Are there any? I looked into the whole bizarre magic thing but it seems like more "standard" tricks wrapped up in a mystical routine.

The only one I ever saw published in an old Genii magazine was having a selected card palmed in the hand holding the crystal and akllowing another spectator to gaze into the ball and reveal the card. It seemed pretty obvious to me. I just think they are a great prop to have around your magic room. Good conversation starter.

Frank Tougas

Only thing that comes to my mind isn't even magic. Contact juggling, I think it is called. Every seen the movie Labyrinth. What is the name of the guy that was the hand double for Bowie?

Mike Rogers marketed an effect with a small crystal. the ball had a very small card attatched which could be brought into the spectators view by turning the ball.
regards,
Bob B.

Eh, so far I'm not impressed. Seems like their should be something. Perhaps I'll invent it.

One of the things that you might consider is a load for a Cups and Balls routine.
Also, a production from a miniature briefcase, ala bowling ball from briefcase.
Peace,
Parson

You are right on the money regarding bizarre magic. But you have to admit that it opens up a whole new field of presentation to a performer. You can do many things with a crystal ball in my opinion. You can do mind reading. You can use the instant stooge effect of Luke Jermay with a twist where the spec stares into the ball and "sees" the card you can do a Zombi depending on how heavy the ball is, the opportunities are endless. Let your mind go.

Take a look in the "Black School" book for a wonderful routine by Anabelle and also the extra effect included in "Psychic Destiny" called "Psychic Crystal Ball".

http://www.eyesandminds.com/store2.htm

The contact juggler in Labyrinth is Michael Moshen.

I have used a large crystal ball as a strong focus of attention. When you take out a big crystal ball, or direct people's attention to it, you can do anything that you have to do for several seconds. They also tend to forget about clipboards, billets, and assorted office supplies once they hear the story of how you got this at the estate sale of a medium.

Those uses have made my crystal ball one of the greatest magic accessories I ever acquired.

Yours,

Paul

Do you actually do anything WITH the ball?

Remember crystal balls are not traditionally thought of as tools of a magician. They are to fortune tellers what wands are to us. The difference is we have invented tricks for the wand; a glass ball is not so easy.

You would have to produce or vanish it using some sort of "boxlike" thing. If you could get a very light weight hollow ball you could attempt Zombie but I don't see the advantage over the silver ball.

Frank Tougas

I agree with Frank,
Actually, I think that a crystal ball could take away from the Zombie effect.
But I do like blurring the lines between magic and fortune telling.
Peace,
Parson

Use a crystal ball as a way to read lists right in front of the audience.
Put a list such as a card stack on a small card. Shuffle the cards and write all on a small card.
They cut, glimpse bottom card, hold small list in hand under ball and use ball to magnify list and do your look up. There are many ways to use this. And you really are looking into your crystal ball to get the answer. Do center tear. Use the ball to look at center.
Al

After more than 50 years, the Card In Crystal Ball remains one of the most mysterious effects ever seen. This new pocket version from Mike Rogers will blow you away.

Ask a spectator to touch any face down card in a shuffled deck. Place the card in your pocket without showing its value. No one knows the identity of the card, not even the spectator who touched it. Bring out a small drawstring pouch. Open the pouch and remove a small crystal ball. Hold the ball between your finger and thumb, and ask the spectator to gaze deep into the ball. Tell the spectator to name aloud whatever thought she receives from the crystal. Magically, the Ace of Diamonds appears within the ball. Remove the spectator's card from your pocket and show that it is in fact the Ace of Diamonds.

DUNNINGER'S MENTAL CARD TRICK in Scarne on Card Tricks page 17.

Magically

Aus

Maybe preparing the Ball with Ghost writing (Hauchglas) will give a good effekt.
Like this: Hauchglas
There is a liquid from viking "Ghost Glass Impromptu", or find a way to do your own preparation.
Ghost Glass Impromptu

Not directly to the point and it may no longer be available, but I have a shot glass that basically has a "crystal ball" in the shape of a half sphere built into the inside of it. The base of the glass has a cap over it and inside is a miniature card (about 1/4" x 3/4") which is invisible when the glass is empty. When you pour a liquid into it the card becomes visible. The cap is removable and the mini card can be replaced with another or any image that will fit inside the cap. It's a pretty cool gimmick and interesting way to reveal a card. Some of the comments above describe ways and sources of how this can be done with a crystal ball.

Martin Lewis has an effect using a crystal ball

"Eh, so far I'm not impressed. Seems like their should be something. Perhaps I'll invent it."

When you do Hammesink, please let me know.

"I looked into the whole bizarre magic thing but it seems like more "standard" tricks wrapped up in a mystical routine."

All magic is basically thus. The genre of magic known as 'Bizarre' takes a different slant and is storytelling and presentation. This is very different from 'I do this and look what happens'.

I have entertained thousands of people over many years with nothing more technically difficult than a d***** ***t! The mantra of the Bizarre Magician is - keep it simple, the performance is everything.

Certainly I use a crystal ball as a prop, one of the problems is that a reasonably large crystal ball is very heavy and way to big to palm!

Regards

Keith Hart

I do believe there's an effect in the 13 Steps that uses a crystal ball as part of the method, but I'm not sure what you're asking. Are you wondering if there are any tricks that use the ball as a method or are there any routines that use a crystal ball as a premise?