Hi Kipley

Go to this link, and ALL will be explained...

http://johnbreeds.com/magicboxcapers/silver_sceptre.pdf

John

As usual, John Breeds is the man! Get his book, it's the best thing you can get for your act.

JoJo<------John's groupie! In a manly way of course! Obama approved!

My routine is based on Terry Herbert's, and it's fun for me AND the kids--they have a great time with the wand misbehaving, and I love their reactions. It just shows that the simplest effect, scripted properly, can be extremely entertaining.

I start the routine by asking the kids if they collect anything (rocks, the latest collectible, money, etc.). It's a good way to start building rapport with the kids. I then ask them what they think I collect, and they'll yell out "magic stuff!", and I might have to coax them by saying "you have to wave it to make the magic happen" and they get it. I then proceed to tell them I indeed collect magic wands, have over 50 in my collection, that I brought quite a few with me today, and that some of my helpers will get to use my magic wands. I then ask if they would like to see the oldest magic wand in my collection, and I mention that it's over 100 years old! I then lower my voice (amazing how it gets their attention), look very serious, and say "But I need to warn you before I show you--I call it the naughty wand, because it doesn't always behave. Do you still want to see it?" Of course they do... I then give a reason for it being in a bag "because it behaves better if it's in the dark". And then it goes from there, but you get the idea.

Giving an inantimate object a personality really hooks them, and the kids always ask to see the naughty wand after the show. Of course, I don't show them the wand again--always leave them wanting more, and getting their Mom to book me for their party!

Beowulf, I know this is a bit late, but no, the diameter on the deluxe version from Practical Magic is not the same as the scepter from India. P.M.'s is bigger, giving it a more substantial look. However, that said, I have been more than satisfied with the one I have from India. The elastic was severed when the wand arrived, but replacing it was a piece of cake--took about 5 minutes, after purchasing some elastic from the fabric store. It's worked like a charm ever since--about 6 years.