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Risto L. Regular user Finland 174 Posts 
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Anybody familiar with an acid test called "Acid Madness"? It is advertised by Hank Lee`s Magic Factory. What do you think about it? I have seen a couple of acid tests before, but this one really caught my attention. I do, however, have my doubts about the quality of the props. Here is the description of the effect:
You, playing the part of the mentalist, show five vials on a laboratory stand. Explain that four of the vials contain ordinary tap water. The fifth vial, however, contains deadly acid! Offer a test of your psychic powers. A metal key on a card is examined by the audience and placed into a glass jar, left in full view. "In a few minutes you will see the effect of that acid on the key, if I succeed; or on me if I fail." So you say as you don a blindfold and ask a spectator to mix up the vials on the stand. Then, you call for the vials one at a time, and drink the contents. As the experiment proceeds, you appear to grow more and more nervous, yet, you go on until there is just one vial left. Take off the blindfold and very carefully pour the contents of the last vial into the jar with the key. Instantly, the liquid reacts with the metal. It clouds up as the key disintegrates right before their eyes. The card that held the key is removed. Even the loop that held the key was eaten away by the acid. No harmful or costly chemicals used. Absolutely safe. Best, Risto |
Thoughtreader Inner circle Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1565 Posts
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Acid Tests are all basically the same except for a couple of staging factors that most seem to forget.
1.) It's dangerous stuff to handle. Safety gloves, aprons and goggles should all be used when working with sulfuric acid, nitric acid, etc. but when you see a performer working with them on stage with nothing - well you see where I am going with that. 2.) Same goes for the smell of the acid. Think the strong smell of vinegar which is nitric acid and you already understand. You at least want a close pin on the performers nose otherwise it wouldn't take a genius to know which one held the acid. 3.) Same goes for "eating away" other objects later. Just not convincing enough in the handling, etc. and when it is all packed away. It needs to look as if it is "safely handled" throughout, from begining to end. A lot of work needs to go into this to "sell" the effect including music and a very strong stage presence otherwise it WILL fall flat on your audience. Not only must the performer have a very strong personality and acting ability to sell the effect it is also an extremely difficult thing to keep the audience entertained and on the edge of their seats during this type of routine. For more that try to perform this, it merely becomes of painful excercise on the audience in watching and politely applauding afterwards. The trick being sold is no different really than any of the others. Just a redressing of an old effect. PSIncerely Yours, Paul Alberstat Quote: On 2002-04-09 06:32, Risto L. wrote: |
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jecar Veteran user 358 Posts
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Quote:
On 2002-04-09 06:32, Risto L. wrote: I have a brand new 'Acid Madness' that's never been used and I can offer you this advice: You'd better call Hank Lee on the phone and tell him to pack it good. The reason I say this is that a few years ago, I was wanting this effect, so I put in as the top item of my Christmas wish list. My daughter ordered it from Hank Lee and Christmas day I opened the anxiously awaited package up.....I kinda knew what it was.  I was shocked  , angry  and very disappointed  . They had sent those chemical vials (which are very thin glass) without wrapping them separatly. In other words, glass was against glass with no protective packing in-between, at all. I couldn't believe it, 4 out of 5 tubes were broken. The only thing that wasn't broken was the acid bottle.
So again, my advice to you would be to call them and tell them that you know of someone who bought this item and it was shipped without any packing and was received as a useless bunch of broken glass. Jerry .. |
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Risto L. Regular user Finland 174 Posts
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Paul and Jecar, thank you for your useful advice.
Best wishes, Risto |
Chad Sanborn Inner circle my fingers hurt from typing, 2205 Posts
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Contrary to what seems to be written above, the 'acid test' does not need to use any sort of acid at all! I have a version that only uses tap water. One of which you pass off as an oderless, colorless acid. So that it doesn't matter what jar they hand you to drink, and no one can ever get burned. You do need a special something to make the water fizz like acid when a metal object is placed in it. But if you think real hard, you will come up with it. (plop, plop, fizz, fizz)
Chad |
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Fred Darevil Elite user 446 Posts
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Hello,
I do agree with Paul, Acid Madness is dificult to present convincingly. The public do not realize the real potential danger of this effect. I know, I tried it a few years ago. Even a Russian roulette with a gun needs a very strong presentation. You know what ? I saw Larry Becker presenting his Roulette with 3 guns on a video but it is only when I read the explanation in his book Stunners that I realized the real danger... Best, Fred |
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Rob Wallis New user The Other California 73 Posts
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Chadmagic, I think the idea is that you must TREAT it like acid, or no one would believe it is. Hence, gloves, goggles, etc., odor or no odor.
Tig Wallis
The Comic Psychic |
| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » Acid Madness (0 Likes) | |
Posted: Apr 9, 2002 10:32 am 
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