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Bill Thompson Elite user Mississippi 422 Posts |
The old Buddha papers come in handy for quite a bit and with the right presentation and patter can be quite startling. Abbott's Boyd mystery is great example. The papers are subtle and simple to use. they can be made or bought. High end hand-made sets are probably available for lots of money, or get a cheap set by Royal Magic can be had from your favorite dealer for just a few bucks -- whichever suits you.
My question concerns the presentation of the effect. What is the most convincing way of doing the switch with the papers? I know a couple of ways of doing this... When refolding the papers, each paper is flipped as it is refolded. So, the dirty deed is done right in front of the spectators' eyes and forgotten by the time they are opened for the reveal. This is the method I usually use. Another method is to take out the dirty paper after refolding, make a gesture with it or whatever and flip it as it is put back in the last paper. I have been told that this method reinforces the idea that there is nothing special about any of the papers. I haven't heard any discussions about this from others. Perhaps it could be that I am over-analyzing and it really doesn't matter at all, but still I would love to get some thoughts from others on this. By the way does anyone know where I can get Brother Shadow's book on Buddha papers?
"To let understanding stop at what cannot be understood is a high attainment.
Those who cannot do it will be destroyed on the lathe of heaven." - Chuang Tse |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
One simple and effective reversal is to use the Color Changing Knife Push Thru move. Best,
Brad Burt
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
I'll be buying this effect soon -- the demo video I saw looked really visual, colorful, and startling. I'm not sure how it's done (ok, I have some suspicions.)) How well known/commonly performed is this? I've never seen it, but I rarely see magicins tabblehopping or at parties.
What are the best audiences for this? -Daniel |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
One reason the Buddah papers are not in common use is the lack of reason in wrapping something up in several sets of papers. Reduce the number of papers used to two for a quicker "wrap."
Reduce the number of papers to one and make it a piece of flash paper for an even better vanish. In this case you would use the single paper fold described in Hoffmann's Modern Magic and many other books. Using a dollar bill as the paper wrap also makes it a bit more interesting. Using the coin or ring impression on paper in connection with the wrap has not been used much and would therefore be unknown to most of your audience. This again is described in Hoffmann's Modern Magic. To get an idea of how old this trick is, it was first revealed in Discoverie of Witchcraft in 1584 by Reginald Scot!
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
evolve629 Inner circle A stack of 3838 Posts |
I think the multi layer of colorful papers really add to the mystery to this old effect - to magicians this may be a negative, but lay person thinks the layer of papers make it even more impossible. The specs will not believe how in the world the money or small object change in the all wrap up situation.
One hundred percent of the shots you don't take don't go in - Wayne Gretzky
My favorite part is putting the gaffs in the spectators hands...it gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside! - Bob Kohler |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
I had a friend that bought some really, REALLY nice paper in different colors and textures. All in the old parchment looking type. He then took a book on "real" magic and copied differing cabbalistic and magical designs on the paper after he had costructed his own Buddha Paper set. This was flat out one of the most magical looking pieces of magic equipment that did NOT look gimmicked in any manner that I have ever seen. And the more he used it and the older it looked the better it looked! This is a great piece of equipment that has almost been ruined by being sold for a couple of bucks by guys like, well, ME!
By doing a little work you can remake this into something that you will love to work with. I'll give you an idea for a routine...you'll have to work out the moves, but here is a routine I came up with years ago: Imagine Reset. You start by showing the the cards and placing one of the sets into the Buddha papers and closing them up. Now, pick up other set and make the transposition series showing the the cards are turning into the ones in the papers. Set cards aside and open the papers to show the cards inside have VANISHED. Take rest of deck from box and spread face down to show the cards face up in middle of deck. This is a very logical series when you add the proper patter. Very easy to understand what is happening right up to the end when you spread the deck. Patter possibilities are almost endless. At the time I used a Star Trek transporter theme that went over well and again had the logic of the 'transports' happening in much the same thematic manner as the show. Reason for the cards leaving the papers which represented an alien space ship was that they were transported out just in time, etc. All best,
Brad Burt
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DanielCoyne Special user Western Massachussetts 544 Posts |
Cool! I can't wait to play. I have a small collection of different hand-made papers from around the world. This might be the start of something really fun.
