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frankieacemagic Elite user 498 Posts |
Hello friends! I've been reading about die boxes here on the Café. Aaaaaand I've been looking online. Needless to say, there's a lot to choose from. I'm looking for one between $80 and $150. Somewhere around there.
For example, does anyone have a review of this one? http://madhattermagicshop.com/magicshop/......_id=3946 I need help! I would love one that could show the "die" in each door when I wanted. But I could do without, right? As a side question...how many of you use a die box that can show the die on either side during the routine? Thanks for any help, folks! |
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frankieacemagic Elite user 498 Posts |
Oops. I meant to add that I like the one from Practical Magic, but am not crazy about the handle at the top.
I guess I just need some reviews of die boxes in the price range I mentioned. Anyway, thanks! |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
The old classic die box "works" just fine! The problem with the die box, IMO, is that too many performers DON'T know HOW to DO it!!!
Of the three types of "sucker" tricks, the "bluff" (e.g. die box, fraidy cat rabbit, hippity hop bunnies) is IMO" the "one" most "ABUSED'. As far as I know, no one has ever explained HOW TO PRESENT, A N Y "SUCKER" TRICK, so that the audience LAUGHS AND APPLAUDS at the "blow off". Karrell Fox and I discussed how to PRESENT a sucker effect, so that the audience APPRECIATED the "joke", LAUGHED W I TH the performer, and, showed their appreciation, with APPLAUSE! --It's the PRESENTATION, NOT THE PROP! I wrote up the "HOW" in my book! (It follows the BASIC PRINCIPLE: K I S M I F!) IMHO, as Al Baker said eons ago, "Many a good trick has died of 'improvements'!"
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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randyburtis Inner circle 1256 Posts |
Https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hth5SOatFE
How about this? |
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Check the beautiful Die Boxes made by Mel Babcock. Quite a selection, some with optional embellishments and priced not too far over your top end price point. You will love them all!
Julie |
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Jimmy Joza Special user New York City 760 Posts |
Frankie, Dick offers great advice here. His book is full of great stories and also great advice on routining and presenting tricks/effects. Highly recommended.
Having said the above, here are my two cents about what I recommend. I really like the die boxes by Mel Babcock. They may cost more than what you want to spend but they will last you many years. His die boxes have f**e on the doors and some have mag***s to keep the shell in place so you can turnover the box wth no worries. He also has a Rubik Puzzle Solving Box which is pretty cool and is instead of disappearing from the box what happens is: you move die from side to side, open a door and show Rubik's Cube has begun to solve itself; close door and move it from side to side, open the other door and puzzle is about half solved; repeat same motions, say puzzle has solved itself without showing audience, go through similar exchanges and then open all the doors and drop solved Rubik's cube out of the box. You can even turn the Rubik's cube in different directions at the end. http://home.nwi.net/~magicmel/prodlist.html Jimmy
"Those who simply walk in others' tracks leave no footprints."
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frankieacemagic Elite user 498 Posts |
Hi Julie! thanks for the help. Of course those are at the high end of my budget...a little bit beyond which Bancock product would you suggest for the standard dye box routine that ends with the die's reappearance in the hat?
Thanks again to all future posters! |
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Jimmy Joza Special user New York City 760 Posts |
I began writing my earlier post and only saw a response by Dick Oslund. I was responding to texts in between writing my post. After posting I noticed Julie posted and recommended Mel Babcock. So I guess I should say I second her recommendation.
"Those who simply walk in others' tracks leave no footprints."
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Jimmy Joza Special user New York City 760 Posts |
This one would be fine, Frankie. Noticed that one with smaller die size is not much beyond your upper limit.
http://home.nwi.net/~magicmel/diebox.html If you want to use a die that can reappear in a hat but uses something different then I would recommend this as well (I love using this as another option and the flap boxes gets some oohs and ahhs when die appear in empty box and then disappears) http://home.nwi.net/~magicmel/flydie.html Same thing but with a alphabet block http://home.nwi.net/~magicmel/okitoblk.html It depends what you want and how you want to get it done and how you want to present it.
"Those who simply walk in others' tracks leave no footprints."
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frankieacemagic Elite user 498 Posts |
Dick and Jimmy and Randi, THANK YOU!! For all of your help. I currently perform the smokey mountain pizza box and that does get great reactions, but I love the reappearance of the die at the end of the die box routine. Seems more magical than the reappearance of the pizza in some random place.
