I agree, the bloody part is not recommended. For some reason however, the audience views tricks with animals differently than tricks with humans. While they may not say anything about a wrist chopper or cutting a volunteer in half, they most certainly have a different opinion about what we do with our doves.

It's just human nature. People are concerned with the welfare of animals. Everyone thinks they need to be an animal rights activist. I don't believe anyone actually believes we rip the head off of a dove, but they are concerned with what happens to the head when they can't see it on the dove where it's supposed to be.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Fielding West. He has pulled the head off of a dove in his act for years. His is a comedy act and it's funny when he does it.

Fielding West does this in his show. IF you get his dvd. Which is a good buy in and of itself, he goes over the workings on how to make it work well. He also does this for a large group and his method allows for this. Very visual and funny. I just noticed that daktari said this aswell so I will stop now.

Posted: Nov 19, 2006 8:18pm
http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/?hn=1

It is a great trick to me. It gives more mystery to the audience. If it is passed to others by word of mouth, it will be the positive, questionable and entertaining manner. The only audience I perfer not to do this trick in front of is senior citizens at a nursing home.

I did Ozzy last halloween. You can tuck it's head under the wing. Toss the palmed jumbo marshmallow into the air and catch it in your mouth. Just then the producer calls out on the loudspeaker "Ozzie, it's supposed to be a bat!" With blood running down his chin, Ozzy says "Oh bloody hell!" and "spits" the head back on to the bird. But yeah, it must be done without a hiccup before anyone get's their panties in a bind!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2......&theater

I named one of my doves, "Ozzy".

I think I saw someone with a fake head attached to a white "animal balloon. They did a quick "stretching the neck" of the dove with a few quick tugs and then restored the dove. If you cant buy a fake head you could make one easy enough with white Sculpey clay.

That's Fielding West's addition, yes.