Could anyone compare Andrew Maynes's bowling production on his video Shock F/X with Kevin James's Bowl-a-rama?

Which one is better?
Does Andrew's version need special body load?

Hengky

The Mayne version doesn't need a body load...but, to compare it's difficult, both effects have some great points and flaws.

I think it's more of a manner of your budget.

As for my opinion, the Mayne version is very good. I mean very good for the price. Wow!

When you present it correctly, it's a killer.

Humbly

Kuffs

What is the effect with Andrew Mayne's bowling ball production? Every description of the video just says, "produce a bowling ball in an amazing way" or something along those indescriptive lines.

Brian

The effect from a spectator point of view is, that you produce the ball, from an "empty" grocery store paper bag.

Check out the demo at this link:

http://www.weirdthings.com/newvideo.html

enjoy...

Kuffs

Thanks.

I just checked it out... I don't know if I'd put it anywhere near the category of bowl-a-rama. Kevin James' routine is great...

Brian

I think like someone already mentioned that they both have their ups and downs.
When it comes to how much you're willing to spend, the Mayne bowling ball production wins by a landslide in how little you have to spend to get the same great response you can get with either one with a great presentation.
Just my 2 cents..
Mack Magic

>Could anyone compare Andrew Maynes's
>bowling production on his video Shock F/X
>with Kevin James's Bowl-a-rama?

Technically, Bowl-a-rama is a transformation of a drawing on a sketchpad into a real bowling ball. Mayne's is a production from a grocery bag that is handled and suggests that it is empty.

Kevin's is more structured and has deceptive elements built-in to keep people from figuring out where it came from. This is a stage effect where you can walk out carrying the sketchpad, and nobody knows what's going on until it happens.

Andrew's is more 'impromptu' because it's not as structured, although obviously setup and thought is required, but as in his video, I think the bag should be already on stage when you perform, and there's less 'proving' before and after. It's more of a subconscious force that the audience believes it to be empty.

Both are excellent in the right circumstance.


Brian

I use the bowling bag version by mayne...its great. For those who think its difficult get a 5 pounder or shape up. Both are very good. I'd say they are about the same.

Mayne's version is SOOOOOOOO simple to perform. I'm actually using this as an opener for a show on the 20th. If you have a ball and a paper grocery bag, you are set. Great effect.

Bowlorama is clearly a much superior stage illusion. The handling that I saw on Andrew Mayne's website looks okay but certainly not the high impact of Bowlorama. It does cost way more but the effect is simply that much better.

KJ version doesn't use a body load..

I have modified Mayne's version to use a folded paper bag & no body loads, but Andrew get's all the credit for the initial inspiration.

The difference between the 2 is about $730 bucks..

You mean $730 minus the cost for the bowling ball. I agree that Mayne's is a much cheaper way to go but since were just talking I've taken away the money aspect and am just looking at the effect itself...comes down to personal preference but I'm with Shawn Farquhar/Murray Hatfield who both tell us that (on one of the bowlorama threads) that the money is some of the best they've spent...I strongly agree.

Who buys Bowling Balls?...Arn't they FREE at the bowling alley?............

( just kidding of course!!!!!!)

I built my own. If you know how the suitcase version works, it's easy to do it with a giant skecth pad. It doesn't have to be a bowing ball. I'm working on a fish bowl production. I also built a mini version for my family show with an 8 ball, it kills. I did it right under my roomate's nose - it fried him. So there are all sorts of things you can do if you put your brain to work.

Andrew Mayne's Bowling Ball production is so much more than just a bowling ball production, it is a great all around utilty principle. I use it to fill up a basket with apples at the climax of my applecadabra routine. Also, check out Andrew's book Mayhem... where he uses the principle to transform some coffee beans into a cup of coffee.
By the way, you can also produce a bowling ball with it... quite startling.

Yeah, he also does a production of a t.v. from a briefcase, kinda cool. It's an old clown gag, that's how it all started. It's in a book by David Ginn, Clown Magic. Easy construction. As I said, if you know the "real" work it's easy to make your own and you save a lot of money.

The July issue of the Linking Ring 2004 (have yet to see it) will contain a New Zealand Parade. In it I have explained a routine using Andrew Maynes bowling ball production or an appearing 'pole' product. It is much more than just a production and you'll get a good five minutes out of act.

If you get Andrew Mayne's book, the bowling ball from briefcase is in there.

To me, it looked like it was the same as Howard Flint's bowling ball production, which I saw him do at a convention in Houston in 1981 or 1982. This, in turn, goes back to Robert-Houdin's "Inexhaustible Portfolio." Kevin's is different.

Both are somewhat angly.