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griz326 Regular user Eureka, Montana 129 Posts |
Alex Hecklau - Just a Cup
I watched a glowing online review, but in watching the trailers, I didn't get it. With the exception of the spectator feeling the arrival of the die in their hands (really special), the trailers didn't show anything else worth raving about. Am I missing a special feature that's worth dying for? BTW - It ain't cheap with shipping to the USA. |
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Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
There are some very deceptive moves and handling that you can't do with other methods. You can also let the spectator handle and inspect the cup and die - it's 'just a cup'.
Also a die and dice cup is more organic than cup and ball. Mike |
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griz326 Regular user Eureka, Montana 129 Posts |
I've never thought of a dice cup being "organic"
I watched all of the trailers again and finally got it. The trailers just show it can do this and it can do that without the usual razzle-dazzle. I've always wanted to do a one-cup routine but the routines that I've used have left me cold and I've been unimpressed with the quality of the apparatus (ball release). |
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
I had started a response to your question when the voice in my head went, check what you've already written. So I did and found this... Axel tells it better than I ever could.
Quote: On Apr 16, 2021, griz326 wrote:
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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griz326 Regular user Eureka, Montana 129 Posts |
Indeed. I had watched that trailer many times before my original post. The spectator's reactions are priceless, however, the sales pitch didn't show a routine. Because I don't have a one cup routine that I really love, the trailer left me cold. I did buy Pipo Vallanuevo's routine to study, but it is a different animal.
Without the opportunity to perform regularly, vetting magic for your persona is difficult. |
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
If you watched that trailer several times before the original post then I do not understand your question? You had all the relevant information available to you. Just a Cup can do so much more than a regular chop and Axel explained all the advantages in his video. The girl's genuine reaction you see at the end is her reaction to the same basic routine Axel uses when he performs just a cup. If you watched his Magic Castle performance then you've seen basically the same routine the girl on the video did.
Quote: On Apr 17, 2021, griz326 wrote:
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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Thomas Walter Special user Well, it is strange that at my age, I certanly should have more than 527 Posts |
Differences and/or similarities to Presti Cup by Edouard Boulanger??
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
No idea of the routine, but it is obvious to magicians where the gimmick is when a wand seems to be involved in every move that requires the ball to be magically retained. If my supposition is correct, then the gimmicks are different. If that is the case, there is more freedom allowed by Just a Cup's gimmick versus Presti cups.
Quote: On Apr 17, 2021, Thomas Walter wrote:
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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Thomas Walter Special user Well, it is strange that at my age, I certanly should have more than 527 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 17, 2021, Kaliix wrote: Yes, of course, it is noticeable. Earlier I did not find any longer presentation of the Presti Cup routine at first. Axel's wand-less version, is, as you Kallix pointed out, in my opinion too, is better! And after searching my mind and hard drives I found Axel's Penguin Lecture where he very generously goes through this routine. I ordered it immediately from him, and when this Covid plague, hopefully, is over in a couple of weeks/months, (got my first shot) it will go right into my repertoire! |
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Yannou Veteran user 381 Posts |
There is a great routine with it when you buy this from Axel. Last time I performed it was at a festival, before the plague broke out, in a sort of busking setting, and people where coming over asking me about the routine because they had heard some people screamed when a die appeared in their hand out of nowhere. This is possible with this gimmick and sets it miles apart from normal chopcup routines, IMO and experience. I think Axel keeps the price at a level that's above what dabblers or people who only want to know the secret would pay for it, but if you perform, it's totally worth it.
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griz326 Regular user Eureka, Montana 129 Posts |
I bought Axel's lecture and have since purchased the cup. I've got my fingers crossed.
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
I love this! I have "other" uses for this unique principle...
Doug |
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griz326 Regular user Eureka, Montana 129 Posts |
I don't know that there are any unique principles involved with the effect, but it is a clever bit of thinking. There is one "move" some might consider a principle... If there are any principles to be found, I think it is in the area of routining and audience management.
The hardware for the effect is very nicely made. I'm happy that I took the plunge and bought this. Now to learning the routine and making it mine |
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
The two things I like are, one, you do not have to "slam" the cup down like you do a Chop Cup. Set it down as gently as you like. You have FULL control over whether the die appears or not. I've done this on a wooden table! No noise! The other is, you can clearly toss the die in the cup, set the cup down holding it from above, sit back and let them look in the cup! It has vanished! No cup gimmicks! I love this! Alex Hecklau is like the mad scientist of Magic! The man is a pure GENIUS!
Doug |
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videoman Inner circle 6732 Posts |
Just the fact that you can do this routine standing with a spectator brings it up off the table and IMO makes a whole different effect out of it.
Moving the gimmick out of the cup isn’t just a small difference it makes a night and day difference. Then add to that further layers of mystery such as a leather cup and plastic die making the method seem even more impossible regardless if they examine them or not. If you were to have a layperson sit at a table and watch your chop cup routine they would almost certainly be fooled and amazed. But perform Just a Cup TO them (and not just AT them) and they will go beyond that and feel that childlike sense of wonder. That’s the big difference between the this and similar effects. |
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
Having the spectator FEEL the die hit their hand is my one. Two is perhaps dropping the die in the cup and then immediately pulling it out the bottom.
Quote: On May 19, 2021, Dougini wrote:
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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Chessmann Inner circle 4242 Posts |
Silent Assistant works very well for this type of routine. A bit of double-sided carpet tape assures no 'woops' moments. This kind of thinking allows one to use virtually any cup, and some moves not possible with other cups.
My ex-cat was named "Muffin". "Vomit" would be a better name for her. AKA "The Evil Ball of Fur".
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Quote:
On May 19, 2021, Chessmann wrote: Oh my, YES! |
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Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
Quote:
On May 20, 2021, Dougini wrote: I don't have Silent Assistant, but I suspect that it will not work effectively with Just a Cup. Axel has clearly put a lot of R&D into the gimmicks and materials supplied. For example, the leather cup is vital for smooth and reliable operation. I did try a collapsible silicone cup, which I thought might be ideal for walkaround, but sadly that didn't allow certain key moves. Mike |
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
Silent Assistant would work well for chop cup-type routines.
Silent Assistant could work with just a cup but would NOT work as well or be as capable as the supplied gimmick. Using it would be to regress, not progress. Quote: On May 19, 2021, Chessmann wrote:
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
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