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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
A magic friend of mine called a few minutes ago. He's having a show this Thursday and insists on including a give away trick, either something simply taught or an actual marketed trick (e.g a packet trick).
The problem is that the only thing he came up with is giving out B'Wave(!) Personally, I'm pretty much against giving any secret away, and B'wave is just waaaaay to good for that. So I promised to try to come up with something different... and thus I turn to you. Any suggestions? If we're talking marketed effects he'll have to order them pretty much now! Any suitable give aways that don't require anything marketed? Possibly a card trick or an impromptu thing (that's why I'm posting in this forum). Perhaps a Do-as-I-do thing? Or more of a gag type thing, or perhaps some kind of betcha thingy. Really thank you for your help, it is greatly needed and appreciated. /Matias I dug out one of the few magic books I have left and in Loraynes Magic book I found: Pen Through Handkerchief, an effect called "Everything disappears" (pen behind ear etc, you know), and a Linking Ropes type of effect. I feel these are more appropriate, particularly the first one. Maybe you guys have anything even more suitable? /Matias P.S. Excuse me if this question doesn't exactly fit in the "Impromptu forum", but I'm not sure whereelse to place it, and I figure some kind of impromptu trick probably is what would be suitable. |
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Magic Chris Regular user Switzerland 104 Posts |
You can show and explain the "Masked Magician Trick" where you put some water into a cup.. and then the water becomes immediately an ice cube.. But I can't see the point why you should reveal any real magic secret???
Why not show the silk to egg trick? You "explain" the secret... but for the climax ending.. the faked egg becomes a real one.. Do a fake exposure... at the end show a real miracle!! Such a surprising ending is much more entertaining and fun!!! Magic Chris |
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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Ok, again, it's not me doing it. I simply wouldn't, because I'm heavily against exposure. (Heck exposure is why our art(s) often isn't viewed as magic, but trickery.) It's a friend who insists on doing it, and I'm just trying to minimize the "damage" (or everyone there will get a B'Wave). Do you have any better idea? Persuasion and pleading didn't help. He wants something the people can go away with, either knowledge or a physical trick. It's a corporate event, btw.
My reasoning is to find something that isn't commonly used by other magicians but also doesn't reveal a principle. If my friend won't settle for a 'betcha' or so, I figure it had better be something that is an "isolated" trick, where they can't figure out anything more from it. But I don't want him to do something that simply will be put in the the spectators drawers, because that definitely is to kill magic. If he insists on teaching them something, then it had better be something that they will perform with (convingly). That is, after all, the main goal with learning a secret. I'll also insist on him talking, at least briefly, about showmanship etc. /Matias |
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Magic Chris Regular user Switzerland 104 Posts |
Ok I have to think about it..have no ideas now...
Maybe a little magic/puzzle for the end of the show...? Do you know "Pencil Puzzle" ? Here's a description (3$ by magicsmith): Want to leave a lasting 'mark' on someone? Poke 'em with the Pencil Puzzle. The Pencil Puzzle is a real pencil with a real loop of string attached to the real end where the real eraser should be, but isn't.Watch what happens after you loop the string and pencil through their buttonhole. They'll never be able to pry it loose without cutting the string - which you tell them will bring the kind of bad luck that usually occurs only when breaking a mirror over the head of a black cat as you drag it under a ladder without crossing your fingers. Only you know the secret of removing the pencil and string while leaving both unscathed! That could be a funny thing at the end.. Your friend hangs different objects (spoon, toothbrash...)at their buttonholes... if they are willing to put some efforts in it, they can try to solve this puzzle at home..if not..they take a scissor... Magic Chris |
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John Clarkson Special user Santa Barbara, CA 749 Posts |
You didn't mention age of the audience...
When I was a small boy, my uncle fooled me with the old bit of depositing ashes that he had on his fingertip on my palm as he told me to turn my hands palm down and form a fist. (Taking my hand to show me and depositing the ashes in the meantime.) He pattered long enough to allow me to forget he had ever touched my hand, and constantly reminded me to hold my fist very tight. Later, he made some ashes disappear, or burned something (I don't remember this part) only to have the ashes appear in my tightly clenched fist. Or, maybe he teach them to pull quarters from ears.... Matias, I am with you. How horrifying that your friend would even think about exposing B'Wave! How long has he been performing magic? Perhaps you could dissuade him by threatening to reveal his address and phone number on a porn site.... or, worse yet, revealing it to a group of rabid magician/mentalists.
John D. Clarkson, S.O.B. (Sacred Omphaloskeptic Brotherhood)
Cozener "There is nothing more important to a magician than keeping secrets. Probably because so many of them are Gay." —Peggy, from King of the Hill (Sleight of Hank) |
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biff_g Loyal user Canada 240 Posts |
What about something like electric toothpicks or something? That doesn't really give away any major principle and I don't think I've seen many magicians perform it.
