Sponge balls look really fun.... but do they get boring to do? are there many possibilities with them? ive seen them only once in person (just a basic trick where magician puts on in his left hand, and one in my hand, then they are both in my hand) and twice on the net...both times on the net were really good, but they were both the same routine, like exact...
so yeah, those 20 seconds routines are all ive seen....
is that pretty much it? or do sponge balls keep going further and further (and I don't mean into sponge objects, I wanna stay away from those for now)
and also, what would be a nice size to get?
1.5" red sponge balls here are like $10

-L7

1.5" sponge balls are $10 per pack of 4 I mean

L7,
I know how you feel. I thought sponge balls were just the stupidest thing ever. But then, a good friend who can really work them began to show me the possibilities with these. There is so much that can be done. And I can't think of a better way to really make the basic sleights and concepts of misdirection you get with spongeballs become second nature to you.

Spend the $10. You won't be sorry. Oh, and get a good DVD or book on them, too.

I like my sponge balls, they get decent reactions too.

What about size?
is 1.5 enough?

and no I wont be buying another DVD for awhile, way 2 expensive ($70 for card ones...not sure for sponges, but yeah. its alot of money when I'm only doing magic for fun, not profit)
are there cheap books on sponge balls? if so can someone recommend?

I have purchased mark wilson`s course on magic, and ive working through the card stuff at the moment, though I like the look of his sponge ball routine, is it good?

1.5 should be okay. That's the size of mine and they work.

I got a Royal Magic DVD on sponge balls for around 10 dollars. I think you can get one online for about that price. It's enough to get you started.

L7, The sponge ball routine in Mark Wilson's is great!
It is one that many have recommended here in the past. I have had lots of fun with it.

Other more experienced magicians will direct you further, but the Wilson routine is a super start.

Cheers - El Lamo

I think the spongeball size depends upon your audience and your routine.

Are you performing for kids? If so, do you have a multiple ball finale? It will be difficult for a kid to hold two large spongeballs and 6 more large ones. When I perform for kids and have the final revelation, I use 1.5" spongeballs. For the final revelation, they have 6 of them coming out of their little hand(s) which is a lot.

If you are performing for adults, then I use 2" balls for the routine, then sneak in four to six 1 1/2" balls for the final revelation of the same color. I like bright yellow and orange.

If you don't have a final multiple ball revelations, then you can get by with 2" spongeballs which I actually like a little better because I think the vanish is slightly more surprising, but it probably doesn't really matter.

Seems penguin has the best price on 2" and themagicwarehouse.com the best price on 1 1/2" spongeballs. Make sure you get supersoft.

Finally, spongeballs are so darned surprising and astonishing plus they always bring a smile like nothing else, except sponge rabbits but that's only what I've heard as I stick to the SBs. I find the routines work best with kids (boys and girls) and female young adults and women. I tend to stick to cards for male young adults and men.

The best and cheapest way, I believe, to learn spongeballs and I've seen many, many tapes and own Ency. of Sponge Magic by Garcia is to get Jon Jensen's 2 booklets, Professional Sponge Ball Tricks Volume 1 & 2. They are filled with usable vanishes and lots of routines including the routine that I use.

GL!

$10 is too expensive for 1.5" sponge balls. Where did you see this? At a card at the mall maybe?
I would say a reasonable price is $2-$3 for sponge balls that size. Higher than that, they are just taking advantage.
If you really want to perform sponge balls, you can always make them yourself!
There are also great booklets out there for about $3.50 that contain wonderfull stuff on the subject.
Also try to find booklets of Albert Gosman, the king of sponge ball manipulation.

I do a very short routine:
I hand the spectator one sponge ball to examine, then I take it back and "split" it into two.
I then have the spectator choose one of the balls and tell them to squeeze it very tightly in their hand.
After they have taken it and are holding it in their hand I say, " here, let me show you how I want you to hold it."
I take their ball back and put it into my hand, gesturing how to hold their hand.
Then I pick up the other ball and put it into their hand.
I then have them move their hand around in the air like I do...
up and down,
Then back and forth.
Then I tell them to hold their hand very still.
I circle my closed hand slowly around theirs, then slowly open my fingers... my hand is empty.
I then ask them to slowly open their hand, and they discover both balls in their hand.

The reaction I get from this is always very, very strong!
Even with such a simple basic routine as this, lay audiences are blown away by it.
I find the repeated one in the hand, two in the pocket to be a bit wearisome, and Daryl advises against it on his FoolerDooler DVD's.
I am thinking about adding a few more bits of business, but I find that the simple clarity of what I do now has a very strong impact that I don't want to dilute with a routine that repeats the same effect over and over.

