I have been searching for the classic Rope illusion where you tie your assistant up and then have a spector join her in an enclosed curtain. (The spectator is wearing a jacket) Within in seconds they are revealed and the assistant has the jacket on and is still tied up. Leaving the spectator amazed as well the audience. I was wondering where I can find this illusion, what book or DVD? I hope I explained this clearly

Try the search function. This has been discussed a number of times here at the Café.

For example you will find:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......;forum=7

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=17

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=18

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=18

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=18

are just a few of the discussions. The search is half the fun.

Forgive my spelling on the name here but if you get the falkenstein and willard DVD series it's explained in detail on one of them.
Enjoy

Is the trick by Falkenstein & Willard called "gypsy mystery rope effect" it is on volume 1 and Hocus Pocus sells it for $34. I saw it done at monday night magic several weeks ago they stood up behind a curtain to do it, and I would love to have my skinny little girl friend perform it.
Al

Hey all;

We've been doing the Gypsy Rope Tie for about 2 years now. And all I can say, is if you want something that is going to amaze your audience this is it! But make sure you spend ALOT of time practicing with different jackets and situations. The faster, the better. It gets great reactions. One thing we do (we also do it standing) is have the audience volunteer stand in front of her. That way when the curtain drops, they see him standing there, and his jackets gone, a moment later she steps into view wearing his jacket. Always wow'em! and with a subtrunk type hoop, do it close up and surrounded. One of our favorites.

Magically yours,
Matt Kielbiski
Quick Change Artist

Thank you Matt
I am anxious to do this one, that is exactly the way I saw it done. Does my girl friend need a lot of skill, or strength to pull it off? She only weighs 90 lbs. I am a juggler magician so tell me is a subtrunk hoop like they use in Houdini's metamorphis.
Al

This takes no strength. It is a skill and subtlety routine that requires some small degree of audience member management (you have to get the audience member to cooperate with taking the jacket off). Yes the sub trunk hoop is as you describe. It is a hoop with a cloth drape hanging from it hiding the action from all angles (except above).

The Falkenstein and Willard “Gypsy Tie” is only one that can be used (see the discussion links above). The Cannon’s have updated this routine using a set of handcuffs they call the “Séance Cuffs”. The old spirit tie (as used by John Calvert) is even easier to apply and to work.

All do the same thing; allow you the freedom of movement to pull off several spirit stunts. The jack removal bit is only one such stunt. Heck with two three foot lengths of rope, a bed sheet and two volunteers to hold the sheet up, you can do an entire Spirit Tie routine in a living room! I’ve done it impromptu by borrowing a length of string and a large tablecloth. Of course I used a thumb tie for the Spirit Tie but still did the jacket bit.

Harry
I do believe I'm going to buy one of the versions you recomended. My skinny 90 lb girl friend has always wanted to be the star of my show.
Al

Al, she can be a real star with this routine!

Years ago my (then) 14 year old, petit daughter performed the routine with no problem. We did a series of Halloween Séance shows. The Spirit Cabinet complete with spirit tie was central to the show. We always used an adult man wearing a sports coat for the jacket bit. We also had her taking off his shoes and tossing them over the curtain and pulling up his pants legs. It was very funny when the curtain dropped to see this guy with his hair messed up, his shoes missing and his pants legs up around his knees and my daughter wearing his jacket UNDER the ropes she was securely tied up with! She was a hit!

Last year at Marty Gram’s (Martini) “Funarama” convention there was a couple that performed a spirit cabinet routine. She was just about five feet tall and probably weighed much less than 90 lbs. It was a very funny and well-done routine.

I say go for it! Let your lady friend be the star!

The (Gypsy) Spirit Tie is also in Daryl's Easy to master rope magic, (volume 2 I think.) I recommend his whole series, his website is selling it for $72 and free shipping. A good deal for something that could otherwise cost $25-30 per DVD, and you get a whole lot more besides just one effect. (I think you get all the moves that are used in Fiber Optic, certainly enough to put together your own routines.)

The tie is very easy to do. You will watch it once and be able to do it. Yet Daryl doesn't give any serious routining for it, so I appreciate the ideas here.

In fact, I just did it this this morning for a family reunion. I borrowed 2 sheets (back to back to ensure opaqueness), instructed two volunteers how to hold the sheets to ensure coverage. I clanked and tossed objects, put on a jacket that was just lying on my lap initially, then with a blind folded, hand tied spectator, I took off his shoed, put the jacket on him (just over his shoulder, for time reasons), and even put a tie on him that was previously hidden in the jacket's pocket. It was fun stuff.

John, Great routine, sounds like you had lots of fun. You did it almost impromptu! what a gass borrowing all the items including the sheets and pulling it off.

This is a great bit, two lengths of rope, some noisy props, a couple of sheets, and a volunteer! Packs flat and plays big, yes?

Check out John Calverts video. It's like $20 and it has his original version on it. VERY GOOD!!

Harry:

Yes, I think it went well, and given that I decided to do it only the night before(while away from my home), it was almost impromptu.

The nice part was that it correlated well with a "game" I used to play with some nieces/nephew's every holiday when they were about 5 years old. We used to try to entice each other to "come see what's in a coat closet", and then try to lock the other in that closet. I adapted the patter for a "Strat-o-sphere" to correspond to how they would always get me traped in the bottom of the SOS tube, even though they went in first. Then I introduced the Spirit Cabinet effect as a reinactment of this same game. I did the 1'st two phases, then invited them to come in the closet with me, and then did the stuff to the boy(now an adult).

It was a great effect in and of itself, but being able to make it relate to a family tradition(as I did for the other effects in my show), made it special.

John

Hey guys, Daryl calls it "Gysel Spirit Tie"
Al

I have no asisstant, could I still perform the spirit cabinet and rope illusion.

If someone who performs the Spirit Cabinet please IM me. I have an idea for something I would like to do, but do not want to expose the inner-workings on the Café. Please PM me...

Haas

I have seen it done with both an assistant and a volunteer, but you need someone with skill on the inside of the curtain.
Al Angello

Al, Daryl is right when he refers to one version as the “Gysel spirit tie”. It is the very tie used by John Calvert. It is found fully described under its name in Tarbell volume six (pg 309). The Gysel Spirit Tie is very easy to apply and to work.

Al is absolutely right, this can be done without an assistant but doing so takes some great spectator management skills.

Ok! $500 is way out for me. I have an original presentation idea. Am I right in sayng that all I need is the gysel tie to do the jacket part and everythng else?If so were can I buy downloadable instructions for the tie?

What costs $500.00? You need a bit of rope, a curtain (an old bed sheet will do fine), some props and away you go. You can put the whole routine togheter for under $100.00 going first class!!!

Yes, the Gysel tie is one of the ones you can use. Tarbell #6 costs under $40.00USD. Or you can check out the threads above and get the video Al mentioned Falkenstein & Willard featuring the very deceptive "gypsy mystery rope effect" it's on volume 1 sells for about $34.oo USD.

Good luck with your routine. This does not cost much.