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ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
What is your favorite "really cheap" stage illusion that you have actually used? It can be anything made from cheap or on-hand materials such as pasteboard, bedsheets, scrap lumber, PVC pipe, old appliances, beat-up furniture, etc. It can also be a cheap addition to an existing routine. I know there are references out there such as those from U.F. Grant and Jim Gerrish, but I am looking for things you have actually used on-stage.
For me MANY years ago, it was a quasi-Modern Cabinet production made from a refrigerator box. The idea came from a book I found in the local library. (I wish I could remember the titled of the book, because I created many neighborhood shows from this book.) More recently (and I have posted this before), I simply had my then-six-year-old daughter step out from behind a table where she had been hiding during a routine to be produced from behind a six-foot silk.
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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markparker Veteran user Singapore 350 Posts |
I would refer to the Ralph Adams book for inspiration it comes with a video tape if you can get hold of a copy...its a great book and the video has a very young Jonathan Pendragon assisting him for a them park show...the material appears very dated but its very inspiring stuff...he had great thinking.
Hope that helps
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ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
Thanks, but I have all of the books (I love to watch the Adams video), and I'm not looking for anything to perform. I would just like to know what others have used/are using that produces great audience reactions on the cheap.
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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mvmagic Inner circle Has written 1322 Posts |
An appearing girl illusion using black art, back in 1997. It literally just came together...I had a good looking work table (sturdy, heavy worn-looking piece) at hand and found some surplus theater blacks stashed away below the stage. Some duct tape and an hour of light testing it was put together and featured on the show the next day. The original black art material is gone but I was given the table which I still have. I have used it at times but generally its stored away as its a heavy thing to haul around.
Sent from my Typewriter
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Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3660 Posts |
I have used painted, and garland trimmed appliance boxes for the production of Santa Claus in a mall. And you know what, it was the effect that counted, especially for the little ones!
2 Nesting Boxes - Free 3" Wide Tape Trim (to reinforce edges) - $2.00 for the roll Red Garland Trim (to decorate the front) - Abt. $3.00 worth Green Poster Paint - Abt. $5.00 A couple of hours to put together, longest part....wating for the paint to dry! (Reason for using these was they were extremely light, played big, and were able to be presented in the performing area I was given, unlike some illusions I already had.) Blair
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Stanyon Inner circle Landrum, S.C. by way of Chicago 3433 Posts |
Victory Cartons!
FWIW
Stanyon
aka Steve Taylor "Every move a move!" "If you've enjoyed my performance half as much as I've enjoyed performing for you, then you've enjoyed it twice as much as me!" |
Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3660 Posts |
Isn't that what I said??
As the book was called Victory Carton Illusions which one did you make and find the most effective. As I said, mine was Nesting Boxes. Blair
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I built an Arabian Tent when I was in high school and changed the handling and setup on it. It even fooled the backstage crew when I performed it at a convention.
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Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3660 Posts |
Alan, If you see some of Mark Wilson's handlings for this prop they are amazing. They are on one of his illuion DVD's.
Blair
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Lou Hilario Inner circle 2235 Posts |
Cardboard Sword Box with 18 wooden spikes and the Voodoo Box with 22 umbrellas. I made an aluminum stand with casters for both and that's the most expensive part I spent for it.
Magic, Illusions, Juggling, Puppet & Parrot Show ^0^
http://www.louhilario.net |
magicofCurtis Inner circle Los Angeles 2545 Posts |
Quote: .......... Priceless!
On 2009-01-13 12:51, Blair Marshall wrote: Everything else Master Card!
Curtis Lovell II
http://www.CurtisLovell.com http://www.MagicofCurtis.com www.facebook.com/curtislovellii Los Angeles, California - U.S.A. |
Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3660 Posts |
Curtis,
I have a photo of them around somewhere, I should post it to show what can be done. With the tape the box sides looked like the "Temple Screen" (small effect) B
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chrusa Special user Connecticut 736 Posts |
There is some GREAT stuff on magicnook.com I plan on owning all of the stuff there just cant afford it right now
Thanks,
<BR> <BR>Chris Hrusa |
Kyle^Ravin Inner circle I slammed my head against 1070 Posts |
I agree with lou! In fact, when I saw the thread title, those were the first two illusions that came to my mind!
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makeupguy Inner circle 1411 Posts |
A good spirit cabinet routine... A pice of rope.. a curtain on a hulahoop.. and a bunch of pie tins...
packs small.. plays HUGE... and it can be both mysterious.. and funny as heck.. and there's lots of audience participation to boot!!! |
TaylorReed Special user Branson, MO 743 Posts |
I'm not sure because I really hate cheap S---.....LOL
I still can't think of a good one. Taylor
www.taylorreed.com
www.usedmagicillusions.com taylor@taylorreed.com (979)482-0714 See: The Magic and Comedy of Taylor Reed, Live in Branson, Mo |
ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
Okay... How about we substitute "inexpensive" for "cheap"...
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
The spiker and origami are great, inexpensive illusions. Oh, wait, that's only if you can't afford an authorized one.
Walking through a wall, using the 'Razorwire' method is great. The lester lake guillotine is another good one.
-Matt
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TaylorReed Special user Branson, MO 743 Posts |
I know of a David Copperfield impersonator who may have some cheap S--- for sale..
I hear he's saving up his money for a dream show with origianals. He still plans on wearing Davids Clothes and Patter though... Enough with the Jokes.... How about the Rap Around Illusion...... Very cheap to make and all ya need is four 6 or 7ft dowl rods and some material or fabric... Hope this helps Clinton.. PS" it was nice talking with ya a while back.. Good luck..
www.taylorreed.com
www.usedmagicillusions.com taylor@taylorreed.com (979)482-0714 See: The Magic and Comedy of Taylor Reed, Live in Branson, Mo |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
Maybe I shouldn't respond to this, but before I started selling Jim Gerrish's "PVC Pipe Illusions for Really REALLY Cheap Illusionists" on my Magic Nook site, I was using some of them in my own Wizard performances. One of my favorites that I used in almost every show was his "Utility Cabinet - The Hand Held Version" which he had built for me out of wood, not PVC. At the time he was just beginning the conversion of illusions into all PVC materials. I must say, the PVC version is actually sturdier than the wooden version, but the effect is the same. I used it in combination with his "Garden Gate Illusion," also built out of wood at the time I used it, and it was such a utility prop that I could use that several times in the same show and no one ever caught on (at least no one ever came running up afterwards to tell me "I know how you did that one!"). Even though they were made out of wood, they were very inexpensive- just scraps of wood, really. I don't think I ever paid more than $25 for either one of them, and most of that was for cheap curtains from the "Rag Shop."
The Utility Cabinet Hand Held Frame was used as an entrance Illusion so my Wizard Apprentices could make me appear out of a suitcase. Later on in the show, I used the Garden Gate Illusion to perform a no-cabinet version of the "Sidi Bou Said" effect, often called "Things That Go Bump in the Night" after Doug Henning made that title popular. I used it to produce three Apprentices, while vanishing myself and reappearing, lost and confused, at the back of the audience. Those were the "good, old days" and I'd go back to them in a minute if I could.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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