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craig filicetti V.I.P. Arizona 550 Posts |
Well I got the first one (OK, second but who is counting)
Vanishing Bandana lovers rejoice! "Shell Foam" is Max's latest creation. To say the least, Max supplies everything necessary to present a very entertaining and topical routine. Here is what you get: -Custom Devil's Hank (there is a reason it is custom) -5 Real Cell Phones (minus electronics) -2 Real Shell Foams (foam shells) -CD with music and voice overs (VERY Funny) -CD with no music so I can use my own (Very good idea) -Instructions, script, label, and instructions on gimmicking your own box The quality of everything included is outstanding and Max provides everything you need to do this straight out of the box. My son and I have already come up with a very funny way to present this and I definitely would recommend this for anyone who does any sort of comedy or family entertainment and the kicker ending makes complete sense. If you love vanishing bandana, and wanted to make it more topical, you will love this. You can't go wrong with Shell Foam, it will make a big 'splash' in your next performance. http://www.innovativedeceptions.com/id_v......foam.htm Thanks Max, -Craig
ProMystic - Professional Systems For Mentalists
<BR>www.promystic.com |
randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Sorry... but I don't get this.
First what's wrong with the bandana version? Second... what is a shell foam? That just seems like a super stretch to find something that sounds like something else. It would be a foam shell for one thing. How about make one for a gerbil.. but you mistake it for a germ bill. What's a germ bill? It's a bill with germs on it. That makes as about as much sense as a shell foam. But this is just me... I say stick with the bandana.. nothing wrong with it. Randi |
rowdymagi5 Inner circle Virginia 3624 Posts |
I have to agree with Randi, this is a stretch.
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Woodfield Special user 758 Posts |
How about the "The Vanishing Blackberry" it would be messy and topical, and most kids know what it is.
Woodfield |
DanielSteep Inner circle 1409 Posts |
Well mine is in the mail!
I cant wait to get it!!!! Thanks Max! Daniel |
Joshua Lozoff Inner circle Chapel Hill, NC 1332 Posts |
I'm with Randi. It would be fun to find something else to do for a play on words someday, like bandana/banana, but a shell foam/cell phone? I think the audience will spend the whole time wondering what a shell foam is. I know I would.
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jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
Shell foam / cell phone. OH, I get it now!!!! I'm coming out with the vanishing light sabers - but they're really life savers (candy), no wait, how about .....
Jim |
Platt Inner circle New York 2015 Posts |
Hey guys (and gals), it's fascinating to hear these reactions to Max's latest effect. It's fascinating because they're nearly identical to my reactions upon first hearing about this as well. What the #*! is a shell foam? And what's wrong with the bandana version anyway? Two very good questions. And two questions that were answered loud and clear when I had the good fortune of seeing Max perform his caberet show in New York a couple of weeks ago. Max not only performed Shell Foam, he opened with it! To a packed house, no less. And it was a huge hit. So let me attempt to provide some answers to your questions.
1. What is a shell foam? A shell foam is a non-sensical word. Something somebody would never ever say. If you prefer, a contrivance. And to be honest, that's the hook. I watched as the people surrounding me whispered "a shell foam? Huh? WTF...." There's a disconnect. Something isn't right and the audience is drawn in trying to figure it out. Just what is a shell foam? By the time Max revealed the 'mistake' all was immediately clear. Why a " shell foam"- as opposed to what it is: a "foam shell?" I have no idea. But clearly Max knew what he was doing. It's silly, truly nonsensical fun. What matters is that the audience is on board and loving it. They were. 2. What is wrong with the Bandana version? Nothing. This is just another very different approach that the creator of 'Banana/Bandana" fully supports. The difference is the tension. This is about inadvertantly destroying a valuable item (as opposed to making a mess of a banana.) Watching Max soak a cell phone in water and repeatedly beat it against a table is just good theater. For the record, I agree that common logic seems to suggest "shell foam" is an ill-conceived contrivance. And as others have mentioned, "a stretch." After watching Max perform it, I'd use another set of words to describe it: Absurdist humor. Take it or leave it. But please reserve judgement until you see it performed. Best, Platt
Sugar Rush is here! Freakishly visual magic. http://www.plattmagic.com
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MoonRazor Special user 848 Posts |
I like the "Vanishing Blackberry"
The only reason that vanishing bandana lovers should rejoice is maybe some of your competition will be doing this affect b/c "it is new". If you want to have your audience mumbling to one another about what that was, and the kids silent, get it. |
Ross W Inner circle UK 1779 Posts |
Wouldn't work in the UK: here we call them "mobiles".
