I'll give it a try if I do some busking this summer.

Have you done or seen something similar?

There are others who are weaving bills as this DVD is available to Magicians but I've never run into anyone doing it yet.

I'm self taught (saw the picture in Magic Magazine) so I didn't see the DVD.

Do you think having them pre-made is good or do you think building excitement by having the process timed (with a comfortably long base time) as they watch would be better?

-Mary Mowder

I think if you show it done and then have the completed ones for sale, it may work really well. I believe no one could watch one made and figure out how to do it, so the secret is safe.
Odd but true, though, how some will clamor after the finished product as a gift, trinket or memento. I learned long ago that in some circumstances, at least, people really are looking for something to get- check out the lobby for any broadway show and you will see what I mean.

I have done something similar, in that I have sold some magic items at shows with good success. It started at an event where they did not allow selling, but the audience could take a donation. So, I mentioned to my audiences that a donation would be nice, and anyone donating $5 or more could have a free magic item home as a special thank you.

Jim



Jim

Thanks Jim,

I may stick a label on the dollar with contact info. as well.

-Mary

THAT is a great idea, Mary! Think I will get to work on it, if I may...

Plus, gotta wonder if you could experiment with laser-printing the info right on the bill so that it always shows after the fold?? Just a thought, as I do the Garcia effect which uses that principle... and this way the spec couldn't separate your info from the bill.


Jim

Since I've cut the bill, it might be better if my info (and culpability) could be removed.

Got it in 1 minute 1 second last night.

-Mary

Mary and Jim,

My curiosity has been peaked! What is the $ Bill Puzzle?

Pete

Here is one.

Click here to view attached image.

According to Claflin and Sheridan's Street Magic, Herrmann the Great (Alexander) deliberately mixed himself up in awkward situations, sometimes ending with a visit to the police station. In one instance, he accused a streetcar conductor of robbing him, when the poor conductor was merely trying to collect the magician's fare. Herrmann reached into the conductor's pocket and pulled out a stack of bills and threw them in the air. The other passengers grabbed them up.



Whad'ya say? One person's culpability is another person's calling card. I can start drawing up a legal defense fund for you, if you like.

Vince

Thanks Vince,

Glad to see you joined the Café and found your way to this group.
I'm not really the type who could get away with that but it never hurts to have a Legal Defense Fund in reserve so feel free.

What Magic are you working on lately? Read Jim's intro at the start and skip to the end and join in. Don't worry, so far Jim has not kicked out any slackers (I.E., me) but it does help to have some support in your practice and to get some good ideas on how to proceed when you hit a rough patch.

I broke the minute mark on the $ weave last night. I got a 54, a 55, and a 56 second finish (not in a row). That's fold, cut and weave. If I could use those few seconds left in a min to do some straightening of the finished product and still be in the one minute consistently, I'd be happy.

-Mary Mowder

Hi Mary,

Sure thing.

1. Vince Hancock

2. My goal: this isn't nearly as specific as everyone else's. My head has been stuck in community theater for the past several years. We've had some hits, a few misses, and even some very gentle competition from other theater groups that showcase different material. This is all fine. But we're looking ahead, and seeing a time when some of the old warhorses may not appeal to the coming generations. Indeed, live theater itself may have some trouble appealing to the coming generations. I have given myself the goal of understanding, in concrete terms, how local, live performances (theater, magic, and related arts) can compete with the plethora of recordings of top-notch, national-level performances. And how can I make my little coin-through-the-piece-of-rubber trick finally make sense, within a larger narrative?

3. Time devoted each session: primarily reading. Half hour each day, occasionally 45 minutes if I'm lucky.

4. Sessions per day: 1-2 times daily.

5. Projected date of competency: I'd like to have a prototype of the effect together by the end of the year. Additional knowledge and revisions, in order to present it - a year from now, June 2013.

Cheers,

Vince

Good Start.

For the Coin through Rubber Sheet Effect I'd start with a premise, like:

Getting through adversity, finding your way, use two condoms, etc... This will give you a direction.

-Mary

Hi, Vince, and welcome! If you can stick to your plan, you won't believe the progress you will make. I just came off of a 3-day gig at the Columbus Arts Fest and am very psyched about the ability to create a good hat on the street. 'Course a large art fair is much easier that Tuesday morning in Butte, Montana, but still...

Nice to have you aboard. Many of the originals have kind of drifted off. Perhaps they practiced enough to make the big time and forgot about us. The ones who have stayed on, like Mary, have made a relaxing and fun group to get inspiration from...

Jim

Hey Jim,

Nice hat.

-Mary

Thanks very much, Jim!

I hope that I can stick to my plan, too. We'll see how it goes. I'm returning to the idea about 3 years after I sketched out some ideas and notes. Trying to keep the electricity on is a challenge, so now and then I have to set the magic pursuits aside. I've known Mary and her partner Tom since I was a kid; they're both very generous, kind and patient. It's great to see her here.

Mary, I'm shocked and startled by your final premise suggestion. Something along those lines would threaten to make my little demonstration relevant to a modern audience, which might provoke comparisons with about one-fifth of the theatrical productions staged every year.

Thanks all the same, but I'm going to stick with my bizarre contraptions and outdated metaphors.

(Jim, did I mention that Mary is a very generous, kind and patient person?)

Vince

In which one endeavors to push the solid silver, coin of realm directly through a layer of India rubber.

-Mary Mowder

"(Jim, did I mention that Mary is a very generous, kind and patient person?)"

Vince

I had come to that conclusion, but it is good to have it ratified. I have never met Mary, but she is my "E-sweetie" and Chapeau critic. So, Mary, do you like this one better than the black one or no??

Jim

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......start=60

I'm working on my chink-a-chink presentations, getting the sheep ready for the farmer's market this Saturday, also the birds and the bears. You can see pics, etc. on the Café thread page linked to and the page following it. Filmed the sheep yesterday and looks promising for Saturday.

I need to think about setting a more concrete schedule for the black sheep C&B and the goose. I've worked on their technical development in a few sessions but want to get them on a consistent schedule and really get them going.

Actually I like the White one better.

More protection, cooler and more flattering to your silver hair and beard.

Do you wear the hat indoors when you are in character? Tom and I don't know what is polite nowadays and we are not going to hang his hat in a corner or carry it around.

Maybe this would be a good question for "The Clothes we Wear".

Best wishes for Saturday Laurie. It would be great if you could get a Dog coin in there to herd the sheep.

http://www.google.com/search?q=dog+coin&......bih=1000

-Mary Mowder

Thankyou, Mary! After viewing the Sheep herding Dog video awhile back, and working a little in that direction with "Thieves Pitchin Sheep", incorporating a dog hadn't crossed my mind for some reason. It's a very nice idea and there are some beautiful coins, there. It would work nicely with the regular chink-a-chink sequence I'm using with the boats. I've been using a different sequence with the sheep, but putting a dog in, will allow me to perform it in the regular sequence, too. Thankyou for the suggestion! I hope you don't mind if I use it!

I was hoping you could.

You could introduce another character but it might make the routine a bit complicated.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safa......bih=1000

-Mary