Does anyone know if the method Mac King uses for his fish appear is that of aeriel fishing? If not, anyone know if his method is available? Thanks.

I am working a new version of this effect that I hope to have out the first part of next year.

Richard

Scott Penrose has a great pocket size version of this effect. I use it all the time, plays really big.

There is a version that just came out on Hocus-Pocus.

Look in McComb's Magic by Billy McComb

I won't tip Mac's specific method, but he actually bought one of the Aerial Fishing props he uses from me a few years ago when he was first contemplating adding the effect to his already outstanding act.

I had one based on the original Okito method (not built by Okito), a Stull fishbowl and a P&L Fishbowl. I think you can guess which one he opted for.

It's a great trick and seldom seen. The only other performer of recent times I know that actually featured it in his show was the late.Gene DeVoe here in St. Louis. And, it was a killer.

Other than having live goldfish, it's really not all that inconvenient. The two fishbowl method are particularly easy to do, as far as the actual mechanics of the effect. Now, the presentation, that's another story...

I've seen Mac's show (great) and use to perform this also. I settled for one I do now that doesn't have me looking all over for the rod and reel:)

Seriously, the pocket version is a good one. Not many people like dealing with real fish though. No problem for me, they are in every show I perform, I use feeders for 12 cts from Walmart, keep them in a 5 gal tank. The real magic is keeping feeders alive:)

Alain NU also featured this effect as does Alan Shaxon.

Richard

I have the gimmicks but have never figured out a routine that I felt was right for me. I have NOT seen Mac do his... what I was going to do was catch fish out of ringside table drinks in comedy club setting. Somewhere I still have the bowl and I know the appearing fish gimmicks.

Mac is my hero. His routine is simply hillarious. Although, I've often wondered what he does when a fish dies during the performance. I've seen him 9 times and it's never happened but I"m guessing the routine, especially his ending can't be that much fun for the fish.

Alan Saxon has a very good routine and the last fish is caught from a ringside drink.

Mac Birch did it as an interlude in his show. His patter was about his hobby of fishing that he doesn't get much chance to do because of traveling. So he would like to do a little onstage fishing. A nice patter line and in Mac's hands it must have been a miracle.

Richard

The version I learned was from the Magic of Alan Wakeling book by Jim Steinmeyer.

In the book Alan used all the methods. So which one did you settle on?

I seen Matt King many years ago here at the local comdey club, he did not do a catching fish effect. He did a catching fish on a TV special if I remember correctly, but the method was the TT I believe. If he is selling or performing a new method in his daily shows. Then I have not heard about it as of this posting.

Being this is for new tricks section, can someone post where this effect is being sold on the web. Or, was this posting put in the wrong topic?

Where does it say "new" in the heading for this topic? It is about tricks AND effects.

And by the way, it's MAC not MATT

Mac's routine is so...Mac.

That boy's got a knack for making dorky lookin tricks a big ol barrel o' monkeys!

I bow to him I do.

Just to update this thread a bit..I have recently completed an Alan Shaxon style pole. Boy what a work it was. The hardest part was making it all fit into a salesman case, including the stand and pole.
I might add that I only made on the permission of Scott Penrose and the customer had purchased the Shaxon book. That is the only way I will ever make it as to do less would unfair to the legacy of Alan.

Some routines while not original to the performer seem to become theirs after they put theeir spin on it. I've seen Mr. King and he even made a joke at my wedding and I'd just assume leave this effect in his hands. But that's just me. It's like when I asked Doug Henning backstage of "the Magic Show" his version of Gene Anderson's torn and restored newspaper he responded, that's mine. I only found out latter in Tannens magic shop by Tony Spina that the effect was Mr. Anderson's.

So maybe, we should just leave well enough alone?

I had an Abbott aerial fishing. I only did it was because the fish were too much trouble to keep and transport.
I believe John Booth featured it in his act.

Should say "I only did it once"