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franksbank New user UK, second star on the right 19 Posts |
*** WARNING - The brakes failed on my keyboard. This is a long note! ***
Hi all Just browsing the site for views on some of the effects I perform and wanted to add my comments to this thread. I realise it's dragging it up from a few months back, but here goes anyway... What a great gag. Packs small for a big punch. Pocket/banana size: I have the later version and find no problem in getting big bananas in to the pocket (of the FLOWERY hank... must get a black one). I tend to go for the larger bananas so when they're folded the mess can still be seen easily. I just make sure the folding is done with good squeezes which not only helps to compact the fruit but also makes it squish that bit more. All good for a squealy audience... Pocket lining: The 'kit' came with a ziplock bag and some safety pins. I practiced with these just the once having found the set up to be too noisy. I feared the closest spectators might hear the crackling so ditched the plastic and now use kitchen towelling/roll. I take four pieces, all joined together, and fold the strip in half end to end, then half again (so ending up with a four layered towel the size of one piece). I tape the two 'sides' together, leaving open the side opposite the fold. I then put this paper bag inside the hank and tape each side of the opening (should be one 'joined pair' of sheets to tape on one side and two 'ends' for the other side) about a quarter of an inch inside the hem. Make any sense? Basically I end up with the hank pocket double lined with paper towel. This setup means I can just pull the paper 'bag' out after a show and bin it (I actually use paper masking tape and throw the whole lot in the composter. Green eh?). I always have a few bags made up, and they're really easy to install; should do me well if I ever need to reset for a following show. With this lining method I find there's hardly any 'soak through' but still stick the hank in the wash just in case of any residue left at the pocket opening. But at least I don't get grief for putting lumps of soggy banana in the machine! 'Packaging': Rather than the tiny 'crate' that came with the kit, I use a medium sized padded envelope which I happened to have hanging around after I'd taken delivery of some other magical gear. I find this helps in a number of ways. It means the whole 'prop' is flat packed so I don't have to worry about crushing the crate. The envelope has a load of stamps on it, post marks and a weathered address label with my name on it (should anyone ever get close enough to read it!) which I find makes the whole 'I just received this in the post' much more convincing. It also allows a big banana to be easily concealed inside along with the CD and hank; which in turn provides opportunity for big 'searching for the bandanna' visual and added horror/confusion when the fruit comes out. It gives me something to put the mushy mess on before vanishing it (similar theory to Marty's brown paper wrapping) and it wipes clean. 'What's a bandanna?': This point has come up in this thread and was also brought up by my wife after she had seen me perform the effect. She reminded me that it's got to be good to re-iterate what's going on during shows with younger children so they don't 'miss the punch line' so to speak. Good point well made I thought. So... I now read out the label on the CD, and ask the kids if they know what a bandanna is. Then I clarify it and proceed with "Hey, this should be fun. We're going to vanish a hanky hat!" And lastly... Ripe Fruit: If by the day before a show I haven't been able to get a ripe enough banana, I go out and get a non-ripe one, put it in a plastic bag and leave it overnight in a warm cupboard. Next day, one squishable fruit! I hope this post hasn't been too long/boring/pointless, but I thought it might have some small use to someone somewhere. I'll finish up by saying the idea of typing out the instructions and having someone read them aloud is brilliant. I tend to use the effect as an opener so wouldn't normally involve the audience at that point. But, I can really see the strength of the idea for a mid-routine gag. Excellent indeed. Cheers FB
Levity rules and rules don't.
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-10-22 15:48, franksbank wrote: I also found the plastic a little loud. To get around this, take the plastic and crumple it up repeatedly into a little ball before spreading it out again and installing it into the hank. This softens up the plastic and lessens the noise considerably. Although it's nice to have a child from the audience read the written instructions, you tend to lose control over a few important variables. For instance, you may not have any control over how well the child reads, or how loud he projects his voice. You also won't be able to control the length of the pauses. Also, there is a risk that he might stop midway and point out your "mistake" to you in an attempt to be helpful. This is too risky for me. I believe in controlling every element of my show (although it might not appear as such to the kids). The advantage with the CD is that it continues to roll merrily along throughout the routine, and you know what it's going to say and how loud it is. If I'm going to have a script read, I'll make sure it's one of my trained assistants doing the reading. Just my two bits. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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Brian Lehr Inner circle Edmonton, Canada 1605 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-10-22 15:48, franksbank wrote: The first time I did this effect, I was reading the label on the CD to the kids. Some of the kids actually saw the cover of the CD, and said, "Why does the CD show a picture of a banana?" Now I make sure the CD cover is facing me! Brian |
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franksbank New user UK, second star on the right 19 Posts |
Ah. Yes. There's a critical issue Brian! I seem to have been lucky in that my CD is plain black text on white: "The Vanishing Bandanna". Might be worth getting a pack of CD labels and printing a new one to cover that dastardly fruit?!
