OK, This is more of a joke or brain teaser than a magic trick...
You need a glass shot glass with a tapered inside. Put a dime into the shot glass.
Next a quarter so you cannot see the dime from the top because the quarter is covering it.
The challenge is to get the dime out without touching the quarter, the glass,
table or whatever. You cannot move the glass or dump anything into it.
You cannot take something and push it over either.
The secret is to take a straw and blow into the shot glass. When you blow, the
quarter starts to spin ( because of the tapered edges) and throws the
dime right out on to the table next to the shot glass.
Its neat, it always draws a crowd, everyone wants to know how that's even possible....
because you can't touch it with anything! :-)
I have developed (as far as I know) a simple move for transferring something small from
the right to the left hand. It's very simple.
Have the item concealed in your right hand; Finger/Classic Palmed, whatever. Comment to
the audience that, "Someone always suspects you are 'using' your watch somehow, so
you will take it off".
Okay, move your right hand over to undo the strap. This leaves your left
hand palm up and clearly empty. When removing the watch slide the right hand up your arm
and drop the item into your left palm when the right hand crosses over the left. When the
item transfers rotate the left fist palm down. Very slowly lie the watch in the center of
the table clearly showing the right hand empty. After the trick immediately replace the
watch as people are highly suspicious of it due to the suggestion that others have somehow
believed it is being used. After a four coin disappearance, I have had on-lookers demand
to view/touch the watch to make sure it isn't gimmicked when it has done nothing but sit
there in the center of a table - building suspicion.
So there you are, Bond.
jpayne@express.ca
James Bond Collectibles Website.
http://www.imag.net/~jpayne/007.shtml
Still looking to buy/trade: Goldeneye tie-in Perrier bottles.
I always end up with a smile on my face when I reflect on the evening of my first excursion into performing magic for a large group of strangers, without any co-performers for moral support, and audience expectations running in high gear! Since I survived this initiation into solo entertainment with my ego and sense of humor intact, I thought a summary of some of the evening's highlights might give encouragement to other novice magicians.
Preparing for 4 months prior to this show, I established two goals :
1. ) To entertain the audience.
2. ) To keep performance anxiety and tension (mine, not the audience ! ) to a minimal level.
During the last 6 weeks of preparation , I selected 6 routines that had been well received by lay people in the past. Each routine contained several effects . I wrote scripts, video-taped the performances, used willing neighbors as stand-ins for the future audience and practiced over and over (actually did the entire performance every night for the last month ) until I was so familiar with the script and props and moves that I could totally focus on the audience and participants .
I even made a "check-out- the -facilities" trip , even though the place was 100 miles from my home.!! If this sounds obsessive , I am the first to admit that I was totally obsessed with giving this experience my absolute best professional shot !
Finally, the day of delivering my best entertainment efforts arrived. I used a mental technique that I found helpful in teaching patients facing uncertainty in my medical profession. It is simply creating, controlling and projecting positive mental images . I relied on that extensively . Some of the imagery included "seeing "myself relaxed, having fun, enjoying what I was doing, and inter-acting in a positive, playful manner.
I supplemented that technique with positive "Self-Talk" . A brief example of this is: Changing what you are saying to yourself in your thoughts from, "What if I drop the stacked deck of cards as I hand them to a spectator ?"...to..... "I will be calm and my moves will be exactly right." Or another example of changing self-talk in a helpful, confidence-promoting, reinforcing way could be eliminating this: "What if I screw up every routine and the audience is horrified ?"....to ... " This is going to be such a great experience and I am going to love every moment of it " . Did everything go as planned ? Nope ! A lot of things went "differently" then I had planned. Did I learn a lot from the mishaps ? You bet I did ! From the gamut of : over-use of Flash Paper, a crucial prop that turned out to be flammable (with an audience member pouring an alcoholic flammable drink on the burning prop), an over-helpful participant who dropped the stacked deck of cards and then made up a card's suit and color, to an authentic Native American from the Seneca Nation, gripping the sword in a "spear grip" in a ready- to -attack position and creating hilarious by-play with his antics, to having the waitresses moving an entire section of tables and chairs (where I had hidden "secret" messages), to the other side of the room and having a pre-selected couple who had earlier displayed easy humor and laughter , prior to the show, develop intense stage fright when they came up to the stage.
