I've been thinking about including an umbrella in my new routine. Are there any good tricks with a gimmicked umbrella out there already? I don't think that I've seen a magic show centered around the magicians umbrella yet

What do you want to do with the umbrella? Dancing cane with it? Production? (parasol anywhere). I don't know if they make or sell one, but how about a card sword effect with the umbrella? I don't know how to add a link but go to Abbott's magic and search parasol. The Parasol Anywhere looks real cool. I want to add it to my show but it doesn't fit my style.

Hmm. Wow fast a reply! Well my plan is to use it as cover or something, so that I can block the view from the audience for like maybe 3 seconds and then, when I fold it up again, I've got a table with drinks and cocktails on it, ready to drink.
And then maybe use it again later in the show for some card effect. Whatever I do with it, there WILL be some dancing involved

Shimada used to do an entire act with umbrellas - one of the best magic acts I've ever seen. I remember seeing him do it on an old Paul Daniels TV show, and I think if memory serves me correct a very early Copperfield special. It was one of his signature routines.
Since then, I see

A quick search on youtube came up with a few routines using umbrellas

1) Young Chinese female magician doing an umbrella act : http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=EzL2RNd2Xwk
2) Paul Romhany as Charlie Chaplin: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=KST14tf6wgA
3) Victor Voitko - http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=R9pv4qGZQXA&feature=related

All three very different performances and all very good. I believe Victor will be selling this illusion soon - check out his website.

About 20 years or more I saw an act with two umbrellas and the flying carpet. I still think about that act now and then. It was that good.

Kevin James "Got It Covered" is no longer manufactured, but it is essentially a Card Sword Umbrella. That is one possibility and of course there are many, many versions of Mismade parasol.

The Mutilated Parasol is a classic. I've been using it in most of my shows for the past 7 years and it never fails to receive a gasp from the audience. It's bright, colorful, and has a surprise ending. Often overlooked because it's been around for so long but I think you'd be surprised at how well it plays today.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck
Carringotn

Fukai performs a beautiful act featuring parasols. If you have a chance to see him perform, it's well worth it.

The Joker Lam DVD is excellent and covers many parasol productions.

The Card Sword Umbrella form Kevin, don't make sense.I do the card sword but with a Sword...umbrella is for rain.

Paulo

Umbrella Card Sword certainly can make sense in a comic presentation.

The objective of the umbrela is to protect the person of the rain...To catch the card is the Sword (that make more sense).The Sword have the big credibility to drill/catch.

This is my opinion...

Paulo

Yes, but the punch of the umbrella is when the card at the end of the umbrella is wrong, you open the umbrella to reveal the chosen card......
You can't open a sword.....

It's a whole different concept. The umbrella reflects more of a comedic nature.

Carrington

Checkout Tora magic website,

The Card Sword is AWESOME! Paulo....your just wrong here! Since WHEN does Magic make sense? Does anything we do make sense? Of course not! You get an extra kicker with the opening of the umbrella. An impossibile possibility.

Thanks to this $150.00 prop, I have booked $1000s of dollars worth of work thru Travlers Insurance...who's logo is...an umbrella!

It has served me well!

Take a look at Steven's Magic Emporium web site to see some umbrella routines and productions.

Mutilated Parasol, spinning umbrella with ball on top, looks like juggling but really done with a thead.

Andrew mayne has a sword box idea with umbrellas(voodoo box)

Unbreakable umbrella --a tactical umbrella which is airline friendly and incognito is a useful prop insofar as it is a normal umbrella only much stronger. If someone is devicing a routine which calls for a nonbreakable umbrella, functional umbrella, it is the best.

I make a couple of Umbrella productions.

Mutilated Parasol is a classic that plays well everytime.


Richard

If you want to produce parasols, check out the set of parasol anywhere, and the gimmicks holders. They are excellent.