And you don't know what woofle dust is? Guess it's not a heavenly instrument....

A long time ago, I suggested using microscopic glass beads as "Woofle Dust," and was shot down by the elitists. I submit that first, they have apparent substance in mass, second, when spread they cannot be seen, and finally, their presence if used as part of a trick can seem truly phenomenal...
Slim Price

I quit using woofle dust a few years ago and now I only use a piecost. If performing for magicians I usually resort to a henway.

Sanscan, this is about presentation, not method. The glass beads... AKA Nemo Control are a great idea and it has been a fairly well kept secret for the past thirty odd years. Sorry about the purists... they sometimes forget to clean under their fingernails in their efforts to keep their magic 'organic'.

Roy, there is a separate section for humor in magic on the café. Your chicken pot pie might go over there... perhaps with a sprinkle of sugar and woofle dust?

Gee, for the last 55 years or so, I thought method and presentation were all part of performance...
<G> Slim Price/sanscan

They are, but this thread is focusing on presentation. I imagine when developing a performance, one might focus on method and presentation seperately. For example, this thread is coming up with presentational ideas (for those who have taken Mr. Townsend seriously).

I think original questions had no focus on method, that's all.

:stout:

Ah yes, where does the magic emanate from? Is it the wave of a hand or is it both arms raised with the fingers pointing towards the target? Or, is it a tool, or a substance? Or is it a magic word or incantation?

Or some combination of those ideas?


You can make woofle dust by mixing any deodorant that's guaranteed to keep your skin dry with a skin cream that’s guaranteed to keep your skin moist. You then have to say a magic word, but I won’t write that here. PM me for more information. (This needs to be moved to Secret Sessions now!)

I wonder when woofle dust, or the general idea of a powdery substance being used to cause magic was first thought of. In ancient (Greek?) theater, at the end of a production, a solitary dancer would prance onto the stage and throw up a handful of shiny glitter into the air. (This also is at the end of some cartoons. The Pendragons end their stage show this way too.) Was that glitter supposed to be magical?

Woofle dust has been used as an excuse to go to the pockets. That’s what I thought it was really for.


You can get it in either, but do not store it in medicinal or pharmaceutical containers. It could result in very bad medicine. Very bad… One magician tried this, and he not only turned into a medicine man, but his act is now the equivalent of taking two valiums.


It varies. You have to experiment some, but it’s better to use too little than too much. Keep increasing the amount as you practice. Too much woofle dust is the reason a lot of tricks seem to go wrong, and then later have a surprising magical ending. Too much woofle dust might make you famous, but then you’ll only be able to perform when given wads of money and only in front of a camera. Few of us wish to be so limited.


Any more than a handful and you’ll have dry skin and you’ll smell. It’s not so bad though. You can put a clothespin on your nose so you won’t smell anymore. The dry skin will make your skin thicker, which you’ll need anyway if you’re going to be a magician.