-Daniel |
Caspar Veteran user Tacoma 316 Posts |
Fancy finding this thread, can someone direct me to a good online shop that carries the Buddha Papers or a good book that will detail their construction.
Thanks! |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Brad Burt
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Caspar Veteran user Tacoma 316 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-20 22:37, BradBurt wrote: Brad, I tried all three links above and an internet search and keep getting error messages i.e. Page Cannot Be Found or Action Cancelled. |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Caspar:
I don't know why? I just clicked the link and 'zap' I was there! I have had some reports of problems with Mac browsers. If you have cookies disabled that might be a problem. I know that cookies are used on the Shopping Cart as part of the security system. I use Spyware Doctor to kill them later myself. It's gotten complicated and if I let it it would drive me nuts. Try going to: http://www.magicshop.com and clicking on the link to the cart at the left. Maybe the direct jump is the complication. Let me know what happens. Best,
Brad Burt
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hoodrat Veteran user Southern California 388 Posts |
The Buddah Mystery Papers are GREAT! Such a simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-do effect that packs a punch! My originals from Royal Magic wore out or got wrinkled, so I made my own using colored sheets of typing paper from Kinkos (you can buy sheets there singly).
I used the mystery papers a couple months ago when I was performing for some friends at their apartment after we had gone out for dinner. I intentionally left the papers laying on the table off to the side -- and they weren't even nested! You can do this if you're careful about how you position and place one of the papers (you know the one I'm talking about! ). After doing several effects, one of my friends asked me, "So what's up with those colored sheets of paper?" I knew eventually their curiousity would get the better of them. The papers really do look interesting probably due to their normality. So I casually nested all the papers together while showing them to be what they were -- four ordinary sheets of colored paper of diminishing sizes. I then proceeded to do a transposition effect using the mystery papers as well as Guy Bavli's "Crystal Switch Box." Believe me, the effect was stunning! I have never witnessed so many jaws hitting the floor and so many eyeballs popping out of their sockets! The Crystal Switch Box by Guy Bavil is another great switching prop. It's more pricey than the mystery papers, but is worth having in your arsenal of props. Do a search here for information about it. Have fun with the mystery papers! It's a great prop and effect that is probably overlooked way too often. Sometimes simplicity is best! |
SmallCheeto Regular user Seattle, WA 115 Posts |
I always flip each one over and say "Each time I flip it over, it represents 1 week of picking up pennies. Then I have them change into a $20 bill.
Magically, Matthew Toner |
Docc Hilford V.I.P. 377 Posts |
With all the respect due Spellbinder, I must take exception to his post advising using only two papers.
This, I believe, would change it into a different trick. A coin fold is not the Buddha Papers. I’ve used the BP for decades. I’ve pitched and sold them for $5 to $10 a set with success. It’s my experience that the perceived problem with the BP isn’t in the number of papers, nor in the “move”, but rather in the theatrical reason for the papers. Chapman, in the Phoenix, has an amazing routine with tanna leaves, the Himalayas and a Chinese coin that’s cold to the touch after coming from a cabin in the snow! In his presentation the second folded paper is a map on parchment. The fourth is a small piece of tissue to hold the delicate dry leaves. Each paper has a reason. Diamonds come in sets of jewelry papers that are pale blue on the outside and white on the inside. The original Hindu Paper Mystery simply explained that it was part of a ritual that made the magic work! This explanation always sufficed for me when I used BP to baffle other teenagers in the 1970s. Wrapping small gifts in several pieces of colored paper is common in Japan. I suggest the perfect number of paper envelopes, discovered by magi for centuries, is four. More is too long, as suggested by my esteemed colleague, and two or three too few to hide the methodology. Building the prop to match your presentation is the perfect way to present the marvellous BP. I posted my BP pitch elsewhere last month for those interested. Peace, Docc |
Docc Hilford V.I.P. 377 Posts |
PS. I agree with evolve629 😸
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jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
The Buddha Papers is a great trick for beginners, kids, mostly. It's also a good trick to pitch if you are into that form of magic. But for magicians, I agree with Spellbinder (naturally):
Quote: One reason the Buddha papers are not in common use is the lack of reason in wrapping something up in several sets of papers. Reduce the number of papers used to two for a quicker "wrap." Reduce the number of papers to one and make it a piece of flash paper for an even better vanish. In this case you would use the single paper fold described in Hoffmann's "Modern Magic" and many other books. Using a dollar bill as the paper wrap also makes it a bit more interesting. Using the coin or ring impression on paper in connection with the wrap has not been used much and would therefore be unknown to most of your audience. This again is described in Hoffmann's "Modern Magic." To get an idea of how old this trick is, it was first revealed in Discoverie of Witchcraft in 1584 by Reginald Scot!
