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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Hello all,
Here's an idea I had on a train, it's untried and untested, straight from brain to net but I have a feeling it'll work well.(Yeah, I know you can't always trust those feelings but hey ho). I've always been quite fond of the chinese sticks, the kids seem to find the way they go up and down amusing and magical at the same time. My original routine with them was fairly basic. I only had one bit of business in it that got a couple of big laughs and the rest of the routine seemed a little mellow. So they ended up at the bottom of my bag as a spare trick, just in case. I decided where I was going wrong was I was showing the kids how you can pull one string and the other goes up and playing about with the invisible string idea which unless you want to really sucker it up (which I don't) there's no amusement or conflict in it. The answer's fairly simple. Introduce conflict and comedy by making out that your objective is to get both strings the same length. With that in mind here's the routine. THE GNOME'S FISHING POLES You introduce the chinese sticks. One up, one down, sticks side by side.(For this routine you can doctor them so they have a hook (cardboard?) on the end instead of a tassle or just use them as they are.) You explain that you have two gnomes living in your garden and they had heard what a fantastic magician you are so they had come to see if you could help them with a problem. See, they both had a fishing rod one had a nice long string through it which was great but the other one had a wee tiny string which is useless for fishing. "Can you use magic to make them both have nice long strings." they said. "No problems " I said and explained that all I'd have to do would be to magically stretch the short string. With this you do the move pulling the short string down and the long one goes up unbeknownst to you. "See, two nice long stings". The kids will start shouting that the other one is now short. "No problems I'll stretch that one too" Do the move again . All this can be done with a lot of look-don't see, double takes etc. You continue doing the standard chinese sticks routine putting them apart, under you arm etc. You do all this on the premise that the gnomes must've got their lines tangled so if you separate the sticks that won't happen anymore. The more impossible you make it the more confident you get that the other one won't go up and the more the kids should react when they do. To make it really impossible you put one side-ways in your mouth, before doing so you explain that the next bit is really important so listen carefully. (Sorry, folks who don't like mouth stuff. In my defense, you're holding it sideways in your teeth rather than actually putting something in or taking it out of your mouth). With the stick between your teeth you start explaining something (which comes out as "mmm bddmm mnhph mmm bbb bdubmmnn") and do really daft actions to make it impossible to guess what your trying to explain. When a kid tells you they can't understand what you're saying. You talk to them directly ("mnhph ppph mnnnff"). I don't know why, but this makes it even funnier. (I do this bit in my old routine and it gets a big laugh). You then do the move pulling on the one in your mouth and then the one in your hand and they still appear connected. Parents are often impressed that the one in your mouth goes up since you can't really do much sleight of hand with your teeth. It's a natural action to tilt your head to look at the string. You continue by saying that what you'll have to do is hold one string down while you pull the other one. Bring the string to the other end of the stick and hold against stick. Pull the other one down and everytime you look away it goes up again. Exclaim that the fishing rods are broken and the gnomes will never be able to catch fish with them. As you say this release the other string and the kids will see a (sponge) fish attached to the end. Then take your hand away from the one you've been pulling to reveal another fish. "Well, you've both caught a fish" I say "you'd better reel them in". With that hold both sticks in the one hand and reel them in one by one. The end Whatcha think? |
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A C Spectre New user Connecticut 75 Posts |
Magicgeorge
That sounds awesome. I really like the talking while the fish pole is in your mouth. I too have gotten away from using this trick but I'm going to "fish" mine out of the bottom of my case and start practicing this. Thanks for sharing this!!! A C Spectre |
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Magicgeorge,
Terrific! And, as one who hates things going into the mouth (or out of), the "talking" bit is brilliant and should not be a problem for anyone (even me! LOL!) I've never heard of the idea before; it's hilarious. Well done! |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Very nicely done!!!
A very clever routine that shows you really can change any effect around and truly make it fit your personality and give it a lot more fun for the kids. I really like the fish ending as it makes the routine come full circle. The story is also quite clever and kids usually love stories like that. Let us know if you try this out and what response you get from it. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Jewls Veteran user Michigan-USA 360 Posts |
George,
I am in need of a couple of garden Gnomes, could you send me some? Good routine my talented friend!
Jewls
www.Jewlstheclown.com |
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GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
That is good, I like it a lot.
