That doesn't sound all that simple, but your mileage may vary. In my experience, the monkey business in Banachek's metal bending routine requires very little misdirection, and what is required can be provided by speech and body movement.

Just my opinion though of course.

Phill

I put a spoon on the table, or in their lap, and cover it over.

I then give them another spoon, and ask them to try and physicaly bend it.. whilst they think about bending the one on their lap....
needless to say the one on their lap is bent when they uncover it.. and they are unable to bend the one in their hands. ( because its a really solid spoon, and I make them hold it at their finger tips)

Chad Sanborn has a nice bend that uses one spoon and can be given to the spec at the end if you want. It is a visible bend and is very easy to learn.

I was watching SUPER 8 the other day, fun movie, especially the kid's movie at the end.
Yes, I know this seems off topic, but it isn't. When I listened to the commentary, there was a surprise, a recreation of something that Uri did back in the 70s, all I Could do was smile.

There is a lot of wonderful work on bending, A recent addition is the beginning of Kranzo's routine on his BOONDOCK MENTAL DVD. Although not for purists, it is a neat addition that also hides any dirty work.

Richard Osterlind also provides some wonderful tips on a technique from Ben's wonderful book, G3LLRISM R3V3AL3D (I only mention this as the reference was not quite right on the DVD) on his latest project.

Personally, I love the Harris move mentioned above, Guy's work, and David Williamson's contribution. Bold is beautiful.

Also, can we move this downstairs?

Tony

Yes indeed please come on downstairs by the fire.....

Kuffs tape has been the best I've watched in terms of variety of bends. You can't go wrong with that.

Banachek and osterlind are the best in bending metals in ny opinion.
I left all gimmicked trick I bought and I switched to banachek improptu bending.
study the time for misdirection ,the type of spoons the moves.
you will be satisfied with his methods.

I use in my show a mixture of methods (Banachek, Osterlind and others) and I have created a nice routine with a builded crescendo and works really great!
No gimmik, nothing, only spoons and a lot of imagination....
:)

Quite frankly I think the whole thing comes down to presentation ie framing and context. I recently stumbled across a clip of Geller, early on in his career, and I marvelled at the mileage that he got from a tiny bend in a key. The audience were astounded, his presentation made them beleive. Of course we are in a different time now and possibly the hardest misdirection is establishing who and what you are together with the appropriate presentation so that when you leave your audience they are talking about your powers??? And NOT how the trick was done.
Mike

Well said, Mike.

I saw Uri live in the early years. AMAZING. And you re-iterate a point I've been making over and over here at the Café: PRESENTATION. Yes, Uri could hold an audience spellbound for 20 minutes putting a MINOR bend into a spoon. It was surreal. It forced you to question your understanding of the universe. This was showmanship at it's finest. World headlines underscored that!

An example of over-throwing the laws of nature (as metal bending implies) DESERVES respect and space. Piling one bend upon another, over and over, does not do this. It may be very clever, but it is no longer PROFOUND.

I secretly (well, not anymore) wonder if Uri's career would have been entirely different (maybe a lounge act in Vegas) if he had started his career with one of today's interpretations.

Cheers

Ben Harris
(author: Gellerism Revealed, 1985)

Ben
Your "gellerism revealed" was the first piece of material I read on Geller and still is my favourite. I smile when I see the fancy gimmicks for bending a key when your book shows how to bend keys with no gimmicks and totally impromptu which is still brilliant.

I work as an entertainer mix and mingle but not as a magician, I often entertain? A crowd after you guys, and 90 percent of the time I hear them discussing the marvels that they have just seen. You would be astounded how many of the times I hear the correct solutions being given for the tricks by Mr know it all. Surely you would want the people to be talking about you and your abilities rather than the tricks themselves. We need to misdirect them away from the tricks and more onto what we are claiming, whether it be supernatural, an expert in sleight of hand, body language expert etc. Gellers act was brilliant, the concept, the character the context, etc. He even let the scientists test him to gain a better understanding of his powers. Remember a magician is an actor playing the part of a MAGICIAN. The question is what is a MAGICIAN? Framing and context are everything and the rest should follow. I look at a lot of magicians and wonder as to what they are trying to be, including the big boys. Don't get me wrong I don't have answers which is why I do something else, but I am getting closer.

Sorry to digress just a problem I have been (and still am) wrestling with for years.

Mike

Hi Mike,

The question, "What is a Magician?" is a fascinating one. In today's world technology seems so magical in itself. The famous saying, "A sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic..." seems strangely relevant.

Cheers.

Benny