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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
I think the Doty-Scope looks great for a quick gag, but how do you get the most out of this prop?
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Neznarf Inner circle NY then AZ now 1840 Posts |
I have audience pick a card and when I turn around I tell the audience I'm going to fix my hair and I peek over my shoulder with a mirror then peek over my shoulder again witht he doty scope. As if to cheat and look at the card selection.
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Yes, I think that is a great use of it, but I think there has to be more! I am giving it some thought.
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AshleyW Regular user 174 Posts |
Cap, if you use a puppet, consider using it in a "running gag" routine where the puppet is placed in a box while a child points to a color selection you have on a table and the puppets job is to guess what color she points at.
Several funny things occur, he keeps cheating using the scope (I made my own years ago that I can use easier with 1 free hand), or he peeks up from the box (the kids go bonkers), another funny thing for any kids & adults there who are old enough to realize you are using a puppet, is that your puppet keeps cheating but yet everytime he guesses, he is wrong. In fact when you ask him what color was chosen, he guesses things like "Pizza" or "socks", things that aren't even there. I end the routine with "real" magic so that everyone has now been entertained, either by the puppet, the antics, the props, the comedy or the magic. Good luck! |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Puppets with props (this or others) is a great idea. Thanks for the suggestion.
Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Great idea Ashley! I am excited. I think I will use it with my Axtell board.
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AshleyW Regular user 174 Posts |
Capt, that sounds interesting, have you noticed ANYTHING that MOVES without visible means of support absolutely fascinates audiences? The eye, the Axtell board, puppets, floatations, etc, they all work well. I always try to include one item that moves. Let us know what you come up with on the Axtell board please.
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Start the show off with the scope peaking out around the curtin. This could go on for a while, while I speak in a loud "back-stage" voice about how funny the crowd looks, and how I am glad they can't hear me.
I was thinking about having the kids choose a color from some papers for me to guess - making a big deal of it. I would have a child come up and cover my eyes with a "magic" cloth designed to see through. The board (I call him Simon) can "whisper" it to me what color they choose. The board would claim he heard it, so I would erase his ears. We would do it again, but this time he would "see" it. I would turn him around (taking care to cover the gimmick). Then, he would come out with the Doty-scope and whisper the answer. I then cover up the scope with a cap, and he starts mumbling and guessing your "pizza & socks" and moving the scope around, trying to see something . . . That is all I have now . . . |
AshleyW Regular user 174 Posts |
Sounds funny, let us know how it grows!
It does seem it will take some doing to hold the board & the scope still covering the secret. You might consider, after drawing the face to wrap a small cloth (your eraser) around that side of the board & rubber band it on. The cloth will cover the secret and you will be free to move the board around without worry. You could even prop it up on something and let go completely. Good luck! |
dove-boy Special user Joe Yu (Stage Name) 545 Posts |
Not to sure if anyone here encounter problem of making the'eye' move smoothly?
I try to lossen the screw on the metal that attached to the eye...when I move the bottom..sometimes the eyes moves not too smooth, ..if I tighten the 'eye' screw tight to the metal....it sometimes stuck....hmm, what is the Best remedy..? Thanks for any inputs |
KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Sorry dove-boy, I can't help.
--Actually, instead of covering it with as cap, I can cover it with my hand, and he can peak through my fingers. I then could put a sock on him - which lends itself to some humor - this could become a 15 minute routine! As for holding the scope AND the board - that is what magnets are for! I can put a kitchen cloth holder, the plastic kind you poke a cloth into, on the back to hold the cloth eraser. |
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Capt Kid, a nice idea, the cloth holder, to cover the mechanics of the board. Very clever...
I'm not sure about using Doty with the Drawing Board, though...it kinda seems wrong, the picture is 2D, the Doty scope is 3D. But your idea would translate perfectly to Bill Abbott's "Chico" routine....the monkey peeks first from beneath his hand, then he flips his hat off his eyes after you cover them, he goes on to try to use the mirror....and why not have him use the Doty Scope next? I'm gonna try it out on my friends' kids over Christmas... Dove-boy, I find the Dotyscope moves best up and down. Lateral movement seems somewhat restricted, but I haven't had the problem of it sticking. Another idea - a running gag, you could use Doty to select your helpers. For those of you familiar with "Teletubbies", the Doty looks similar to the thing that popped up from the ground in that show. It looks quite funny when slowly turned in the same way as in Teletubbies, the eye moving up and down. |
KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Well, I think I am going to try it. I think once the board starts talking, it is "alive" and not just a 2D for the crowd. I am not sure, but I may give it a try tomorrow. I will post how it went.
I have not seen Bill Abbotts routine - what DVD is it on? I like the idea of a mirror & the hand over his eyes first, I have one of those "auto mechanic" mirrors on a long extendable handle. I think it would be perfect. |
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
It's on "Bill Abbott performs Stand up Magic for Kids", one of the best kids' show DVDs I own.
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
I have been told it is good . . . I wasn't impressed with his close-up for kids DVD, but I'll try this other one.
Posted: Dec 23, 2007 6:23pm I decided not to use it since there were only 4 kids in my only BP yesterday (because of X-mas I assume). I am going to play with it a while. |
The Great Smartini Inner circle 2280 Posts |
I use it as a pre-show thing only and have a slide up/slide down kind of sound effect to go along with it. I usually do it once in the middle of the backdrop at the top and then at both sides and that's been it...I love the idea that someone suggested about adding colour to the eye and plan to do this also.
jeff |
Michael238 Inner circle 1192 Posts |
I asked Ken Scott permission to use it the way he does on his DVD. I have been using that routine for 3 years.
Doty Scope gets laughs every time. |
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-12-22 03:07, CaptainKid wrote: Cap'n, I personally rate Bill Abbot's close-up DVD very highly, in fact, I love all of his DVDs....I guess it's what works for you..... |
KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Doug,
I value your advice very highly, and if it works for someone, great. The fact you endorse it means a lot. Lot's of people love everything he does, and I have only bought that DVD. To me, it he looked a little like a fish out of water. It wasn't bad, but the hype on the front gave me expectations that, for me, it didn't deliver. |
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