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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
Foil balls have a special palming advantage. You can pinch out a small flap that can be clipped between the fingers and later folded against the ball when not needed. This way, your hand can be held flat and palm down with no finger curl or flash.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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kentfgunn Inner circle Merritt Island FL 1639 Posts |
Nothing says class like using kitchen-waste as props. Unless you're too broke to cough up a few bucks for something that doesn't scream, "My magic isn't important enough to use nice props", dich the tinfoil. If you're 12 and seriously can't afford anything else, soldier on.
I realize you could do an apparently impromptu routine with the tinfoil. I still think it's a poor choice due to the shiny factor you've discovered. |
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magic123 Loyal user 273 Posts |
I want to have Kent Gunns Baby ! Or at least Buy the guy a Cold One !!!!
The creator of the Millennium Cups Michael Lee has been saying the same thing for yrs. Use the Gear that you will be proud to be seen using , don't skimp , Read the classics of Magic , don't jump on supermans cape , Don't spit into ....... but I digress as the Gaz is fond of saying "a pro cant afford to use cheap gear ' don't be like a Little Bird and go CHEAP,CHEAP, CHEAP. Bottom line , Don't use kitchen waste as props , and remember blue jeans & tee shirts are NOT a costume . m123 |
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Plexusonfire New user Morocco 23 Posts |
Hello guys,
Thanks for all your help. So far, I've been using tin foil balls because I live in a remote college town, in a remote country (Morocco). I'll be receiving my order tomorrow or on Wednesday, which will include sponge balls, which will replace the tin foil. However, I like the flap idea. I might use both. For the cups, I don't have any copper ones but I'll be looking for some when I go home (largest city in this !@#$%^! country). I might also buy some nice rubber balls to replace the tin foil as some generous soul offered me this advice on PM. For the finger palm, I guess I'll just have to keep practicing and practicing Saad |
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kentfgunn Inner circle Merritt Island FL 1639 Posts |
Saad,
I have tons of crocheted balls. I'll send you a set. Message me with your mailing address. I spent most of this year in a far more remote area of Africa than Morocco. I feel your pain. |
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tomsk192 Inner circle 3894 Posts |
Plexusonfire, practice finger palming anything that will fit. The cups & balls are considered by some to be the acid test of a competent magician. Sleight of hand, misdirection, boldness and entertainment. If you learn to do it well, you will be far ahead of the idiots who buy all the latest gimmicks, practice them all and master none of them.
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Donnie Buckley V.I.P. Cleveland, Ohio 1123 Posts |
You could also use the foil balls to your advantage and produce jumbo foil balls from under the cups and unwrap the jumbo foil balls to produce left overs meals, contraband, or borrowed currency.
"Here's a piece of roasted chicken, here's some crystal meth, and here's your $20 bill!" If you're going to go "hobo", go all the way. |
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
And here all of these years I have done C&B with metal camp mugs and marshmallows, or a Benson Bowl routine with a soup bowl and coffee creamers. I though the onjective was to do magic, not to be "professional." Of course, I never charge for my performances -- so, in thta sense I will never be pro.
Guess I don't get it. What is proffesional about playing with little balls your grandmother crchetted over with red yarn? Professional is the way you act toward others and respect our art -- little to do with props. If you could handle those more difficult shiny balls without flashing -- wouldn't that make you more professional?
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
How do you work?
you mentioned having a table. how much audience control - what angles - any friends nearby? (that's an oblique reference to something VERY clever in an old book - the play that had the magicians fooled ) do you currently do a chop cup routine? IF not - it's easier to manage just one than three.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Alex L. Molina New user 54 Posts |
Hello Plexusonfire
Happy Holidays... As you mention using a table, if you are sitting, (and pardon if I'm "insulting your intelligence" here - lol - dunno if you are fairly new to Magic or not) you most definitely want to look into the Art of LA**ING (a technique made famous by the Master Slydini) used masterfully, there is not many tech's that can come close to it in terms of miraculous-looking Magic; it's one of the main tech's I've devoted much of my 30+ yrs in Magic perfecting search YOUTUBE for Slydini as well as Johnny "ACE" Palmer, for starters (Johnny was the very first Close-Up Artist to win the FISM Grand Prix; he utilizes this tech masterfully throughout most of his flawless Act) All the Best to You, Bro! |
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Nate The Magician Regular user 159 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-11-26 18:25, funsway wrote: As the old song says: Word up. |
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Plexusonfire New user Morocco 23 Posts |
I totally agree, funsway. I didn't want to answer people almost treating me as a "hobo" for a prop choice that was actually suggested to me on this very thread, but hey. I want to thank everyone for your help.
