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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1181 Posts |
Hope it's OK to post this here ...
If (like me) you have difficulty with the super slide (it falls off one time in 10), gaff the ends of the short piece with lead shot (you need to use hollow rope of course and experiment to find the right gauge shot). Not only is it more stable, but it whizzes down faster, looking better and giving less time for spectators to twig. Of course, you can only do this with the single rope version.
Jolyon Jenkins
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
I've been able to eliminate that error by pinching the small rope just before I lay it on the long rope. This makes a temporary crimp in the rope that keeps it running down the long rope just at that spot. And the closer to the middle, the better it works.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1181 Posts |
Yes, I do that too!
Jolyon Jenkins
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yachanin Inner circle Cleveland, OH 2105 Posts |
I second what Frank said and make sure the short rope is bent exactly in half by adjusting the ends with my thumb and index finger while I'm talking.
Regards, Steve
"Impossible? Your audience will think so..." TM
Thought Association Card Triangulation Word Search Detective Christmas Eve Sights - Start A Family Tradition |
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johnobryant Regular user Texas 195 Posts |
In my Fiber Optics routine, I do not show the ends in such a manner because I think it gives the effect away.
I think the routine is awesome, and I use it all the time. -john |
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Daegs Inner circle USA 4291 Posts |
I've found with enough practice, it is completely reliable.
I also disagree that it gives the effect away... perhaps if you do it extremely slowly, but honestly, when done at the correct tempo, by the time they even see the ends moving, they are already at the end AND have been shown to be separate. Think of it like a Cross Cut Force with rope...if you pay attention and watch it over and over, it's obvious, but when it's the first time you have encountered it and you don't know what is going to happen, all you see is that the ends slide down, and then are opened at the other end, something that is impossible! |
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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1181 Posts |
Anyone who can do this with 100 per cent reliability - I congratulate you.
I've been practicing for 6 months and still only manage 90 per cent. To anyone in the same position, I commend my tip. We've discussed many times whether or not the move as such is a good idea, and there's probably not much left to say on the subject. I would say, though, that my method makes the rope go much faster, and so is, I think, more visual (as Sanders would say) and possibly deceptive.
Jolyon Jenkins
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SeaDawg Special user The Lunatic Fringe 718 Posts |
When using gravity for that portion of the restore and moving the rope from top left to bottom right, use three fingers in the loop at the top. The natural separation between the two ropes helps keep the rope from toppling off the side with the right bend, as previously mentioned. You may experiment with two fingers to get what works best for you.
Crazy people take the psycho-path thru the forest...
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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1181 Posts |
Quote:
what works best for you. ...is my newly gaffed rope! Also good for outside work, where the wind doesn't blow it off. Not that I don't appreciate all the tips about how to do it without gaffing, but I think I've tried them all. My method reduces the element of chance...or skill.
Jolyon Jenkins
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SeaDawg Special user The Lunatic Fringe 718 Posts |
I work a lot on the waterfront by the ocean, and we get two types of days...windy days and really windy days. I think I may just gaff a short piece to speed the process along, as you suggest.
Regards, The Seadawg
Crazy people take the psycho-path thru the forest...
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Magicdoc88 Regular user 194 Posts |
I am looking forward to getting my DVD to learn that routine. How long did it take for some of you to perform it well?
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Magicdoc88
It says on the DVD case "22 eye popping moves", and that is exactly what you get. I have used pieces of fiber optics in every single rope routine I do. It would be better if you thought of fiber optics as a box of legos that you can use to build your own rope routine, and after two years of watching that DVD I'm still learning. Richard Sanders has changed all the rules. Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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ChristopherM Special user UK 844 Posts |
Absolutely Al, it's a treasure trove from which to pick and choose. The start position for many of the moves is the same, opening up possibilities galore for different routines. For a faster Super Slide with/without gaffed ends, add to all the above tips: simply tilt the long rope at a steeper angle. This gives quicker travelling time, and of course, shorter 'detection' time.
Cheers, Chris |
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Ony Carcamo Special user Manila, PHILIPPINES 608 Posts |
Another tip: Make the short rope a little longer (about an inch or an inch and a half). This will shoot up your chance of having it NOT FALLING OFF while sliding.
I tried it. |
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Magicdoc88 Regular user 194 Posts |
I got my DVD today, very nice routine, but will take some practice to do it smoothly.
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
One more tip is to keep from making the slide over too much rope.
it works well with just a short slide too. Then increase over time.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1181 Posts |
Yes, you can increase the length of the short bit and this improves stability. But it also means that the end is not in quite the right place when it arrives in your right hand. Or so I find.
Tilting the angle of the rope doesn't necessarily help, in my experience. The issue is partly one of stick/slip friction, with any rope that isn't virgin new. So you may get a stick followed by an unpredictably fast slip. Gaffing the ends reduces the friction.
Jolyon Jenkins
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ChristopherM Special user UK 844 Posts |
Of course, it depends on the rope quality. Several factors at play. If the rope is durable and a tight weave, there won't be much friction to begin with. Cheers,
Chris |
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Brian Tanner Loyal user Ohio 297 Posts |
Christopher M is right. I've used both, the Camirand rope, which is a very tight weave, and the less expensive rope with a looser weave. After a while the looser woven rope starts to get little loose rope fibers that develop along the length of the rope. These cause friction which can hinder the "ends" sliding down the rope smoothly.
Heck. In rehearsal I've had the "ends" slide down the rope only to topple over to one side and fall to the floor. Kind of reminds me of Arte Johnson riding the tricycle on Laugh-In.......That just showed my age ! Fiber Optics is such a killer routine. I feel that it warrants splurging for the better quality of rope. |
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fanwun Regular user 172 Posts |
If you want to gaff your ropes, GAFF THEM! Personally, it doesn't matter how fast or slow the little piece travels. The "ends" sliding down the rope is a magic moment for the audience. The tempo of your routine should cover the "tell". Essentially, the audience SHOULD think your hand is just holding the middle of the rope. If it stops half way, MAKE IT A PART OF YOUR ROUTINE! It's called improvisation. The audience, unless they've seen it a million times, does not know what you're doing. You could literally just bring your hands together, grab the short piece and keep moving with the routine.
If it falls, pick it up, with whatever by play you want to use, and do toss the ends back on the rope. With the right kind of by play, the audience might even think you planned for that "mistake" to happen. I'm not saying don't practice, or don't come up with ways to make it fool proof. What I am saying is none of us are perfect. I don't care how you gaff the ropes, or how much you practice. You will not get that 100% of the time. Because of this, you should also practice "outs" in case something goes wrong. This way, when that 1% occurs, you won't be standing there looking stupid, blushing and hoping no one saw your mistake. |
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