This price is actually from the only magic shop I can find
Im in Aus, and I guess for americia its 2 - 3 dollars for 4 balls....but after getting them shipped over here, the price almost doubles, then add the postage and handling, and the price is up again....
unless you know a better place I can get sponge balls, then $10 is all I can get

Sponge balls are my fav routine to perform exept maybe two card monte. I use 2" SB. This is my routine:
Sponge ball from nowhere
Split the SB
Sb jumps from my hand 2 theirs
1 in hand two in pocket twice
Total vanish
I get THE best reactions from this routine! Oh don't get anything but Goshman super soft sb.
Jonathan Thompson

I'll be getting whatever sponge balls I can get my hands on
I spoke to my momma and she said, "yo fool, just buy the dang ball`s, aint no use carving up a sponge, it 2 much work, YO DIG IT FOOL?!" and I was like "yes"
(that didn't really happen )

BUT!
on tuesday I think ill buy a 4 pack of 1.5" sponge balls (red), they look very creative, but I'm just not sure how far past the routine in mark wilson`s they could go?
does anyone who is like really good with sponge balls have a digi cam, and maybe do a routine for us to see? or know where I can watch a preview routine (other then the one on penguin magic, as I stated before, that's all ive seen...though the cutting effect is very nice)

I also do the 2 card monte (isnt its real name, "which one is it? no really?" or something?
I got a question on that but cant be bothered starting a new topic and annoying more people, though I will if I have to

once you have made the first switch and they are actually holding a Ace instead of 1 of the queens. I say "now, without looking at your card, which do you think is in your hand"
k, now I'm sure that would be right presentation...but NOOOOOOOO... some people turn it over and look at it... others say "obviously Queen of Diamonds" (with heaps of confidence)... THEN THEY BLOODY TURN THE CARD OVER AND LOOK AT IT! even though I say, "without looking!"
it really annoy`s me, cause them turning 1 card over to reveal its a completly different card does not have near as much effect as 2 cards being completly different...
It really ticks me off cause its a favourite trick of mine but I'm affraid to use it cause people don't pay attention
:angry:

Thanks again
-L7

Today I was involved in a performance where people would stop by my booth to see magic.

Out of all the effects I did so many times, there was ONE that got the best reactions: Sponge Balls.

No kidding. Twisted Sisters had great reactions, as did Ambitious Card, Chicago Surprise, and Slow Burn. But people freaked when I did my (very basic) sponge ball routine. That was the last thing I would have expected.

Ambitous card?
is that where you take the card from the top, put it in the middle of the deck, and suddenly it rises back to the top of the deck? or is there more to the effect after that?

I'm so keen to get some spngies!

Tomorrow!

Yes, ambitious card is a routine where a (usually signed) card keeps getting inserted into the middle of the deck but keeps finding its way to the top. That's the whole effect, but typically the sequence gets repeated several times using different moves.

I believe it is the single most important card effect for magicians who do stuff with cards.

Anyway, I guess that's off topic.

Aren't we talking about sponge balls?? kinda getting off topic...
L7 I think sponge bal tricks are absolutly fun and interesting...
there are many tricks and routine with them.
Plus I like how hey are so soft and nice...
hmm...now I'm getting off topic...anyway tomorrow once you get sponge balls I hope you'll have fun...
cause I did... after it torn apart...

That's another thing ive been wondering....
how long do sponge balls last?

and yeah ambitous card is really simple, my first trick learnt actually......wait, no 2 card monte was...but still
people figure out my other tricks...but never figure out the ambitous card
I'm trying to figure out how to do the effect where you bend it
if someone would like to share this little secret with me add me to msn (just_some_phreak@hotmail.com)
ha! I bet no one will add me though
I don't suppose the bending technique is in royal road or mark wilsons course in magic, and ive just skipped past it????

oops, off topic again

so yeah, spongies, I'm getting red, 1.5" ($10 for 4, so 1.5" will have to do cant afford any bigger)..
is red the best colour? (i know the colour is based on opinion but I would love to hear some comments)

G'day L7

I like your flowing style and how you are able to come back to the topic after meandering a bit.

I have been doing a basic sponge ball routine based on the presentation in Mark Wilson's book and it has proven to be good value in a wide range of settings. You start clean and finish clean.

Mark Wilson has you discovering the first ball in mid air but I found that the method that is suggested on the Goshman packet is a better way to go. Here in sub tropical Austaralia I find I seldom wear a jacket so I have modified the discovery of the first ball. If you would like to discuss this further then send a PM and I will explain my variation for hot weather conditions.

I started with the 1 1/2 balls and moved to the 2" ones after getting them working smoothly.

How long do they last? My SBs got knocked around at a fire on the beach but are still ok. I have usually lost some of them before they wore out.

Enjoy learning your new routine.

Bob Latta (Troppo Bob)

I'd have to agree. I think most misplace them or something before they get worn out.

Thanks everyone for your feedback
gonna get my balls very soon

I'm thinking green, but most likely red or something

cya`s later

W00T!

Ahhhhhhhh....
none in stock :@

tell me
which is a better size?
1.5" or 2.0"?
any difference
what about when putting in other peoples hands?