Appreciate knowing you favorite "Opening" and "Closing" parlor effects - audience of 50 to 75 people. Thanks!

These have been discussed a number of times on The Café over the years. I am sorry, but you have to put the work in discovering what is good magic effects for yourself. There are not any magic effects that are sold as an opening or closing effect. That is a personal choice that you have to find. It is an effect you know you can sell, as it the routine that makes it what it is, a great effect you and only you can sell to your audiences.

An opening effect is what will tell the audience who you are, and what the audience will see. It also tells the audience your personality.

A closing effect will live the audience with something to remember. It will excite them and tell them this is the finale.

What works for on magician will not necessarily work for everyone.

Again, this means hours and hours of searching for effects you think will fill the bill for you. I have never heard any magician say, I hate this effect, it is a real pain, and I hate, but I have to do it because it is my closing effect and it works automatically me.

If you have been watching Penn and Teller Fool Us, every act is an opener and closer. They on do on effect. There is an introduction, and sometimes a huge round of applause at the finish. Sometimes there isn't as the effect would be better places as a middle of the act effect.

I could list a number of tricks on the market, and say to yourself, I don't like any of those. So what have we accomplished, listing tricks you don't like.

I can only advise you to go to Abbott Magic website and take a look at the stage magic section. Then go through each effect and read and watch any videos attached. Then do that with other websites. If you find an effect that looks interesting, look it up here on the Café and see if it was discussed, and find out if it is something that has worth to you.

You might start by obtaining Dick Oslunds book, The Road scholar. There you will find a complete act, of many effects that are small and play big. You will also learn how to present them. You will be a better performer for doing this first step, and save a lot of time.

Thanks, Bill for your perspective -- yes, I have Dick's book and it's an excellent resource -- the focus of my question is to seek out "favorites" -- Best!

Okay, great to hear you are on the right track. So you did not like Dick's opening or closing effects.

I have to say, that most magicians do not like to tell what they perform as they like to be the only person performing it. That makes them somewhat exclusive, as in, I am looking for the magician that pulls a rabbit out of his hat. Do you know where I can locate him.
There are 25 magicians that pull a rabbit out of a hat, will any of them do? No, I want the one that was at little Johnny's birthday party.

As we have no idea of your performing ability, ability style, or likes and dislikes, and what form of a magic show you present, it does not help you to just give names of tricks.

Her is three I have used as a closer:

Multiplying Bottles
Dukes Dye Version
Hydrostatic Glass

A lot of the penguin live lectures show what real professionals are performing as their opener and closer and they usually discuss the whys. The new penguin live act is really great case it shows a structured parlor show.

Michael Ammar, Cody Fisher, Scott Alexander and Robert Ramirez would be of particular interest to you.

Robert Ramirez and Michael Ammar both teach the same routine they perform in the magic castle parlor shows.

My two cents.

You open with you
You enter and they see you. The audience sizes you up.
You also size them up.

Then, do the linking rings.

works great.

Al

I do agree with Al.. the first several minutes the audience is sizing you up. Consider Mac King's opening with the rope trick... he has several call-backs in that routine, he's telling a down-home family story, and he's doing some crazy good magic without acting like's he's full of himself. That tells the audience what they are in for.

I am in favor of one's opening being a "prelude." Many audiences today may be hindered by distractions, lack of respect/courtesy, late arrivals and confused expectations about performance magic. So, an ideal starting effect must partially educate, partially "draw them in," and a bit of getting them to like/respect you. It must not be confusing to late arrivals from attention or presence; and possibly introduce hand/body positions or moves essential to later effects - show what is normal for you.

So, multi-phase routines (such as Al's suggestion) can work well, and a good story a must. "Must be magic" should be in there too, as opposed to shock, puzzle or skill demonstration. Last time I saw Jeff McBride, he started off teaching everyone a simple illusion/trick - then shifted to an astonishing ending that had everyone mystified and laughing. His second effect was his real first one.

First...THANK YOU, BILL, FOR YOUR VERY NICE "PROMO". The book is still selling well, all over the WORLD!! I never dreamed, as a 16 year old, that I would someday write a book that would sell in four continents!!! One guy wrote me that he is bow reading it for the FIFTH TIME!

Senor Mardo gave me the "work" on the color change silk, in 1947. With a few exceptions, it has been my opener. It's a "soft" sucker bit. It fool 'em without making fools of them, The "cod" explanation gets laughs, and applause. It's a good "demo" of my personality!

For little kids, up to 6th grade, I close with my coin pail. (I cannot follow it!!!)

For Jr and Sr Highs, and colleges, I close with the tip cee bottle. It gets LAUGHS, and the finish is STRONG!

Thanks all - I sure appreciate your suggestions!

Never heard of a Tip Cee Bottle, must have been called that before my birth. In all the magic catalogs, never ran across anything called by that name.

