I was just wondering what you guys/girls do to give meaning to a drawer box. Instead of "look an empty box, now its got stuff in it". I mean besides producing props that are going to be used, how could you make it more interesting? Kinda hard to explain what I mean.

Here is an idea. Tell your audience you got into your sister's jewelery box. Guess what you found!

Much depends on your style and act. You have not give much info, so that is all I can suggest.

My local dealer calls them magic wishing chests, whatever you wish for will appear. Plays great for kid shows, for adult shows, well you guys know what else can be put in them.
S.

I use a small drawer box to make a silk vanish for my 20th century silks. One kid is holding the three silks, another a wand (they made the silks appear earlier). I open and close the drawer a couple of to show how it works. (I started doing this because sometimes the kids had a hard time trying to figure out how to take the lid off the box.) I instruct the kid with the silks to wad up the yellow silk and put it in the box. But this time, when I open the box, I find a long silk streamer. As I pull out enough to make several large loops, I turn to the kid with the wand and say, "watch where you point that thing!" Then I toss the loops over the other kid's head, saying "Could you help me with this?" I pull more and more of the streamer out, throwing it at the kid. After all the steamer is out of the box and gathered up, the yellow silk goes into the box as planned, only to vanish soon thereafter.

Duane Laflin in his lectures notes has a nice routine using the drawer box called the "repeating draw box". The routine is based on an idea from Fukai. Good stuff

Mark

The other ruse is to start with "stuff" in the box to begin with. Dump out the "stuff" and have someone help you dust the box with a featherduster (loaded with cornstarch powder). Once they certify the box is empty and clean, you load the box with a body load or table servante load, etc. Now you use the box mechanics to show that the box is still empty... perhaps find one more spider crawling inside... and finally have the spectator close the "empty" box until it's time to show what has appeared inside as a result of your magic spells. Loads aren't just for cups and balls; they come in handy with many of the other magic props as well.

It will be better if that box was made for multiple productions. First show it empty. Next open to reveal something. Close it. Open to reveal something else. Repeat it several times.

How is it possible to be able to completely remove the inner box and show it to the audience empty? I was thinking of a spring hinged wall at the end of the inner box. Would that work or is there a better way?

Of course it will work. It depends how exactly you make it and what you plan to have appear. You might want to start your topic in "The Workshop" forum without giving away too much exposure.

Called mine Beowulf's luggage. Would remove tiny soccer boots, a shirt with a big star on it, and a couple of silks. Had to be empty now. Close, open, and out would pop Beowulf T. Wonderbunny.

Actually, this type of prop magic is for beginners that have not gained the abilities to make things just appear like magic.

I believe many of the comments about props is because the person does not see a use for the prop. That kind of thinking is in reverse of considering a prop for a magic effect.

One should not buy a prop, then ask what can I use it for? They should have a idea first, then attempt to find a prop that fits their need.

In my opening routine, I wanted to change a mechanical Blendo scarf to confetti. It took me 3 years to find the prop that fit my need. I did not buy any prop until I researched what it did, and if it would fit the items I intended them to accept. In the meantime, I just presented the tricks as separate tricks, no magical change being used. I was so delighted with my final result, I bought 2 of the props just to make sure I always would have one on hand. And do you know, it was a good idea, because, one did break over time and many performances, and I had to use the 2nd one I had on hand.

So instead of saying, "What is it good for?", as yourself, "Will it fit my need?" If there is no need, don't buy it!

Dear Hegbli,
That's what is called W I S D O M !
In my younger years my mentor said to me: Don't think from the catalog.
Nowadays the wiser men have to say: Don't think from you tube......