What do you think of these cups for a cups and balls routine, especially for busking? I think they look very "streetish". Size is ok, to work with some decent finaly loads.

http://www.strasserweb.net/christof/Temp/Cups.jpg

I'd really appreciate your feedback on this one, if only in two words.

C.

Interesting...

Okay, I have one more word right? How about a few more?

The tapered bell shape should allow them to have some "attic" space, but they won't be too stable. I can't see if the bottom is dished to allow the balls to sit on the cup without rolling off.

I think you'll find the load capacity (except for height? Hmmm) isn't as large as you imagine. The inner curve will restrict the load size to the point that the illusion of " load bigger than the cup" is reversed.

Without a rolled rim, they run the chance of getting bent out of shape easily if dropped.

They do look good for a possible Ren Faire adaptation of some sort though.

Wow, did that subject line get my attention.

I'd like to see how they stack up and what base looks like. Aesthetically, they're okay... but I got spoiled by the "museum" cup photos a little while back...


Regards,

-jjg

Well, a friend forwarded me that pic. Apparently, he found them on ebay (I couldn't locate them yet).

Thanks Dave, however, for pointing out the possible issues. I guess I'll stay away from these and save for Johnson's or Foxy Stainless Steel.

Best,
C.

I don't think these are magician friendly cups.

A little too tall for my taste. Unless they have cold beer in them.....

Well said Pete. Ditto that!

Too tall
small load
who knows what the saddle looks like
elevator move probably impossible.

just get some real cups

I agree. The cups also don't look modern which may be a concern depending on how you present the cups and balls.

They look very awkward to use in a Performance situation. I also think that to a Spectator they look very Foreign. I'd just get some normal ones.

Christof:

Can you show us two other photos of them stacked and sitting mouth down? It's a little hard for me to give mush inputbased on that one photo. Measurements would also help us think through load sizes and how they will look in regard to the cup.

However, if you can handle them in a routine, then I say go for it. In all due respect to all the other posts, you can do C & B without "nesting" the cups and without certain moves.

They may not look like other people's cups, but that's not a bad thing!

Terry

Terry: Sorry, can't show you any other photos as the cups are not mine. As I said, a friend forwarded me the pic from ebay but I couldn't find them there.

I agree with most of the concerns Dave an others have mentioned. What I'm currently looking for is definitely a set of cups, which is "multi-purpose", i.e., with which classic routines are possible as well.

However, what I liked about them is precisely their unusual design. If other people perform the C&B's with Starbucks cups, coffee mugs or small Pringles cans, a fun routine should be possible with these as well.

Anyway, right now I do want a somewhat ordinary set or - as Frank put it - "real cups".

Regards,
C.

An 'ordinary' set of cups is going to be far more versatile than these. There aren't many (any?) advantages of getting these cups.

Save your money and go for the real thing.

Richard

There is a cup on eBay right now that is a bargain. Normally, I wouldn't even recommend anything by Magic Makers, but this is the first time they have done anything remotely original.

They evidently took the design of the standard Paul Fox cup, which they had copied, and expanded it to Jumbo Cup size. So instead of having a direct knockoff of a cup, which is so common these days, they have actually done something a little different -- even if it is only to change the dimensions of the cups.

I don't have a set of these yet, but I will be getting a set soon. If they have any weight to them at all, they will be well worth the $99 - $149 street price.

If you do a search for cups on eBay in the magic section, you will find them. They are called "Mega Street Cups."

I think that the mouth of the cups are too big for me, they would get in the way of some of my steals.

Thanks for flagging those up for us Bill - that's an interesting development.

Richard

I just bought a set, there are 6 left. Will post a review of these when received. Looks like a steal though.

I still think these look 'dated', but I do see an advantage with using this style of cup. Why not hold out a ball in the attic and use these as a set of 'gimmick free' chop cups? You could come up with an interesting routine if you use the loaded cup 'similar' to how Alex Elmsley handles his final load.

Bill,

Thanks for the head up. Those cups on ebay really do look nice. I just ordered a set to try out. At that price, you really can't go too far wrong. By the way, I've never ordered from Magic Makers before. Is that ebay store their offical site?

Kent

One would think so, but it isn't. Magic Makers sells only to dealers. Their definition of dealer is somewhat flexible. If you order a really big load of their stuff they will give you a sweetheart deal on it.

Much of their material is knockoff merchandise, and a lot of it simply doesn't work at all.

Knowing the history of this particular dealer like I do, and knowing more than a little about the price break on cups, I seriously doubt that there are only 30 sets of these. I would estimate that they made at least 300 sets.