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drhackenbush Special user 686 Posts |
Last week when I was in Manhattan, I finally got Soft Soap at Tannens - I liked the whole set-up, but found the cotton cloths were very hard to work with. I even put them through the real wash to soften them up, but they were just too stiff to easily put more than one where the dirty hanks should go. I decided to get six 12" white silks from Abbott's because I've worked with their silks before (Billy McComb's Half-Dyed Hank) and liked the way the Abbott's silks both handle and can be pretty opaque when needed.
I removed the gimmick from the cotton set and used that with the silks, and made my own "dirt" with black, off-white and silver spray paint, and the results are great - the dirty silks go where they need to like a dream, and display of the clean silks is smooth and deceptive. Box-wise, I'm saving boxes by reusing the same one and sealing the edges with rubber cement. I suppose I could have gotten a real silk set in the first place, but another problem with the trick I've had in the past was not caring for the pre-painted "dirt", with polka dots, lipstick imprints and such. I actually feel buying the commercial set was worth it, though, because I got an excellent gimmick and a nice set of directions (yes, it's also in Rice's Encyclopedia, but I like having several routine ideas). It's a great routine and worth customizing if need be. |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
For many years I have performed soft soap (I call mine Spot Out.) using three different colored 18" silks. In my case, I shoot holes in them and need to get the spots out. (Or --- I'm in a Spot and need Out.)
I do destroy the box in every show and they have to be custom made. But it has served me well for the last three decades. It is a great routine when combined with other silk effects. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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graywolf Special user South carolina 631 Posts |
Bob's idea is spot on. Yes, you need real silk.
Cordially, Howard |
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charliemagic Special user 545 Posts |
Soft Soap used to have silk years ago but the product now comes with cotton cloth like material. When I bought my set a few years ago I had handling issues too, till a fellow magician gave me his 'old set' from years ago. What a difference.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
How many of you do use a Soft Soap that is made of silk? Mine is 18" silks. What size silks are others using?
Bob |
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drhackenbush Special user 686 Posts |
I chose 12" silks because the original cotton hanks were 12" and I didn't want to end up still having trouble loading them because now they might be too big even though they were silk. However, now that I've been using my 12" silks, I wouldn't be surprised if I could get away with 18" after all.
But since I work close to my spectators, I don't need the larger silks at the moment in terms of the silks being able to be seen. I also like 15" silks a-la my Half-Dyed set and Duke's Dye Version (which I still need to buy at some point). |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Folksinger,
One of the real advantages of Soft Soap is that it can be done surrounded. As long as I can see into the box and they can't, I'm safe. What I never liked about the original cotton models was the total lack of color and very limited visibility. (There was a time when larger ones made with actual men's handkerchiefs were available.) I like being able to take the silks from one trick and transitioning into the next (Soft Soap). Off-sized white rags just did not serve me. Mostly, it just exposes the trick. (I find this too true of many scaled-down bargain tricks.) I wish I could solve the box problem. For the last twenty-five years, I've made my own boxes from poster board. Even old popcorn boxes would likely work. The little detergent boxes are not very good for my needs. But the trick is very good with all audiences. Add color and connection with other tricks to build a routine and it's a killer. I have several sets so that different color combinations also fit the show. (Safety - Red, Yellow Green; Flag - Red, White and Blue; Halloween - Orange, Black Yellow; Spring - Turquoise, Purple, Yellow; etc.) Bob Sanders Magic By Sander PS --- I did have several sets like I do use (18" silks) made up by the people who make mine to sell. However, boxes still have to be homemade. |
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drhackenbush Special user 686 Posts |
Bob -
I also really like the all-angles advantage of this trick. I can see where using different color/design silks would really add to a whole slew of occasions - when you do the red, white & blue, do you end up with red, white & blue solid color silks or three actual silk flags? Charley |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Charley,
The silks coming from the soapbox are three solid colored red, white and blue silks without holes. (These are just like the ones I started with.) Typically, I destroy the "evidence" by going to a Blendo. These can be any of a variety of types to include a single 36" flag. In showing the Blendo on both sides, I usually produce my last dove. And I'm on to other things with doves. I try to never put down a flag on stage. I always respectfully hand it off to go off stage. My actual favorite Blendos are dragons or a standing Asian girl. They match the drape cloths used over my other props. Under construction is a 36" Thank You! Blendo. (So far I'm not a happy camper on the colors there.) An old friend of mine doesn't do doves. So his production is the flagstaff and it ends the show. And yes, people stand! Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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TheGreatNancini Veteran user Ohio 373 Posts |
I have had Soft Soap for many years, and I too got the cotton one that just did not work for me. I later found that Laflin had a silk set, so I purchased it. It works very well, however I am kind of liking the idea of using different colors and customizing the act to my shows. Thanks for the ideas Bob!
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Nanci,
My hair is white but I love colored silks! In stage lights they really make the show. Once you have a set, remember that two of the three colors can be substituted (Thus, Red, White and Blue can become Red, Green and Yellow! Just make sure that you specify the gimmick color.) Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
At least Bob still has hair.. mine is vanishing quickly.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
LOL --- Richard,
It's a trick! (Once the kids get out on their own, it comes back!) I do wish that a good source for boxes reappeared. I have to make my own. (Richard knows that I'm not allowed to work with sharp instruments.) Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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1939nyc New user 5 Posts |
Hey -
Just a heads-up -it's Charley, AKA drhackenbush - I tried updating my profile and ended up being given, without realizing it, a new password that I have no way of getting access to, so I decided to start fom scratch, hence my new screen name. But it is I, beginning at 1 post again... Bob - Sounds like red will stay the common one that needs to be whoziwatzed - having three options for routines is a great way of maximizing the usefulness of a prop. |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-15 01:02, 1939nyc wrote: Flexibility is often the difference between a pro and a hobbyist. (Packs small and plays big in More Places!) Bob PS --- I marked your post for HELP to get you back to "normal". Watch your mail for a notice from support. |
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1939nyc New user 5 Posts |
I might buy the "Tips on Soft Soap" book - that looks interesting, too.
Bob - thanks for alerting Tech help. The glitch is that the email address they'll try to contact me at no longer exists, which caused the problem in the first place. But if they PM me here on the Café, I'll get the message. We'll see what happens... Charley |
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drhackenbush Special user 686 Posts |
Bob -
Just an update - thanks to your initial help, and also that of Dave Scribner and the Tech staff, I got my screen ID back. I appreciate everyone's help, and it's good to be back to normal (well, as far as I'm "normal") Charley |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Charley,
That is good news! We're in good company. Bob PS --- I can't believe that you mentioned Dave and me in the same paragraph with "normal". Can you hear Mary and Gene laughing? |
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Moxahalla Special user Los Angeles 751 Posts |
For those that prefer to use real SILKs in their "Soft Soap" routine....Don't forget to read Rice vol. #2: "Soft Soap Improved" (p. 798)...
Use ANY silks that you own - NONE of them are gimmicked. The gimmick is easily made-up, and is stolen away via a thumb-loop, while displaying the produced silks. Only disadvantage - can NOT be done surrounded. |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Rice's books are still the best kept secret in magic.
Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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