Hi All,

I am considering some cups and they are available in both mirror and satin finish. I have only ever bought mirror finish before. I like the look of worn copper cups with a patina and I definitely don't ever polish them or pamper them. Would a mirror or satin finish make more sense?

Thanks,
Bob

I once had very shiny cups.
During a show a lady to my left said she saw a ball in my hand.
I was at a loss about this.
Turns out the cup acted like a mirror for those on my left and could see a ball FP,d in my rt hand.
Think about that.

I've always liked satin/opaque cups but ever since Mr. Schneider gave this piece advice in his early dvds, I've exclusively used or looked for non-reflecting cups. Seems quite wise...at least if you perform in very close-up situations.

What Al said.......

Some people just don't like the satin finish, and I'm one of them. I'm not contradicting Al's advice, in fact I believe in it completely. In my opinion, Al Schneider and Tommy Wonder are and were the giants in magical theory and presentation in my lifetime. In one of Al's videos he mentioned if he ever bought another set of cups, he would buy a wooden set and then displayed an example. Reading in between the lines, my guess is he might be so smart that he only owns that one set because it's all he needs. Compare that to not-so-smart people like me that have two dozen sets in one show case. However, having that many sets, I need to let them out to play once in awhile. For close up, a mirror finish copper with an aged patina is the way to go, in line with Al's comments. In other situations, I will reach for a set with a different finish. I just don't like the satin finish when it is new or when it tarnishes. I have two satin sets now that I took in on trades will be happy when they find a new home. One finish that is "pretty" but is also "busy" enough to make it harder to see reflections is the antique bronze finish. I have a set of RNT2 Foxy 2.5 cups in antique bronze and another set with that finish on the way from a different source. I also find the black chrome finish RNT2 has to be dark enough to make it harder to see reflections.

Never had a problem with reflection of a palmed ball in the shiny surface of a cup.
If it happened once. No problem.
If it happened more often than not. Then it's a problem.
But I think I'd be working on blocking and script rather than switching cups.

Sometimes people are just too "nice" to tell you when they have seen something they shouldn't...

Julie

I've known people to go over their copper Sherwood cups with brown shoe polish to give it a dark look from the start. I prefer the natural patina. I agree more with the idea that your routine should avoid any reflection issues. This is why Porper cups are black on the inside, to prevent reflections.

I've never been a fan of mirror finish, but after the advice here, I'm POSITIVE that I will be purchasing satin going forward...

Mirror finish seems to develop a nicer/smoother (don't really know how to describe) patina.