What's your opinion about a common ending to linking ring routines where all the rings become linked to the key and then the key is separated from them all? This can be seen in Tarbell (8 rings), Richard Ross's Book and Vernon's Symphony of the Rings (both with 6 rings) and I'm sure in many other routines in the literature with more than 3 rings. I personally don't use it in my 6 ring routine because I feel that by highlighting it in that way, it may help lead the spectators to a conclusion which I really don't want them to reach: that there is a special ring. I suppose a f---- count at the end could undo some of that but my instinct tells me that is not sufficient. What do you think?

I don't think it is a sufficent ending. You are trying to convince the spectators that you are using 6 identical unbroken bands of steel. I do Whit Hayden's routine and feel that the seperation of the rings from the key at the end help sell the individuality of the rings. However you are correct to think that it lacks the climax feel. I am working on some methods to vanish the rings at the end. Or you could go with the other classic ending of linking all the rings into a long chain. The rings either need to flow into another routine (Think linking Hula hoops) or they NEED a climax. If you have the ability to link the rings what would be more impressive?? (produce a bird on them, throw streamers through them, an appearing cane, confetti cannon)

Hope this helps

Joe

Gadzooks... if it was good enough for Dai Vernon, it should be good enough for anyone.

My routine is build from Lewis Ganson's 8 ring routine in one of his Routined Manipulation books. I have added and changed the routine but that is the basic foundation, and Ganson's routine also ends with all the rings linked onto the key and then all are shaken loose. I admit that I have had the same thought pass through my mind that linking all 7 other rings onto the key is a way to tip the existance of the key. However, look at it from an audience standpoint. The rings have all been proven as far as they are concerned. All the rings have been seperately counted and handled, both linked and unlinked as far as they can tell at this late point in the routine. Linking all onto one ring is just one more miracle in a long line of them at this late stage. It is a logical extension of the routine. It makes a lot of noise when they are all shaken loose, hense a great climax. I throw the key down as well, which again "proves" there's nothing special about it. So basically, after considering your concern I arrived at the following conclusion: "Don't run if you ain't being chased."
Best,
Jim
PS: Thanks for the great question! These are fun issues to kick around.
PSS: I love the rings.

I, too, love the rings. I currently do a 3-ring routine, but when I used to do 6 and 8-ring versions, I ALWAYS included the all one and one on all finish. As magicians, you're right--it tips the method. But it gets a tremendous response from lay-people. I also do a ring thru the hand bit with the keyring. I've had magicians tell me this tips the method, too. But if you could see the reactions, gasps of astonishment and applause I get with it..

Pete has a point--Vernon was no dope! Neither was Ganson. However, I would say this: NEVER perform a move YOU don't believe in and can do with complete confidence. The audience will sense that, and THAT is what will cause them to become suspicious. When you can do it confidently with complete conviction, your audience will be convinced as well.

Jim makesa a great point, too, about looking at it from the audience's view (the rings having already been "proven") as opposed to from a magician's view. I used to have a magic shop. I would demo an effect that would knock the socks off the guys shopping there. Then they'd buy it, find out the secret, and say, "Well, geez, THAT'S not gonna fool ANYONE!" I would laugh and say, "Before you knew the secret 2 minutes ago, it fooled the socks off YOU!"

Re: Scott's comment about having conviction. Tommy Wonder talks about this in one of his Books of Wonder.
Scott, that sounds like a great move? Is it part of your 3 ring routine? Is your routine available for sale?
Best,
Jim

It's not available as a separate routine, but it is in my book, "More Magic."

Al Koran's 3-Ring routine is hard to beat. You can vary it with your own moves, style, etc. Mike Skinner used it, I have used it (but for most shows I do a five ring routine).

I also do a four ring Perverse Routine just for magician audiences.

I've been working with a variation of Ganson's Routine. I've been ending the rings linked together in a chain. I didn't break them apart. For me the joining of the rings seemed to be the plot. Breaking them apart again felt pointless.

Years ago there was a guy doing the rings (big time pro) who finished with all the rings on one, then, holding them over a bucket he would "shake" them all loose, and had them drop into the bucket.

Then, when he dropped the key ring, it BOUNCED UP and out and LINKED TO THE BUCKET HANDLE...

Boy do I wish I could do that every time!

