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Steve Brooks Founder / Manager Northern California - United States 3780 Posts |
Jon,
I remember you showing me the prototype to The Destination Box a few years ago at IBM in San Diego. It was amazing and certainly fooled everyone, myself included. My question to you is what triggered the basic idea for this? Also, maybe you can give us a run down on how you put the routine together, what you might have left out and why the routine you currently use is the one you finally decided to stay with.
"Always be you because nobody else can" - Steve Brooks
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Alym Amlani Inner circle Canada 1464 Posts |
Jon
I hadn't heard of this effect (in all honesty!) until I just saw this thread. It looks killer. I love the plot of finding a signed object in an impossible location. Let me be the second person to ask you to please tell us more about the thinking behind this effect. Alym
Logic Defied
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Daren Inner circle 2051 Posts |
I have The Destination Box and I can tell you it is the best effect I do in a close-up situation, it absolutely kills!
I have never had reactions like this before and I have had repeat bookings from this one effect alone. Great work Jon!!!!! Cheers Daren |
Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
I remember that evening well. Sitting by the pool, wondering where everyone else was!
There's a lot to The Destination Box and it's evolution. However, the starting point, as with many magic effects was..... throat pastilles They came in a little tin and I thought it was about the size of a folded playing card so I bought a couple to play around with. I had been doing the Card to Box for a while but was never happy with the routining. I was caught a couple of times on the switch mainly because people were staring at the card. I tried Michael Close's excellent 'Big Surprise' for a while too but it didn't quite fit with me. I came back to the tin and the folded card within it. I figured that if I could do the standard C2B but do the moves with the tin, rather than the card itself, I'd be ahead of the audience. I used to use the small tin and a larger tin with velcro. It was very basic. I worked it in when I was at TGI Friday's and the reations were much better than before. Having seen Jamy Ian Swiss' 'Kiss of the Big Apple' some years earlier, I knew the advantage of having one or more other objects in the box. I used a bottle because it was the only thing I had in my drawer that fitted inside the tin. I have continued to use a bottle ever since but I know people have varied the item to suit their own style and routines. I spent a long time designing the box. I wanted it to be large enough to be prominent but small enough to be put away in a pocket. I wanted it to be lockable (the first tin had a rubber band around it but when I opened it one day there was nothing inside except a square of velcro!) which makes it unique, I wanted it to be plain but elegant and I wanted it to be totally examinable. All these elements played a part in the creation of what is now the finished article. The routine has not changed much at all since the beginning. What has evolved is the importance of the box to my whole act. I use it as my opener to gauge the audience and I always close with it. This brings the act full circle which I think is important. People know it is the last effect so they can gear themselves up for the finish. It does mean that I have to work everything else out in the act around the box. I must do a signed card trick, which means there are probably some good tricks I can't do i.e. card in ceiling. The one thing above all else that I really like is the final moments. Usually with a C2B routine, you have to dump the card onto your hand or someone else's. There is no time to let the image of the card in the box sink in and then have the person take the card out the box themselves. The image I am able to cement is the fiolded card sitting inside the pillbox. I can pause and then slowly move it towards the person who signed the card. There is no rush to switch the card. It is a vary theatrical and poweful moment that is not interrupted by a move. That is what makes it special. There is a lot to the box that I haven't covered but are very important. It is the subtleties that make it a standout piece. I can honestly say I get the strongest reactions to this than anything else I have ever done. That's a long reply and thankfully my computer didn't crash as I was half way through! I hope I've gone some way to answering the questions. I've probably raised some more as well! Jon
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
corpmagi Special user New York 725 Posts |
It is very rare that I add a new piece to my core repertoire, that is, a magic effect that I perform in every set I do. The destination box has been in my show now for the past year and it has taken my performances to a new level. I have thanked Jon in private correspondence in the past, but I want to thank him again in this public forum for sharing his effect.
Seth (watches the box like a hawk now) Kramer
A Modern Trade Show Handbook
www.trafficstoppers.com/handbook |
Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
Hi Seth,
Thanks for the kind words. It's always nice to know that others are getting the same sort of reactions with it that I get. I'm yet to see someone else do their routine but I hope I get the chance to see you in action one day. Just keep saying to yourself "The box is not a giveaway. The box is not a giveaway." :)
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
Rob Johnston Inner circle Utah 2060 Posts |
I am looking for a new effect for my close-up routine. It is a bit pricey (what magic isn't?). I am a beginning card worker/veteran coin worker....would this box be good for me?
