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Christopher Moro Special user 793 Posts |
Does anyone have any ideas for compartmentalizing the interior of a Catalog Case/Pilot's Case to hold (mostly) close-up props for working straight out of it? The idea is to be doing close up/stand-up with the case opened, sitting on a chair or stool beside the performer. You reach in, take out the prop, do the routine, return it (ideally resetting it in the process), etc. You can steal and ditch as well.
I've toyed with foam but didn't care for it. Since the cases are deep, one would want to ultilize different levels (shelves?) to make use of the depth and to avoid reaching all the way to the bottom when taking things out and putting them back in. Has anyone done this before and have anything to share? If you were using a large Doctor's bag, I think the needs would be somewhat similar. |
Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
First, take a look at Jeff McBride's Stage Magic DVD Vol. 1. He talks about and demonstrates the use of the catalog case in his commando act. I think this is exactly what you are looking for.
Second, I would approach the case like an open top table, much like Duane Laflin uses in his stand up act. He has a DVD called Silken Sequences and Steals. In it he explains the inter workings of his open top table. What you can do is line the case with the felt side of Velcro, then you can make shelves out of coreplast (the plastic corrugated sheeting) and use the rough side of the Velcro on the ends to adjust your shelves. You can also use small shelves as inside servantes. You can also make ditch bags, holders for thumb tips, etc. I would use the felt or softer side of the Velcro as the inside for the case since it can be more forgiving on your props, especially silks. The applications are endless. |
Christopher Moro Special user 793 Posts |
Thanks, Darkwing. The McBride video doesn't have much in the way of compartmentalizing, but Laflin's video sounds great. I'll have to get my hands on it. You've got me realizing that I should probably think of this case much like how I think of my manipulation receptacle. Thanks for the tips!
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Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
You are welcome Christopher. One thing I forgot to mention, you can buy self-adhesive felt to line the shelves and compartments for the inside of the case just to keep the noise down. I have even used quarter inch foam rubber for the same and then put the felt over the foam rubber to help keep things quiet. The self-adhesive felt can be found at Walmart Hobby Lobby, and JoAnne's in the US.
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TheRaven Special user 597 Posts |
Your question reminded me of this amazing book I own: http://www.amazon.com/The-Toolbox-Book-C......61582727
One technique for tool boxes is sliding trays. Several trays are stacked and they are half the long dimension of the case. They slide over to reveal a tray below, which can then be slid over to reveal another tray, etc. The photo of this toolbox might convey the concept better: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Wooden-L......44506973 Although in your case (no pun intended), I would envision the trays sliding along the long dimension of the case. The downside in a pilot case is there is no place to attach rails easily - so this isn't a fully formed suggestion - just a thought. |
Christopher Moro Special user 793 Posts |
Resurrecting this thread... Jeff McBride tipped me to Ron Guttman's booklet, "Pigeon Holes." This is a great set of instructions and although I haven't yet done the project, I recommend it. Very smart stuff.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Chris...
After trying a Merv Taylor type suitcase table for a season, I went back to the "suitcase" and waiters tray stand. The suitcase table was just too heavy wnen I put in the props! I found an almost new catalog case at a yard sale, and a hair dresser's "house call" kit. Paid $5.00 for both cases! I also found a root beer drive in car tray. ($1.00) The tray hooked on ANY chair back and the hair dresser kit sat on it. The catalog case sat on the chair seat. I had 2 "gold" lame flash cloths made to dress up the cases and the flash cloths 'unified' the two. It looked great. The cat. case held the few larger props. (one "layer") The hair dresser case was pigeon holed with paste board boxes for small props and gimmicks. (again, one "layer". I used that set up for about ten years, and it worked just fine. I suppose that you could install shelves that slid "over" to expose a second or third layer. I haven't seen any catalog cases for several years. I suspect that salesmen now carry a laptop. PS I've NEVER used any sort of ditch box. All props,large or small,were picked up, worked,and put back in their own pigeon hole,and in their own case. The drive in tray,carried in the cat. case. Note the above plan was for a 45 minute school assembly program. I have now reframed the show so it is carried in a 13" x 20" x 8" fibre case (like a "fat" attache case.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Christopher Moro Special user 793 Posts |
Wow, great info, Dick! Thank you. I too have used a suitcase table for a long time and never really liked it, so I'm gradually working towards changing that. Fibre cases are really nice and Jeff McBride has highly recommended them. This would be for stage of course and I only use a ditch box for the manipulation portion. For the rest, Pigeon Holes sound like the best option.
I still see Catalog Cases in stores and online. They may refer to them as Pilot's Cases or tool boxes more often. For Close-up, the Catalog Case seems the best bet as well and in that case, "levels"/sliding shelves is practical for storage and transportation. I still need to experiment with working out of it like in a formal close-up show scenario. |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
For comparments in a catalog case, I keep it simple. For stand-up, I use facial tissue cubes, with the tops cut off. They make great compartments! I have one of the cubes on top of the other three and just move it to access the bottom cubes. I also cut down a pizza box, for a case for the linking rings. I keep a teacher's totebag on the floor, to act as a dump bag.
For my close-up case, I have four plastic pencil boxes, and a compartmentalized plastic box, to keep things organized. I load my pockets from these, after assessing the needs of the room. |
Christopher Moro Special user 793 Posts |
Update: Pigeon Holes work very well in my attache case. In addition to creating compartments and minimizing set-up time, they also protect the props. I highly recommend Ron Guttman's book: http://www.blackderbyentertainment.com/i......cts_id=1
I'll be adding these to my catalog case and other cases. |
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