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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
The sage had the soul of a magician.
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
I apologize for the typo's above. I was in way to much of a hurry. Best,
Brad Burt
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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
Some things only a master will do.
For example, I've heard only a rank amateur or a seasoned professional will use a one-way f****** deck. I don't have the skill or the guts to do the Chinese Sticks.
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-09-09 00:59, Alan Wheeler wrote: Pleae watch your language, Alan. There are young people on this forum... |
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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
And I forgot to mention that garden-variety magicians tend to use some expensive sh**** while masters will freely use either expensive or cheap sh****.
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
The descent into madness is paved with the use of things like little '******' and the rabid use of acronyms. Oh, and exaggeration, that will drive one mad also. Best,
Brad Burt
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Hyperbole is destroying the universe.
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Michael Kamen Inner circle Oakland, CA 1315 Posts |
Except that the hyperbolic universe will persist, in midst of other woe than ours.
Michael Kamen
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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
OK. But the IBM and SAM would absolutely never accept an MC who f****** sh***** on st***** without p**sh***. There is NFW. [mad laughter proving Brad Burt is right]
(sorry just abbreviations not acronyms, just exaggeration and not hyperbole: really expect better from myself as an english teacher.)
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
So you mean ******* **** ***** ** *****'* ***** and ******** ***** ** **********.
O.k., that cool. Best,
Brad Burt
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Well, enough of this frippery! Let's take a look at another of my favorite magic routines and see if we can tear it apart a bit.
Hopping Halves by Johnson Products At one point when my actual 'shop' was open my buds at Johnson Products told me that I sold more Hopping Halves than anyone else with which they had dealings. I still sell quite a few. One reason is that I looked carefully at the original way in which the routine was done and noticed that I hated it. From there I proceeded to develop and test my own routine. The 'routine' itself is essentially the same, but what I did was restructure the moves so that it can be done standing and surrounded and still look totally natural! If you have ever tried the original working in the instructions supplied you will instantly realize what a nifty thing this is. So, much of my analysis is based specifically upon the method I came up with for the standard set of Hopping Halves. Note, that it will work for ANY set as long as it fits the original set up, etc. I have offered this before and I'll do so again. Generally, I only include it when someone buys a Hopping Half from me, but for the Café....if you would like a copy just email me at bradburtmagic@yahoo.com and I'll send you a copy back. Put Hopping Half Bonus in the subject line. I have done Hopping Halves thousands of times over the years and it never failed to impress both magicians and laymen. For one thing when done correctly it really DOES look as if you are using GREAT SKILL to supply your audience with a very magical experience. A copper or silver coin placed cleanly and visibly in the pocket instantly appears back in the hand you just removed it from! From the viewpoint of 'effect' the method give you an almost perfect sense that the coin did in fact magically transpose from the pocket to closed fist. What makes the effect so strong is the 'clean' manner in which the coins are manipulated and the apparent NON trick nature of the elements in play. You openly show an American Half Dollar and an English Penny. It's that 'openness' of the displays the again, the apparent LACK of any manipulation on the part of the performer that gives such a purely magical effect. The finale: But, there is also another element to the routine that offers some cogent lessons on the 'magic of surprise' if you will. To finish, the audience can be led to believe that once again both coins will be in the hand. The final surprise, offering a superb stopping point for a routine that if carried much further would become repetitive and dull, is that both coins seem to have vanished completely from the hand leaving you clean and ready to take a bow and move to your next effect. The powerful nature of the logical build up here until the finale is sprung can't be over emphasized. The coin jumps, jumps, jumps and then....all is gone. It's a wonderfully elegant, interesting and visual piece of magic often unused once it has been purchased because the original moves are so prone to bad angles and frankly difficult to do with any consistency. Best,
Brad Burt
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
The Cups and Balls. I don’t really know why, but it’s real magic!
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
Brad, I don't need a new set (The Johnson products are great!) right now, but I would love to see your Hopping Halves routine. I'll send you an e-mail.
One possible problem with the Hopping Halves is the logical conclusion I have heard some people make: "There must be a lot of coins in your pocket!" This logical problem can be overcome by performing the effect with a coffee mug instead of the pocket--along the lines of David Roth's "Sawa's Bank Night." Then in the end only two coins would be in play, but part of the clean ending would be sacrificed. Here's another vote for a great/perfect magic trick: Benson's Bowl Routine. Why? Because the combination of the classic sponge balls with (essentially) a one cup routine makes both effects stronger. The effects and methods complement each other and work together perfectly.
