Hello,

Normally I'm not a big fan of cutting rope with your fingers instead of a scissor.
Sometimes, in the fiber optics routine I do, I must, it's not that elegant, but it's gets a nice reaction sometimes.

But now I own a professors dream set, which you can very cleanly show as one rope at the beginning of the rouitne that I do. I make a knot in the rope and can cut the rope with a scissor, which is not a magical effect, but just the beginning of the routine.

But I thought, if I show one solid piece of rope very cleanly, and then make a knot, and cut the rope with my fingers: I have an extra magic effect!

I was wondering wath you guys think about this. Does it make the routine more magical or less magical? In the situations I work in now I don't have the oppertunity to perform this effect. I don't think it is very suitable for close up.

Simon

Here ist one thing that I do that actually improves the "cutting with the fingers" illusion. Have a tiny little piece of rope palmed. Do the "finger" cut and wait for the reaction. "Cool isn't it" then cut of a tiny piece by miming to cut the rope again and releasing the tiny bit (let it fall to the floor or toss it into the audience) "It was a little too long to begin with. Now we are set!"

Nice one Roland.

Cool

I like that , Roland, often felt the cut with fingers hinted that the rope was gimmicked some how, was always hesitant to do it.

Roland, that's the first sensible idea I've heard on cutting the rope with your fingers! I've always avoided it like the plague, but I might have to change my thinking. Brilliant!

I did a bunch of impromptu magic at the childrens hospital today for the staff and patients. My oldest was having a battery of tests and since we grew up in that institution I thought I would snap a few and bring somes smiles. It never ceases to amze me how amazed the audience is by rope routines. Nice clean, no resets.

Rope workers rejoice...

SeaDawg
I think people are more impressed with everyday items like scissors, rope, paper, rubber bands, pens, dollar bills, coins because they have all handled them, so when you break, and restore any of them the audience is that much more impressed.

I also like Rolands idea. That being said I think the cutting with fingers is giving away the secret. I came up with two ways around it. One is I have a very dull dagger looking letter opener that I've used making it look like I used it to cut the rope. The other is a little laser light thingy and I tell the specs that I can cut the rope with the laser.

Thanks, Roland....

I never ask my audience, directly or indirectly, to believe what I'm doing is real magic. I am creating illusions, hopefully, they are surprising and entertaining. Of course, I can't really cut rope with my fingers, they're not really scisors. But if I have a good story and good pacing in my routine, the audience will just follow along and have fun.

But that's just me. I can see how a more "sober" routine might benefit from a more "logical" presentation. The key, I think, is to have a good conclusion and clean up - Professor's Nightmare is a great example of what I'm thinking. Of course I can't really stretch the ropes to the same length, but for a moment or two, it sure looks like I can.

Cheers! =D