That is another terrific example why I love this place. I thank you also for sharing your very fine idea/routine. I just might work on that and give it a go at the next appropriate childrens show that comes my way (assuming that's ok with you)! Thanks again. GlenD
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
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Caleb Wiles Inner circle Indianapolis, IN 1132 Posts |
Fantastic!
Check out my Main Event project (DVD or Download).
"Magicians, stop what you're doing right now and pick this up!" - John Guastaferro "Caleb Wiles is the real deal!" - David Williamson "...my very highest recommendation." - John Carey |
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Chance Wolf Inner circle 2425 Posts |
George,
Great minds must think alike. My company has been developing a New Chinese Sticks with this same theme yet quite a bit more. It is very similiar as they are Fishing Poles and all wacked out along with big hooks and big ol bobbers. Just so you know, over the past 1/2 year, I have been working with Payne, Pete Biro and a few others to finalize the routine/story. The Fishing Poles themselves are designed and very cool. There are Cartoon Fish as well in the routine but introduced in a different way along with a different plot. This will be soon released as a Wacky Wolf effect. I just need to get this on the record as we do not want to appear to be stealing from you. This really seemed like a "No-Brainer" and should have been done a LONG time ago...but we magicians seem to have a hard time stepping out of the ol box. I applaud your idea and the cool part is nobody has to buy my version if they just want to modify their existing Chinese Sticks with your ideas and use your routine...as long as you allow them Once again, great thinking! Take care, Chance Wolf Wolf's Magic
Creator of Wacky Wolf Productions & Fine Collectibles
A DECADE of building Magic and we're just getting started! http://www.wolfsmagic.com |
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
I like the routine because of the see, don't look conflict. I know that works sooo well because of personal experience, so I can see the routine playing very well. Congratulations, Magic George.
Chance, Look foward to your product and your routine. Will you let us know when it's ready? Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Hi guys,
Thanks for your kind comments. Glad you like the trick. Sure you can use the routine fellas, just promise to report back and let me know how it went. I'm probably going to be testing it out this weekend. I'll report back too. I'm still humming and hawing about different ways of getting the fish on the end. Including a different way of doing it where you put one stick in your pocket and it pulls the fish into view out of the top of your pocket. I also had some ideas about pulling the fish off the line and it reappearing a la multiplying banana. Maybe even a quick gnome production ending. At the moment, however, I'm going to stick to the simple original version and maybe try adding other bits of business later on to see if they work. Hi Chance, Sorry about pre-releasing a version of your idea. I did have a look around on the net to see if it had been done before but I couldn't find any. Coincidently I came across your site and had this thought "Wow, if anyone should make fishing rod Chinese sticks it should be this guy". Keep us informed when they come out. I think if anyone uses my routine and likes it, their next step will be to buy your version of it. George |
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Chance Wolf Inner circle 2425 Posts |
No problem George!
All is well in "Toon Town" and I am sure everyone will be happy either way they choose to go (or both). You have a great CRANIUM...keep it cookin up the cool ideas and thanks for sharing Chance
Creator of Wacky Wolf Productions & Fine Collectibles
A DECADE of building Magic and we're just getting started! http://www.wolfsmagic.com |
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TiendaMagia Regular user Spain 134 Posts |
George,
Thanks for sharing , really good and fun routine.
Cordially
Mariano Sosa Magic Store in Europe http://www.tiendamagia.com Foro de magia en Castellano! www.magiapotagia.com |
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
OK, I thought I'd report back, as promised, and let you know how it's going.