I'm just looking for one that's sturdy and won't take up LOTS of space in the case. I know it's all about the routine, but would love to have multiple doors to open and show it there or not there! |
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Jimmy Joza Special user New York City 760 Posts |
Then Mel's Die Box (I wrote link) is a good choice. You have a choice of different die sizes.
"Those who simply walk in others' tracks leave no footprints."
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frankieacemagic Elite user 498 Posts |
Hey Jimmy! Which size Babcock do you have!?? Which one do you think would work for me? I do lots of bday parties, block parties, libraries, church shows. Should I get the large? Do you have that one?
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Zuke Veteran user 353 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 12, 2016, Dick Oslund wrote: Dude you REALLY need to take a chill pill. These constant posts of yours full of caps and talk about how magicians don't know how to perform blah blah blah. Enough already, we get it. Next time someone is asking about a prop (or anything) for god's sake just back away from the computer and go and do some knitting or something. |
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Andy Young Special user Jersey Shore, PA 813 Posts |
I don't present this as a sucker effect.
As for boxes I use an Empire one not a great looking one, but it works and kids like it. The double door looks nice and adds a bit more of a convincer, although it may be overkill. |
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 11, 2016, frankieacemagic wrote: ANY of Mel's boxes will make you (and the kiddies) happy as can be. From a "packs small" point of view, of course the smallest size will work fine. Depending upon your typical audience size (over 50?) you may need the regular size. I seriously doubt you'd want the 4" size, but that's your call. Next decide what color you want the block to be and whether you want a solid color, spotted dice, alphabet or the SEE-THROUGH type block and box. You can't go wrong with any of these! Let us know which one you choose. Julie |
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Jbutler New user 14 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 11, 2016, Zuke wrote: Keep POSTING Dick. We need to HEAR and READ your 50+ years of experience. |
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Bill Scott Regular user Las Vegas, NV 119 Posts |
I'm with you, that was a nasty hit on a very successful performer!
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Zuke, you should be the be who leaves. No one appreciates people who show such a lack of respect.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Thank you, Michael, Bill and JB! for your most kind words!
I have had ONE "POISON PEN" PM, recently, which I've ignored, as I don't consider the sender's opinions and comments, worth my consideration. The writer berated me for correcting the use of incorrect terms. Now, Mr.ZUKE has "taken pen in hand" to denounce my writing style, and my comments. I do use CAPS for emphasis! --Mainly because I don't know how to ITALICIZE with this INFERNAL ELECTRISCH PECKENCLACKER! I did learn to capitalize God's name, however, when I was a child. It's a matter of respect. I think that, although he is certainly entitled to have an opinion, he is somewhat mistaken in this case. I very seldom express a negative comment (and I"ve never used "blah, blah, blah" --I think that I possess a better vocabulary than that!. In the "case of the die box, and similar sucker tricks", I have seen far too many performers who obviously, do not understand the psychology that should be used to make the presentation entertaining, without attempting to make fools of the audience. I have used, for years, a "soft" sucker trick to open my program. It gets the audience'a attention. It "introduces" me! It gets laughs, AND, IT FOOLS THEM, WITHOUT MAKING FOOLS OF THEM! IT DEFINITELY GETS ENTHUSIASTIC APPLAUSE AT THE FINISH!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Back on track...
Frankieacemagic, There are a couple methods out there for being able to see the die on one side, the other, or both. These are extra bells and whistles, and not at all necessary for the trick to be a success. (There I go again, Dick... using the word trick. Haha!!) You should understand why you would do this first, before paying for that feature. You know the basics of the effect and probably many of the methods involved (there are way more than you might imagine, though!). Get an idea of what routine you'd like to do. There are many examples of performances out there... some excellent, some, well... some. Mr. Babcock does make without any doubts from me, the finest Die Boxes around. But, you do have to pony up a little cash. However, take it from someone who also builds props... his prices are really a lot less than is reflected in the quality of his work. You get more than you pay for. Now, to go away from that a minute... I understand that budgets are a concern. So, here is one option... The JTL Die Box (made by MAK Magic). It is a Plain Jane prop... no extras. But, it is a very well made prop. I don't know if these are still being made, but I do see them for sale on occasion. The price is within the range stated in the OP. I believe this is the same box that Gene Anderson uses for his Mother Hubbard routine. OK, at the risk of being accused of plugging myself, I offer a Raisin Box Die Box, and I mention this only because it is also in that price range. Of course, it is not the standard "die" but the effect is the same.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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