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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Having noticed that there are so many C&B workers here, I am wondering if we could have a new thread sharing our most memorable, most enjoyable and perhaps the most humorous performance you have gone through.
I start off with one. About a few months ago, a couple dropped by my place for a visit and they have never seen a C&B routine in their life before. And I showed them (to test my material) a very short routine, using the leather Merlin Chop cup, and when the final loads appeared, I got a shock of my life. The lady responded with very big eyes (like gold fish eyes almost bulging out) and her mouth opened up so big with awe, when the final loads appeared. The couple were stunned for a short while with those facial responses. I have never gotten a response like this. This looks humorous to me because culturally people from my part of the world don't respond like that. This couple really made my day! Any story to share? |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
From layment the STRONGEST reaction was when I did pretty much the Vernon routine with borrowed tea cups and wads of paper (from chop stick wrappers) as balls at a table for about a dozen folks (a large round dinner table at a Chinese restaurant). I borrowed some lemons out of the kitchen and when finished it was like a standing ovation... the guest of honor exclaimed something like "I can't believe it... you didn't use any tricky magician's equipment and fooled us so badly."
So much for $$$$$ cups!
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
It was the first time I did the Chop Cup for my dad. He was an amateur magician, and I fooled the pants off of him with the saltshaker and pepper shaker from the table.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Tom Fenton Inner circle Leeds, UK (but I'm Scottish) 1477 Posts |
My most memorable one was done for my uncle when I was much younger. He knew how part of it was done but when I revealed the final loads he didn't know what to say or do.
I can still see his face now.
"But there isn't a door"
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Bryan Gilles Inner circle Northern California 1732 Posts |
I still consider myself a virgin to the Cups & Balls as I do a very Vernon-esque routine and climax with 4 Fab Fruits as a final load... Nothing too spectacular in my eyes!
Anyway, A week ago my wife and I attended her family reunion/ camp trip along the Northern California Coastline. The last night of this family reunion/camp-out/retreat, Members of her family asked if I would mind doing a short presentation for them. Needless to say, I performed for over two hours working out of my small close-up case. I ended with the Cups & Balls. Like I said, my routine is a similar format to Vernon or Lance Burton (you know... the one with the lemons and mouse as the final loads). Anyway, I was encompassed by 65-70 of her family members at a small picnic table in the middle of a campground. I was completely comfortable and able to cut loose with lots of ad-libs and humor that related to different things that happened over the course of the camping trip. Let me tell you, when it came time to reveal the final loads of the fruits, they were practically "eating out of my hands"... This was the first time I had loud gasps when each cup was turned over. What a feeling!!! With the final 4th load, I felt like a million bucks hearing them clap and make comments partaining to the routine. Up to now, that is my most memorable C&B performance. I also learned a lot about how my comfort and selling more of my own charisma vs. selling the effect can bridge the gap between "doing the Cups & Balls" or "Performing the Cups & Balls" (I hope that made sense...) -Bryan |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Great... that's when it is really fun.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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dxsare Veteran user 361 Posts |
When I was starting out in cups and balls, I was visiting my sister and she had a few friends over and I did the cups and balls with my cups, but didn't have any final loads. I used 3 candles and a pink matchbook. When I revealed the three candles, they ALL flipped out and were shocked, then I said well I need something to light these with, and flipped over the middle cup and for some reason, the matchbook flipped up into the air and I caught it, and then naturally opened it and started to light the candles... not only was it a very magical moment for them, but for me also!
Stevie d
-Stevie D
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
My most memorable performance was when I won the PCAM 2005 Pro Challenge with my Cup and Ball Routine. Performing my Ren-Faire Style routine on a Cruise Ship was a particularly surreal moment. Taking home the Gold and the Thousand Dollar Purse was a high point in my magic career.
