In preparation for a show I came across my This and That Silks...(production)..

Thought about doing it the way I have been using it for years, (production of my melodica) and started to think about other things I could use. (besides the bottle production)

For Blue and Golds (and next summers shows) I thought of Marshamellos (that is how I say it) on a stick.

Anyone willing to share things (other than bottles) that you produce from them?

Harris,

I use the THIS (Improved) for awards banquets and product placement in trade shows and meetings.

Think how it would work for any other introduction to books, science projects, art items, etc.

Mine hold up to about 10 pounds and have the shape and volume of a half gallon milk jug. Anything that fits in can be produced. I even use it for rope and scissors.

You can stay with color themes too. Yesterday down here ended Mardi Gras when everything is gold, purple and apple green.

Of course, I have them in red, white and blue for patriotic themes and red, yellow and green for safety classes.

The possibilities are unlimited. (Don't forget birthday presents can fit too!)

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

PS --- People who are "married with puppets" should be loaded with opportunities.

More silks - which can be used as cover the produce other things.
Small umbrellas - depending on the size of your silks - kids toy umbrella or parasols, perhaps with the handles shortened, or adult umbrella with collapsing handles. I'm not familiar with them, but I think the special production umbrella can also be produced from THIS.
Four bottles - half a set of multiplying bottles.
A bottle and a glass - to start a passe passe routine.
Apples and oranges - please refrain from comparing them to each other.
Stuffed (plushy) animals.
A lot of cheap magic wands to use as give-aways.
Brochures.
Hard candy, individually wrapped - After displaying the silks, grab all of them by their bottom corners, turn the silk bundle upside down for a shower of sweets.

Thom

Excellent!

Thanks for the food for thought.

For years I have been thinking of making them up in different colors (for different themes/venues.)

My wonderful mother in law Ruth, makes my vests (of many colors) could easily make them, much better than a quick duct tape creation.

Regarding the "puppets", I have thought of producing my Mini Nigel. (My black hair, "main puppet", the one that rocks and talks.)

Also thinking of building a puppet out of marshamelloes, but that is another topic.

I suppose sending your old props to a magic auction, and buying new shiny props, and tricks to give your show a new look is out of the question? It is my opinion that fine props, and fine clothes are two of the signs of a professional magician.

Or Al if you were to purchase quality props to begin with AND actually take care of them - not abusing them - why buy new for the sake of having a new widget?

Because if you do the same show every year you will get fewer repeat customers, and some young magician won't get the oportunity to use your second hand props in his show.

I agree with you. The best props in my shows are at least 25 years old. They were not cheap and they have lasted me well. Up close they certainly show "experience" but they are sound and reliable. The audience cannot tell them from new.

I do replace silks, cards, rope and balloons. But every thing else (including the doves) I expect to take 20 years of wear. Most of my props have at least one backup and were bought that way. Seldom do I cull a prop. I do change show colors and sometimes even patter. But that is not the great change one would expect.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

PS --- I have really found that my best repeat customers want the same show again next season. (This has gone on for decades.) They like to know what they are buying.

Bob
You are right quality props should last, but when the birthday boy shouts out "I've seen this one before do something I haven't seen" you have no choice.

Al,

You have me. I don't do childrens birthdays as a rule. (Theater shows even for kids are different from at home birthday parties. Performing for 20 kids is different from performing for over a thousand.) Also I travel a great deal.

Bob Sanders
Magic by Sander

PS --- At home for church, etc. I do have to change the shows.

Gotcha Al!

So you can pass your old props onto a younger magician so they can learn with the "I've seen that" situation. Baptism by fire! lol

I like the Edwin Brush approach to entertainment.
Each show is in their own case with everything you need. That way when a repeat comes along you just take program b, c or d instead of a.

Working this way you have to control your energies and focus so you are not repeating props (unless you enjoy having multiple of the same prop) It gives YOU the cance to develop and keep routines that work for you and your audiences.
I am not one to throw out the baby with the bath water - if it works keep it.
Also, I am of the older school that when you are performing you are in control and don't give credibility to the "I've seen that" child - which in reality they probley have not. (couldn't tell you how many time that the act of pulling a pocket square out of the case you hear idol chatter "I know this one" - I respond with so do I , then I proceed to blow my knows with the aid of a hidden razzer - I get a cheep laugh and they are quiet and work with me so they don't miss a thing.

But each his own - and in the end how many shows you have really depends on how often you change your audience and how far you cast out your net for shows.

After doing my chair suspension for about 5 years I sold it to a high school kid for 1/2 the retail price. I got my money's worth out of it, and so is he.

Another logic for changing props and selling the used ones is that if you live in an environment with budding new magicians you can find that all the acts are just clones of your act. Often the clones think a different costume justifies calling themselves "original" even if they copy your show. Changing props keeps the clones off balance. It also makes a market for your used stuff. (I have seen some of my used stuff go for more at auction than I would have simply sold it for anyway.)

There is something else here I've not seen covered. That is that many of the old props are no longer available at all. The quality is outstanding. Also the quality of the replacements makes them useless in a professional show. It embarrasses me to see so many props available that expose how the trick works but are of such poor size or construction that you would never actually use them in a show. Kid magic seems to be a major target there. It is a shame. It discourages beginning magicians who consequently don't stick it out and find quality props they can rely on.

Of course, we also live with another fear. What are our kids going to do with our magic props when we die or go to the nursing home? Having a plan, an inventory, and written instructions to be followed may make things better for them too.

With digital cameras and computers, keeping this inventory is not the task it could have been. (You may need it for insurance too!) Give it some thought.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Change...changing...change...I've heard that before somewhere, Bob...youre reminding me of someone, can't seem to remember who. Whatever props you have make sure they're put away when the kid show is over.

Glen,

Please don't confuse this "change" with the one from the guy who thinks you can borrow your way out of debt. Washington D.C. looks like it is really going to learn what "change" means this year.

Changing props is a more stable process. Being a magician takes more qualifications than just being elected by some of the people.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

You do know that a great source of used props is the Magicians' Flea Market?

You can sell you old props there too! It is FREE!

http://magicvalleymagic.com/

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&start=0

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Let's not get into the "The Magician (Entertainer) Maketh the Show" and not the props debate.