Hey, I just got back from vacation and I picked up a set of D'Lites. They're pretty cool. I was just wondering what kind of effects some of you made up when using them.

There are plenty of things you can do depending on how corny you want to get. Some my favourites have been:

• Plucking a burning ember from a campfire or cigarette
  
• Pulling the light from the bottom of an optical mouse at a computer
  
• Plucking all of the red stuff out of a Coke machine because you want to drink a Sprite (I work with young kids...)
  
• Using it as a prediction device when working with cards (your fingers light up over the correct card)
  
• Passing the light from one hand to another
  
• Making the light penetrate something or someone

There are plenty of others as well. Have fun.

Thanks for the ideas. Man the D'lites are the coolest things when it comes to magic. They would be a great opener or ender. Or maybe just something to spice up the routine. I started to play with them in the house and my little bro and sis believe I can grab light. Then when they came to take it I would toss it to my step dad and he would pass it back.

A cards across with red and blue backed cards wrapped in handkerchiefs of those colours and held by spectators. The light you pluck from the handkerchief signifies the cards travelling across...

Lit behind an envelope it looks like something is happening inside the envelope, perhaps as something inside is caused to change.

The late Peter Jefferies, electronic wiz, used to swallow the lights and finally smile to reveal flashing lights all around his teeth.

Paul

Is this basically a TT with a led on the end? I've never seen one before. Is there a video of it somewhere on the net?

I could never find a demo on the web.

Hello,

There may be a video clip of D'Lite at http://www.showtheatre.com or possibly http://www.magicsmith.com

I am not 100% sure that there are D'Lite demos at these sites so forgive me if I am mistaken.

Cole

We do a routine with two of us, (one a ringer in the audience), and throwing them back and forth, etc. The routine is based on "Right Thinking" and how much easier it is to do right, when you think right. But you have to resist the Bad Thoughts, which are those bright red lights that fly around and we grab from the air.

My "partner" on this routine, a 12-year-old magician who is just getting started, has already come up with a great move that adds some action to the D'lite routine. (I can't share the move as it is not mine, and I haven't asked his permission yet.) But it is just a quick cool move that goes great in our routine.

I have had several sets of D'Lites and use them a lot at night, alternating them at times with various fire effects.

They are amazing to the audience, and fun for the performer. Some people think they are expensive at around $25 a pair, but I think that is a bargain based on the impact of the effect.

BroDavid

I've seen D'lite performed several times but always figured it was too expensive and someone told me it wasn't worth it. But reading all your posts I'm thinking about getting a pair. If anyone can answer a couple of questions without giving away too much information that would be great:

• Is the quality worth the price?
  
• Angleproof also can the person be standing directly in front of you and not see anything?
  
• Impromtureset time
  
• Can it only be performed at night?
  
• Batteries?? How long do they last?
  
• Can you carry the set around in your pocket and perform wherever you want?

Sorry for so many questions. If these can be answered that would be appreciated though. Thanks.

PRmagic,

I think D'Lites are very well made, good quality items. They may seem very expensive but it is a very good effect that you are getting for your money.

It is sort of angle-proof: The person can be pretty close and not detect anything, however, you would not want them to get TOO close in case they may detect something.

D'Lites are impromptu if you carry them around with you. The reset time is basically whenever you want—you could pull a light from the air and make it disappear, then pull it back whenever you feel like. It can be performed at any time of the day but the light is a lot more visible at night time or in a dark room. I have had my D'Lites for just under a year now and my original battery works fine. Over time your light may dim and run out.

I am not sure but I think you can send your D'Lite directly to Rocco and he will change the battery for you. The other option is to just buy another D'Lite. The battery in the D'Lite really depends on how much you perform this effect.

Yes, you can carry the set around in your pocket and perform wherever you may be. If you have any further questions, feel free to PM me.

Best Regards,
Cole

I agree with Cole's comments. I used them quite a lot in the past for my parlour shows, but now they are gathering dust on my magic prop display cabinet.

Anyone want to trade them? Just wondering.