Doing a set on the streets of Venice in full 18th century attire was also a most memorable experience.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
I saw the photo of you in Venice... LOOKED ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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BenHFarrar Regular user 103 Posts |
When my final loads jammed in the cups. I picked up the first cup and there was nothing under it. I fooled myself. I gave the cup a good slap with my wand and the fruit seemed to "OOZE" from within the cup as if it was being sloowly squeezed from inside. The other two jammed aswell and a slap with the wand made them flop out. Something about the stange way in which they emerged looked truly magical and brought the house down.
If only it worked like that every time (You kinda had to see it!!!) Ben |
doug brewer V.I.P. 1142 Posts |
Here's a funny one: A number of years ago I was working a Christmas party - walk around and a half hour show. During the standup show my next to last effect is the c&b's with two spectators up on stage with me. I'm into the cup routine and just as I'm about to start the load sequence I realize I forgot to put the potatoes in my pocket. I have no loads whatsoever - not even something I can substitute for loads - in my pockets. I kept my cool - handed the wand to the guy on stage with me (there was a woman up there with him) and told him to take over. Thankfully he was actually a very funny guy - almost stole the show - but I didn't care, as it allowed me to literally turn around, grab the 3 potatoes out of my case and shove them in my pocket. I came back and started right where I left off, loaded the cups and got a huge response to their appearance (I was just as surprised as they were). From that I learned to prepare a checklist before I go on - a tough way to learn - but a very funny story when you think about it.
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Doug, you had a good and wonderful 'out' there, to resume the routine.
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Most memorable is undoubted the c&b routine I did at age 5 from my Mark Wilson Magic set for Uncle Harry (Blackstone, Sr.). Now at the time I thought I did a pretty good c&b routine, but then I was looking at it from a 5 year old's perspective too. It was most undoubtedly the worst c&b Uncle Harry ever saw in his life, but he still acted amazed, patted me on the back and encouraged me. What makes it memorable for me is not so much that I did c&b for Blackstone, but that I had no clue of who he was and proceeded to try to convince him that he needed to get a Mark Wilson magic set and learn magic from Mark Wilson. Everybody has a few incidents in their life the wish they could do over, well that is one of the big ones for me.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
WOW photius, you entertained Harry Blackstone Sr. with the cups and balls routine That is certainly memorable.
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Rimbaud Loyal user Saint Louis 291 Posts |
Years ago, I worked in a magic themed restaurant. The place had two rooms, one large one with a stage and a lot a tables, and a much smaller room that was meant to be a wine bar. Perfect for a close-up parlor type show.
One day, the room was rented out for the whole day to a bunch of very, very stern-looking corporate executives for some sort of really serious, not-there-for-fun meeting. They made it clear, they just needed the space. That's all. Everyone left them alone. But later, the manager came to me and told me that one of the execs had noticed the set of cups (copper DD Paul Fox) that I had left out on the table I performed on, and asked to see what I did with them. I was VERY proud of my routine (It was mostly Garcia's but I had put a lot of time and my own personality into it.) I come into the room, right before they break for lunch and mention I had been asked to show what the place was about, and did they have a couple of minutes? I got what would pass for a reluctant yes from the guy in charge. Lot of tension in the room. I did the routine, and for some reason I was just really, really on that day. Everything just clicked and you could feel the enthusiasm build as the routine progressed and at the end, I produce the final loads and the room just erupts into this wonderful loud laughter and applause--I felt like a rock star. I thanked them and left. About an hour later, one the waitresses came up to me laughing. She said she had been cleaning up and two guys were talking very seriously near the table about business. One reached over, and sort of absently picked up one of the lacrosse balls I left on the cups. As soon as he picked the ball up, he lets out a yell, drops it and in front of everyone, shouts "OH MY GOD!!! THEY'RE SOLID!!" It was a really nice day
http://www.DanLaddthehypnotist.com
"Saying 'Everyone is special' is just another way of saying 'No one is.'" --Dash from The Incredibles |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-08-20 17:00, JamesTong wrote: I don't think you could actually say my c&b "entertained" Uncle Harry. He was a relative, I was 5, he was sort of obligated to watch.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
It is still one memorable event in your books for cups and balls, isn't it
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