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Dear Alan:
You are correct on the Hopping Halves....It's just never happened to me and I have performed it zillions of times. Again, I think that it's the patter that I use and the pacing I use. But, when I finish the reaction is very much total surprise that the coins are gone and I just can't remember anytime someone has directed to my pocket after the routine ends. But, I can see how it would happen. One thing to consider is that you need to de-emphasize the 'pocket' and emphasize the action in the 'hand'. In other words it's not the coin going into the pocket that is most significant, but the coins ending back in the hand. Best,
Brad Burt
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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
Brad, That makes sense. I'll check out your routine. Thanks.
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Oh, as regards the Benson Bowl Routine...I agree...it's a wonderful routine. My analysis would be almost the same as for my all time number one favorite trick, the Chop Cup. That is, that the routine is powerful because of it's easy to understand simplicity and straight forward nature. A bowl, a ball and a wand. Pretty easy to follow. It's one of the reason that although I 'like' the Cups and Balls, I have never been the huge fan that many others are. It's not only that I think there is some confusion involved, but the Cups and Balls has a kind of cache of the 'con' about it. It's VERY easy for the non magician to think of Cups and Balls as very much the same as the Shell game or Three Card Monte.
Thus the reductio nature of the Benson Bowl routine or Chop Cup fits more with the way I think about what a really terrific routine would be. By the way this bias is HUGELY personal. I love the old Vernon routine and think it still the best even with all the advances in the last few years. But, there again, the simple elegance of the Vernon routine more closely fits my style, etc. The Benson Bowl is hard to beat on many levels. For starters the bowl is not gimmicked and thus offers one the chance to use a huge number of interesting objects AS the bowl. From Toilet Plungers to antique rice bowls and on and on. The beauty here is the commonness of the object used. I have always thought that it was too bad that the magician has to use a Sponge Ball in the routine as it is NOT something that folks are familiar with. I have not really searched that hard for a replacement, but I have to believe that there is something out there that would suit. The wand could be anything and even the standard wand does not really break from the normalcy that I like about the Bowl as frankly most folks almost expect a magician to have a wand and find them of interest. But, here still the use of a chop stick or any of dozens of other possible substitutes will serve. Again, I believe the most valuable lesson of the Benson Bowls power and effectiveness comes from the simple clarity of the magic. Bowl shown empty. Ball displayed and vanished to appear instantly under the bowl. Build up and then large solid load appears! It really doesn't get much better than that from the viewpoint of the audience. Dozens and dozens of interesting and empowering patter possibilities can be offered further strengthening the over all effect and affect. Best,
Brad Burt
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Donal Chayce Inner circle 1770 Posts |
Re: The Benson Bowl routine
Combine that with bill in the lemon (as Lance Pierce does), and you have the ingredients for a truly jaw-dropping experience for your audience. |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Dear Donal:
I don't 'generally' like to combine 'finales' as I believe that it dilutes one of both of them. And...although I probably would not do it myself I agree that this is one place that works. I can conceive of any number of ways in which to finish with the Lemon after both the Benson or Chop Cup that would in fact 'define' both finishes and not dilute one or the other. But, I think that it's difficult to do and needs a lot of not just thought, but testing to make it work. Excellent thought though. Best,
Brad Burt
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Alan Wheeler Inner circle Posting since 2002 with 2038 Posts |
Donal, My vote for Benson's Bowl routine above was--in part--inspired by your posts in the topic "Routines Worth Studying."
When the sponge balls are combined with the bowl (one cup) routine, each effect misdirects from the other--preventing the "instant reverse engineering" that can sometimes accompany direct methods. I am endlessly inspired by the way Roberto Giobbi separates each "method moment" from each effect in his Sponge Ball and Bowl Routine in his lecture. Brad, The Hopping Half routine is great. For the last five years I have only performed this effect standing up in a lecture hall or classroom, mainly because of the angles. But with the help of your handling, I may consider doing it strolling (with angles like the ones in my picture to the left here) and close-up. Just great. Thank you very much. Using your routine, I still have the option of renesting (I cannot believe I wrote that without *asterisks*!)as I go through the phases and showing only two coins in play at the end, as a kind of denouement--but nothing beats the regular climax with empty hands.
The views and comments expressed on this post may be mere speculation and are not necessarily the opinions, values, or beliefs of Alan Wheeler.
A BLENDED PATH Christian Reflections on Tarot Word Crimes Technology and Faith........Bad Religion |
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Alan:
You can do the routine totally surrounded. By simply bringing the hand holding the coins closer into the body and keeping the hand 'cupped' you can adjust to whatever the performing situation throws your way. Best,
Brad Burt
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