I would like to perform a linking ring routine at a charity church talent show in about 6 months. Money raised will go for Special Olympics in our town. What I like about it is they try and include the athletes in some way in a good number of the acts.

My son is 19 years old and mentally impaired. I have been trying to think of a good way to perform a magic trick and include him as more than just an assistant. His speech is fairly limited but despite that he has an outgoing and engaging personality and is comfortable on-stage. He is able bodied and has decent dexterity (can ride a bike, golf, basketball, play video games, etc). He can learn a basic routine that he would perform with me, but I don’t think he could execute a slight or anything like that.

I have a set of six 10 inch rings, so I have come up with the idea of performing a 2-person comedy linking ring routine. The way it would appear (and the comedy aspect of it) is that I would repeatedly fail to get the rings to link, and he would repeatedly be able to link them – each time more and more rings linked together. For example I would try and get two rings to link and fail. In disgust I give them to him to hold and then voila – he links them together. I take them back and can’t get them apart. I give them back to him to hold and he separates them. His part would have to be self-working, which I think I don’t need to specify what I mean by that.

To get beyond 3 rings linked together, I thought maybe he could be holding three linked together and maybe he rubs them against the rings in my hand and suddenly he has linked his three to my three (which I am still holding).

Obviously this is just a concept at this point and there are details to work out. I can invent this routine, but I am looking for advice on any routines that might already be out there that might be of use or give me ideas. Are there any two person comedy linking ring routines? Any safe self-working finales? Any other thoughts?

My Comedy Four Ring Routine might work. He doesn't have to do anything with the rings. As you are teaching him the routine, he pretends to keep up, making fun of you behind your back. Johnny Thompson and Pam even once considered working out a routine like this for their act.

I second Whit's idea for his routine. It's awesome! I began doing the rings 25 years ago. My first routine was an audience participation routine that had 2 people on stage and used all 8 rings. I wanted to make the routine look really big (much bigger then what it was) so by using all 8 rings and filling up the stage with 2 people with me in the middle...man was it a big routine. Big...YES! Good...NO!

The routine was designed where I link the rings, one child links the rings, but the other kid was the stooge where the magic never seemed to work. He never could link or unlink the rings.

The longer I did this routine, the more I took notice that sometimes (if it was children I was performing for) that one kid went away as the hero and the other went away like a loser (b/c the magic never worked for them). Sometimes the kid would be a little emotional over it. I felt really bad about this and decided to change it up and look for a solution.

I found out about Whit's routine and purchased it right away. I never learned to do the rings until I got Whit's routine. It taught me not only how to properly handle a set of rings, but also taught me timing, staging, blocking, and how to handle a volunteer up on stage.

The cool thing about Whit's routine is that you demonstrate how to link the rings and then your audience assistant actually does the magic. You show them 2 single rings and hand them to them and they link them together! WOW! THEY JUST DID THE MAGIC!

Well...from this point on...NOTHING works for the spectator. You take them thru the routine where you unlink and relink the rings. They can't do it, but with the presentaion of Whit's routine, they STILL come out looking like the hero and THEY get all the applause.

I did Whit's routine as my standard Ring Routine for about 10-15 years. I now do a 6 Ring Routine to music as my opener...but for certain shows, will still perform Whit's Comedy 4 Ring Routine.

About 3 times a year, I perform for the Special Olympics out here and I ALWAYS use this routine their. It plays GREAT!

EVERYONE should know the ins and outs of Whit's routine. If you don't own the rights to perform it, then go out and do so. You'll be glad you did...

Christopher

Raven, Whit's routine is great! I believe you could adapt the ideas to work for you.

Regan

I was just thinking about whit's routine! It's my favourite ring routine! perfect for what you need.

Magic Mike

Whit's is the funniest two person ring routine I've ever seen.

You guys all beat me to it. Whit's routine is perfect.

Ok...who thru the table cloth over Pete? LOL! = )

Pop...It says on your site that the video is available, but the DVD will be available "soon". Any idea when this will be ready ?

Thanks !

Mark

The DVD is available now. Has been for more than a year. Someone should give Chef a poke. He's asleep at the wheel.

Thanks Pop !

Mark

Yes the best!

j

Whit, Whit, he's our man....if he can't do it...no one can!

I second Pete Biros's comments........Whit's routine is PERFECT!

****Note to self.........Remember to buy steel-toed black dress shoes for the routine with the 12" solid SS Rings you got from RNTII!

I purchased Whit's DVD last year. I really love it. Doing his routine (with the right character) you can't loose.

Lose.

Tuned

Whit's linking ring routine is part of what makes him my ALL-TIME favorite magician!

Agreed! My favorite thing about Whit is his character. "Pop" is the guy who would rob you blind in a second, but you wouldn't care b/c he was a perfect gentlemen while he swindled you. It's PERFECT! It's simply hypnotic to watch the man work!

You won, I "lose." I guess my mind was a little to "loose."

Too.