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reed kammerer Veteran user 320 Posts |
Which one is best for close /parlor
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
It really all depends on what your "meaning" of the words you use. Close-up as in right next to the person, Close-up formal at a table with where everyone is seated at the table and do not get up and roam, close-up as in strolling or table hopping. There is many meaning to the Close-up magic.
Then Parlor has to also be defined, as there is a new Parlor in England that has the performer behind a table or bar stand, with the audience seated in front. Parlor as in - in the home can be a stand of performance with audience in front of the performer. Much depends on the distance to the performer and not having anyone on the sides or back of the performance area. Much also depends on the working of the apparatus, there are manual and motorized versions of this trick as you well know. Without knowing the noise level of the devices, sound is another factor to consider where this can be presented. Unfortunately, without personally viewing all the models in person, none of these factors can be reveal the purchaser's satisfaction. Unless on person has all the models, which is unlikely, no one can say which is the best. Again, best is only relevant to each persons of what they are looking for in the apparatus. One can only tell the differences, and let the interested party make his decisions, but again, maybe an important factor to the purchaser was not discussed at the time and at a performance, he/she finds an undesirable element at that time. Then, how far is a performer will to go to see the setting is correct for the presentation of the effect. I have purchased small illusions, that only come with the main prop, as in Catching Fish From the Air. It never downed on me, that I would need a fish bowel, lighting on the bowl, stand, with added things to preserve the fish until required, music, and an elevated stage so the fish would appear above the audiences heads so all could see. Then setting the mood, could also mean a change of costume, and backdrop. I believe we discussed this a year or so ago, and I can relate to your strong desire, but I do not think any except the small one we discussed could be done within 3 or 4 feet. All the others would require a greater distance, how much distance depends on the factors I mentioned above. I can only say, that for true close-up, only the penetration frame where a pencil is pushed through 2 business cards with the Plexiglas sandwiched between is the true close up miracle. Then after the pencil, push a silk through the hole as well, or attach a ribbon to the end of the pencil and draw it through. I take it that you have not purchased any you were interested in as of yet, and have not contacted the manufacturers of people whom previously owned the desired apparatus. That is your best solution, and as mentioned above it is not always the final answer for the "best" in your opinion. I would say, if a piece of apparatus is over 5"x7" in size, then it is not intended to be show very close-up. Equally, if the apparatus is not over 8"X10", it is not intended to be shown on the Grand stages either. When considering size as a factor. Hope this helps, there is no definitive answer, mainly because it is what your expectations are, not other who may not have the same expectations as yourself. |
Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
Probably most of the hand-held, non-motorized versions that are based on the old Zanadu "Miraculous" handkerchief (silk) through mirror prop will work in a Parlor venue. I look at parlor shows as small venue, stand-up shows (e.g., club, pub, street, etc.). That is a show within, say 6 feet (or about 2 meters) of the closest audience member.
For example: "Mirror A Cle" by Mikame is pretty good for stage and platform. However it is a nice compact size for use in a parlor (small venue) stand-up show too. I wouldn't use it for any of the close-up situations outlined by Bill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbNzkYzaLRM Zanadu's "Miraculous" was made of black plastic with a plastic mirror and was very light and easy to handle. It was a great prop for the parlor (two-meter) magician. Sadly Zanadu is long out of business and finding an old Miraculous prop is difficult. You'll have to search the used magic postings. Again I wouldn't perform this for any of the close-up situations outlined by Bill. The good news is that it has and is still being produced and marketed by other magic manufacturers. The main difference is todays models are made in wood. Here is an example (imagine this in black plastic and you have the original Zanadu prop). So for the parlor etc. magician it is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIbRIyatgQg Zanadu did make a small version (6"×5″) of the mirror penetration "Son of Miraculous" which could be performed very close to the audience. In fact, I have used "Son of Miraculous" in each of the "close-up" situations described by Bill AND have used it rather than its full size father in my platform and parlor/club act. I wouldn't use it for a large venue. I'd go for one of the larger versions but that wasn't your question. Again this prop is long out of production and you'll have to search the used magic sites for one. I still have mine and I can't imagine giving it up. Bill's recommendation of the old "Penetration Frame" is spot on. In fact Amazon sells one that uses a plastic mirror instead of clear plastic and is currently advertising it as a silk through mirror prop. It fits in a jacket pocket. Bill suggests building a nice, multi-phase routine with the prop. I'd probably display the frame, openly penetrate the mirror/glass with a silk, then make the penetration more impossible by adding the playing cards and penetrating them with a large needle threaded with ribbon. Another choice could be the gimmick used for putting a silk through a jumbo playing card “Fabric Through Pasteboard” by Masao Atsukarwa as found in Kaufman’s 1992 book “Five Times Five”. Make the gimmick (not difficult) and replace the playing card with a small rectangle of plastic mirror. It can be done fairly close-up (see Bill's descriptions above) and the silk and mirror can be handed out at the end.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Harry, I think Reed really wants the $600 motorized versions, and wishes that they could be performed close-up. Only the creator or an honest dealer can answer his question, unless one of the magic collectors chime in with their opinion.
I hope one does, because some these props are very ornate in design and would be interesting to hare from someone that possesses one. I have only seen this effect performed by Doug Henning's huge vanity mirror version and a lady magician from Europe at Abbott's Get-To-Gether years ago. |
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