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kissdadookie Inner circle 4275 Posts |
Platt, Max, can this be done with a borrowed cellphone/mobile? I forgot if this was explained to me or not as I was more focussed on understanding the presentation as well as what route the presentation should go to make it a bit more interactive with the audience (as well as highten the comedic effect).
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Billgussen Elite user Central Japan 497 Posts |
Yes, this is a product aimed only at an American audience. I translated my Vanishing Bandana act into Japanese, and it works very well since the Japanese word for banana is banana, and the word for bandana is bandana.
But the Japanese word for cell phone is keitai. It doesn't work. Too bad. Bill |
MaxfieldsMagic Inner circle Instead of practicing, I made 3009 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-01-28 08:36, Woodfield wrote: Another vote for the Blackberry. If you absolutely have to update the vanishing banana (possibly because kids don't use the word "bandana" all that much anymore), then the Blackberry idea sounds perfect. It would have to be a heck of a big berry, though, to be seen from stage. Or you could go for the plural (a pile of berries), which would then require more Blackberry devices to match. It would be nice to see a performance of Shell Foam, though, just in case there's more entertainment to it than the rather forced premise suggests.
Now appearing nightly in my basement.
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DanielSteep Inner circle 1409 Posts |
I received this a few days ago, and product wise, it is up to par with everything that max creates and produces!
ALthough I have yet to perform it I am unsure of a reaction. I believe this would be better for adult/teen audiences rather than kids/family. Just my 2cents |
Astrocity Special user 523 Posts |
I agree with MagicalOdyssey on the target audience for this effect. I don’t think it’s for a Kid’s Show. I do think that for anybody else this routine will be a hilarious hit. To me, the whole point of “The Vanishing Bandana” is that it is absolutely absurd. The effect is all about the Magicians facial expressions and body language as they follow along to an Instructional CD that tells them to do ridiculous things with a banana. It’s the face & body that are the performance in this case and it’s the ridiculous sequence of events that entertains the audience. I have always loved “The Vanishing Bandana” but I wanted a new of different take on it to try out. When Hocus Pocus had a sale recently, I decided to take the plunge.
“The Vanishing Shell Foam” is a great take on this type of effect. I think Max hit on something with this that no one has pointed out yet. Virtually everyone in today’s world can relate to a cell phone. In fact, I think it’s fair to say that the majority have some level of an emotional connection to it. Using a cell phone as the vehicle for this effect taps into that very nicely. The audience cares that the cell phone is being used & abused and they share the ride with the Magician. Again, for me, this effect is ALL about the facial expressions & body language and movements of the Magician. That is the entertainment of this effect. The routining of “The Vanishing Shell Foam” is constructed to allow the performer to really have fun with the effect and take the audience along for the ride. Add to that the “punch line” at the end, and I think this effect will bring the audience to some serious applause at the end. For those of you who commented above that shell foam makes no sense and that it’s absurd, I say exactly, that’s the point. Isn’t it absurd for someone to take a banana and fold it up like a bandana, wipe their face with it, swing it at the audience, etc.? Following along to an Instructional CD even though you are clearly using the wrong item IS absurd, that’s why the routine is so funny. What is a shell foam? Good question which, as Platt stated above, helps drive the routine, the routine is built on confusion. Who cares what a shell foam is, at the end of the routine at the “punch line”, the audience will see one and will laugh their as#*! off. I just received mine and I’m practicing my routine so I can add this to my Stage Set. If you are going to perform this routine, you have to have fun and go with it, that’s what it’s all about. I say well done Max and thanks for this one. Thanks, Hank |
niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-01-27 23:41, randirain wrote: I agree with you. But I don't agree with the "First what's wrong with the bandana version?" bit. It's over used. Everyone uses the same routine, and it's annoying, even more when you see Copperfield clones. I like the blackberry idea lol.
Yours,
Ivan |
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