|
|
Noel D Regular user 197 Posts |
I ahve some ropes where the ends have black electrical tape. This is so the end won't fray, and also to provide a nice contrast with the rest of the rope, which is white. Since the routine involves pullig off the end sof the rope, it lets the spectator undeniable see the ends are off and not anything else.
How do I introduce the rope without making it sound odd. I want to explain the ends, but saying "it's so the rope won't fray, doesn't seem convincing enough. If I could make some sort of joke about it or have a reason for the tape beign there, that would be great. Does anyone have any sugestions? (I searched and found topics about how to stop the rope from fraying, but not about how to explain the tape/glue on it, which is what I'm trying to do.) |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
If you tuck the ends and put in a couple stiches or a bit of glue it is far less obvious than black tape and doesn't require explanation.
Steve V |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
You're anticipating what people will be thinking, when most of them are just watching. If you actually perform it and have several people holler out "what's with the black ends?" then you're right, but I'm betting it's all in your mind and it will never happen. Just do the trick and see how it plays. If anyone does ask the question, you can always say, "That's my little secret" since the black ends have nothing to do with the trick... right?
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Still there is no reason to using black tape unless you are asking for people to question you. Stop using it now or stop wondering.
Steve V |
Noel D Regular user 197 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-11 02:24, Steve V wrote: That seems a bit harsh. I don't work in the Nicest conditions, and the MAIN reason I'm using the tape besides holding the ends together is so that the ends or the rope are noticed. Since the routine involves plucking the ends on and off the rope, I want them to KNOW the ends are coming off (not really) rather than a piece of rope. So far, the only ideas I have are Introduce the rope. "Here I have an ordinary rope, just like you'd find in any bedroom (Thank you, Mr Haydn!). Well, almost. This has black ends, so its like the opposite of a magic wand, because this one actually does something." Then hand the ropes out for examination, get them back and do the trick. Steve V, I understand your reasons, but I really would prefer to keep the tape on rather than use glue, since glue doesn't accentuate the end of the rope. Spellbinder, I haven't tried the routine yet, but I just want to cover this in case it comes up. Thank you both for your help. Do you think the above lines, along with an examination would be enough to prove the rope is real? Thank you both, Noel Dominguez |
Ron Reid Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 2732 Posts |
Hi Noel:
I use the method Steve mentions, but I also use a line from Daryl's rope routine which I'll share with you. The line is said as the rope are being passed out for examination, "You will notice the ends of the rope have been dipped in glue (or taped). I do that for the same reason we all have feet (pause...pause). You see, our feet prevent our legs from fraying out at the ends." I like saying that line. Not a huge laugh getter, but an interesting way of telling the audience why the ends are glued (or taped). It always gets a little chuckle. Ron |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
You've solved your own problem: "Here I have an ordinary rope, just like you'd find in any bedroom. Well, almost. This has black ends, so its like the opposite of a magic wand, because this one actually does something."
Now everyone is going to put black tape on the ends of their ropes (except Steve V, of course)just so they can use your lines. Go forth and do good magic.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
Sometimes, when you have a bug in software, the developer tells you that it's not a bug, it's an undocumented "feature."
Thus we can take a perceived weakeness and turn it into a feature. Daryl's line is good, but you mention that you remove the ends duriong your routine. Why don't you tell the spectators that while you were developing your skills with ropes, you often lost track of the ends, what with all that white rope, so you just marked them with black tape. Then continue. Later, when you remove the ends you have a callback (e.g., "I wouldn't have noticed that the ends were removed if it weren't for this tape.") Even later, you might notice some black tape on your finger, a prop, or something else, point it out, and say that it's there to mark the end of the show. 0pus |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Gee, I'm sorry if I'm so mean. Here is a shocker gang...they make white tape. There is no reason to use black tape. Since you prefer to use the black tape and your request for thoughts were, for some reason, baseless, then I suggest you do what ever it is you want. Oh, while the line about the wand is creative I would then assume that you do not use a wand in your act?
Steve V |
tctahoe V.I.P. Lakeland Fl. 731 Posts |
Gotta go with Steve V. on this.
People brought up Whit and Daryl, both wonderful professional entertainer (and friends) neither of which use black tape. I think, especially if you are doing a routine in which you remove the ends and I assume put them back, you are just opening up “he’s using magnets” thoughts from your audience. It takes only a couple of moments to stitch up the ends. |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
I have a cut and restored rope called "Radical Rope" by Bob King.
The poly rope is yellow with red, taped ends. The ends are knotted together. The rope is cut, the red knotted ends is in center and an end without red tape hangs down. When restored, the two red ends are back where they belong and the knot is gone. In this routine the contrasting ends can be very convicing and needs no explaination. |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
As an added note I don't quite understand why you need to accentuate the ends of the ropes. Unless the audience is visually impaired and you are using white rope with a white suite on and a white floor and white back ground the typical person would still be able to see the ends of the rope.
Steve V |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
Noel prefers the contrast for this effect.
It does add a new dimension to these types of illusions. In the case of "Radical Rope" the tape is essential. For Professor's Nightmare and other effects I use Elmers Glue on the ends, not tape. I don't really see a need to explain the tape unless asked about it. "Word of the day is 'aglet': A sheath of plastic, on the end of a lace, cord, or ribbon used to prevent fraying and to facilitate its passing through eyelet holes." |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
I also don't see the need to explain it. I watched a guy do a sponge ball routine once and didn't have enough balls of the same color so he tossed in another color. No one said a word.
Steve V |
Noel D Regular user 197 Posts |
Well, I bit the bullet and tried the routine out.
It worked wonderfully. I said nothing about the tape, and when one group (it was a walkaround-ish type thing) asked why the tape was there, I simply said so the rope won't "magically multiply" mid-trick. Not sure if the line was funny, but they laughed, and since they examined the ropes before and after, no one gave the ends a second though. It seems like my topic was more or less pointless then, but nonetheless, thank you all for your help. |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Knots and loops » » Explaining the tape? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |