Well, The color changing knives! I just bought this easy trick two days ago. When I found out how it was done, I felt empty, because it is such a simple trick for the effect you pull off!

It's just amazing that the people don't notice how it's done, and even though you know how easy it is, they think it has something to do with the knife itself, "A button, a switch" When in fact it isn't at all.

Anyone else have this same experince?

1. Seeing a COOL trick.
2. Wanting to buy it.
3. Buying it.
4. Figuring out the trick.
5. Angry because the trick looks dumb now.
6. Happy because your confusing people.

It's very interesting. I have a trick by John Kennedy that is based on the same principal or "move".

I showed it to my very astute wife, then gave the paddle to her to examine.

Now... GET THIS....

She said that I must be turning it somehow, THEN ACTUALLY DID THE PADDLE MOVE HERSELF A FEW TIMES, but then said, "But I would have seen it if you had done that."

Sometimes the most amazing tricks are the simplest.

Mark

Chessmann: I love that story.



Jay

That is pretty darn funny Chessman!

And to Samelei:
I believe most people starting out in magic have had that experience before. Sometimes I still get that feeling. You think up some method of how an effect is done, then your disappointed really that it's much simpler than you thought.

When I get a trick down pat, I don't think it looks dumb at all. In fact, realizing how simple it is makes me want to use it more and more on the public. It does however give you that happy feeling to know your fooling people. Simple trick or not. I agree with you on that.

Can somone please tell me where I can get the explanation to "The Penetrating Bands"? I will pay $$ if I have to. I'm sure I will, but I can only do so via PayPal!

Please, And thank you.

Try a magic dealer who takes PayPal. It sounds like what you are looking for is in the book, The Magic of Michael Ammar, and is known as the Crazy Man's Handcuffs. You will pay $$ for the book, but it's a good book to invest in.

Here's another one from Chessmann

A few weeks ago I bought Michael Skinner's Ultimate Three Card Monte after seeing a demo at my local shop. Didn't know how it worked.

When I got home and opened it up and discovered the secret...I literally burst out laughing. I couldn't believe it was so simple! But it stuns everyone I show it too - including my wife, who graduated #1 at her university's business school.

Mark

If you can't get a hold of Michael's Book or notes, Slydini came out with a set of notes called "The Linking Bands." It sells for about 10 bucks.

If, after reading that it still confuses you, check out Michael Ammar's video on the effect. The video is called "Classic Renditions." It is Vol. 2 in a series of three videos.

The video also includes "Broken and Restored Rubberband," and "Traveling Cash." Both very good rubberband effects. I would suggest you go to http://www.ammarmagic.com/store/index.ph......3772a2a2 and check it out.

Magically,
Brian Proctor
:magicrabbit:

Get Dan Harlan's rubber band with Mark Fitzgerald's back together in it plus the vanishing of the one band.

I Am looking for the trick David Copperfield did, where two rubber bands go through one another, RIGHT IN YOUR FACE!

How the heck?

I do "I'll Start again." A Paddle move trick with chalk. I bought it because I thought it was a classic trick, but I didn't think that it I would use it much, as The principle is in every magic set, and, who would be entertained by a paddle and a bit of chalk in these days of Playstations and computers? Answer, Just about everyone. It goes down great, everywhere. I use it all the time.

Cheers

Andy

To be honest, a majority of package effects give me that feeling, and that is why I almost never buy them now. Perhaps I am missing out on some good stuff, but that's ok. I'm doing fine.

I will say that Skinner's monte is the thing I have used, and always will. That's just plain good thinking.

CMH is quite easy to do, but takes some practice to get presentation and timing down.

Cool post Samelei...
I have to agree with you, I often buy tricks that look cool when I see them performed, and a lot of times I don't know how it's done, or "the secret" if you may.

It can be a packet trick, or something gimmicked in some way, and I always make up an idea of how it is possible beforehand, but when I open the package - it's going to be a suprise almost every time.

Sometimes I feel stupid, and think: "is this what fooled me?". other times I feel relief, and think, "what a great invention!"

Still I think it is important to think back to the time you didn't know the secret, because that is what laymen will see.

Of course every magician has their unique style, and we cannot perform all the same stuff, cause tricks I like, you might dislike.

But do everything you can not to loose interest in the trick, because if you belive it is magic, it will look like magic.

best!
-e-

Agree with Eirik, got that feeling all the time.
It's all magic when performed the right way, doesn't matter if you know the secret or not.

These comments illustrate why you are doing people a disservice when you show them a trick then reveal the secret when they say, "How did you do that?". They will often get that same disappointed feeling. Some of the magic will have gone out of their life. It is one of those "loss of innocence" experiences.
Regards

I know that when I first started buying magic, I mostly picked tricks that amazed me. I'd want to know how they could have done it and when I got it, I'd often be disappointed or I'd think the secret was cool, but it wouldn't be much use to me for the magic that I do.

Now, I try to focus on buying magic that I can see myself performing for people. Before I buy something, I think about the magic I already know or have and I try to see if I could accomplish the trick myself, based on what I already know. If I can't, then I'll consider buying it. Occasionally, I'll buy something that I already knew the secret (but didn't know I knew it . Instead of feeling cheated, I'll feel lucky for learning a new application of an idea.

Jester J

I got started in magic back in the early 1970's by accidentally finding Abbott’s Magic Shop while on a family fishing trip in Mich. Duke Stern (well known comedy magician) showed me Multiplying Rabbits, Professor’s Nightmare, and the Color Changing Knives. In his hands they were pure magic!! I bought all 3 effects (spending my whole allowance) and couldn't wait for the long drive back to Illinois when I would be able to sit in the back seat and discover the mechanical marvels that made these "miracles" possible. MAN, was I surprised to find 3 normal pieces of rope, 2 normal knives, and a bunch of sponge rabbits. I felt like I had been taken, but here we are 30 years later and these 3 "classics" are still among my favorite routines. Thanks Duke, for teaching me a valuable lesson. The magic comes from within you, not from the props that you use.

One thing I should point out: CMH is the UNLINK move only. It's a much better effect if you can go both ways (link and unlink). Some versions teach both moves. I know Slydini's does.

The "link" move is a bit more difficult but well worth the time and effort.

Reinforces the point... "It's not the trick, it's the presentation."

My motto (one of several) "Simplicity is the Keynote to Success."