Hi all,

I've been asked to perform at a Bat Mitzvah party where the hostess is being fairly specific (and yet oh so vague) about what she wants to see magic-wise.

I am a close-up magician trying to get more stage gigs, so currently my general routine is a simple mentalism one, including a book test, Marc Oberon's Oddball, Smash & Stab and similar.

She has told me:



My budget is about £200 (around $300) and I've got time - the event isn't until October.

What could you recommend that fits the bill?

Andrew Mayne stuff

Sawing Through (UF GRANT)

Thanks for your reply.
Andrew Mayne's stuff seems very solo - I can't bring someone up to perform any of his illusions on.

Is Sawing Through simple to build? And is it the "Sawing Through A Girl" illusion explained in this book?

What about Victory Cubes?

Bill is likely referring to the Visible Sawing (Jig Saw) by MAK Magic. Also made by other magic dealers.

Here's a thread on it.

Note - you might see comments referring to the Bow Saw version. That version is more expensive.

There's also a chain saw version available from Smoky Mountain Magic, but again, it's a higher investment.

- Donald

Dear sir, I am a Scottish baded illusion builder if you want to PM me we could discuss a few ideas.

The bigger issue to me is that someone is demanding that you perform an illusion on a platform budget show. Unless this person is a friend, or you wanted to take what you 'd make and invest all of it your fee in an illusion, I would pass. Don 't forget the business side of show business.

Just my comments.

Lou

Do you know if you'll have a good enough stage, especially when it comes to lighting?

I've copiously used my modified version of his Spected Cabinet for the appearance of girls on their 'Sweet 16' parties as the climax of the event, when they come to do the Waltz with their dad and so on.

It blows people like nothing else.

Also, a wll-performed tip-over trunk can be just as effective, but far more versatile.

That's a fantastic idea. It would be a great effect to begin the dancing with her father.

I'm meeting with the client on Monday to discuss ideas... without revealing anything, could you say what lighting conditions/stage conditions need to be met? If she says that their stage could meet the demands of the illusion then I'd make the investment!

Sure, no problem.

The back of the stage surrounding the illusion must be plain black. The darker, the better. You can easily arrange this with a large enough backdrop. Mine is 2.5 meters tall and 4 meters wide, and the illusion is centered. The one I use is custom made and quite heavy, but a 3-piece Spider one should suffice.

Angles on this illusion are not necessarily awesome - on a stage setting, where the audience sits quite away, you should be fine. Andrew Mayne covers all these matters wonderfully in the Specter Cabinet booklet, and it is a wonderful read. The apparatus itself ideally sits a little more than halfway back into the stage. It can be a little closer, yes. But not much. Angles are to be studied in each and every situation you'll use this prop on, and this is also for lights. Brotip: If you want to make this a permanent part of your act, make sure you have at least one light and/or angle-proof appearance.

Ideally, most of the lights should be off, whilst some surrounding the illusion, if correctly angled, can be lightly dim. Smoke / fog is a WONDERFUL add to this, too. It helps the illusion become more deceptive. I've used it to much success on a particular situation where the audience was sitting terribly close to the illusion and gladly it looked like a miracle. Infact, I have a rehearsal video on YT of this situation. I'll PM it to you (The video features 5x more smoke than we used on the actual performance, LOL).

It takes little rehearsing to perform confidently (There is little to none technical difficulty involved), but timing and good music are paramount to make it work truly well.

Two things strike me about this arrangement: #1 you are being asked to switch "fields" from Mentalism to Stage Illusions, a pretty big jump. #2 you are being asked to include Zoe. My response would be to #1 find an illusion that stays within the realms of mentalism, and #2 to make sure that Zoe is completely clueless about how you did it. #1 is fairly easy if you only look at illusions involving spiritualism or things generally agreed to be possible by psychic (mental) means. #2 is important because after you are gone, Zoe will be questioned and Zope has a best friend, who has a best friend, who has a best friend, etc. and all promise to keep her secret.
An example of an illusion that would stay within the realms of the psychic might be a spirit cabinet, with Zoe tied to a chair within and the spirit manifestations happening all around her. After being released, perhaps she correctly names where some object had been hidden while she was in the spirit cabinet, without knowing how she knows the answer. Anyway, those are my opinionated opinions and hints at a solution without getting too technical. It would be inexpensive, which is in its favor.