I think it would...but I am worried about my card skills.
"Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable." - Margot Fonteyn
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Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
Hi Astinus,
I can't tell you whether The Destination Box is good for you because I don't know your level of card work. What I can tell you is that it is not difficult. The moves are done on off beat moments so there is no heat on you when you are 'doing the dirty deeds'. Can anyone else vouch for how easy or difficult they have found using the box? If you feel you can master the moves, then I would like to think that the box can suit anyone. It is not just limited to getting a playing card in the box either. You could even find a marked coin inside. As for the price, I'll be putting up a special website tonight that I think you and everyone else will find pleasing on the eye and the wallet
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
Rob Johnston Inner circle Utah 2060 Posts |
Thanks for the answer. I know the expense is worth it...as with all good magic. Being a poor-newly wed, updating my magic repetoire has been hard lol. I am sure many others can vouch for that.
I will look more into this box though. Rick Thomas does something similar to this effect, but uses a watch. Is that your box he uses?
"Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable." - Margot Fonteyn
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Daren Inner circle 2051 Posts |
I bought the destination box about a year ago and can say that it has been my best purchase for a long time.
I have know Jon for some time so I knew the quality of the box would be of the highest quality. Every time I perform (which is every weekend) I never leave home without it (and that's not my credit card) |
Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
I'm not aware of the Rick Thomas routine. I don't believe it would use The Destination Box as the watch would be too big. However, I do use it as a finale to a watch steal.
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
Alym Amlani Inner circle Canada 1464 Posts |
Can other items be loaded into the box (eg a stolen watch?) or does it have to be a card?
Logic Defied
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Daegs Inner circle USA 4291 Posts |
Alym:
Anything that can fit inside the small silver box can be made to appear inside the destination box. However, I should note that if you were to buy the destination box, you could use the knowledge to make your own box of a different size, then the only size limitation would be anything that you could reasonbly move around secretly(palming, stealing, ect) A ring, a small key, or any type of cards work very well in the destination box! Also any color of any brand of cards can be used, with no preperation. If someone hands you a borrowed deck, you can perform the destination box with it. |
Alym Amlani Inner circle Canada 1464 Posts |
I am so tempted to get this but also would like to know how it would play on stage - I'm being booked more on stage right now than I am close-up so I am working on that first.
Also, I notice that your site (Jon) has all prices in pounds. Any way to get a price in USD?
Logic Defied
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Daegs Inner circle USA 4291 Posts |
http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html
It plays *great* on both stage and close-up, however I would recommend getting a vid projector and a camera with it, just because if you use cards with this, usually they are easier to see if you have a close-up camera on you, like many greats do.(btw setting this up isn't as expensive as you might think, and you can easily transfer this setup to your house to watch a drive-in movie on your garage But basically, the illusion of an item appearing inside a locked object that was always handled with empty hands and virtually no "dirty moves", is very strong with this item. Highly recommended! |
Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
Hi Alym,
What I meant by the finale of the watch steal was that the watch ends up not in the small pillbox but in the larger wooden box. Anything that can fit inside the pillbox can be loaded into it. The video that comes with the box describes routines for cards, coins, bills, chains and several type of predictions. The latter would probably work very well on stage, as would a borrowed bill or piece of jewelery. You are only limited by your imagination.... and the size of the pillbox With regard the price, it is easier to work eveything in £s. The exchange rate throws everything for a loop. One day it could £140 could be $250 and the next it could be $76.99! Having checked the exchange rate as of today, for the purposes of the special offer, the box will be $220.
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
It gets even better! I made a mistake with the exchange rate and discount. Instead of $220, I will put the price at $200 including shipping. The box currently retails for $225 (Hocus Pocus are the only dealer who sell it) so while the exchange rate to £s is not quite accurate, the price of $200 will be held for this week.
The retail price on my actual website is incorrect. Sorry for the confusion.
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
Rupert Bair Inner circle ? 2179 Posts |
How much is it £ Jon?
Matt |
Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
Until the 22nd, it's £126. After that, it's £140.
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
JJP161 Special user Columbus, Ohio 509 Posts |
I have to say that I have wanted a Destination Box ever since I first saw it on the "Spectator's Don't Exist" video well over a year ago, and now that Mr. Allen has been so gracious to share this with Café Members at a special price I have finally ordered one. Thank-you again Mr. Allen.
Joe |
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