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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
He is doing it for a corporate 'something' (I assume it's a party, but I should ask him). He is actually quite experienced, but he has never really taken part in the magic community to a greater extent, so the ethics concerns aren't "quite there". Sad indeed, and I'm working on it. (I have managed to persuade him away from some other things).
I'll suggest the pencil puzzle for him, which in deed is a tricky one. (I, for one, 'fell' for it). But it's running short on time to order stuff (it's on Thursday). The ashes on palms, while an "isolated effect" as far as method goes, is actually used extensively by both magical and mental performers. Eugene Burger comes to mind, for instance. It's one of those effects that can be really spooky if presented strongly. But the quarters from ears or nose should impress them Electric toothpicks are good in a sense, but I got the impression it's for a mid-sized group of people so it may be to small. I'll ask him when I hopefully meet him later today. Really thanks for all suggestions. I've dug out some beginners books and will bring them to him along with your suggestions. Again, it's really kind of you to help me/him (us?) with this. /Matias |
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cgscpa Elite user Ashton, MD 447 Posts |
This reminds me of when the magic shop in my area opened it's doors some 22 years ago they had a "Value-Pak" coupon which you could bring in and exchange for a free trick. They gave away the old 2 card monte trick. Inexpensive and easy to teach.
If you want to teach a trick: pretending to bend a spoon on the table or the old pencil sticks to hand trick (the one where you other hand is holding your wrist.) My two cents. . . |
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KingStardog Inner circle 2134 Posts |
How about the paper balls? (torn and restored napkin) same as egg only everyone can try it (cheap) and you still restore both. No ordering and minimal expense.
Just sounds like a bad idea, exposure I mean.
...think not that all wisdom is in your school. You may have studied other paths,but, it is important to remember that no matter who you are or where you come from, there is always more to learn.
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Bfrancabandera New user 50 Posts |
To me giving any type of secret away at a corporate gig sounds unprofessional.
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John Clarkson Special user Santa Barbara, CA 749 Posts |
Hmmm, a corporate gig? How about teaching them the ol' trick of honest accounting practices...
John D. Clarkson, S.O.B. (Sacred Omphaloskeptic Brotherhood)
Cozener "There is nothing more important to a magician than keeping secrets. Probably because so many of them are Gay." —Peggy, from King of the Hill (Sleight of Hank) |
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Bfrancabandera New user 50 Posts |
HaHaHaHa
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
At this point, wouldn't that be more of an illusion than a trick?
Where the magic begins
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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Ok, thank you everyone. He has now decided on a trick - coin through rubber cloth. (Wouldn't exactly be my choice... but then I wouldn't teach them anything to begin with.)
Regarding 'honest accounting practices' - that is just too out-dated. /Matias |
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Rich B. Special user Philadelphia 632 Posts |
Matias,
I know it's to late, but what I have done for some regulars that came to my restaurant, in which I promised to teach them a trick the next time they came, was the French Drop. I start by telling them that there are hundreds of ways to vanish a coin, and I'm going to teach you one method that I know. After the explaination I say If I really wanted to vanish the coin using real magic, it would look like this... and do a spider vanish, followed by wiped clean. At that point they almost forget about the French Drop and wonder where the coin really vanished to. But I fulfilled my end of the bargain about teaching a trick. Rich B. |
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Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Thanks Rich, I'll suggest it "the next time" if there is one. (But before that I'll continue to do some belabouring to make him change his general attitude on these matters.)
/Matias |
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Spatula545 New user 25 Posts |
Just do a betting trick on them. Once you prove them wrong, they already know the trick!
12 pennies stacked equals the hight of a dime.
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prospero Special user Elsewhere 572 Posts |
Have him do a simple hi-lo count (not magic, card counting, Edward Thorp) and then explain how it's done.
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mplegare Veteran user Forest Grove, Oregon 310 Posts |
I've done 'torn and restored napkin---EXPLAINED' for groups and always gotten both a good reaction *and* a nice response (the kicker being that you show the 'extra' napkin, the switch, and then show the 'torn' napkin restored again).
One of the "Cheap Tricks" I use as a pitch item is the old 'Number Mystery' chestnut, using six cards with number printed on them as an aid in mind reading. It's been 'exposed' millions of times in just about every beginning magic book I can think of which reduces the guilt level for me, plus I can demo it and add in little hints to make it look more like mentalism and less like 'hey I know a trick!'. I've actually had people come back to me and say they use it when someone dares them to read their minds. Low cost, easy to make, cheap to give away and easy to customize with your logo and contact info. Joe-Bob Copperfield says Two Thumbtips Up.
Matthew Legare aka Tobias the Adequate! - http://www.adequateblog.today.com - you know you want to.
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Will_Tingle New user 24 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-01-05 13:33, Mr Amazing wrote: I know this is too late, but very inexpensive appearing wands can be purchased in bulk from good dealers. (There is somewhere on the web that will even print them up with your contact details.) They work a'la 10" pole from pocket - only smaller
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"Pray, n:. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy." - Ambrose Bierce |
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