Randi Rain has done it again! I had an idea about a month or so ago and Randi brought it life as only she could!

About a month or so back I told Randi that I wanted a unique way to present Rocky the Raccoon in my shows. I told her that I wanted some sort of animal crate but I wanted it to look very "creepy" looking with barb wire all around the box, etc.

I also wanted the box to be able to make animal sounds as if there was a live animal inside. The sounds should be polar opposite of what a cute little woodland creature would sound like. I wanted the sounds to be low grunts and rumbles along with some sounds that were...well, quite disturbing.

At the very end, I wanted the box to be able to fire Rocky out of the box like a snake basket!

This was the final result...

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1906830949231

The lighting of this video doesn't do it justice. Here's a pic:

http://wonders.randirain.com/gallery.html (it's the one on the very bottom)

Just thought I'd share my new custom prop with you guys...

If anyone needs custom stuff done, then Randi is you gal!

Thanks again Randi...this is AWESOME!

Christopher

One word to describe that prop... The coolest %$#&*@! prop I have ever seen! Ok maybe that was more than one word...

Nice looking prop. It reminded me a little of Wolf's Wacky Wakoon:

http://www.wolfsmagic.com/Wacky%20Wakoon.htm

Mark

Christopher, may we assume that the red nail polish is not on your thumb? Crate looks great!
MR

What sort of price we talking?

Yes, this was one of the coolest props I have ever built.
It was a little hard letting the crate go.

There are two things that I really like, and impressed myself with, is the sound quality and the spring launching of the raccoon.

The audio of the animal sounds is pretty amazing.
I found a great little 8ohm speaker, a MIGHTY little amp circuit, and a digital recording circuit.
The quality of the digital playback is MP3 quality... it's amazing.
The volume is crazy loud. If you turn it up all the way, it actually hurts standing next to it.
The audience will have no problem hearing the animal sounds.

As for the launching of the raccoon, that was a challenge.
It always is when messing with springs.
There is a lot of potential energy built up that you have to contain and be able to trigger.
I guaranteed that the raccoon would come out, but I didn't guarantee any certain height, but if you get him in there just right...
It will launch a good yard straight up in the air.
That amazes me.

Also, all the wood is faux finished.
It's really made completely out of plywood.

It was a very fun piece and a cool prop.

Randi

600 big ones.

Randi

Thank god for an improvement instead of some hack stealing williamson or justice gags. this looks awesome. wish I could buy one. makes me want to learn a rocky routine. a non hack one.

EXACTLY!

I have always enjoyed the idea of Rocky the Raccoon, but I always told myself that if I was to ever perform it, I would need to come with a 100% original way to present it.

My routine is still in development, but I can tell you that you won't see ANY of the standard stuff with the routine. Williamson has left the building...!

The only thing that will be the same are the "moves" to animate the puppet and I will be closing the routine by doing the Zig Zag Rocky...

But the beginning of the routine where I introduce him and the "guts" of the performance will be original.

This is the 3rd custom prop that I have had Randi create for me...and she over delivers every time.

Glad that everyone likes my new toy...

Christopher

That would have been Randi...she shot the video...

Altho....??????

I always do some Raccoon improvisations in my street act...I so need this awesome prop !
Have to save money from now until summer I guess...
Congrats this looks so good ^^

Reminds me of the old (non-magic) mongoose box gag...
http://themongoosebox.com

Very cool! I really love it!

That is incredibly awesome. Last summer I had an ongoing battle with a large family of raccoons who were emptying my bird feeders and pooping on my deck every night. I finally purchased a live trap, and I can tell you from personal experience that your angry trapped raccoon sounds are pretty accurate!

Actually...

The majority of sounds you hear are GORILLAS! Listen to it again...all the deep snarls, snorts and grunts are coming from primates. There are a couple of high pitched scream sounds and those were from ANGRY ELEPHANTS!

Here's the cool part...

At anytime I can change the sounds. The memory chip will hold 2 minutes of audio and all I have to do is just hook the box up to my PC and download whatever sounds I want.

How bout' a T-TREX...? Probably to much...

Can't wait to work this out...

I've shown a few of my neighbor's and their kids and so far it's a smash hit!

Christopher

I assume this is not for the proponents of packing your entire show in one trip to the car. Very cool prop, and I loved the gorilla sound-effects, but seriously how many of us would schlep this around to our birthday shows?

Not many... I wouldn't... but professional stage shows... it's grand.

Randi

I think when something's really good it is worth the effort to carry. If it's a hassle, charge more for your shows. I'm not a Rocky guy, but I like this.

I am a serious proponent of the one trip to the car school of magic - in fact, my show should fit into my pockets. But I would bring this around. It is a great way to introduce a puppet. Well done Christopher. Looking forward to some day seeing a clip of the full routine.
PS: Well done to Randi too for creating it. It looks great - nothing like a kids prop. Fantastic work.

LOVE IT!!!
What's next Randi?