Hello everyone,

I just came up with a good idea for an effect that uses a long white rope and a tube. The idea I have is that the magician shows the tube empty and pulls the rope through the tube a couple of times. Then he makes a magical gesture, and pulls the rope through again. The audience sees that the white rope enters the tube, but is amazed when they see that when the robe exists the tube it is red. The performer can stop halfway, showing one side red and the other side white. After pulling the entire robe through, it is now completely red. Then the magician shows the tube is still empty.

Although it sounds to me as a beautiful idea, I keep on wondering how I will be able to accomplish this effect. Does anyone have a reference to a particular gimmick, DVD, Book, tip or to me unknown method that is around that can help me make this effect possible?

I would be most grateful.

There are some methods to accomplish this. I have two methods off the top of my head and could be a nice commercial effect.
My method includes a continuous pulling of the rope back and forth showing white and red, then all white or all red.
Unless there is a method already out there.

If you google "color changing rope" you will see over 50 to choose from.

Do you think that the standard color-change rope ala zanadu is what he is saying?
My thought is that you could take any normal rope and do this.

Reminds me of a half-dyed hank routine, sort of.

I used to have a gimmick you held in hand and did that with a ribbon. I think Norm Nielsen might even sell this. No tube needed.

I pm'd you with an original solution.

You know, you could probably rig up a dollar bill changer or money changer to visibly change the rope into the other color. I think that would be better than a tube. Here is my quick attempt at a rope change using a tube like the guyt wanted.
http://stagetricks.com/professor/ropetube.html
No sound and the identity is concealed to protect the ignorant.

My original idea was to use a long rope, I was indeed not talkinbg about the zanadu change effect. The idea is really that a tube the size used in the multiplying bottles routine is used; and that it can be shown empty. The whole idea might not even be possible, but I can at least try. Thanks to magicians there is a way to create the illussion of pushing and pulling to the rope as if it is one, however, there has to be some kind of method to convince the audience that the tube is empty...
I tried black magic, but am working on another solution right now.

Like any progressive idea, the steps to creating a good new effect start with the premise and the solution. I removed the video of the prototype and will post the final resolution when I have done what you wish. Showing the tube is a minor problem, as there are several existing methods for doing so. The hard part, (which I solved) was the continuity of the rope movement. I can feed the rope in, move the rope at the top and have a blue one emerge, and then pull the rope out completely changed. The interesting thing that no-one noticed (and was deliberate on my part) was that the white rope did not fall out the bottom of the tube when held upright.
The thing is, you don't always have to show a tube empty, like working with a thu** tip, you don't have to reveal empty palms or hands if you do other things to imply that the hand is empty...like merely picking up something else with the hand with the gimmick on. In the case of the tube, I could pass a stick thru it or a silk and that will imply that the tube is not blocked and therefore empty.
-------------------
Now, once the prototype of an original effect is made, you work out the bugs. I like the challenge. I do not look at existing methods unless they are exactly as you want.
---------
Showing the tube is not a problem. The length of the tube with the method I am using, has to be close to the size of the rope, so I have to work on getting the tube smaller for you. As I mentioned in the PM to you, there is a weight in the blue rope (I didn't have red), in order to have the rope travel at the same speed as the white rope going in. IF I use a heavier weight, then I can use a shorter rope. Film at eleven.
Now, if I use a square tube rather than round...then I think the tube can be shown empty, as the square lends itself to a gimmick more than the round.
----------------------
I also like the Money maker adapted for rope. I have done that in the past with silks, and rope requires a thicker setup. But the hollow core ropes make it possible.

Update: I can now show the tube empty before and after. The tube is 12" tall, the rope is 30" long. Rope goes in and when pulled out the other side,,it changes color. Can be pulled back and forth, and when pulled out it has completely changed. No more weight required. Ropes are ungimmicked. I am doing the finishing touches within the day or so.

-Ian

Sounds good, very good. Especially the money maker gimmick sounds quite inventive. I`m looking forward to the refined version:)

btw; I really appreciate the fact that you are willing to work out this small idea so extensively.. I`m off to the magic shop tomorrow, trying to build up a stage show, and maybe finding ways to further make the robe through tube effect reality:)

You still didn't give the purpose and/or necessity of using a tube or even changing the rope color.