Concerning the la**ing technique, I have heard of it but I didn't really start practicing it yet since I'm performing on low tables with my knees above the table level :/ About the chop cup, don't I need a specific gimmick ? Regards, |
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Donnie Buckley V.I.P. Cleveland, Ohio 1123 Posts |
My friend, I hope you don't think I'm disparaging your choice of using foil for balls. "Hobo magic" is a slang term referring to just about any magic performed with found objects. It has a lush and colorful history. Many PREFER impromptu, or the appearance of impromptu magic, and prefer ordinary, everyday, even borrowed, objects over magician-specific props. There are strong arguments FOR and arguments AGAINST. Both valid. Both rooted in different psychologies and different emotional goals.
My comment was just for levity and no reflection upon you. (I do think that a jumbo load of large foil balls is logical though.) Since its inception, cups and balls have been performed with a wide variety of object for the little balls: stones, burnt cork, wads of paper, balls of string, etc. My favorite vintage ball is probably the balled up piece of bread - which forms a nice round ball. The modern introduction of the crocheted ball is by no means required for a cups and balls routine. As Funsway so accurately expressed: Class (or style, or grace) is projected by the performer, not the props. The props can only accentuate the class of the performer, and no amount of elegant props can make a performer "classy" if he is not. We all start somewhere. There is MUCH you can do to resolve the problem you expressed in your OP. If you are unfamiliar with some of the techniques, or a chop cup, then you are in an early stage of your development as a magician. I can only encourage you to seek out literature on magic techniques, read it, and learn. Get your post count up to 50 so you can search the Secret Sessions. Much of what you are asking can't even be answered in an open forum like this thread is in - any muggle can read it. And never, ever do cups and balls with pom-poms! (unless you 10 years old, or are Aldo Colombini...) |
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Mercutio01 New user Ocean City, NJ 68 Posts |
While saving up for a decent quality set, I've been practicing with whatever somewhat round balls and useable cups I can. Today while away from home, I was practicing with rolled up napkins and solo cups. I figure as a beginner practicing methods is more important than worrying about presentation. At least until I'm ready to present.
~Cameron Mount
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Nate The Magician Regular user 159 Posts |
When I was starting out I used some metal tea cups with the handles removed and some cork balls. Anything that keeps the top gap open.
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ddeckmann Loyal user Paraguay 202 Posts |
After barely passing away in one gig because of the hot weather here in my country, I've decided to never use a jacket again.
I work with a t-shirt and a vest with no pockets. My pants pockets only have my cellphone and some bussiness cards. Still, I carry my ninja rings, 2 cups, a wand, 3 real lemons, 2 pack of cards, string, coins, an omnideck and a bunch of pens and index cards for "sneak thief" and center tears. How? Gibecière (and a small pouch for a deck of cards and coins that you can get from vanishinginc.com) I strongly recommend that you should design your own to fit your needs. If you don't want to, go to theambitiouscard.com and get one from Frank! |
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Ekuth Inner circle Floating above my 1538 Posts |
I perform C&B with neither a jacket nor a suit. My standard attire is as shown in my avatar; sans top hat, which I do still wear, but have switched to a fedora. Long sleeves, vest, long pants.
I found early on after watching and studying the various C/B routines that I wanted to achieve two main goals: 1. NOT to begin in the standard 'nested' approach, but to cleanly and fairly show 3 empty cups, 3 balls and the wand. I then developed my routine to achieve this. I have never been caught out on my technique, and have fooled magicians with the handling. 2. To NEVER go into my pockets during the course of the routine. This proved more difficult, but again; I worked the handling of the routine to achieve this. I produce 2 limes and a lemon as my final loads. For children's shows, I produce 2 yellow 'puff balls' and a handful of smaller 'puffball chicks'. Try reversing your routine structuring process: Rather than altering the clothes to fit the routine, alter the routine to fit or eliminate the clothes. I'm certain that some will disagree, but that is the truly remarkable thing about C/B... it's the one routine that you can truly develop your own special take on. I will also second the idea that you should use the highest quality props you can afford or make; as you progress and are more flush, upgrade them. And *always* take meticulous care of your props; if you care for them, they will care for you. Best of luck to you. *tips hat*
"All you need is in Fitzkee."
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Plexusonfire New user Morocco 23 Posts |
Donnie, I'm sorry I've mistaken your intentions. Thank you for your advice and for the time you took to write me this long pamphlet It was very instructive !
ddeckman, your experience is welcome and so is your advice, although I would think a gibecière would not fit my character and, since it is not very common in my environment, would attract too much attention. Finally, Ekuth, thank you for your inspiring reply and for your advices =) I've dropped the cups & balls routine so far, as I have just received my loops, tarantula and some IET, and I'm working on a complex levitation (planning to share my ideas and look for yours in the secret sessions) that includes simultaneous free movement of multiple light objects centered on the main one : fire. I will return to C&B once I'm done designing this. |
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