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dennper
Loyal user
215 Posts
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Posted: Feb 13, 2008 4:26pm
Hi All,
Ok sorry for starting another "best" thread, but specifically looking for what's your favorite 'ice breaker'? This would be something that doesn't involve launching into a routine or buildup, or pulling out props that need introduction (or cards, sorry), or being asked to do something, but just a "there it is" and watch the reactions. Situations might be standing in a group at a cocktail party or something similar. You gain attention and something magical just happens. Ideas?
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Jaz
Inner circle
NJ, U.S.
6113 Posts
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Posted: Feb 13, 2008 5:20pm
I've had fun with an ITR (things move and float), Baumann's 'Metalogic' (spoon bends), Self Folding Bill (the bartender's tip doesn't want to leave me).
If I notice that anyones watching me I do these things as if I'm just screwing around. Believe me, people freak out!
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dennper
Loyal user
215 Posts
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Posted: Feb 15, 2008 3:22pm
Thanks Jaz, that's the kind of things I'm looking for, like a simple coin vanish. Still experimenting with ITR and have a lot of work left to do!
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Jaz
Inner circle
NJ, U.S.
6113 Posts
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Posted: Feb 15, 2008 4:40pm
If you're a smoker then here are some others:
"Color Changing Lighter". A dealer item using a BIC lighter.
Cigarette rise from cig box.
"Cigarama" Cig production routine by Frank Garcia. A similar version by Chanin in Tarbell too.
"Cigarette Up the Nose" by Gary Kosnitzky. Dealer item.
Others.
"Pop Up Tie". Dealer item.
"Self Tying Shoelace". Dealer item.
"Healed and Sealed Soda" by Anders Moden. Dealer item.
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nexile
New user
12 Posts
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Posted: Feb 19, 2008 4:18pm
Have you ever tried to just say hi =) and try not to show anyone anything magical. BUT THEN...after a while completely blow them away? They'll never expect it.
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"Muggs"
New user
Bridgeport, CT
64 Posts
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Posted: Feb 25, 2008 8:16am
Torn and restored cocktail napkin works.
Use the plastic cocktail straws for cut and restored straw, or penetrating straws. The penetrating straws just looks like your tying two plastic straws in a knot while chatting with them and then disolve through each other.
These all seem simple to us but are very surprising to non-magicians.
Muggs
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RiffClown
Inner circle
Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany)
1582 Posts
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Posted: Mar 2, 2008 7:26pm
Testacroce
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
http://www.riffclown.com
Magic is not the method, but the presentation.
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ghageman
Regular user
102 Posts
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Posted: Mar 3, 2008 5:19am
Comedy Prediction by Aldo Colombini. Always breaks the ice for me!
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disneywld
Special user
Denver, CO
597 Posts
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Posted: Mar 7, 2008 11:29pm
I like the paper rose. At events I'll carry a few nail puzzles and ask for help with them. The conversation starts from there.
The Magic of Christopher Manos
www.safetymagicshows.com
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Leland Stone
Inner circle
1195 Posts
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Posted: Mar 9, 2008 12:06pm
Hands down, a Floating Bill effect.
Guy I used to work with killed with this. The stance attracts attention ("Hey, look at that guy over there...what's he doing?" seems to be the crowd's typical attitude -- it's a non-confrontational approach that draws people in).
Besides watching the lighting and avoiding beady-eyed little kids with REALLY good vision, the only problem was follow up material. Nothin' else looked quite as Magical.
www.orangecountybirthdaypartymagicshows.com
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magicwatcher2005
New user
Washington state
86 Posts
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Posted: Mar 10, 2008 5:45pm
Best impromtu effect for me is Stigmata.
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Ken Northridge
Inner circle
Atlantic City, NJ
1723 Posts
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Posted: Mar 10, 2008 6:55pm
Nothing gets people laughing and talking like the $100 bill switch.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com
www.FacePaintingByJen.com
www.KensGospelMagic.com
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magicwatcher2005
New user
Washington state
86 Posts
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Posted: Mar 10, 2008 6:59pm
Also anything with the Riggs butterfly pad
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Angry Viper
New user
Gold Coast, Australia
6 Posts
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Posted: Mar 12, 2008 2:30am
Crazy mans handcuffs, quick, simple and very visual. Never fails to hook people into wanting to see more
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discjockey
Elite user
451 Posts
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Posted: Mar 30, 2008 4:11pm
I've found that doing magic right away for a group of people detracts from your overall performance. (Unless of course you are working a restaurant, for obvious reasons). But if you are strictly performing as a hobby, your best bet is to approach a group and start talking. Work the conversation to match the presentation of your opening effect. Then go from there.
Instead of throwing magic in their faces, you establish yourself first as a person, not a magician.
