Just wondering if anyone has ever pitched the Buddha Papers, and what the results were.

On one hand, it can be done slow and close up, no problem. They're light, pack small and flat, which is good. Also, truly no skill is required -- if you can turn your hand over, you can do this trick! On the other hand, it does need to be done on a table, which limits the number of people who can see it at one time. But since I usually don't get more than 10-12 people at a time, I don't see that as a problem.

Any thoughts? Even though it's an old trick, I think it's still pretty good, and not as well known or overdone as the Ball Vase, for example. SETH

I pitched them and did well.

Don

Hey, that's good enough for me!

Had to reorder more Svengali Decks recently, and so I added a few dozen Buddha Papers to the order. I have two big street festivals coming up at the end of June, so we'll see how they go. SETH

Let us know!

Shane

The Buddha Papers arrived yesterday. They look good, pack small and light, have good instructions, and the price was right.

I worked out a neat little routine with a double change in it (from a dollar bill to a Chinese holed coin, and then from a silver dollar back to a paper dollar). I also added some patter about how the Chinese invented paper and always safeguarded things by wrapping them up . . . . gives me something to say while I'm folding and unfolding the darn thing. One thing I like about this trick is that the slower you do it, the more mystifying it is -- no funny or unnatural moves.

I have a Summer Bazaar this weekend, so I'll give them a shot and see how it goes. I figure the routine should smooth itself out after I do it a few dozen times! It'll be a good trial run for the upcoming street festivals. SETH

Sounds good Seth. I'm on a working vacation and I'm doing a lecture at Dennys magic shop in Baltimore tonight Fri June 20th at 7:30 PM,If anyone is close do stop by.

Seth,
Sunday I'm going to Ocean city Maryland than I take the 6:15 Lewis Del.-Cape May N.J ferry.Sunday night I'll spend in Neptune N.J. to tour the SS Adams factory Monday,than on to NYC till Wed..If you are close google SSAdams and get there number, call Dave the owner and let him know where you are and maybe we can meet to say hello.

Don

Hey Don, thanks so much for the offer! Unfortunately, Neptune is pretty much out of my way, I'm in South Jersey.

Good luck with the lecture, and have a great time at S.S. Adams. I think I bought just about one of each item in their entire line as a kid! Now, I sell their Money Makers and Multiplying Rabbits.

BTW, what's the subject of your lecture? SETH

Hey seth...I've been working on a pitch idea that the buddah papers will fit nicely into! very cool. Thanks for reminding me of them!

Hey Don...you better be having a good time!!!!!!!!!! Buy my friend David a beer.

Wait till you here what I have to tell you...call me on the toll free if you get a break.

Well, the Buddha Papers worked out pretty well, I sold a bunch over the weekend without trying very hard!

After a few hours of selling, I worked out what I feel is a smoother, better and more deceptive handling. It also gets each of the packets up off the table and into the air, so the tip has a better view (which also attracts more specs in the process.) And if handled properly, the Buddha Papers are basically angle-proof, which is great when I have folks crowding around the table on three sides.

One thing I have learned from pitching is that you need to be graceful. Although that's probably true for any sort of magic performance, it seems especially so for a pitch. I have found that you really need to work out all of your movements beforehand, so you know exactly what you are doing and where you are going at all times. This also frees up your mind to concentrate on your patter and presentation.

If you are clumsy or are having problems, the specs are thinking, "Hey if HE can't do it easily, what chance do I have?". As Don Driver teaches on his pitch video, you need to get across the fact that 1) the trick is amazing AND 2) they can do it. (I always say that the trick does require a little practice, which is also true.) Watch Don on his video, the guy is like a ballet dancer, very smooth, no wasted motion, no long pauses, a real economical but effective presentation -- and the cards follow his hands around like trained seals.

Anyway, looks like I need to make some more room in my travel case for a few dozen Buddha Papers, I think they will earn their keep on the pitch table. SETH

How much are you selling them for?

I sell the Buddha Papers for $4.

