Rich, I don't do mentalism, but that's a funny idea.

I like to talk to the people first before jumping into a trick right away. It helps me feel them out and them to feel me out.

I usually open with coin routine, either a flurry or HH type of routine. My reasoning is that I have worked these effects for a long time so I can focus on reading the audience and letting them get to like me before I go into anything more involved

If there are children present or a loose audience the Sponge Balls because they are inherently fun, and if there are children at a table they need some attention before going into something more fore the adults. A loose audience will allow more byplay and not be too intimidated when volunteering,and such.

I am tinkering with John Carney's "Chill Pack" lately though and am curious to see how it will play as an opener in strolling situations.

Fire wallet to get their attention and I then take out money from there for bill switch's - flames and cold hard cash - people pay attention to those!

I typically open with my sponge ball routine. Introduces an interesting item (purse frame) with a meaningful question, and then production of the first ball. They don't have to do anything but watch for the first couple of phases. As it moves along, rapport is established, they're laughing, a lot of magic is happening and then the magic happens in their hands. At the end, the 3 balls vanish back into the purse frame from whence the first ball came.

It's a min "act" unto itself. If time warrants, I can move on to other stuff, and they're ready to see it. Otherwise, I can move on, and they feel like they've seen an "act" as opposed to a "trick".

I dislike opening with card effects, and particularly pick-a-card effects. I don't like making the audience do something immediately, either. I think they need a few moments to size me up and see that I'm not that uncle who does a few tricks badly, but instead someone who is a professional and does professional material.

Real attention ........ the hanky and bra effect this kills .

I have also opened with Doc Eason's "nuts and bolts opener." I like the intdiction of unusual (fior the venue)but every day objects. The routine has some great appropriate jokes and two kicker finishes.

I often open whit a trick that contains funny lines, magic and people envolving.

I Carry my slice of salami. I come, talk to someone on my right. "Hey, the owner aske me if you...pause... What's your name please? Peter, I'm sure it's you! You have a ..pause.. (I produce slice of salami behind his ear or arm...) slice of salami!"
I then ask to other people: " has often peter a slice of salami behind his ear?"
"What about the other Ear? some bread??"


This alway make people laught, and thay ask who I am, because I don't say: "Hey I 'm Mister Magician!!"

At the end I put the slice of salami back to his ear after some fast trick whit it! The slice of salami vanish, and I follow by my other tricks.

This trick take 20 seconds.


Another opening trick, it's my first phase of my sponge ball routine. I come to ask if they come with it?! they don't with what! and I produce the ball in someone elbow.... This opening is funny and strong in magic.

Another way, is to come close to the table and to say something to someone on the table and to go to another table. An example: "Hey you have it!!"(and you go!) or " take care to your eisenhower or it will fall" and you go!

When you come to do magic, they know you. You repeat your question "Hey you have it!!" and you produce a coin or smtg else.




Another I like:
"someone called to offer you a trick, what's your name? (peter) Ok, it's the good men!!" and you follow by your firts trick!

On this times I open with a Single Coin Routine, a Chop Cup Routine, Chilling Pack ( John Carney ) or Prohibition (cap in the bottle ).

What: I like to open with a game of three card Monte routine Ive worked out which gradually gets simpler and simpler but still remains un-winable.

why: its simple, fast paced, and everyone's interested in both gambling and congames on one level or another. and although most people have heard of three card Monte not many have played it before, so it makes people curious what its like.

Purely as a gag, I used to open a close-up set sitting at a table by showing an opaque handkerchief on both sides and producing a Close-Up Toothpaste box. I set it aside and later in the set forced the four of clubs on a spectator. Then I removed a four of clubs card silk from the Close-up box.

Another opener effect was the coin roll with the patter: "Watch the coin. Your eyes are getting sleepy..." Then I would segue into some other close-up effects.

Sometimes I would open with Louis Tannen's "Pack Full of Pep" from Tarbell. I would hold out the card case and invite a spectator to point her finger at the case, whereupon the whole deck would rise from the box. (As I recall, Bruce Elliott or someone did a survey of magicians making two lists: List One was the tricks magicians most liked watching other magicians perform; List Two was the tricks magicians most liked to perform themselves. Rising cards made both lists. I think any animated effect is strong as an opener.)

----- Amadi "Sonny" Narvaez