I've entertained kids with D'lites by swallowing the light and pulling it out of my bottom. Seriously. Kids at a certain age love that kind of thing.

Also, passing the light through their heads really gets them going.

A nice novelty effect.

There are so many things that light up red nowadays that it boggles one's mind as to what can be done. Mysterium, I do the bottom thing too, along with the zipper (it is closed of course but the flap is just enough).

My favs are "catching" one of the lights on the light up shoes that kids wear. Light to 50-foot streamer. Tossing it from one ear and having it come out the other (proving I'm out of my mind, or my mind is out of me), there are all of those lazer light guns, Rudolph the red nose reindeer, light up noses these are just some odds and ends you can find to work out a routine. There is also a neat markted effect called, "The Radient Roaming Rose," where you can toss the light into the center of a white rose and then float it.

I was big into D'lites at one time in my magical life, but they just died out. I think they are cool, but not very astonishing.

Jakks

It's a cool little effect I must say, but it does get a little "enough of that" type of thing. I mean, honestly, how many times can you use it in your act? If you're extra creative then you could erect your act based on using the D'Lite in every aspect of it.

I'm not saying it isn't cool, but just like the Healed and Sealed soda can...you have to find the right time and place to do it.

Just my 2 cents...

Cheers,
Logan

P.S. I WOULD get some, just for the kicks, but they're too expensive...ESPECIALLY if they're just for kicks!

I think if you do about 13.5 seconds and no more they can be amazing (in the right presentation). I have noticed though that several mainstream catalogs are now selling them outright. Looks like these are going the way of the TT. Pretty soon lay person is going to have one.

I've used the D'Lites a little bit differently than most, to great effect.

I have a spectator examine a little red Christmas tree bulb. I take the bulb back and have a card selected. I tell them that I'm going to ask questions about their card, but that they can lie or tell the truth. The bulb, however, is going to be used as a magical lie detector.

I take the bulb, and put a handkerchief over it. I then ask questions about the card and, sure enough, whenever they lie, the red bulb goes on! This process is used to narrow down the card and find it out.

For a finish, I have the spectator turn the card over to verify that the lie detector was correct. For a finish, I say, "I guess we don't need the lie detector anymore!", and I throw the handkerchief up empty, and the red bulb is nowhere to be seen!

I can't give the secret out here, but it's not too hard to figure it out from the topic heading and a little thought.

This Is The Funniest Thing To Do With A D'lite in my opinion. I use it as a gag and it gets one of the greatest responses I've ever seen from a gag.

As I'm talking to the audience about something (or introducing someone as a M.C.) some jerk kid from the audience (which is actually my assistant, but the audience doesn't know that) points a laser pen right next to me hitting the curtain.

I pretend to be a little angry and ignore it. Then the laser starts moving around more. Finally, I've had enough and I grab it off the curtain (using the D'lite) and put it in my pocket. Then I just go on with the show. Make sure your assistant knows to turn off the laser pen when you reach for the dot on the curtain.

That's pretty much the only thing I use it for, but as you can see (from all the posts) there are tons of uses.

Justin

D'Lite is one of the great underrated magic gimmicks. When it first came out, almost everyone bought one.

They played with it for a while and then, 99 per cent of them were tossed in magic "junk drawers", for want of a good presentation. That's too bad.

A little thought and you've got a great routine—like Scott Cram's, above. I did a vaguely similar type routine in my Showtime column in the Linking Ring magazine of September, 2000 (yipes! that's two YEARS ago, already!) called the D'Lite Light Bulb. It's a routine I still use, along with a couple of others featuring D'Lite.

And Justin's routine, also above, is absolutely brilliant. It reminds me of an old Jimmy Durante (I believe) bit in which he slowly sweeps up the follow spot that's on him, until the stage is dark. Well done, Justin!

Those who predict D'Lite's demise might well consider Mark Twain's words:
"Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!"

Justin, be thankful. YOU were praised by Peter Marucci!!! That's not as easy as you would think.

Jakks