Clip does not load for me on a G4 Mac. Others?

Tod

At least in this case, doing something amazing with the same (heh heh) cheapo plastic set everybody's seen & dismissed is way more impressive than doing anything with a fancy prop that's obviously made specially for performers.

Yes! I have the exact same thing! Well, the difference is, no sponge ball, but TWO silks, one that can hide in the stem. The silks' color matches the wooden balls PERFECTLY, and everything is beautifully made! I also have two other ball/vase sets from the same manufacturer, each slightly different in design. Paid $20 each.

What a deal! As decorations, they are VERY nice, and when someone asks what they are...heh heh hehhh, "..ah yess, my dear...step right over here..."

Great thread, guys!

Doug

For the most part, people have assumed that this is a dumb trick. With practice, even the people who know how it's done can be tricked. Where are there any good videos on a professional routine of this?

Hello Joey,- there is a link earlier on in this thread for 'Stones of Tutankamun' which appears to be a good solid professional routine. According to Pabloinus Brian Cook also has a Gallo version on Youtube. I shall have a look there myself.

It would I agree be helpful if someone was able to find a direct link to a demo for another routine so that we could make a comparison. Anything by Mike Skinner or Mike Gallo perhaps using a plastic ball and vase would be helpful?

For me it is the quality of the routine (and how well the magician presents it) that ultimately counts. The question as to whether the ball and vase is woodern or plastic is I admit less important.However all things being equal my subjective preference would be always to go for the better quality item (as long as it does not cost an arm and a leg!)

With best wishes. Andy.

Look on youtube under vase ball, there are 2 routines, Gallo's and Brian Cook's using a ball and vase. Also Tom Frank is his blog page (search in the Café for him)has a routine

Hope this helps

Ed Marlo's version with a cheap set in Arcade Dreams is very interesting!

I have owned every type of ball & vase you can think of. Some made of wood, some of metal, and quite a few formed from plastic.

There are three things that make for a good ball & vase ... fuctionality (is the lid to loose, or worse, does it stick), deceptiveness (does the vase look the same when you show the shell as when you show the actual ball), and aesthetic appeal.

Of all the vases that I've had, the only one that rates high in all three catagories, is the $2 plastic Adams ball & vase.

And here is a tip you may want to try ... paint the vase!

You can paint the vase metallic gold or silver and it will appear to be made of metal. You can paint it mustard yellow and it will resemble the old turn of the century Conradi vases. My favorite is to paint the red vase red! Sounds silly, but is gives the vase a different appearance.

And here are some tips on painting a vase ...
Lightly sand off the burrs from the plastic. Spray the vase with a light coating of white sandable primer. When this dries, don't sand it, but instead polish it with a cloth. This creates a smooth surface to which you apply the paint (spray paint works best).

I also use the same process to paint the balls. I even go so far as to remove the shell from the base and paint it too (it's a metal shell glued to the base. This is part of the vase's deceptive look. Most vases just have the dome of the vase painted the color of the ball.)

Paint one of the balls white, and your all set to do the Skinner routine.

I've loved The Ball and Vase since childhood. To me, it is almost as much of a rite of passage to magicians as the infamous Cups and Balls. The magician performing Stones of Tutankamun is Doug Gorman, a personal friend of mine. I am the creator of his website and the video streams from our server. The Ball Vases he is using we're created by James Riser. Personally, I prefer ball shells because the perception of the impossible can be achieved. In my professional routine, the shell is stolen at the conclusion of my performance, which I believe fries those in the know even more so than the lay people themselves.

The first link is a cheaper, childish set. I would recommend a nicer version.
Best of Luck!

Where does one find a good wood set?

http://www.jamesriser.com/Magic/StonesOf/Tutankhamun.html

Here!
Walt

What a nice routine...Thanks for the link Walt.....

Another option, if you like the nicer sets, is to get one that uses a golfball. Duplicate balls are pretty easy to find, in a variety of colors.

This set seems pretty nice for the price. Comes with a silk, and soft ball.

http://magic4less.com/Merchant5/merchant......ry_Code=

I recently purchased the set described by taller8. It is identical to the set shown on the link and there is no soft ball. I needed to do a small amount of remedial work on the ***ll as it had been overpainted in areas, which spoiled the illusion, otherwise this was a great buy and is real fun to work.

Philip

Anyone seen the ball(?) and vase routine from Charlie Frye and his Eccentricks line of DVDs? I really enjoyed the routine as well as the thought he has put into such a 'simple kids toy'. Heres a YouTube link to a performance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8JA8ZgQm38

Regards,

Barrett James

Hey there, I just saw this thread...glad some of you like the routine I do with the ballvase.
Brian

Here is a wonderful routine by Jason Maher:
https://youtube.com/shorts/oNWBeY6dTpE?feature=shared

Using a silk vase to produce a wand looks really good in this video.