Did you ever see the Cups & Balls routine from Penn & Teller where they use clear cups… it’s just so, so…well so hilarious, typical from them. I must confess I always love their job… like the cigarette routine where they explain the 7 principles of magic.

But well what do you think about this routine (The C&B) and do you know any place where I can learn it?

Thanks

I enjoyed the seven principles of magic. The version I saw was part of a TLC program so I missed a bit of it. I did like the fact that Teller didn't always do what Penn was describing (or at least exactly as he described it).

Most of their stuff is great. As for the clear cups and balls, I think it just loses it's power at that speed. At that point it isn't the cups and balls but a performance piece that doesn't relate much to magic anymore. I know a lot of people think this is a great trick but it didn't do anything for me.

Stick to the real experts in Cups and Balls and you'll have an audience that will really appreciate your performance.

Deerbourne

I just saw the Jason Latimer, his clear c&b routine, never saw the Penn & Teller routine, is they routine very close?

Where the Penn and Teller thing involves using clear cups to perform the (now) classic routine as comedy, Jason Latimer has found some nice mechanics to make a cups trick with clear cups appear more magical.

I never see Jason Latimer but what I like about the method of P&T is the comedy involve.

I truly enjoy the comedy part of their performances. I would think it would be hard to impart to comedic part of a performance in instructions since comedic timing and design is such a personal thing. What works for one performer may not work for another.

Deerbourne

They are completely different. Not even close. Jason may publish his routine, soon, so I have heard.

I never saw anyone perform C & B with clear cups. It seems like that would expose the whole secret. In fact, I heard of Penn and Teller doing that a long time ago, when I was first starting in magic, and so I tried it . . . and of course I got ridiculed because everyone saw what I was doing. Do they ever rerun that show where P & T do it with clear cups? What show was it on, anyway?

Serling307,

If you ever get the opportunity, check out International Magic's 6th International Close Up Competition video.

Gazzo won this competition, performing his Cups and Balls, although the gentleman (don't recall his name...) that performed a couple of acts *before* Gazzo did the C&B blindfolded, with clear cups. I believe used tomatoes as his final loads.

If anyone in the room wasn't familiar with the mechanics of the Cups & Balls at the start, you can bet that everyone who wasn't sleeping not only knew them, but were, in all likelihood, carefully watching for the loads to happen when Gazzo went on.

Gazzo won this competition. The audience mostly knew what was coming up. How does someone win a contest by performing an effect that has just been exposed in one of the preceeding acts?

He *entertained* them. Something to think about.....

I would like to see Jason Latimer's version of the clear cups and balls.


Penn and Teller used clear cups and balls to 'expose' this age old trick.

But on a magic special, Teller explains why they did it, and how the speed they go at helps with the pseudo explanation.

Whats the point of clear cbs? That screws up the trick!

LOL,

You should really see the trick first, before you comment on it.

Penn and Teller's version is quite magicial. And So is Jason Latimer's, from what I've heard.

For what it's worth, if you go to Jim Riser's great Cups and Balls web page and hang in there until all the photos are loaded, the bottom photo is of my Crystal Cups and Balls.

http://www.jamesriser.com/Cups/HistoricCups.html

The idea and routine was developed back in the mid-70's.

Jim's cups and balls pages are really interesting and a special treat for anyone who appreciates the cups.

Of course, you'll also want to visit Bill Palmer's wonderful Cups and Balls page!

http://www.hocuspocusjr.com/cups.htm

Terry

What kind of routine did you do? Is Latimer's similar?

The routine is basically Vernon.

I was told by one professional not to waste time with all the ball moves and "get to the money" (the loads)!

The fact that you can "see" through the cups without seeing the crystal balls is what makes it unusual. Of course, the design of the cups and the clear balls help with the disguise.

My inspiration for this came from Roy Fromer's little book "The Cups" (copyright 1972). He mentions Crystal Cups and Balls as "The Ultimate Cups and Balls" under the heading "Three 'Dream' Tricks."

Also, the different size loads (as you can see in the picture) add to the uniqueness.

Terry

Jason Latimer's work with the cups was BEAUTIFUL and MAGICAL!

Rannie

Jason Latimer's clear cups are also his own invention, so totally original. In this the loads magically appear inside a previously empty clear cup, whereas the P & T version is simply an exposition of the effect.

Brian.

I saw Jason Latimer perform his clear cups and balls routine a few times at FISM. His routine is clearly (no pun intended) magical, whilst the Penn and Teller routine is ambiguous. That is - it's meant to be an exposure since the cups are clear, but Teller performs it so fast it's impossible to follow nevertheless.

Jason Latimer knows what the magic should look like. His Cups & Balls clearly show how talent he is.

Alex Hui

Terry,

I was interested to see the picture of your cups on Jim Riser's website. In your crystal cups routine, did you use a cupful of the small glass balls as a single final load?

Richard