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
Bill Thompson I'm interested to know if the switching movements of the papers is a legitimate obstacle your encountering or simply a self conceptualized concern. In other words are you running without being chased?
If you think about it from a logical perspective from the spectators point of view the turning over the papers is irrelevant. From the spectators standpoint it's a standard piece of paper folded in one direction with a single enter and exit point which would require access in extracting what ever is inside. The simple fact that it's further quarantined by successive papers wrapped around it should move their thinking from it being switched or removed to being impossible to be switched or removed. If it's still a concern then I can't see why you couldn't throw a little convincer in for good measure by having the spectator feel the coin still in the papers after the first few sheets have been wrapped around it. It's the same convincer often used in the similar concept the coin fold. But personally I think your running without being chased. To the creative challenges of presenting the buddah papers I relish these types of challenges. I think there is something to be said in how we conceptualize our presentations and most of us immediately jump to the literal comparisons that could be used as contexts of what we are doing. On saying that I don't think there is anything wrong in thinking that way or that you can't get good presentations from doing that, it's just I feel that it's often the most explored and traveled route most people gravitate to first. There is a whole new spectrum for exploration in metaphorical and story forms of presentations that move away from literal reasons and replace them with narrative motivations. For instance, what if the buddah papers were presented as a Sherlock styled sealed room mystery and printed on each paper was a clue in the unwrapping the said mystery? What if your recounting the memory of your childhood where you recount a fun game of pass the parcel then precede to demonstrate that nestalger using the buddah papers? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pass_the_parcel On the metaphorical side you could present it by placing a passport sized baby photo of yourself in the center paper then use the wrapping of successive papers a representation of layers of a persons character that formulates and cultivates who we are as individuals. Upon the unfolding of the papers it's reveled that the photo had changed into passport sized photo of you as an adult or who you are now. Depending on your approach I think there are endless ways to present the buddah papers in dramatic and theatrical way that lends plenty of reason for motivating the trick. Magically Aus |
Docc Hilford V.I.P. 377 Posts |
I’m a life long proponent of performing the action as would be done normally, then reproducing the action while secretly applying a sleight.
We learned (or should have learned) to do this with balls, coins and cards. The Buddha Papers are, in my mind, no different. If I wished to protect a small, flat object from being disturbed, I could fold it in a paper. This folded paper would then be placed, most probably, flap down onto another paper. This, in turn could be folded, and again placed flap down onto a third paper. The flipping of the folded envelopes is a natural way to keep the opening secure. As Aus says above, “logical”. Now, when performing the gimmicked papers, I do my best to imitate the natural moves. Ergo, no problems. Stick with the basic aphorisms of magic, i.e., Our Magic, and presentational problems disappear! Docc |
Roberto Juan New user Sacramento, California 45 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 21, 2020, Aus wrote: I like that idea! I enjoy the Buddha Papers. One thing I do is transform a dollar bill into a dollar coin. As a kid I wish I would have known about moveless tricks such as this, instead of struggling with Adams Steel Ball in Tube and Cups and Balls. I believe things like this are a great way to spark some children's interest in magic and performing. I sometimes volunteer and work with kids doing various activities such as arts and crafts, and this would be a fun little project the kids could take home. And then proceed to show their parents 17 times. A couple of months ago I showed them how to make a cootie catcher, and it was a huge hit. |
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