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TheMetalMagician New user 87 Posts |
Forumites,
When I first got started, this is how I did the teleporting sponge ball trick - the first photo is both balls in my hand at the start of the trick, the second is a picture of what I'm putting in the specatator's hand. A friend of mine with 15+ years of experience doing magic told me it's a bad idea to let the spectator know I'm capable of juggling 2 balls in one hand. I don't like to disagree with people who have so much more experience than I do, but I'm struggling with this one. The two balls in one hand approach has several advantages: 1. I can do it ANYWHERE - I don't have to put the second ball on a table or anything 2. All I have to do is use my thumb to push one ball into the other (as in the second photo) 3. If I "flash" the first ball, the spectators may think it's the second ball. The only disadvantage I really see is if I don't execute perfectly it's obvious I'm mushing the balls together. I've gotten CRAZY reactions from people when I've executed it right though, and I've done this trick for coworkers and customers in IT. I don't see a problem with starting with both balls, but I am open to feedback. Hope this helped, TheMetalMagician Click here to view attached image. |
TheMetalMagician New user 87 Posts |
This is what the spectator sees me putting in THEIR hand, though admittedly it's really hard to take a picture of my right hand with my left hand .
Click here to view attached image. |
jim ferguson Veteran user Ayrshire, Scotland 386 Posts |
I'm not entirely sure what you're meaning here. If you're worried, you could always display one in each hand, between thumb and forefinger - false transfer one to the opposite hand (the three free fingers closing over the "ball"), then take the visible one with the free hand to give to the spectator.
Although, if what you are doing is getting great reactions, I'd be careful about changing it. Jim |
TheMetalMagician New user 87 Posts |
Quote:
On May 8, 2020, jim ferguson wrote: I'm really just looking for a second opinion, that's all. As I said, I don't see a problem with how I'm executing the trick, but at the same time, I don't want to so quickly dismiss a far more seasoned magician's advice. Is there any reason to be concerned about starting the trick with the spectator seeing 2 balls in the right hand? |
Kanawati Veteran user Australia 301 Posts |
You’ve asked a really interesting question and if I’m understanding you correctly I’ve never seen anyone perform it the way I think you’re saying you perform it. I thought it would be interesting to compare the way you do it with a couple of other methods that don’t need a table. I’m reconstructing/guessing your move from the photos so my apologies in advance if what I’m doing is completely off and looks nothing like the way you do it! I’m not sure whether you just start with the 2 balls in the one hand or whether you openly show both balls in the one hand as you appear to give the spectator just one ball? It’s an unlisted video and I’ll quickly remove it if I’ve gotten your move wrong. Here it is:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-PdI9iWCOPk The second example is just a false transfer and the third example is a move I learnt right here on the Café from Michael Eaton who was very kind enough to share it. You can see his post here: https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view......&start=0 My own personal opinion is that the further away the balls are from each other the more magical. During this time when social distancing is so critical using both hands can allow you to perform the trick without needing someone else’s hand. Down the track when it will be OK to do in the hands magic, you could try it your friend’s way a few times to see if the reactions are any different and that might help you decide whether it’s advice that you should take on board or not. John |
TheMetalMagician New user 87 Posts |
Thank you Kanawati! I feel a little silly now, I had totally forgotten that I have a video of me doing my version of the trick with my daughter:
https://youtu.be/kRXSeFOF_hk Bottom line, in the first two moves you pretty much nailed what I do. I love that third move - I watched you do it about 5 times and I still couldn't quite pinpoint the exact moment you made the transfer, that's a great visual effect. I look forward to learning it from Michael Eaton as you did. |
Kanawati Veteran user Australia 301 Posts |
Hi TheMetalMagician, Thanks for sharing that video. I get your handling now and I haven’t seen anyone else do it that way. I’m glad you liked the move that Micheal Eaton showed a few years ago. It’s a great move and definitely worth learning. I just deleted the video above as I realized I actually forgot one small thing that Michael does but it makes a difference! So here is another take:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YTp9fsI-VXU Good on you for having the courage to seek an opinion. I’ve sought feedback on a few of my routines on the Café and the feedback has always helped me make improvements. I’ve also had to learn what advice to take on board and what not to! In this case it could be the camera angle of your video, or just me seeing things through a magician’s eyes rather than through the eyes of a lay audience, but I do feel that holding a ball in each hand could make the effect more deceptive and harder for the audience to possibly reverse engineer. Thanks again for posting a great question, sharing your handling, and getting me thinking! |
TheMetalMagician New user 87 Posts |
For the record, I re-opened the conversation with my friend and had him watch my video. He said it actually looked better than what he was expecting. His constructive criticism was me wiggling my fingers a bit too much fiddling for the second ball in my right hand - it caused his eyes to move away from my left hand. I thought that was good feedback and definitely something I can work on.
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