Monthly Archives: September 2011
Crystal Mental Die by Magic Wagon
Crystal Mental Die by Magic Wagon
Crystal Clear Perfection
I just found my favorite Magic Wagon effect…and that is hard for me to say, since I’ve had dozens of favorites.
I’ve used this, and it delivers seamlessly, every time. I’ve had people examine it, then place their selection in the box with me in another room. I call out the selection… and I am nowhere near the box. It is inexplicable.
I love the design of this piece. It’s exquisite. It looks mysterious, but very special…almost unworldly, and wizardly. It lends itself to dozens of story lines and explanations. The mechanics function perfectly, and signal you in a purposely redundant way…you will not miss the needed clue.
If this piece is a sign of things to come from Magic Wagon, I’m riding along with them.
Source: Crystal Mental Die
Dragon’s Altar by Magic Wagon
Dragon's Altar by Magic Wagon
Dragon’s Never Looked Better
I really want to meet the team at Magic Wagon, and find out what makes them tick. Effect-after-effect, they keep on exceeding expectations.
I know this little micro-magic gem is based on classic principles, but I’ve never seen the illusion presented with such elegance. The workings are precise, and the craftsmanship is impeccable. Just what you would expect from "the Wagon."
I do agree with Andy Martin’s assessment. I’ve managed to trim several steps from the suggested routine, and still attain the intended effect. But, that’s not a criticism. This piece is as close to perfect as micro-magic can be.
Source: Dragon’s Altar
Aromatic Divination by Louis Gaynor
Aromatic Divination by Louis Gaynor
A Classic Just Got Classier
Mr. Gaynor has a reputation to maintain, and he’s done it here with this re-invention of a classic ESP effect. The method used to divulge the order of the chips (or coins, or other similar objects), is not new. What’s new is the beautiful care put into this version of an old and classic trick.
The craftsmanship is second-to-none, and the workings are as smooth as can be. I wouldn’t have titled it "Aromatic" necessarily, as wood will dry out after awhile, and the aroma will be less-evident. But the dynamic coloring from the premium woods used in this piece make for an impressive, and workable design.
Source: Aromatic Divination
Cesaral Mental Mind Calculator by Cesaral
Cesaral Mental Mind Calculator by Cesaral
I love this Calculator!
This is my favorite effect from the $link(nd=gallery&keywords=Cesaral,Cesaral guys). The calculator looks clean and can be minutely examined, it also works as a basic calculator. Yet at any time you can control precisely what numbers are displayed on the screen – it can be in a box when it happens and you never need to touch it.
The method involves some pretty high-end electronics and the update to the calculator is just a remote button push away. Normally, I would not buy an electronic piece of magic that looked so obviously electronic. However, this one really looks clean. I kind of ignored this when I first saw it, but thanks to a compelling description by John Mendoza on ebay I picked it up and could not be happier with it.
The only issue it has is you have to pull out the batteries from the calculator if you are not going to be using it, as they will quite quickly drain down otherwise.
Source: Cesaral Mental Mind Calculator
Leather Coin Purse by Goshman
Leather Coin Purse by Goshman
Unique little coin pouch
This is a great little coin pouch. It does not look like a lady’s coin purse as many of them do. It has a very unique look to it. I have a few of them and always use them when table hopping because of a unique feature. Your spectators will not be able to easily open this purse! Have you ever performed a routine with a coin purse and had the spectator open the purse a bit early? kind of ruins the whole effect. The unique inside clasp on this pouch requires that you fiddle with it a bit before you open it. I can easily catch my spectators before they open the pouch. This is invaluable when entertaining a group. Once you are familiar with the pouch, it only takes you a second to open it.
This coin pouch also fits easily in the palm, and can be handled magically in routines just like a Jumbo coin. Get two pouches and shuttle pass for a secret change of contents, Have a pouch disappear, or appear. It’s very easy with this pouches size shape and no outer clasp (It’s a bit smaller than a jumbo coin however )
Source: Leather Coin Purse
Spelling Bee by Daytona Magic
Spelling Bee by Daytona Magic
Spelling bee board
This is a great versatile effect that can be used for a variety of shows. Well built and customizable, the board shows a word spelled with separate letters, you turn the board around, remove the letters, shuffle them face down and either you or a volunteer randomly puts them back into the board. when the board is turned around again to face the audience, the original (or a different) word has been spelled perfectly. Great effect, seemingly impossible, and it works just as well for adults as it does for a family or children’s audience.
