[quote]On 2004-11-08 20:28, Bob Sanders wrote:
But David and Cynthia,

My act does come from WalMart!

I have used the clothesline for over twenty-five years. It is my favorite magic rope!

Bob,
Really? The same rope for 25 years. Isn't it worn out and dirty after 25 years? (lol)

What's EMT?

This really happened to me in Tempe, Arizona quite a few years ago. I was sitting by myself in a Japanese restaurant, reading Kaplan's The Fine Art of Magic. I was in Tempe on a business trip, and I wasn't carryig any props. The waitress interrupted me and asked if I was a magician. (She'd seen the title of the book!) Upon hearing my positive reply, she took me to the manager of the place. The manager explained that there was a party going on in one of the private rooms, and the magician that the restaurant had hired for this special event had just called and was unable to perform. She asked if I could help out.

I stepped out the front door, and looked up and down the street. There was a Walgreens store a few doors down. I went in and quickly bought:

A couple of decks of cards
A Sharpie
A metal container (a planter of some kind)
Rope
Cheap pair of scissors
Safety pins
Thread
And a roll of quarters as $10 in change!

I did a show that included a a card set (with Haunted Pack and Ambitious Card), a nice rope sequence, and the Miser's Dream. The audience was incredibly receptive and enthusiastic. (I'm not sure if the manager told them about the other magician not showing up.) As I'm writing about this, the feeling that I had then is the same as the feeling that I'm having right now: total exhileration!

I don't blame you...what an inspiring story!

Thank you for sharing it!

EMT is the steel tubing (pipe) used to protect electrical wires. It is very cheap, comes in 10' lengths, and very useful in stage magic. It will cut with a small tubing cutter and there are many joints available to make it into a giant tinker toy project. The 1/2" fits Eureka table bases. The 3/4" is the most useful in general. Here a 10' piece will sell for $1.75-$6.00 depending on who saw you coming. It makes great stands, curtain rods, flag poles, etc.

Lucy and I couldn't have a stage show with out it.

Bob
Magic By Sander

As for EMT:

Would it be what I would call conduit?

And can I assume, then, that the stuff has been replaced by PVC tubing and that's why it's no longer available?

***

And, for those few who think this is a hypothetical question and no "real" magician would do this: think again! Re-read my earlier post and those of others who, for whatever reason, HAD to do this. As for my situation, I had a long-term contract with the cruise line, and I couldn't just "not do" the show. I think that the fact that we were still able to perform under these conditions is a testiment to our abilities and professionalism, not evidence to the contrary.

Yes, conduit is another name for it. However, it is readily available at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. PVC is not a total replacement. It is cheaper! PVC breaks under stress. Conduit bends.

Bob
Magic By Sander

Payne writes: "It appears that I'm another senseless victim of spellcheck."

Sorry, I didn't realize that spellcheck also destroyed one's sense of humor! <G>

What?

Woolworth is still strong in the UK and Germany....

I would go to Walmart, buy a gallon of water, pay with a 10-Dollar-Bill, and then, with the change, I would perform a little bit of coin magic.

Magixx

Multiplying Toasters

I bought some fake apples to juggle with, some fake peppers possibly for fire eating, and two 12 inch gold rings...i can cut one open and search for that two-ring routine I hear everyone talking about .

Something else we get from Walmart FREE are 5-gallon buckets from the bakery department. Lucy does a giant cups and balls with them. They also make good containers on the road for carrying things, ditching things, or just a place to sit.

Bob
Magic By Sander

Bob, do you buy WalMart's stock? You should

Posted: Jan 9, 2005 3:44am
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I forgot to mention get the napkin tissue, rubber cement and make the paper hat tear.

When I was younger I was once asked to do a show for some people at a gathering I was attending. I got some styrofoam cups and rolled some wet tissue paper into balls and dried them and was able to do cups and balls on the spot. For the final load you can really use anything available. Use rocks if you need to (Hey this trick really rocks!).

You could buy some ropes and do an escape, cheap silverware and do spoon bending, and cards are good for a few hours anyway. There is always the kids "magic" kits available <grin>. You too can become a magician.

Another thing you can buy (just though of it) is some chap sticks and do a cigarette routine making them appear and disappear and pull them out from everywhere.

I guess I probably wouldn't even need to go to the store since there are so many everyday items already around everywhere that can be part of the show.

- Brian Nadworny

You guys are something else. I couldn't imagine having to run down to Wal-mart and get enough stuff to do a show with. I would say that only a portion of my tricks could be replicated at Wal-mart. I am truly impressed. It makes me want to get more diversified!

I'd buy some cards a couple of ropes and maybe a handkerchief.

You can find the parts for a fine vanishing milk tumbler.

We have the same ethical code. I am a vendor and Wal-Mart treats us like common criminals and low lifes. I have to service them but do not shop them. Any magic ideas to make Wal-Mart dissappear?

Well I too have to say I would not shop in a walmart because I feel that they are single handedly killing the world. I have found that you can get a lot of magic ideas walking through hobby lobby or any other craft store. I have made a silk production cage and I am thinking about ideas for a giant card rise.