightly forward and allow my coat to move away from my body. I press my left hand against my stomach and relax my grip and allow the mechanics to work. Almost 100% of the time, everything works as it should. Sorry not to be very clear, don't want to give too much away.
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MagicMikeMartin New user 61 Posts |
I was able to see Kevin James perform & explain this effect in his lecture at the Dayton Festival of Magic last year. Kevin performs the effect brilliantly! It was not for me based on the complexity of the setup, but as a spectator I really enjoyed it.
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MonsterMagic Special user 517 Posts |
I've just been to PropDog and they knocked me up a gimmick in no time. My gimmick is for a different bottle because sadly Perrier is hard to get in England.
It is a great routine, in my opinion worth freeing up space for. As my new gimmick is clear it can used with a lot of other bottles. Thinking about it, I could get several and have options to borrow a bottle. H. |
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