An old and interesting die stacking routine involves the use of an empty Brut Deordorant container as the die stacking cup, and ends with you placing the four dice in the container, pushing in the bottom part that you'd normally push in to make the deodorant emerge, and turning the four dice into one jumbo die by the use of "brute" force. I believe it's a Roy Johnson routine that was published in the 70's...anyone know where it can be found?

Larry D.

If you can control the dice to stay in the cup while you lift the cup from the table, it is not a huge leap for the audience to also assume that you can control them to stack. That is not magic. That is juggling.

I had never thought about the idea of not lifting the cup. I know that I never do it myself, but a friend of mine likes to do it. He does present it as a knack or juggling not a trick.

Now that I have thought about it, I agree. Do not lift the cup.

Kirk

Vanishing the dice with the "slide toss" will fool people badly.

I like to have a spare die palmed and as I bring the cup to a stop let the palmed die, staying hidden, drop from palm to table and they HEAR a die fall, but when you lift the cup they are all stacked.

In all the years I have stacked dice, unfortunately, I just can't get the bit where you pick them off a stack one at a time down with any consistency (so I don't do it).

Here's another bit. I load in a mini coke bottle and when I lift the cup the dice are stacked and the bottle is alongside the dice.

If you think about it there are DOZENS of things magical that you can add to the juggling of dice with a cup.

Mike Rogers made a dice stacking cup for me that has a "chop cup" feature.

I also ring in gaffed dice, mis-spots, magnetic, etc. when I want to do a full dice act.

THINK

PRACTICE

PERFORM

Stacking dice with a little coke?

that's not health!!!

I just don't see it as entertaining unless you do the kind of moves that Pete is talking about. Dice stacking like the guy does on the travel channel is just plain boring and goes well with balancing a barstool on your chin. Unless your adding magic to it don't be surprised if your specs start talking to each other or fall asleep.

BTW I don't always spill em, all the time.

However... it is all in the person doing anything whether it is putting folks to sleep or not...

John Mendoza'a Routine is great. The size changes and smashing the dice flat are great. His idea with the pair of Jumbo dice, I also like.
Don Alan's Routine which he performed on the Magic Palace. The dice would spin on the table, while he played the kazoo. He also had a really neat penetration using a mason jar.
When he was at FFFF, I was with him when he bought dice at George's( A Casino Store in Buffalo,NY). He asked the owners to take the sharp edge off all the corners of the dice. I asked him why. He told me that this was so the dice would stack easy on a table with a tablecloth. Great Thinking!

Dice stacking is like any other magic (or juggling) routine. Done badly it's painful, but done with flair and wit, it can be highly entertaining.

The question is not "Is dice stacking entertaining?" Rather, the question should be "Can YOU be entertaining with dice stacking?" For that matter, can you be entertaining without dice stacking? The responsibility is always with the performer.

I'm still searching for the approach that will make dice stacking work with my performance style. I'm getting closer I think.

Didn't Jim Zachary do a stack of about 20 dice back in the 1980's? Seems that I recall a book called "Zach Stacks."


Maybe Pete will recall this incident, and clear up a question for me.

I heard a story about an English magician who was appearing at the Castle several years ago. He did a dice stacking routine as part of his act. This fellow had a talent for getting up your nostril (as they say across the pond.) He was also quite nearsighted.

One afternoon, some of the fellows from the castle took him over to Hollywood Magic, and the subject of dice stacking came up. The question was raised as to how the dice behaved inside the cup during the stacking sequence. He didn't know, so one of the fellow suggested that perhaps he try it with a drinking glass.

He said he thought he could do it, so they brought out a glass and some dice, he set them up, went through the stacking sequence, and the DICE HAD DISAPPEARED!!!

So they got some more dice, set them up and the same thing happened. They had given him a bottomless glass.

Now my question is this (to Pete). Have you heard this story before? Is it true? Was the fellow who I think it was ( initials BB? )

Sorry, never heard that story... BUT... Pat Page nailed me badly at Davenport's.

We were stacking the dice on the countertop... at one point I just COULD NOT GET THEM TO STACK.... it was driving me nuts.

Pat had loaded a handkerchief into the cup and I didn't notice it...

That's pretty funny!

I think I'd load a sponge ball into his cup for that.

Larry, It was in Rick Jonsson's column in Linking Ring and it had to be around 1977 - 1979. Titled the "No-Sweat, Brut Force Dice Stack" or somesuch.

A VERY clever routine, IMPO.

Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
http://www.leedarrow.com

Lee, thanks for posting the reference.

Larry D.

My friend, Tony Griffiths (UK), had a great bit for dice stacking that was published in one of his Genii columns.

He showed 4 LEGO squares (4 dots on top). He explained that this is how he got started as a youngster. He then scooped up the pieces with his dice cup. When he lifted the cup up, the four pieces are stacked ON EDGE!!!!!!!

This is just like using half dice. I really like this! Hope you stackers will give it a try.

Regards,

Paul Green

There is a DVD called "Extreme Dice Stacking" that has some very good stuff on it.

One of the most interesting is stacking "mini" dice under a Chapstick.

Fun stuff.

Dear all,

How long does it take to learn dice stacking? I would love to learn.

Which video do you think is better?
Jim Zachery's Art of dice stacking or
Extreme dice stacking with Gerry.

Hopefully get to hear from you guys soon.

Thanks
Ben

Some learn it in a few hours... of course the touches, etc., can take longer.

It is a KNACK... you either get it or you don't almost immediately.

Start practicing on the floor. Be carefull the cup doesn't scratch or mark the linoleum... get a piece of formica to learn on.

Getting my Todd strong cup in 2 weeks time. Its gonna be shipped.

But who do you feel is a good teacher in this field?
Cause I think Im gonna get the Jim Zac Vid first, then I'll proceeed to the Extreme dice stacking with Gerry.

Loved Ivory connection. Tinking of following that up with a dice stacking routine.

Ben
My first Stack
Heehee
:die:
:die:

Dice stacking is a demonstration of skill and in fact is juggling, and a very entertaining display of juggling for the average audience member.

I believe it has the same place in a close-up routine as does an occasional card fan or flourish type cut, coin roll or other feats of skill. If it fits the routine and your character, go for it, if not leave it out.

I will give you my secret for learning the dice stack. It is the method I have used to teach others. It seems to work quickly at teaching the "knack" Pete so aptly describes.

I teach it backwards! Stack the dice by hand on your hard smooth working surface ( I love Formica or wood veneer table tops) and place the cup mouth down over it. Now practice shaking the cup in the approved swinging arc as described in numerous books and videos, and coming to a full stop WITHOUT upsetting the stack.

This seems easier to master than starting with the pick up and ending with the stop, and once mastered, the beginning is relatively easy. I've taught the stack to maybe twenty people and they all got it within an hour or so using this technique. I almost hate to give it up but what the hey, we're all friends here at the Café.

Frank