I could probably even go for $3, but I seem to do OK with $4, nobody hesitates or complains about the price. I have seen them advertised anywhere from $3 to $6(!) on the 'Net, so I figure I'm not in a bad place pricewise. SETH

20 days later, I know. Hows it going with the Buddha Papers. Will you PM me with your Supplier.

Thanks.

Shane

Shane -- Just PM'd you.

I did pretty well with the Buddah Papers at one street festival, but the other was washed out so I have no more experience with them yet.

My next shows aren't until September (a street fair and then a Lima Bean Festival, of all things!). But it's too darn hot now! SETH

Hello Seth :

I have been following your posts on the Buddha papers, and I think I will go with them . I am also working out a pitch for these papers, as I also have some old asian coins and paper money, that will work well into the pitch.

I haven't figured on how to do the Buddha papers IN THE AIR as you mentioned, could you PM me on just how you can fold the papers held in the air?? Its great that the tip can see it this way. I think it is also good to be bent over the papers on the joint counter in the beginning, so the first Mar...oops I mean customers get curious, and you get that all important FIRST person right in front of your joint. ROD

Hello Doug:

On June 22, post, you mentioned you were working on a pitch for the buddha papers. How is the project coming along? I am anxious to see what you have created this time!! I am going to be pitching Buddha papers with my Svengali Decks, so I am interested in your project.
Thanks Doug!
ROD

Sorry Rod, for the confusion. I don't fold them in the air, I fold them on the table, but then pick up each folded packet and hold it up in the air before folding it in the next largest one. That lets everyone see the packet, also shows them that each packet is separate from all the others. In replacing the packet on the table, you do the dirty work. Make sense? SETH

Hello Seth:

Hey I thought it was a great idea, if a person could figure out a way! Yes, Holding in the air is a good idea after folding. What have you experienced as far a tip bulding with the paper being folded on the counter.? have you noticed one or two people coming up out of curiousity, to see what you are doingon the joint counter? All you need is that one important FIRST person to stop right in front of your joint., The next thing you know there are two more, etc. and the real plus is the hole right in front of your joint is filled up, and the tip is building from front to back! Do you still pitch the worms too, or do you use mostly Buddha papers in the hot weather? I am thinking of the IT problems and sticky hands in summer., for the worms. Thanks

ROD

I think the Buddha Papers would be perfect to do on the ground. Bally anyone?

Think about it.

Shane

Rod -- You are right, the Buddha Papers probably would be a good way to start a tip from nothing, sort of like Don's "Dollar Bill Bally."

I still find that the Magic Worms are the biggest draw. One of those in action just stops people dead in their tracks, and it demos at chest level so it's very visible. All I have to say is "Have you met my friend Willie the Magic Worm?" and we are off.

The problem with the worms is that in very hot weather, they can be very uncooperative if you're using IT, which is almost a necessity for a close-up pitch. But it's very unpredictable -- some days, even hot days, I can go for hours with the same worm, and other cooler days, I may go through half a dozen or more. Talcum powder (cornstarch) on the hands helps a lot, but sometimes even that doesn't do it.

Actually, I have about five different tricks that I sell, and I rotate through them during the day. The Cups & Balls is a great tipmaker, but a poor seller for some reason (maybe because it's not self-working). The Svengali Deck and the worms are pretty reliable, followed by the Money Paddle and Buddha Papers. Tricks with money seem to gather a lot of interest. On the other hand, I demoed the Dime & Penny set for a while, but never set the world on fire with that one. SETH

SETH:

haha I thought about the same thing when I read Shane's post about doing Buddha Papers on the ground, Don's Tip Builder DVD..MONEY MONEY MONEY Good Idea!

Thanks for taking time to send this info. I will still keep the worms, I like your idea of having several different products and rotating them. I can see this would help if working the same flea markets on a regular basis.

Also Seth, I think the worms appeal to the smaller children, who may not be old enough to work the cards, but can handle the worm. ,,Something for the whole family, in other words.
Thanks Seth for your time , we all appreaciate your posts and info on the Café'