I thought about this long and hard and I think the magicians most usefull man made fabricated prop is his/her pocketts, do you agree?

I agree that the pocket is a most useful thing. But I would not consider it a prop, but more of a tool. Many things can be done without pockets.

Most useful prop: You

Most useful tool: Personality

I don't know how useful it is as each will have their own opinions on this, but certainly the most recognizable prop is the wand.

Frank Tougas

1. your personality
2. a rubber chicken

felix

Pockets are good. I never thought of them as props though.

On the theatrical side there's no one "most useful prop" for magic.
We have coin workers, cardicians, buskers, parlor and stage magi, etc, and all would likely have their own favorites.

Remember guys I'm only refering to MAN MADE props, "personality" doesn't count

Since a TT is a gimmick and NOT a prop I guess I'd say a deck of cards. Easily available, most of us do some card stuff even if we don't get fantical about it, and everyone has an Uncle (somebody) who can lay out three rows of seven cards.

As long as you have a pack handy you are never more than a shuffle away from a performance.

Frank Tougas

Ya But you put the cards in a box and the box gos in your pocketts, I just thought of something your pocketts are on your pants, SO PANT ARE THE BEST PROP

Um... tell that to the women in magic. Perhaps the jacket then?

Don't women wear pants nowadays

As soon as I saw this topic, I knew people were going to start getting all clever and put forward stuff like personality or misdirection or presentation... there will be more!

I'm going to say 52 though. Can do a whole show with that. Pockets are a useful second, but much use on their own.

I make my money doing a stage show and never use my pockets. They are almost uneless to me.

My wife is probably my best prop. (SSSHHHHH, don't tell her.) But she is part of most tricks and in every illusion and loads the truck while I'm signing autograghs and selling merchandise.

Curt