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daviaac
Veteran user
351 Posts
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Posted: Mar 30, 2008 9:14pm
I just like productions of any kinds the magical the better perhaps use whatever you have just produces a deck of cards from an ungimmicked wallet dave forrest. flowers from nowhere david stone etc
luke
- the secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources
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Magic CPA
New user
77 Posts
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Posted: Mar 31, 2008 1:18pm
Mismade bill. I prefer to start by displaying the mismade bill first (a real attention-getter) and then turning it into a regular $1 bill. This way, nobody knows you're doing a magic trick until the end. The patter I use is "Look what I got from the ATM machine this morning..." I got this idea from the book Switch and it works great.
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Michael Peterson
Inner circle
is where I'm trapped, because of my
4070 Posts
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Posted: Apr 4, 2008 1:16pm
Quote:
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On 2008-03-31 13:18, Magic CPA wrote:
Mismade bill. I prefer to start by displaying the mismade bill first (a real attention-getter) and then turning it into a regular $1 bill. This way, nobody knows you're doing a magic trick until the end. The patter I use is "Look what I got from the ATM machine this morning..." I got this idea from the book Switch and it works great.
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That is excellent!
Mike
If you can and leave me the hell alone of I'll be forced to report you to the moderators.
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Kaarlo von Freymann
Regular user
Finland
183 Posts
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Posted: Apr 4, 2008 4:56pm
Two things I always carry with me: Peter Nardi's wallet and Free Will
Kaarlo von Freymann Helsinki Finland
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mrdane
Regular user
Sacramento / San Francisco
179 Posts
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Posted: Apr 7, 2008 1:38am
For me, pretty much anything with money gets people interested. 5 and 1 or even Fraud. Although I try to start with something from the enviornment such as a sugar packet.
"The Great Danedini"
www.DaneDini.com
@DaneDini
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chernacious
New user
27 Posts
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Posted: Apr 7, 2008 10:48am
What if you were able to pull money out of a sugar packet that you are about to use?
Will probably need a little bit of preparation, but it might leave a good conversational topic.
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todsky
Inner circle
Montreal, Canada
1976 Posts
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Posted: Apr 10, 2008 9:27pm
The haunted hanky: just kneel on the floor and whip out your hanky and wipe the floor, and then make it gerculate. Subtle and effective.
Less subtle: finger flasher with flash cotton really gets people's attention, if you're working a room doing walk-around and you first arrive, it's a good way of signalling that the magician is here. Most don't see the flame directly but peripherally, which kind of makes it more mysterious, and you can just pretend you have no idea where that came from.
I suppose that's more of an ice-melter than an ice-breaker though...
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iambest
New user
61 Posts
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Posted: Apr 11, 2008 2:57pm
How about the new Extreme burn? Just do it while paying at the bar, make sure the girl's watching =0
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J.Buddy
New user
54 Posts
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Posted: Apr 14, 2008 3:52pm
I think a trick that will relate to the moment will work really good, and as someone said above- don't even say anything about doing a magic trick, just casual.
good posts.
J.
Rediscovering the magician inside.
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dragee
New user
52 Posts
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Posted: Apr 15, 2008 2:59am
Do some simple coin vaish and coins across
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WayneCapps
Special user
Charleston, SC
670 Posts
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Posted: Apr 30, 2008 8:15pm
I use Fearson's floating cigerette. You can't go wrong with that. I keep several handy everytime I go out. Nothing better than seeing a guy walk by you at a bar like he is trying to catch a cigertette that is floating away from his mouth. Always kills!
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trickychris
Loyal user
England
217 Posts
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Posted: May 29, 2008 6:41pm
I use the finger flasher. It's good & gets attention. Make a funny comment and boom your in...
and of course fire wallet - bloody brilliant: "is this anyone's" ...fire...boom, your in!
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Andi Peters
Inner circle
1331 Posts
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Posted: May 31, 2008 12:39am
Quote:
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On 2008-05-29 18:41, trickychris wrote:
I use the finger flasher - its good. get attention. make a funny comment and boom your in...
and of course fire wallet - bloody brilliant: "is this anyones" ...fire...boom, your in!
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You sound like Jay Sankey!
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magicsantana
New user
79 Posts
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Posted: Jun 3, 2008 12:14pm
Sponge balls
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MagicAndy
New user
Sussex
18 Posts
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Posted: Jun 10, 2008 6:37am
When I'm at a pub or something, I use the fire wallet if standing next to someone, get it out to pay for your drink and watch as the flames make everyone jump, then close it, look apologetic and say "I guess it's true, money does burn a hole in your pocket." Then open it up and take out your money, people go crazy over that.
All Life is an Illusion, only when you realise that can you appreciate what is truly real.
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