I was just wondering if anyone had any good idea of effects that can help me reveal a name or a company logo on stage. A corporate client who is presenting awards to five of its distributors has asked me to introduce each award winner in a magical way. I was thinking of using Lior Manor Mobile Opener for one of the company names. However, I think this effect might be problematic since there are so many mobile phones models available and not all phones have the same letter / number combination. "Just chance" would work as well, to reveal the name of an award winning company (last envelope left with me has the money and the name of the company winning the award inside it).

Any other ideas or suggestions?

There are a zillion ways to do this.

First, I think you should invest in a few books like Dunningers, Wilson's Encyclopedia, and the Tarbell course if you don't have them. These are all must-reads.

That said, A paper-tear or jigsaw puzzle where the pieces are torn then restored and when you turn it around, the company name is on the back.
Below are 30 other ideas from 30 other guys:

Hey Jay ... that will be my new identity: "One of 30 Other Guys!"

For a way to reveal and highlight the company name, make up a Jumbo Card 3-card Monte.

Arthur Stead
http://www.arthurstead.com

I don't think anything is achieved by posters giving the flippant responses that often crop up here on the Café but I want to answer the OP's question, not flippantly, but genuinely in the spirt of helpful advice....

So, re:"Any other ideas or suggestions?"

Serve your apprenticeship, learn your craft, do your own research, hone your skills, amass knowledge from first hand experience, get to understand your market and your business.

For more direct advice reread the middle part of Jay Leslie's post above.

Hey Sealegs,

Did you mean ME in your comment about flippant responses? Sorry if you misinterpreted my post. It was written sincerely. I do a fabulous 3-card monte with Jumbo cards, which always generates oohs and aahs from the audience. It's the perfect (and unexpected) way to reveal a company name or logo.

- Arthur Stead

Hi Arthur,

Thanks for your recommendation. 3-card monte, would work well, although I've never been a fan of this effect on stage. It's just not "me". The main issue is that I will be performing in a country where most people don't even know the 3-card monte. Gambling and card games are illegal over here so most local people won't know about it.

I just thought I would pick people's brain on this subject. But I got the answer: "go and read some books". I'm not being lazy. I'm just asking "what would be your favourite effect for this kind of presentation?". I know I only have 6 posts on the magic Café but I've been a full time pro for 17 years. I'm just generally too busy to spend time on the magic Café.

I don't just need one effect to present one company, I need five, that's why I thought it would be good to start the conversation on this subject.

Jigsaw puzzle is good but I'm not sure I can get a blank jigsaw over here and make a customised version of the trick with the company logo.

Hi Arthur... no I didn't mean you when I referred to responses that read flippant in nature, I was in fact referring to me and the response I was about to (and did) type!

I am amused that over the years, every one of the seasoned magicians recommendations to people they believe to be new to the art of magic, has been to buy books, particularly the ones named here.

While Matthew and I own all of the recommended books and have read them through several times, I have to say there are many other ways that are equally good for learning, (Conventions, Lectures, and of course one on one mentoring from a seasoned pro or two).

I don't want to highjack fsharp's thread, but based on some of the more dubious acts we have came across over the years, (some from well known names in the magic community) I really question how many pros have actually read all of the above books? (If they were to be totally honest).

Back on track, several years ago we performed our Corporate show for a Pharmaceutical company Clam Bake, and we were asked to magically incorporate some of their various promotional items in our show. I don't remember everything we did, but I do know we used The Intercessor by Gaetan Bloom and produced the card from a Vytorin box. Matthew did a rising tie effect with a Viagra tie, and a couple other products we incorporated that I really can't remember as it has been several years. (I do remember though, that the CEO of the company was very pleased and we got a nice tip).

There are so many creative things you can do with company and product placement and there is no shortage of props on the market to make it happen.

~Nanci

Yes Nanci some people learn better doing different things.
There are generally, 6 ways to sort information according to many schools of thinking, in Developmental Psychology.
For example: There are 6 ways that different people decide weather another person is an expert.
1. They must see the person in action.
2. They want to hear, from a third party, that the person is expert.
3. They must read about how expert that person is, from a third party.
4. They must see the person in action multiple times.
5. They want to hear the person directly and see them in action doing what they promise.
6. A mixture of the above.

Some people are readers, some are listeners and some must see for themselves. That's why it's best to have a multi- media presentation when dispersing information and in sales presentations. So, in the case of advertising, better campaigns include written testimonials, photos, and if you can't have audio then some of the testominaks should be in the narrative form. Books are a good learning tool because you can open them, at any time, and find something for review & you can open several books at the same time so the content can easily be compared.

Like any encyclopaedic works I haven't read Tarbell's volumes from cover to cover. I've skimmed through them and use them as a reference tool. It's really how I use most of the books that I've kept.

Hi fsharp,

One way you could produce the company name would be to use a dove pan and produce it on a banner. Maybe talk about a product or company division wasn't doing so well at one point, and thanks to the hard work of those in the company, it rose from the (almost) ashes...like a phoenix.

Another way would be to use a Square Circle showing the inside of the square and tube to be empty and then produce something company related with their name on it.

You could do some kind of silk effect where the end result had their name on it.

Maybe you could find some company tri-fold flyer or something similar that everyone would be familiar with and do a Clippo type thing where you have a strip of text from the flyer and have someone tell you where to cut it and it cuts at the name of the company for the reveal.

How about a magicians choice type thing (think hotrod) where you have 6 boxes, bags or something and one of them has a company product or t-shirt in it with the name on it. Get one of the exec's to give you a number between 1 and 6 and then produce the item, showing they were right. You could milk it for time and show the other 5 to be empty leading up to the reveal.

What about something using balloons and one is selected (forced) and popped and the name comes out of it.

Hope these help. Give me a little more time and I'll try to come up with other suggestions to help you.

Mark.

Thanks for your suggestions Mark. I have three effects already lined up that will help me introduce three of the five companies receiving the awards. This includes a just chance routine (the last envelope left with me has the money and the name / logo of one of the companies receiving this award). I'm also planning to do Lior Manor Mobile Opener. Products can't be used as they too big (trucks) but images of the products are possible. I'm restricted in what I can do because of time constraint (last minute booking) and the fact that there are not magic shop in the country where I am. I have to do with what I've got and I haven't got that much with me (including books to research...). Oh, and I forgot to mention, this will be in the middle of the desert on a safari camp!

You're welcome. Glad to help.

I had to laugh when you mentioned all the obstacles you're facing. Couldn't they come up with a few more to handicap your performance?!?!

Not knowing where you are, or will be performing, is there an office supply store, a hardware store or a dollar type store around? Those places are the BEST magic shops around!! Just go in and wander the isles and see what you can find to use as a prop. Just try thinking outside the box a little about how something might be used. Also, what will be available at the camp? Maybe some kitchen stuff, boxes, bags, etc...that you won't have to take with you. Just use what's already there. As long as we have our minds, with our magical know how and ideas, we can usually come up with ways to do things. As they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat!!

Hang in there. I'm sure it will be fine. If you need anything, let me know. I may be able to, and will, help you if I can.

Mark.

Depending on the logo itself, one like the Nike swipe can be very effectively shown as a cut out. Perform Knots-Off silk then open the silk to show the logo as the missing cloth cut out of the silk for the knot that ultimately fell off.

Bob

Duke's Dye Version.

A few more ideas:


* Produce a T-shirt with name, logo, or photo on it from your favorite production device. You will have great demand for the shirt if you give it away. One of the sponsors may supply you with a few of them for free.

* Torn and restored newspaper with restored paper an ad, logo, or large text headline of company

* Shuffle cards - deck switch - reveal is company name on alphabet cards taped together with loops of clear (not magic) tape

* Company logo atop a card castle

* Flap banner (ala 'Applause Please') to turn anagram of name into actual company name (or just start out blank)

* Jumbo color changing silks to reveal company name, logo, or product

* Cane to silks (again with company name, logo, or product)

* If one company has an economical motorized product (car, truck, generator, etc.) produce a small gas can instead of a bowling ball. Stick-on letters can add the company name to the back side of the can.


Good luck with your performance. Be sure to let us know what you actually used and how it went.

Brett