Jim Riser was selling just such a hook that is attached to the line and tightens even more when tension is applied to the cord. He may just be selling them to purchasers of his cages... Not sure on that point. Contact him for details!

James P. Riser has informed me that his clip is only available with his cages and take-up-reels. He will not sell them separately, because of the expense, it is his own creative design, as he had them specially made just for his products.

I received one on his special project reel he made 2 years ago.

----------------------------------------------------------------

If the box Billy McComb had, then the hook on the cage is the way to hook up the cage. No "getting tighter" is needed if the hook is on the cage, as I see it.

Thought this a pretty nice vanishing birdcage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0jIGW_uumA

Well, we are not going for looks but practically in use in a show. Show what is he going to do next, because as it is shown, it is an opener, or encore item, which means he has to leave the stage and come back.

I also question his ability to use that flash item.

This set up is not practical in real use. Notice his coat all pulled to the left.

Rob mentions this in his interview on The Magician's Podcast Episode 11: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-......286?mt=2

What do you mean? You mean he can't do this live?

Why not?

Funnymagic, you explain to me 1st why you "thought this was a pretty nice Vanishing Bird Cage".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pete Biro, you a smart guy - think about it.

Your hired to do a 30 minute show.

He does mention in the podcast that it made the subsequent stuff a little tricky!

JonathanB, I did my 45 minute show years ago. Opened with the cage, and did the whole show with spectators on stage with me. It was very difficult. There is ways to do it, but when then I started to do routines like the Egg Bag, card productions, and dove productions, I had to give up the cage.

Why is it a pretty nice vanish? Because it looks clean and the addition of the flash is novel.

Funnymagic, you have to realize, this is a video. Not in a real performing situation. I will give his credit for the flash effect, because I have been trying to come up with a way to do it while holding a cage, if it not special effects added to the video.

Being it is not filmed in front of a live audience, it lessons the practically of the trick. Thus it has little value as anything more then a what you see on the screen. Movies are not real, thus this holds no value for the real performing world in front of a live audience and between other magic routines, in he context of a one man magic show.

HEG.. Use my pull system and after opening with cage vanish, you can dump cage and pull easily. Harbin had a cage that went into a feather flower stem, vanished cage then produced the bouquet!

Pete, how come I knew you would suggest your pull system. I have read and heard about it over the years. I never tried it, as I did not want to cut my thumb off. I have asked if you ever did it in a show, and video it, but I guess you never have. A suggestion is one thing, but actually knowing every detail in the setup is another. To my knowledge you have not given a "total" explanation on the "perfect" setup of you system.

Maybe you should make a teaching video of it, and I would differently purchase it.

I spoke to some knowledgeable craftsman concerning the Harbin bouquet production, but I have not found anyone that thinks it will work. The feather flower bouquet would cost a fortune, and for it not to work would just be a waste of money. I have the Harbin book and the plans within.

Believe me, I have done extensive research on what has been available for the Vanishing Bird Cage and have not found a perfect solution yet.

Pete Biros method works and is awesome...I use it and my thumb is still intact.

I used it as an MC item. the loop material is fairly THICK and has never been a problem.

Within this thread, just some of the unfortunately dismissive sounding comments that Bill has written of the video of Rob James showing his original addition of the flash vanish of the Vanishing Birdcage, include:

"Well, we are not going for looks but practically in use in a show"... "I also question his ability to use that flash item.".... "This set up is not practical in real use."... "this holds no value for the real performing world in front of a live audience"

Well Bill, Rob performed this to great effect just 6 nights ago, in front of a live, paying audience, as a part of his featured set at the Drayton Court Theatre in London. Rob was one of the artistes performing at a monthly show held at this venue called, 'Conjuring At Court'.

So Bill, you might want to reassess and indeed hopefully take back what you inaccurately said about it being: "not practical", "not real", a "special effect added to the video", or that it has, "no value for the real performing world in front of a live audience".

It's very telling that someone like Bill, who by all accounts has spent a lot of time working with the vanishing birdcage, literally can't believe his eyes at what Rob has created and thinks it must be some kind of movie special effect. That is actually unwitting praise of the most emphatic and telling kind. Congratulations to Rob!

Bill did give Rob credit for the flash effect.... maybe now he'll also be gracious enough to give him credit for creating something that's actually in Rob's working professional repertoire too? Lets hope so.

No special effects added in the video, I would assume its FISM Flash, which would make it very easy to add to the vanish of the cage. Very smart of Rob to add it.

Sealegs, as I mentioned, need to know his act, please list the effects and the order they were presented, and if at any time he left the stage and returned.

As I only have the "middle" of the trick to go on, I can only speculate. You have an advantage over use that did not attend the show.

Same cage, live performance, no flash - just brilliant:

https://vimeo.com/45473558

check out the Rob James episode of the Magicians' Podcast to hear Rob talking about the work that went into this..