It seems that a lot of change bag routines involve silks (eg mis=made flag etc) and are aimed chiefly at children. But I've also read other interesting posts, like the suggestion of making a "change purse" or a change tote-bag which may carry household items. I have a standard style change bag (shaped like a butterfly net)... any suggestions for routines aimed at a more general audience?

I use one for a comedy question and answer routine. Questions for spectators are insanely difficult, questions for me are simple.

I use one for doing a Professor's Nightmare and cut and restored rope routine.

Start with a length of uncut rope, cut a'la Ted Lesley, and do the P N bit with an audience member on stage, and I have the audience member take the 3 sections and drop them in the bag one at a time. I hand the bag to the spec.

I tell them to hand me the peices as I ask for them, as I get out my wand stating I will magicaly put the rope back together. I ask the spec to hand me one of the sections of rope, and state it does not matter which piece. The spec pulls out the restored rope.

I take the bag looking puzzled reaching in and turning it inside out. I then right the bag and unzip the bottom reaching through. I shrug and take the rope and bag(muttering to my self about Bag Imps).

I put the bag and wand away and get my scissors back out (deciding to do a C&R Rope with the spec instead).

JM2CW

Cheers
Frank

I have a unique rope effect with the change bag that pushes it to the limit and re-enforces the fact that the change of the item is magical. Very strong bit with the spectators hand in the bag. PM me for the link.

I like that one Ian. I did not want to steal your thunder on that. I figgured you would chime in sooner than later

Cheers
Frank

Cut and Restored Tie.

Like Pete says, some form of ballot box.

Personally, I find a pouch more convincing than the Butterfly Net and, if your conditions allow for it, you might consider the Change Baseball Cap.

- Mary Mowder

An additional idea -- for which I used two identical P&L zipper bags -- switch not only the pocket -- but the bags for extra loads. I found the zipper bags ideal for this -- especially if you put bag one down with zipper open -- and pick up (with some misdirection) bag two with zipper open -- but fully loaded.

I agree. Crown Royal type bag would be ideal (recognisable everyday bag).

For the move Ian mentioned it's a split second for the change over and done one handed.

Perhaps a spring steel release for the change in a CR type bag.

Thanks for getting the brain firing Mary. I have a DIY project to work on now.


Cheers
Frank

Speaking of DIY (Do It Yourself), you'll find lots of useful Tote Bag Change Bags complete with routines you can easily make yourself and use in my Dollar Store Magic section entitled, appropriately enough, "Tote Bag Change Bag."

One of my favorites from that collection is where you use what appears to be a regular tote bag, and hand it to a spectator to open and remove a (for example) red silk. The spectator displays the red silk on both sides in approved "magician style" then tucks the red silk back into the Tote bag. You now remove a (for example) green silk from your pocket and change it from green to red. But if you now have the red silk, what's inside the Tote Bag? The spectator reaches in and removes the green silk. It's all done in their hands with their help.

I also like the Diminishing Nested Tote Bags, from that collection... what the heck, I like all of them because that's why I wrote the e-Book... to share my favorite ways. I also have included Jim Gerrish's ungimmicked Tote Bag Change Bag which he developed shortly after figuring out that you don't really need a gimmicked bag for an egg bag, either. But that's another story and another e-Book.

One advantage of using Change Bags that look like noraml bags is that you can "switch in" the gaffed bag after the original has been casually examined. For example, I used to do an effect with my wife's Service Dog. I would hand out a cloth bag filled with kid's letter blocks and have a spectator dump them on the floor. I would then have one of a bunch of seed packets randomly selected and set aside. Next I would have Branwen (the dog) pick up some blocks and drop them into the bag. These would be dumped on a table and rearranged to spell the name of a fruit or vegatable -- only one was possible. Naturally, this name matches the "prediction." Then a spectator picks up all the blocks and places them in the bag. Thus, I use three different Change "bags" -- a one to force the packet selection (clear mesh shopping bag), one to handle the block switch, and a "change basket" to switch the cloth bags twice. (Spellbinder's tote bags would work fine combined with an ungimmicked one).

If you don't understand how a Change Basket works, PM me.

I will chime in on this, I personally use a jumbo change bag to change an egg to a dove following my egg bag routine.

So what to do with the 'butterfly net' style bag? ie I have one ... how to better use it! One thing I do like about it is that especially for children, they can look in and even reach into the bag very visibly for themselves and even a small audience (as well as turning it inside out). I liked Mary's idea of a change baseball cap & am now wondering if I can physically transform the bag I have. Thanx so far for all of the ideas.

Lynne for the rope routines Ian ans I mentioned the butterfly net bag is perfect.

I was mearly commenting on the look of change bags in general. The more ordinary and everyday looking... the less suspicious.

I'll still use my net type bag for my rope stuff, but I'd prefer a plain bag for mentalism stuff.

Cheers
Frank

Frank and I are talking about this:
Here's my youtube routine.
http://www.youtube.com/user/stagetricks#p/u/19/Yi9LMKq7tp8

I use my change bag for a comedy balloon swallow where I have a whole bunch of different colors and I say to pick out a blue one or red one just not yellow. And then they pick out yellow and then I tell them to pick again and this goes on and on. Simply it’s hilarious. Another use I use is to force a name for a mentalism routine. I’ve found that if you’re using the bag for the magic moment, for instance like two pieces of rope magically become one by using a "magic bag" people are going to know something with that bag isn't normal. That’s why I use it in a very nonchalant way and not for the magic moment

Hope that made any sense at all lol
eli

Roped or Lassoed Card is a fun change bag routine....pulling out the roped card at the end is just plain fun! Bob

Thank you all so much! The use of change bag with a rope routine was excellent. Come visit the SF Bay area, Magic Ian... Florida is so far away!

Made a list that may help. Vanishes, appearances, productions, transformations, transpositions, forces, restorations, and even switches.

Tom Burgoon has a routine using balloons in one of his lecture notes.

John

Look at the following link, you can use a change bag for a similar routine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RouUn8jDs2k
Micky