With all of these unplanned twists and turns , I remembered the "outs" ( some worked, some did not ) that I had in reserve ,"just -in-case". And I also found some of them so funny that I was the first to start laughing ! That gave the audience a cue that it was all right to let out their laughter . Even with some of the un-rehearsed moments interspersed with the planned routines, I could hear the sweet -sounding murmurs of "how did she do that " ?
Remember my two goals? Did I accomplish them ? Yes ! I am still saying prayers of thanks for making every moment so special . The response after the performance was really validating ! I got three offers for future performances (one in Minnesota !). Even the waitresses, M.C. and Country Club (where the event was held ) Director kept exclaiming :"That was the most fun I have had in years " !
My final comment is to do the kind of performances you have practiced for and are sure fits your normal , natural style. Because I have always felt most comfortable with an inter-active comedy style, I tailored the routines to enhance that approach . Success was measured in achieving my two goals . I really appreciate that this forum is available to me, to share my experience.
Magically,
Remember the old Seven Cards, Three Piles trick?? Here is a twist on the revelation!!
Deal the cards out in three columns with 7 cards in each column, tell the observer to look at the cards, pick one, remember the card and the suit and tell you which column it is in. Then pick up the three columns (with the column with the mystery card in it in the middle of the other two columns) and then flip the cards over so that the backs are facing you. Deal the cards out again 3 columns and 7 cards in each row. Do this 3 times, asking each time which column the card is in. Once you finally are done with the 3 times ask the audience if they have heard of the word "Abracadabra"; a word used for finding things. Then you flip the cards over again with the back facing you, and then as you put the first card down say "Abracadabra is spelled, "A-B-R -A-C-A-D-A-B-R-A", one letter for each card. Pause before you say the last "A" and then say "A" and flip over the card and say Abracadabra! It will be their card.
And another idea for a really topical ending...
As we are in 1999, and the millennium is just around the corner, you can
reveal the chosen card by spelling out MILLENNIUM and selecting the next card. Neat, eh?
I am not the originator of this reveal, and can only apologise to them for not remembering
their name.
Martin
EFFECT-The magician instantly (my best time is 0.54 seconds) ties a knot
with one hand!
EQUIPMENT-Just a piece of rope that is at least 2 feet long and a lot of practice time.
WHAT YOU DO- First, get a rope. Now, drape it in between your middle and ring fingers and
over your thumb. Make sure that the end behind your hand is about as long as the other
drape. Then, lightning quick, turn your hand over, grab the part of the rope behind your
hand with your thumb and index finger, shake the loop you have just created off your hand
(still holding on to the rope) and act like you were throwing the rope but hold on to it
for a magical appearance. If you "threw" it hard enough, there will be a
knot in the middle of the rope.
Note: This takes a LOT of practice.
Adam Kosberg
Two things I have been thinking about a lot lately, are presentation and appearance as a magician. Two very important ingredients in any act. In fact they play a major role in a almost everything we do. One of the best lectures I ever saw was given many years ago at the Columbus Magi-Fest by my comedic idol, "Duke" Stearns. He spoke for about two and one half hours and only presented one magic effect. It was all about presentation and appearance. What I guess I'm trying to say is; Always be working on your presentation and appearance. See what fits you, what gives you confidence in your movements on stage. Maybe you want a musical act, or silent pantomime, perhaps comedy or a lot of talking with a sharp banter. Remember to look at the audience in the eyes, to see if it works, they usually tell the truth. Above all else, seek out the answers, or criticisms from some entertainers who have been there and done that. Don't be afraid of constructive criticism. Sometimes it will sting, but hey, you'll be the better for it.
As for appearance - clean, crisp, colorful, flashy, show, glitz - whatever, look different! Don't look like Uncle Bill who stops by a once in awhile and does a couple of tricks, unless of course your name is Bill and you are the uncle. I remember one time in the Civic Center seeing the "Great Kreskin" keep the audience spellbound for half an hour with the Invisible Deck. What a presentation that was. So much of what we do, and whether it is good or bad, is just a matter of opinion. But one thing I do know is, "Keep the magic in your smile!" That works-And have fun.