On Mar 1, 2017, hektormagic wrote:
Hm... probably you are right Dick. I (we) have in the wallet (pocket) some props which allows me (us) to do different tricks. The question was "what tricks do you bring with you" and everybody share his preferences. Tricks, props, tools, gimmicks... we can call them with different names, but in my opinion this is not the most important in the case.

On Mar 4, 2017, Dick Oslund wrote:
Hi Jake!

The late Quintino Marucci, aka Slydini, contributed a "handling" of the Edward Victor C&R rope technique, which produced the necessary "situation" for the Professor's Nightmare. "The long and short of it" is in "Slydini ENCORES" (copyright 1966). Slydini credits the late Hen Fetsch as the originator. While there are several who think that there were a few earlier users of the principle, the late Bob Carver is generally considered the originator. Carver showed the method to another magician, who "sold" it to the late Gene Gordon. Gene wrote the original "Nightmare" lines, and, sold it for $1.00. I paid Gene a dollar for it in April, 1959. (seven years before "Slydini Encores").

I liked the effect, but, didn't like the "set up moves". The late Karrell Fox finally realized that the late Gen Grant's "move" for his "50/50 C&R rope, would provide the necessary set up. Karrell shared his "discovery". In 1971, using Grant's method, I started to perform it.

The late Dennis Loomis and I worked out a routine involving the late Karl Germaine's C&R routine, Slydini's handling from "Encore", a few ideas from the late Ken Allen, and a bluff restoration (before Conway). It was a predecessor to Pop Haydn's "Mongolian Pop Knot". I used the Loomis/Oslund routine for about five years as the opener in my high school program. I cut up a "few" spools of rope, in 5 years! Then, I dropped it. I'm retired, but,if I were to revive the routine, I would definitely use Pop's Mongolian. --I like it better than what Dennis and I worked out, almost 50 years ago!

On Mar 21, 2017, Dick Oslund wrote:
Hooray for 1kj!

Except for the gaffed decks, you use mostly GENERIC small PROPS, a few GIMMICKS and a "FEKE/GIMMICK" (the TT)!

I remember a pre-banquet corporate cocktail hour, in New Orleans during the Christmas Season, about 20 years ago. The room was decorated for Christmas, with a tree, wreaths, etc. The lighting was from the tree, the wreaths, and some soft indirect lighting.

I strolled for an hour, with the lit match vanish in a TT, a coin vanish ("Coin-Go") the Perpetual Ball, and, a 4' length of rope, and a 3" ring. I had a deck for fancy shuffles, and flourishes, in my pocket, on "standby". --All "eye-candy" bits. Short, visual effects, angle proof, visible props, versatile props, recognizable props, no set up, spot adaptable, small & light, and, NO TABLE NEEDED! Guests had a drink in one hand, a cigarette, or an hors d'oeuvre, in the other hand.

The client and the guests were well pleased!