A great prop that I use often. especially when I’m asked to perform at a themed show and I need a custom trick quick. Superhero show? have the word spell a hero’s name. Corporate show? have the company’s name or their product written on the board. Recycling show, have the letters spell recycle. Child’s birthday? have the letters spell the child’s name!
You are limited to words with the same number of letters in it than your board can hold. Smaller words will work also. Sometimes the bottom of the prop will separate a bit causing the letters to fall through the crack, but a bit of tape or glue and it’s an easy fix. this is a well built solid prop (block of wood and plexiglass) that will last a long time. the letters may need replacing after a few years though.
Source: Spelling Bee
Peanut Butter and Jelly Trick by Metempirical Magic
Peanut Butter and Jelly Trick by Metempirical Magic
PB and J
This is a great effect, that I’ve been using in my magic shows for younger children for years! It’s well built and can get great reactions depending on how you routine the effect.
A very simple effect with a peanut butter jar and a jelly jar that changes places underneath a couple of black covers. The covers are strong, flexible, and after using my set for years seem to show no sign of wear. the peanut butter jars look great and they look like glass jars thanks to the perspex, they are plastic though and very solid. You must supply your own jelly jars. I went with glass jars so I have to be careful, but if you are rough with your props you may want to find some nice plastic jars of jam.
Two challenges with this effect. First off, it’s a piece that requires a good routine to get a good reaction. I’ve seen a standing ovation for this effect ( really, no kidding! ) and I’ve seen this done terribly More often then not it gets a good reaction, but please give it some thought, throw away the included routine and create a good original routine and you’ll be surprised how well you can do. The second point, and it could almost be seen as funny. a few times it’s been mentioned to me and once a lady came running up to me in the middle of my show concerned because a child in the audience had peanut allergies. We know the peanut butter jars are props, but our audiences don’t and it could cause problems if the children are close up. Before every show like that I always mention to the staff that the pb jars are fake.
Source: Peanut Butter and Jelly Trick
Topsy Turvy Soda Bottles by Wack-o-Magic
Topsy Turvy Soda Bottles by Wack-o-Magic
Topsy Soda
This is a great version of the Topsy Turvey bottles. I’ve enjoyed using it many times this past summer. The use of cola bottles makes the trick appear more impromptu, you can be drinking from the bottle during your show until you get to the effect, call a child up and use the bottle you were drinking from. When the trick is done you can give the child the bottle he was handling, or finish drinking from your bottle and move into another effect utilizing the bottle ( cap in bottle, coin in bottle, ect.) The cola bottles also look more appropriate then the "black cherry soda" version. No matter how often I’d reinforce the bottles are "black cherry SODA’ Every so often a child will call out that I’m using beer bottles. Another bonus to using the bottles is they are unbreakable when they hit the floor, and you can go to the local variety store to buy a replacement.
There are a few challenges with this prop. Being from Canada, I can’t go to the local store to buy a replacement bottle as they are different sizes up here! Also you can’t show the magicians tube empty. During a carefully crafted routine this is not a problem, but I could not continue to use a finale I usually perform with a normal tube anymore ( I’d dip the tube behind a table and reach through the top for another bottle) the "gimmick" in the tube prevented this. Other than these small challenges this is a great prop and is recommended!
Source: Topsy Turvy Soda Bottles
Acrobatic Fish by Viking Mfg.
Acrobatic Fish by Viking Mfg.
Acrobatic Fish
This is a wonderful "sucker" type of an effect. I’ve been using it to open my "pirate" themed shows for years, but it works well for all my shows. The effect has you show a fish on a pole that is dangling from a rope, and two other ropes are dangling from the pole as well. You state the fish will jump to another rope and you do it the first couple times by turning the pole around behind your back. the audience sees what your are doing and they go wild. The final time, when everyone thinks they know how it’s done, the fish "jumps" to the middle fishing line. Just when everyone is reacting to the "sucker" moment the kicker ending has 3 fish appear each on the end of each string. This effect is a version of the "monkey bar" trick and is also available with silks.
The Acrobatic Fish is a well built prop. the fish are bright and shiny and the tube is strong and has a shiny reflective strip on it. I’ve performed it for very large groups and everyone has a clear view of the fish and the pole. Many other effects of this nature are not so visible. After touring with this prop I’ve found keeping a role of double sided sticky tape handy is helpful. After a few heavy summers of 2-3 shows a day sometimes the fish’s googly eyes fall off, or the plugs at the end of the tubes come unstuck. This is from heavy use though, and is not a reflection of the well built prop itself.
Very bright, visible prop
Well built, and easily repaired if necessary
Fish theme makes patter lines easy
Source: Acrobatic Fish
