I tried asking in another section, but haven't had any luck so far. Maybe you guys can help:

I'm looking for a prop that will instantly produce a raccoon. At the moment, I'm thinking of a Circus Wagon type box, but smaller and doesn't look like a Circus Wagon (or a Funhouse). Where could I buy or get directions on how to make one of these?

The prop is to end a routine where the raccoon has apparently been shot in the air and he "lands" in this container. I will be holding the container. If I use a Circus Wagon style box, I'd probably glue a funnel to the top which he apparently squeezes through. Any other props fit this description?
See-through bucket?
Appearance in a landing net?

George

You might also consider a body load, or loading a duplicate into someone else's coat, purse......

This nearly normal guy loves puppets.

Just completed my first of the day. 8 AM for a 7th grade drama class....on the elements of comedy. Comedy is not always pretty early in the morning....

It was a great way to start the day. Next session, 11 AM...


Harris

Thanks, Harris. I might consider body loads as an alternative.

What about this - DELUXE PRODUCTION NET

https://midwestmagic.net/shop/item.asp?itemid=3554

This does the reverse of a Bengal Net...

Cliff

What about Barry Mitchell's "Portable Presto Pet Production" It's Great!

Found it at http://www.barrymitchell.com/products/in......o_Rabbit

Cheers, Cliff. Nice find. I was looking into something similar, but the one you found is way better. I'd love to have one appear in a butterfly style net, but I can't think of any way to adapt a production net into one without it looking a bit dodgy.

Cheers, Mind Magic. Nice find, but it's a little too large for me for this time. Thanks anyhow.

George

George,

How about holding out a net (or a small ungaffed box) to catch the raccoon, but instead it ends up hanging off your back (unbeknownst to you). If you can secretly load it there, you'll have the magical appearance as well as all the "look, don't see" comedy, which would work real well in this scenario.

Rick Mearns

How about a body load from a balloon?

The prop needs to be in your hands ASAP, otherwise it looks dead, so an instant production would like nice. Balloon pops leaving a squirming bundle of raccoon.

Then, you can "BLOW UP" the raccoon!

Rick, that's a great idea. I might use that in some settings.

Fantastic idea, Nick. I do want to go with something visual and magical. This will be the routine's finale, so I will be mucking around for 10 or so minutes not really doing much magic beforehand. So, I think it would be nice to finish on a strong magical note.

George

There's a bottle production that works the way Nick describes... It might be helpful to take a look at it for ideas on how to do this.

That's it, use a Splash Bottle type of production with the balloon as his "air bag".

Edd

Magic, Inc. has an old book, called "The Bunny Book", which has some fairly detailed plans for rabbit production boxes and, not taking themselves too seriously, they also have some pages devoted to spring animals. Also, if you coil the spring, you might be able to fit Rocky or Roxie into a large crystal box, which you could get commercially for $25 rather than having to spend the $100-$200 for conventional rabbit production boxes. That said, Daytona Magic has some nifty production boxes (like the Rainbow Box) and they're having a 40 percent off sale on all their wood-produced items through Sunday night, April 22.

Good luck,

Mumblemore Magic

Wizardofsorts, I like the idea of using a balloon as an airbag. Good one.

I'm surprised no one's suggested using a Dove in Balloon tray. It would go perfectly with the airbag premise.

Rick

Would a spring animal fit into a Balloon to Dove tray?

Edd

I just tried my Rocky with my tray (Dave Powell version); doesn't fit. The Rocky is too round for it.

Rick

Yeah, I figured that would be the issue.

Edd

OH, you guys are talking SPRING raccoon. I just tried to stuff a real one into a dove tray... He didn't like that very much. Then, he ran into the woods and won't give me back my tray.

Cheers, guys. Edd, I love the airbag idea. That makes a lot of sense.

Mumblemore, thanks for the heads up on the bunny book.

Trevor Lewis has a balloon to rubber chicken production in one of his books, which will probably be closer to what I'm doing than the bottle production. I've seen the balloon to bottle production, though, and it looks great.

George

At Blackpool I think it was Russ Stevens who had a "machine" that instantly blew up balloons in a box. It was a really cool illusion. If know what I'm talking about you can quite easily make a mini one to make the raccoon appear!

If not pm me.

M:C

I've decided to use one of two solutions. Production from balloon or making a net that makes him appear.

For the balloon, because I may not be wearing something suitable for a body load I'm actually considering swapping a balloon for one that genuinely contains the raccoon! Is that too weird?

The net idea would be to build a fishermans style net with a thick handle that releases the raccoon into the net. I can't think of any other way for a raccoon to appear in a net that looks like a normal net.?!

George