Thank you, Al.

Yes -- fine idea. (I remember enjoying your unique Linking Rings routine -- very entertaining, classic and top notch!)

Regarding the "sizing up," I was also thinking to open with "how I got started in magic" with Terry Lunceford's Six Card What? I still have the original model.

Penguin :

This is not your standard 6-card trick. Magicians who hate the 6 card trick are DEVASTATED with laughter and surprise when they see this routine. A truly unique presentation, guaranteed to leave your audiences laughing and begging for more! Comes complete with card loading device, a live performance video and instructions. This is a true classic, like you've never seen it before.

Crazy Tipsy Bottle Magic Trick |MagicTricks.com

https://www.magictricks.com › crazy-tipsy-bottle
Comedy bottle- the neck tips when you try to pour! Matches Follow the Bottle Multiplying Bottles. Fast shipping. Order the Crazy Tipsy Bottle magic trick here.
Videos

PREVIEW
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Tipsy Bottle
magicgettogether
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Tipsy Bottle
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Web results
Tipsy Bottle - Magic from Party Tricks to Professional Props

https://www.gycklaren.com › Magic › Kids Magic › Tricks & Props
This is an excellent comedy prop for any magician. It has an added new "liquid pouring feature" that allows you to get much more mileage from the item.
COMEDY MAGIC :: TIPSY BOTTLE - - Daytona Magic

https://www.daytonamagic.com › tipsy-bottle-q-010b
by SAM DALAL This is an excellent comedy prop for any magician Developed by Sam s Magic Service in conjunction with Supreme Magic Co of England This ...
Missing: TRICK
Tipsy Bottle Magic Trick - International Magic Shop

https://www.internationalmagic.com › product-6-tipsy-bottle-1588
A gag prop used by magicians and entertainers - An attempt to pour a drink results in the neck of the bottle turning away from the glass.
TIPSY TURVY BOTTLES - Magician Stage Magic Trick |eBay

https://www.ebay.com › ... › Fantasy, Mythical & Magic › Magic › Tricks
A classic Do as I do Magic trick. GLASS BOTTLES. Only 2 like this!

You will find my patter & presentation + how to make the prop in my book ("DICK OSLUND - ROAD SCHOLAR", on page 296.

PS Many dealers have used the same title, but a different prop, and, a different effect.

"My" tipcee was in Abbott"s catalog #7 (in the '40s! one dollar)

It is/was a STEWART JAMES idea. I've used it to close my high school program for about 25 years.

Okay Dick, it like the Hydrostatic Glass but with a different gimmick, wire mesh. I seen pint size one and drooled all over it. It was from the 1940's. Can't use it because it will get broken at some point.

I think that is explained in the magic science mechanics magazine published back in 1962. I will have to look that up and see if their method is useful.

A few years ago, someone was making them, Stevens Magic sold them. I believe I seen you in Kansas convention performing it, Dick. I did not get to see you do the routine, as I walked into the show, you were just finishing the routine. It looked like you were using the new one on the market.

Wonder if the guy still makes them, have not seen an add anywhere. He wanted $50 for his real drinking glass and $100 for the glass milk bottle.

I haven't seen them anywhere! I wouldn't have put it in my book, but, I was retired, and hated to see Stewart's clever idea lost. I found a quart milk bottle
in a flea market and used it until a kid backstage at Abbott's knocked it off a table. I found a pint bottle and it was plenty big, I've used it for about 30 years.

DE YIP LOO tipped the work to me at a mall show.

Yes, Joe Stevens sold them, but, I think the supply ran out.

The toughest job is boring the air hole!

Abbott's only sold the gaff, Percy thought that milk bottles were "standard size" all over USA. They weren't,

At a regional convention, a guy ran into the dressing room and tried to grab it out of my prop case, I yelled at him, and, he said, "I want to buy it!" I said , "It is not for sale." I kicked his butt out.

Yep, just looked it up, it is on Page 75, of the Science and Mechanics magazine, the title was MAGIC HANDBOOK.

Just searched on line for a "real glass milk bottle" and a lot of them showed up. Looks like it may be possible to recreate this prop.

The old model used a metal lip covering the pour spout of the bottle. In the magazine the do not mention this, as it for DIY magicians to easily make at home.

I remember the magazine, but I don't remember the bottle trick being in in it.

For the piece of paper (to put on the bottle) USE NEWSPAPER. (some papers will "curl" and "remove themselves prematurely.)

"I had to cut it from the elementary school program because the little ones got too excited and it was hard to stay in control!!!" - Dick Oslund on the Tip Cee Bottle Routine in The Road Scholar

Now isn't that a problem we would all like to have!

FYI, it is page 299 in my copy.

First advertising for it appears to be the January 1937 Linking Ring.