I built a big set of colourful sticks (with hooks)and made some sponge fish. They'll do for the time being but I'll be keeping an eye out for Chance's version. I made my sticks a little too big so they're kind of awkward to fit in my mouth so that joke actually goes down better with the smaller sticks. I also do a version in my (family) restaurant gig with my usual sticks where I just do the routine and then take the fish out to show them the fish I caught at the end then go into multiplying fish. This goes down very well. OK, here's how the show version is going. The whole getting the strings to be the same size bit, mouth bit and appearing fish bit all work well, get laughs and oohs at appropriate times. I think after a few months they will have reached there full potential and will definitely be a great part of the show. At the moment, I do go into the multiplying fish at the end, which the kids love, but since the appearance of the fish is the climax to the routine that bit is more part of the start of the next effect where I'm getting rid of the fish to show them some more magic. The bit I'm not happy about is the gnomes. No matter how funny I try and make the gnomes part kids don't identify with it and I don't get the reactions I want. To improve on this I think I can go either two ways. 1)Leave out the gnomes altogether or 2)make them a more important, amusing and visual addition to the routine. Here are my thoughts on both ways of going: 1)Making the gnomes an important part of the effect: Introducing the gnomes house (Sqr circle, I think I have Nicholas to thank for suggesting making a square circle look like a house). Big build up about the gnome that lives in it only to find it empty. Then go into the start saying that I'll have to play the part of the gnome. I think it might be funny to have a beard and 'tache on a stick which I put in front of my face for the gnomes lines. (Dunno, jury's still out on that). Then at the end continue into multiplying fish as part of the routine putting the fish into the gnomes 'house'. Climax of the routine would be lifting up the house to see all the fish and finding a gnome. If I could find a comical fat gnome and surround him with fish bones this might work even better. What do you think? Have I over complicated the whole thing or made it into a longer more entertaining routine? 2) Get rid of the gnomes altogether. The only thing I can think of is to have patter about them being my shark-fishing rods. Kids love any kind of monster with lots of teeth so I think sharks would inspire imagination. The other bonus of this when I produce the little sponge fish at the end. I could have fun calling them sharks and being scared of them. Which could be quite amusing as the kids will soon tell me they're not sharks. That's just one idea. Please help folks, any ideas on how to make the gnomes interesting? Any ideas on a good replacement line of patter to get rid of the gnomes? George P.S. Just thought, if the gnomes house was a toadstool. "Not 'mushroom' in that house the gnome must be a 'fun guy' "etc . Sorry, shoot me now. |
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Daniel Faith Inner circle Neenah, Wisconsin 1526 Posts |
I really like your routine.
My only thought is... How many children will know what a Gnome is? My guess is none. Many adults probably won't know. I assume your refering to the fabled race of dwarflike goblin creatures who live underground. What about Alien fishing poles???
Daniel Faith
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Harv Inner circle I'm building a fence with 1127 Posts |
Since Lord Of The Rings is so popular right now, how about Hobbit fishing poles?
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Magic Tad Regular user 177 Posts |
I had never heard of Chinese sticks before, now but now I think I need some. Can you point me to a store that carries them?
Magic Tad |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
How many children will know what a Gnome is?
My guess is none. Many adults probably won't know. I assume your referring to the fabled race of dwarf-like goblin creatures that live underground. HI, I think this may be a cultural difference but even very small kids here will know what a Gnome is. They are popular as garden decorations here. Phillip |
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Emazdad Inner circle Plymouth UK 1954 Posts |
Phil has a part time job as a model in the factory where they are made
Yours Funfully
Clive "Emazdad" Hemsley www.emazdad.com "Magic is a secret, without the secret there is no magic" Remember there are only 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those that can't. |
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
Yeah they cast the molds on me!
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
There must be big a culture difference as I can't imagine an adult not knowing what a gnome is over here. (Even though this is leprechaun country). However, they may not be as well known as I thought, I asked a group of 5-year-olds who knows what a gnome is and about half said they did. I described them (wee fellows with beards that some people have in their gardens) and about 3/4's of the kids knew what I was on about. (Kid1, "My granny has one of them in her garden", kid2, "My granny has a tree in hers" OK....)
So maybe cutting the gnomes out is a good idea. Randall and Harv:Gnomes are often connected with fishing poles so the inclusion of them wasn't a big mental jump. I like the aliens and the hobbits except they're not really associated with fishing so they may seem a little out of place in the routine. I think if I where to do an alien routine, which would be cool. I'd be wanting to use weird props: flying, spinning, flashing things .It seems a bit of a shame to mention aliens then to go into a fishing routine. I suppose they could be fishing for Martian Mudglumples or something, which might fit in. If I'm to get rid of the little beardy ones I need to replace them with something humourous, associated with fishing and identifiable by kids which is why I suggested sharks but I'm sure someone here can think of something better. Any takers? Maybe if I where to include gnomes I'd need some kind of visual stimulus at the start to help the kids remember but that might kind of spoil the production at the end. Any thoughts anyone? Tad, you'll get a cheap set of Chinese sticks from just about any magic store. Try your local or any web shop. For a bigger set you'll probably be able to make some after you buy a cheap set or search the net for wooden or bamboo ones or wait for Chance's. Phil: I heard you broke the mold. Thanks to everyone for their help so far, much appreciated George |
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