Good idea on the bag crumpling there Kent. I might gove that a go as plastic is always going to be cleaner than paper towel. It still leaves the job of washing the bag out I guess, but then maybe I shouldn't be so lazy... Also a good point well made on the narration by a child. Perhaps a compromise might be to have an adult read it aloud instead (I think someone else said this already) as then there's less chance of problems (yeah, sure, right) and the reader could possibly be 'steered' by patter/interaction. I does take an element of control away, I agree, but there's something about the idea that makes me think it could add to the routine if pulled off. If I try it out sometime I'll report back - good or bad. Cheers FB
Levity rules and rules don't.
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Jewls Veteran user Michigan-USA 360 Posts |
I am totally disappointed with the new CD version! could the guys voice be any more boring??? Good grief! And the Hank with the new one is stretchy yellowish brown YUCK!!!! Looks like a big banana stain. Fabmagic took a great product and gave it less appeal for me! I have never had trouble with the timing with the cassette...it adds to the comedy!!! And they changed the name on the box??? Come on ACME magic is funny! So I wonder did they change this with purchased rights?
I know this is an old vaudville skit made into a clown skit we used it as a two clown routine years ago. I work alone and loved the first version!!! I will stay with the first version and sell the new and improved version,,,, If your interested let me know. Maybe this guys serious voice will work for your act. Jewls
Jewls
www.Jewlstheclown.com |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Just thinking - this could be turned into a reading program routine, can't it? Print out the instructions on large paper pad like one may use in an office meeting, and read it in front of them yourself . . . . Just a thought.
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phaddad2 Regular user 171 Posts |
I squish the bananna and when I wavew it up and down I let the insides fly out that way when you put it in the hank it is almost dry. The flying bananna gets hugh laughs.
Pete |
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MGordonB Loyal user Toronto, Canada 279 Posts |
Resurrecting an old thread, hope it works. If not I'll start a new one.
I'm interested in doing the VB for an upcoming work event and I have a couple of questions: 1 - I can't bring myself to waste food so what is the best way to practice this routine without using up a lot of bananas? 2 - I like the idea of having an audience member read the instructions. Is it better to get this person to do it cold, or should you prep them a bit before hand? While the person is reading the instructions is it better to have them watching you while your doing the routine, or does it work better if they face the audience the whole time so they don't see you doing the bit? Thanks |
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
1) Use a sponge banana to practice.
2) It's a poor enough routine with the CD. Getting an audience member to read it instead will dilute it further. I wouldn't, unless the audience member is an actor who has been very well prepared.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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Damian Veteran user 363 Posts |
MGordonB,
I couldn't agree with Tony more. Since the comedy is rooted in the interaction between the performer and the voice, you're taking a big risk asking someone to read it. If they're just a little off-and they probably will be-you might lose the timing and energy. As for learning it, you don't have to practice a whole lot, since it's pretty simple, but I would encourage you to practice the whole routine a couple/few times with a real banana. You have to learn how it really folds, what it's like in your hand and managing it in the bag. It's messy. I remember the banana gets everywhere (got on my suit, shoes, the floor, etc) and you want to know that beforehand. 3 mushed bananas should be enough, I think, to get the hang of it. You can make banana muffins, afterwards. I hate the trick, but wanted to have a go at it, many moons ago. Performed it at a friend's wedding to great response, but can't imagine I ever will do it again. Good luck-it's an easy crowd-pleaser. |
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Grasshop34 Veteran user Cincinnati, OH 308 Posts |
Don't do the vanishing bandana. It's known to layman as hack material. It was very insightful hearing audience members talk about every magic show they have seen has done the banana trick and liked that I didn't do it.
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Terrible Wizard Inner circle 1973 Posts |
And yet my wife thought it the funniest magic trick she'd ever seen when a clown did it at a kids birthday party. The whole room was in stitches. I think a lot depends upon if people have seen it before, and the 'pantomime' quality of the performance - it's all pretty much acting anyway
Has anyone tried recording their own instructions? I think I could write and deliver a pretty good script for this with some nice gags in there ...? |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I don't think the average layman sees all that many magic shows, let alone enough to see an established pattern in specific tricks. To say it's known to layman as being hack is a gross over-exaggeration. I do this trick pretty frequently. It's always well received and I have never heard comments about it being hack, or laypeople having seen it time and again.
Terrible - I have recorded my own. I use it in a medicine show and I recorded it to sound old. It's presented as being played on a Victrola-style horn phonograph. It plays well. I'd encourage you to do it. |
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Tukaram Loyal user Iloilo, Philippines 227 Posts |
I have never seen it performed live. I think it is a pretty funny bit if you can pull it off. A good recording is very important. Check out some YouTube performances of it and you can hear some good, and bad, recordings.
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Terrible Wizard Inner circle 1973 Posts |
Starrpower:
Cool! Yes, I think a lot depends upon the audience and whether or not they've seen it before. It loses a lot of the humour if it's well known, I guess. But I've never met any layperson who has been much exposed to live magic, at least round where I live. |
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