|
|
Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] | ||||||||||
RayRannala New user Tampa, FL 32 Posts |
I have been doing the die box for kids for many years. I like it enough to want to include it in my adult show. I am interested in ideas for an entertaining story line. I am looking for fresh ideas that would appeal to adults with a humorous angle. Any concepts come to mind or do you know anyone performing this for adults? I would love to see their take on this classic.
Thanks in advance four your input! Ray |
|||||||||
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
The Die Box is not just a children's effect, it works for adults as well, you just say something, like, "I know what you are all thinking ...".
You can also refer to a show you did yesterday, and the kids started yelling ... Adults are only grown up children. They will be more baffled then the actual little darlings. It has more to do with your mind set, then thinking it is only a children's trick. |
|||||||||
ROBERT BLAKE Inner circle 1472 Posts |
Gene anderson has a routine for grown up kids (adults)
|
|||||||||
mcharisse Inner circle York. PA 1226 Posts |
I use the dice to demonstrate chance and fate in the universe. God’s dice! My routine is basically Roy Benson’s, andgoes from Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained.
|
|||||||||
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 19, 2017, ROBERT BLAKE wrote: Gene published his die box routine, in great detail, in his, "The Book". I watched Gene "break in" his routine, in Jerry Conklin's living room. It's clever, and funny, and, definitely plays for adults. The only other die box routine, that I feel, plays for adults, is Jay Marshall's. (I used Jay's for a season, and, it was fine.) Jay developed and used his routine for USO shows (WWII)
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
|
|||||||||
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
My Die Box Combination routine from The Wizards' Journal #27 combines a Die Box with a separate small box based on my "Little Red Box of Magic" from The Wizards’ Journal # 26. Note that everything can be handled by helpers from the audience during the routine. At the start, a distinctively decorated silk handkerchief is in the small gift box, held by a spectator. The large die is placed in the big die box so the die can be shaken... why else would you put a die in a box that large? But it looks like the magician is cheating to get the die to turn up his number, so when they call him on it, he pretends to make the die disappear. They aren't having it and keep calling out where the die has gone. At the end the big box is opened completely (you can see right through it) and it contains the distinctive handkerchief that was being guarded by the sopectator. The small box is opened by the spectator and the die is found inside. You can't buy this ready-made - you have to make it yourself, but all the directions are given for making it in a kitchen workshop without the need for any power tools.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
|||||||||
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Mel Babcock's Rainbow Die Box (with Hank Box) features an entertaining routine with classic apparatus. See his web site.
Julie |
|||||||||
thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
I've lately been curious why this trick ever began... what was the purpose of putting a wooden die in a 2 door chest? I'm not saying that to be negative, I own one and I actually really like the trick and always have. But still why a wooden die?
|
|||||||||
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 1, 2017, thomasR wrote: The answer is as old as magic shops. Simply put, to sell something to make a profit in a field that interests the seller. Why a wood die, because it is square, it is wood because, and you will like this, it gives it a reason for being square, and is recognizable to everyone, children and adults. Wood was before Ivory and plastic dice, easier to make and less expensive then the expensive other choices. Back when there was only a handful of magic stores, and only a few of them manufactured apparatus, it was a big deal for a new magic effect to come to market. There were usually only one to three new tricks a year. Not like now, hundreds of tricks poured on the market every month. You really should educate yourself, start by buying and reading the Davenport story. You will learn a lot of how magic turned into a business that influenced the whole world as a leader in the bringing products to magicians around the world. Then get the Thayer books and read their story, along with Percy Abbott life story. Maybe you will become aware of what magic is to these leaders in the early days when magic really meant something to those that chose this direction in their lives. |
|||||||||
thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
"You really should educate yourself" - ummm thanks?
|
|||||||||
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 1, 2017, thomasR wrote: That's actually a good question but the answer has to come from YOU, not from the old guys for whom the answer is "because it's always been that way." For me, I explain that the box is used to shake up the die, but it doesn't work very well because the spots always stay the same. Instead, I use the box to shake up the die and toss it invisibly into the hat. I'm not giving away my whole routine, but think about what answers might work for you to put together a routine of your own.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
|||||||||
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 2, 2017, thomasR wrote: Yes, knowledge is power. All your questions on the Café, seems like you don't want to think of magic as entertainment, but some kind of real power, and you need to prove to yourself that everything has reason for being used. As you give no information on your experience in magic, using your questions as, your experience seems to be about 2 years, and no library of books to draw from. It kind of rubbed me the wrong way with all your "Why" questions that are the same, and so I thought I would try to help you along your journey. I won't answer any further "Why" questions you have. What is important, is your audience is entertained, and you take them on a journey with you to some wonders that they can enjoy. I have a clock, not a die, I see no reason to justify why I am using a clock. The real reason I use a clock, is because every other magician uses a die box. I don't want to use what every other magician uses. So I purchased the clock version. |
|||||||||
thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
That's a neat routine Jim, Thanks.
Trying to build my own routine is what set me on wondering about the origins actually... I was super inspired by Gene Andersons and it got me thinking on what all that block could be... Way more than just a dice that jumps to a top hat that's for sure. |
|||||||||
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Combine the Die Box, painted like an old fashioned wood stove, with a wooden chimney on tip and you could have:
Wiz Kid Wilhelmina's "New Santa Blocks Trick" from the Wizards' Journal #19, in which the Santa block head could disappear and then reappear inside the wood stove, where, as if in a die box, it mysteriously disappears again and finally reappears back on top of the Santa stack of blocks in the chimney. You are only limited by your imagination to rethink any of the old classics into new classics that others will "borrow".
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
|||||||||
thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Ohhhhhh I like that idea. What about ABC Blocks to a toy chest!?
|
|||||||||
raw36 New user 56 Posts |
Hi Jimgerrish I am sure I have a old Davenport (London) effect and the tube is a chimney will have to dig it out now. Thanks again for reminding me.
|
|||||||||
jimgerrish Inner circle East Orange, NJ 3209 Posts |
Now you're churning out ideas you can use! Don't forget, the shape of the die-box and die have changed in recent years to pizzas, and clocks, and other less cubical objects. The Magic Nook's own Chris Dunn has a Holiday Die Box in The Wizards' Journal #19 that works with a rectangular thin plaque that can change from show to show just by hooking up your computer printer to print out seasonal or theme images to change the appearance of both the box and the plaques.
Jim Gerrish
magicnook@yahoo.com https://www.magicnook.com Home of The Wizards' Journals: https://magicnook.com/wizardsTOC.htm |
|||||||||
thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Bill... Trying to figure out how to respond to you but I was simply asking about the origins of the die box, it seems like an odd concept for a trick. So yes I asked why a die, but I'm not sure why that question should "rub you the wrong way" - you seem to be particularly annoyed that I ask questions.
I don't feel like I should need to prove myself to you or anyone else in order to ask basic questions on the history of a trick, but I've owned a dice box for 20+ years, I have a quite nice magic library, although it's always growing. I've got several books with die box routines, but I don't have any with the history of that particular trick. Im not sure if the books you referenced go into that trick specifically or not but I'm sure they are great reads either way. |
|||||||||
Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Hi Thomas!
I, myself, am glad you mentioned it. I never liked "sucker" effects, or anything that makes a fool of the audience or volunteer. The Die Box never appealed to me for that reason. Then, I had a chance to acquire a version that made sense. The Old Wizard's Herb Chest: http://www.wack-o-magic.com/herbchest.html Doug |
|||||||||
thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Doug, this looks incredible!
|
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Boxes, tubes & bags » » Die box routine ideas (35 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |