I am a close up guy. my wife and I recently had our first child so I figure I might as well start putting a little routine together for kids. I love the die box and would like to include it but I have a few questions.

1 - which die box is a good one to get. I have seen the mel babcock (which I belive is a normal die box), the rainbox die box, one by I think owens where one side actually detaches and I saw one recently that had two die in it.

2 - any good routines out there to study. I don't want to do the basic "sucker" type effect.

3 - I'll take any suggestions on other effects to add for kids.

Hello:

I have bought a number of die boxes through the years, and like the Babcock version the best - he makes different sizes, so you can choose. The rainbow version and the Owen box seem more for collectors than performers, so I'd go for the standard die box if you're looking to perform it. Mel Babcock makes beautiful apparatus.

Congratulations on your first child, by the way!

Ron

Aside from the basic die box routine, there is a pretty good one in "The Comedy Magic Textbook" by David Roper. It's a hardcover book that David Ginn published.

- Donald

I love my Milson/Worth Die Box.
Its just a lovely piece and well designed.

Click here to view attached image.

Not an expert on choosing the right die box but here are some lines I use.

OK, I'll level with you... ya got me... LOOK OVER THERE! (The kids all look, tilt it back. Adults love this one)

Oh no it is'nt! (You know where this goes)

The OTHER door = No no no I don't need anymore.... thank you.

The OTHER side = The ladies cried? No no no she's fine

The OTHER side = Em no. Em I have arthritis.

But before I open that door, Do you think I should open this door again? (NO!) Great! lets do that then!

I have tonnes more lines, but god its so hard to write them down. Reading back over my grammer and spelling here I am cringing...

If the kids don't want to KILL you by now. You're doing something wrong.

To veer it away from a sucker trick, the last line I use is:
The four doors! NOOooooo (you know where this goes) and after that dyes down. Start 'crying' I'm not much a magician really. I need your guys help. Will you help me (The kids will probalby scrrem no!) PLEASE (sounding desperate) repeat as required with a bit of luck you will have to repeat that a few times. Magic words wigiling fingers and milk then ending.

God I love this one.
-

I highly recommend Mel Babcock's See-Thru Block Box:

http://www.nwi.net/~magicmel/seethru.html

Best for kids as it uses a block instead of a die and it does not work the same as other die boxes. It fools magicians not in the know.

Only drawback might be that you have to find a different way to reproduce the block since a s***l is not used.

This is a real fooler, and if Mel still makes these it is a great bargain. I would not trade it for the two other fine die boxes in my magic room.

Andy

I have used one in the manner Sordini writes about. I think it was a mistake for me looking back though.

..."If the kids don't want to KILL you by now. You're doing something wrong."

That's exactly what I try to avoid. You see, no matter what you do before or after that feeling they get, THAT is the feeling that may stick out for them forever more. I would rather them be my friend, or look up to me. You can be a hero for some. In my town I am so well known from school shows, I constantly get stopped by kids while I'm out, I try to encourage them inside and outside of a show.

I'm not putting down anyone else, it works for them, but there are many ways to use this prop without becoming an enemy. I have painted characters on the block and told a story before.

For kids, why not Pizzadigitation. It's a pizza microwave with a sliding pie, and to me has more of a reason for being than the normal die box, which is a great gizmo, but doesn't have a very intuitive explanation. You have to explain how you got a die and what it represents, etc. While some, like Gene Anderson and his Mother Hubbard routine, do this very well, it seems easier to me with a prop that is, well, "less propy."

Thanks for the great input....really appreciate it

Mel manufactures two versions of the Okito re-appearing block box (I'm not certain of the exact name, but they're on his web site). Either of these allow the vanished block from the Die Box to visibly "re-appear" in a previously empty rectangular open-topped box.

The latest version permits the re-appeared block to be be removed from the second box.
For a quick reference, check his Instant Transposition which utilizes such a box.

(Mel will make the Okito style re-appearing box for either kind of block.)

Julie

I think sucker effects are good for teenaged audiences. I often like to open them them or in the early part of the show. It takes them down and notch and helps keep them interested. For younger kids, I usually like to make me the sucker of sucker tricks and I give the kid the credit for the magic.

Jim

There's another one for kids . . . Adair's crown jewel box. Check it out. Especially good for birthday girls of a certain age (4-6) who do the whole princess thing.