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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts 
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I do sponge balls.
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Tukaram Loyal user Iloilo, Philippines 227 Posts
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I have always enjoyed sponge balls - and the audience seems to enjoy them too - a good combination when we both are enjoying ourselves
And I have mentioned on other sponge ball topics that here in the Philippines many of what we think of as old or classic effects are brand new. I am perfoming them for people who have never seen them before. Quite fun. |
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 29, 2015, Pop Haydn wrote: There ya go! Bravo!
I have a set of 2 inch red Goshman SuperSofts, but I like being different. Blue J Surprise seems to tell a better story. It's classy. It's really geared for women, but it's played strong for men and kids too! The Sponge Bunnies are my next choice. I need a good set. Eddie Ace has been carving custom sponge for magician's for many years. His sponge rabbits are the best! These: http://www.thecuckoosnest.com/zencart/ze......_id=5892 Doug |
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1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4388 Posts
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Dougini,
I think there is nothing better than Daryl's sponge rabbit/bird. They aren't sophisticated sponge carvings, but they really lend themselves to unique magic. These are about the only ones I use. I love doing the "what would you like for me to produce? the bunny, or the bird?" It plays well for adults and kids and they both enjoy it on different levels. KJ |
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sirbrad Inner circle PA 2096 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 14, 2015, Theodore Lawton wrote: Yeah exactly, there seems to be a common misconception that spongeballs are just for kids, or that they lack entertainment value or are too simple etc. WRONG! In fact the opposite is true, spongeballs kill because they are simple in form and easy to understand. It was a spongeball routine that actually got me into magic 34 years ago as a kid as I had no idea how the magician made the spongeballs multiply, vanish, appear, and what really floored me was when he made them appear in my hand! That moment is what started my lifelong magic journey, and little did I know that I would be doing that same routine for over three decades for all ages. Kids love them, and elderly love them but so do all the ages in between. I also use the 3D rabbits which people love. They are colorful, and as stated already "classy" especially if they are bright and clean. I always use clean new ones. I have seen magicians use some old, dirty, dull nasty ones which is not as good or as visually appealing. But everyone loves them and can relate to a ball. My buddy Ben Salinas does a great job on the DVD "The Encyclopedia of Spongeball Magic" which is a great introductory course and reference guide. So I am not sure what "style" spongeballs would not fit into. It would seem to me that the more creative and versatile that one is they can make anything work. But it is also important that you enjoy it. Otherwise it will be a chore for you to do and your audience may catch on. Because when you enjoy what you do it shows, and others will enjoy it as well. It is not just about the audience as some say, and you should not torture yourself doing tricks just because you think you are making them happy. Your performance will suffer if you do that, as will your motivation to keep doing it. But when you are passionate about what you do it shows, and others will appreciate it even more.
The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method or procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers. -- Harry Houdini
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts
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If you like the idea of being different, go to Google Images and type in Eddie Ace sponge carvings. Look at the rabbits, chickens and penguins! Teddy bears, turtles and kangaroos! Here are a few I like, plus Bone Appetit.:
http://www.tabmantables.com/spongemagic.html Try and find Eddie's Smokey Bear set and routine. That's a good one! Plus look for his Sponge Gremlins! I'll put a pic up for ya! Click here to view attached image. |
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1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4388 Posts
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Dougini,
Wow! I had never seen these! I just purchased the Tortoise to Hare. These are museum pieces. Thanks for sharing! KJ |
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts
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My pleasure. They are getting kinda scarce. They are my choice sponges though.
Doug |
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Jan Schattling New user Hamburg, Germany 89 Posts
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Sponge balls are fun and after reading some of the posts here I still think that these are more versatile than some people think.
You can for sure do some mentalism with them and I really would love to see a big stage act with giant sponge balls.
As for me I used them for shows but always found them to fragile and hard in maintance to keep them on me for everyday impromptu situations.
"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." - Lee Jun-fan
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Prometheus Special user Europe 524 Posts
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On Apr 15, 2015, Theodore Lawton wrote: There are quite some mentalists using cards and coins in their presentations. And you won't ever see mentalists doing tricks.
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Prometheus |
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widuk New user 71 Posts
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On Apr 12, 2015, Ollie wrote: Some tricks can be done with paper balls, like napkins. You could learn some. I like them more, I think it is more "real" and I like impromptu magic. |
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magicsecure New user 80 Posts
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Well you can try to incorporate sponge into your trick line up but if you don't like it don't do it
have fun with magic or just find a sponge trick you like the color change is a fun trick |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts
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I guess it's my turn at bat!
First, I'll contribute a few thoughts. Sponge balls are PROPS. IMO, they're no more childish than 12" silks. (There's a difference between CHILDISH, and CHILDLIKE!) I hope that I'm never too old to pet a puppy or a kitten. When I started using sponge balls,in the mid 1940s, I went to the dime store (!) and bought a bath sponge. It was about the size of half a brick. It was dark red, and somewhat resembled a chunk of Swiss cheese. I cut off a chunk and then, using manicure scissors, I trimmed off all the 'corners' until it was somewhat ball shaped. I repeated the process, and I had a pair of sponge "balls". I used a simple pair of sponge balls in my high school program for years, and, they always got laughs and applause. When my friend, Al Goshman developed a technique to make nice ROUND balls, each of which were "very much like the other", I nearly tore my underwear getting out my wallet! Like friend Lawton, I've used them for both men and women, boys and girls. Admittedly, the female of the species, usually reacts more than the male, but guys do appreciate them. Possibly, it's the tactile sensation! So, I repeat my comment at the other end of this thread: NO! Don't do sponge balls! Let ME do them. I like the laughs and applause!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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sirbrad Inner circle PA 2096 Posts
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Yeah I also cut my own out of a sponge as a kid before I had money to order them, and I am very crafty and artistic so it was not that hard. But I loved it when I got my first official set. People love when the rabbits multiply in their hand, especially girls and kids but a lot of males also love them too. Some just try and hind it.
 They also love the growing spongeball.
The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method or procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers. -- Harry Houdini
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zoescout New user Washington 48 Posts
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Although I don't use them very often anymore, I think sponge balls is something most new magicians should learn. They are easy to carry around and get surprisingly good reactions. More importantly they are relatively easy to do and just plain fun! I don't think they are just for kids, I can get big smiles from adults most every time.
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wwhokie1 Special user 512 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 11, 2015, Ollie wrote: Simple, if it doesn't fit your style don't do it. But make sure it is your style that is causing this choice and not just some negative view toward sponge balls. As you said, "reactions are always insane". There is a reason for these reactions. Reactions like that are why I do magic. But I won't do magic that I don't enjoy. I do enjoy sponge balls. |
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts
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Some sponge routines really raise the bar over the standard. Blue J Surprise being just one. What, there was..."Cloned", wasn't there? And Chicago Ball Trick?
Doug |
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JonathanB New user Hampshire, UK 67 Posts
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I've just ordered a set of balls and am going to look at the Mark Wilson routine in the Complete Course book... hoping I'll have more success with this as a beginner than with coins!
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts
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SHEESH! POP!
See what happens when a couple of guys confess to using those dumb sponge ball things! Now, all these new guys will start doing them. Hekk! There goes half of my act!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts
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Posted: Apr 30, 2015 03:55 am 
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