I used to be a fan of parasol act…..always watch the full parasol act of 2-3 Japanese magicians & was amazed how they produced parasol so quickly...how they hide them. Where to buy them...at that time 5 sets cost US$199.00 at least... wow

I though 1 day it will be cool to have my own parasol act

I am very grateful that Joker Lam released the Parasol Anywhere DVD cos it basically sums up all the technique for parasol plus it is very easy to obtain parasol now & the price is very low too!

I build an elaborate act on parasol after I got the above....but not sure why...perhaps after knowing the secret, how easy to perform using parasol....it slowly seem no interest to me now...even if I watch back the Japanese Magicians performance...hmm....as if is nothing special now....& TONS of magicians are using parasol in their act, with Joker Lam's style.... ....even for competition, I don't think I will be using any parasol.....think is over used now....very common

But I am very curious, why just 1 DVD on parasol will cause me to have this mindset, but not on dove magic, card manipulation …….etc where there are plenty of teaching material out there....I still finds them very amazing.....but not on parasol anymore just cos of 1 DVD…….what do you think?

Were you a fan because it fooled you??Howard

Not really, I am 'crazy' on dove magic & manipulation...even though I am not fool by the method?

Not mentioning there are tons of DVD, books...etc out there...but I still love it.

But curious why just 1 DVD on parasol will change this....after thinking about it...maybe the method is Easier for parasol...anyone can do it as compared with dove, cards manipulation..........also is very very common now....think there is my conclusion

Beats me... I hate manipulation acts for the most part unless there is at least one moment of something very funny to break the monotony.

perhaps it's the performers. they seem so .... proud of themselves or something via their facial expressions.

comparing their too-proud expressions and their non-magical productions just seems so very bizarre and strange.

I know it's all "showmanship" but I just can't stand it.

I know what you mean... but it's quite a specialised prop, they either fit your character or not. I've had a real fight with them, trying to take it away from the thwacker in your face production, and trying to make them more graceful, and adding a western style spin onto them. I still haven't achieved it yet, but I've come quite a way with them, and I use them as an essential prop in my main act.

What I've learnt from them though far outweighs how much I use them. Not only are they great to learn for more useful steals, but they reminded me that it's all about the audience. It doesn't matter how easy something is, it's how impressive it is. I remember once I did a show, when I first performed my ball routine I think... I was so proud of it, but all everyone talked about was the 8' wand I produced... But I learnt a valuable lesson. And people are impressed by lots of umbrellas. (incidently you can always spot the magician after the show... he'll talk about your parasols, when everyone else is talking about your umbrellas... hehe)

Yes Frank, arrogance/pride is never an endeering trait, and it's a hard balance to strike.

Paul

I have been working on manipulation with parasols for a couple of years now. You have to remember that the way the dvd explains how to produce parasols is not the only way. What keeps my mind going and what makes me continuiously work on them is to create new ideas. My methods are original and a lot of my props I make myself. I didn't buy the dvd on purpose. I didn't want to get influenced on how to produce my parasols or what tricks to use. I see so many people using parasols now in competitions and they all use the exact same movements and blocking as Joker Lam on the dvd. I didn't like when the dvd first came out and I still don't like it now. You have to create to kepp things new and fresh for yourself and others. Creativity is the key.

Hope this helps.
-Matt

Check out Luna Shimada's act on you tube for a whole different look on parasols.
Paul

Also look at FUKI..Howard

Seems as if parasols could be very funny in a comedy routine if they keep appearing and scare the hell out of the performer. or something along those lines.

Hi graywolf,

I think you meant Fukai.

Also I believe it's nigh on impossible to see Fukai's act...
Paul

I was fortunate to have viewed Fukai's parasol act about 20 years ago and it was a very good act.

Basically there are many more ways to produce a parasol. I don't think just one dvd could cover all the materials. There are many that are doing parasols routines are using different techniques that are not published.

Eventhough there are many that are doing the parasol acts, there are few that take this act to the next level. Probably the boredom of viewing a parasol routine is that the performer produces the parasol one at a time and most of the time the steals can be detected. You know a parasol is coming out.

I believe that the choreography of the act is important. An example would be performing it with the music "Singing in the rain" - producing a parasol and multiplying it and have one passed to the assistant because the music also has the sound of thunder and rain.

Taking the act to the next level would make a big difference in pursuing the parasol act with passion.

I just got Joker Lam's DVD. Is there a way to prepare regular umbrellas to use as production umbrellas? I want to use a certain type of umbrella that is not currently manufactured for manipulation.

It only requires an automatic opening umbrella. Just remove the locking mechanism. Of course the umbrella must be small to use a a body load. Your question is very vague, so without more detail as to what your are talking about, no futher help can be offered.

What do you mean by regular? Lambs umbrellas are regular umbrellas!
What type is a certain type?

I am working hard to put them into a manip act.

Not so much a 'parasol act' as the parasols being incidental. It's not easy, because the parasol production is quite mind blowing in itself.

However, I will press on with the idea and see what happens.

Best,

Dave

That't the way I work with them too. Do an act that has parasols in it, rather than a parasol act... They can be useful things when used in conjunction with other things...

Paul