What a great finish, Pete!
CM, re: the Ganson routine, after you've got all eight linked into the long chain, Ganson doesn't so much "break them apart," he just quickly links all onto one. Then he shakes them all loose from the one (key). The final linking onto one happens very quickly. In two small moves if you practice it. I tend to turn my body around, raising my hands over my head when my back is to the audience to make sure it doesn't look like I'm hiding something. But the revolving of the body covers the linking with the principle of a larger move covering a smaller one.
Jim

I used to do a linking ring routine without the chain ending(all the rings linked) and I know that ring routines are stronger with a finale linking all of the rings together. On the street some people will walk off after seeing the single rings linked, but they were looking for something else (snacks, acrobats friends etc.) and they may leave a tip, but my tip jar is better at the end of the day for having the complete chain of 5. I use a brief version of the Jack Miller routine.

If you can get a hold of Jonathan Pendragon's four ring routine it is great. Lots of energy. Short and sweet and looks like real magic. He performed it recently on the Mike Bullard show here in Canada. It's worth a look.

I've done the rings throughout my career, from silent to comedy, two rings to nine, very small to my current set of four 24" rings.

The current routine is a feature in my show, and even though it has been very successful, I have to admit that on paper, the routine sounds like a slow painful death. The premise is one borrowed from Jim Steinmeyer, and is echoed by several others here, i.e., the linking of the rings is the plot, and once the rings are all linked, the story's over.

Of course, in my routine, that makes for a pretty simple story, since there are only four rings. To make matters worse, the best music for the piece, and I tried very hard to avoid this, is Peter Gabriel's "Mercy Street" (Think DC's "Origami" music)

Okay, now those of you who know the music begin to see the picture, it's a slow piece, and it takes over six minutes. I have practically an eternity to link four rings together in a chain. Get out your rings, and try it sometime.

But that's all I do, and the chain of four is a surefire applause cue. The fact that the four ring chain stands about 8 feet off the ground helps.

I added a framing device (the red scarf that binds the rings at the beginning reappears at the end, just before the chair of four is gathered, bound again by the scarf, and replaced as it was in the beginning)so it's a linking ring routine with a circular plot. What else?

I mention all this in order to reassure you that it can be done, the rings can provide a full six minutes of silent entertainment, without indulging in the repetitive linking and unlinking and linking again that muddles many routines.

Many people come up to me and comment on how they've "always loved that trick with the rings". Of course, then there's the ominously ambigious "You know, I've always wondered how that trick with the rings was done." (what, until now?)

It's great how many different ways the rings can be presented. My current routine is done with 6 Owen 12 inch rings. The routine is under 5 minutes and the patter is in verse. The story line is how the rings are enchanted and under a spell and how they link and unlink because of the magic spell. At the end, they are linked into a 6 ring chain. I then slowly gather the rings and say that the spell is now broken and they are separate again counting them as in the beginning. The rhyming of the patter is descriptive of the action and gives a nice rhythm and pace to the structure of the routine. I find that the spectators seem to concentrate more on each move as they are waiting for the next rhymed verse and some are actually guessing at the rhyme. I really love this routine and a lot of work was put into developing a patter in verse that was integral to the magic and not just background banter. My cups and balls routine is also done in verse and the rhyming patter seems to really please the audience. These are the only patter routines that I do in verse so I don't want you to think that's all I do. The routine itself has elements from Vernon, Aldo, Ross, Cellini, and of course The Count himself. Comments?

I don't like loud noises, like clanging linking rings. That's why I like routines like Ross and Greg Wilson's(Mark's son)They are beautiful silent 3 ring routines, and, I'm not sure, but they may be the same routine, but the 3 minutes of magic are super.

I personally don't like linking all the rings onto one, it does indeed place a lot of heat on that single ring. I use a five ring routine, it is one of the strogest pieces of magic. Seems the older I get the more my act closeup or stage consists of the classics. Anyway all five get linked and then I roll my hands over which makes the chain look like the olymic symbol. I make my joke about what an olymic trick that was and immediately count out five separate rings. The fast transposition from five linked to none is the kicker that gets the applause.

Frank Tougas

Threse a young magacian I met at the Magic Castle he performed his four ring routine called Ninja rings .His name is Shoot Owgawa .he has one of the best routines I ever saw with six inch rings.
vinny

Shoot does the Ninja rings very well. He learned it from an elder mage in Japan. Reed McClintock also does it, and there is a tape out by someone with the basic routine with the small rings...

However...

Bob Kohler is about to come out with a DVD featuring Shoot's routine.

That elder mage in Japan would be Mr. Yanagida, Shoot's mentor. The magician who has the tape out with Yanagida's routine is my pal Dan Fleshman of St. Charles, MO. Dan put out the routine with Yanagida's permission. Shoot and Reed also have credited and received permission to release their routines. All the routines are similar (built on the same framework) but with nice touches and finesses that are different enough to merit each of these guys releasing his version. All are excellent and well worth your consideration. The small rings are nice for strolling and restaurant work.