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hokeypokey New user Chicago 71 Posts |
I recently purchased this effect from P&A Silks and have a question regarding the placement of the gimmick. The tube is a clear tube with metal ends (about 2" on each side). The instructions show the placement of the gimmick in the middle of the metal parts, but this seems highly visible to me. I move the gimmick to the border between the metal portion and the clear portion. This makes the gimmick hard to see, but it also makes it more difficult to use the gimmick.
I believe that I just need to practice with the gimmick, but wanted to ask whether anyone has any suggestions. Thanks in advance. |
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Bokken New user Ontario - Canada 22 Posts |
I think I picked up this trick under the name "Crystal Tube", though I don't remember the name of the manufacturer. Does your tube have just plain metal ends to it, or are they busy? The one I have has reflective designes on the end pieces so that from a short distance away (a couple of feet) the workings of the effect are not visible. Try using it on a couple of people you know first maybe and see if they can tell what it is. Although it may look kind of obvious to you, they may not even realize it.
Dave |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
This trick is marketed under a number of different names. It actually works most of the time. For years it has been put in and taken out of the act. In April 2002 it embarrassed me for the last time so I took it out of the act permanently. I have never had problems with the audience identifying the gimmick. My problems have been the gimmick not holding, especially when the silks are blown through the tube. I have added additional gimmicks at BOTH ends and that has saved me a time or two. But even that is not foolproof.
Currently, I plan to put it back into that act but do away with the tube decorations and the original gimmick entirely. It is a beautiful effect that routines very well. In the new routine, the two separate silks will enter the tube from opposite ends. A third silk will be tied around the center of the tube and then slid to one end, but not off. As the silks are pulled from the tube, they will be shown to be tied together with the third silk tied around the two in the center. Then the third silk will ultimately be shown literally tied in between the two original silks with real knots. With these three ungimmicked silks I can go on with the next trick. Enjoy! But scheme! Bob Magic By Sander |
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Alym Amlani Inner circle Canada 1464 Posts |
That's a great idea, I'd like to hear more about your handling (PM me) - the new version by Pavel tends to work a LOT of the time and is somewhat in your control if you choose your gimmicks well.
Logic Defied
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Ron Reid Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 2732 Posts |
Hello hokeypokey:
I think you're on the right track - put the gimmicks at the border where clear and metal meet so they're less noticeable. From stage, it won't matter, but if you're in someone's living room, a little bit of camouflage will help. Something to consider is to put both gimmicks on the same end. Then stuff the silks all in one end; it's not a big deal, but it looks a bit more natural to stick all three silks in the same end. I know you bought an expensive and beautiful tube from P&A, but here's another option, just in case: Do it with a rolled up newspaper. I saw a Japanese magician, Shintaro Fujiyama do this about 20 years ago. Instead of blowing the silks out, he unrolled the newspaper with a flip, and tied-together silks cascaded over his other arm. It was very pretty. Ron |
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Alym Amlani Inner circle Canada 1464 Posts |
Do you know where to buy replacement tubes for this effect?
Logic Defied
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Alym,
For a replacement tube, try a large office supply store. They have clear document and mailing tubes in all sizes. Craft shops receive spring steel in 36" ones that have to be cut off. For a real glass one, go to an electric sign shop. Bob Magic By Sander |
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
I have had a P&A silk version of this effect for years doing it in living rooms as well as stage and have never had the gimmicks exposed. For those unfamiliar with this version, the tube is slightly larger than most other and the ends are capped with 2" metallic bands. I use 18" silks in mine. It isn't necessary to go into great detail in showing the tube since it is clear and the audience doesn't know what you going to do anyway. Normal handling will not expose the gimmicks.
HokeyPokey, it's just a matter of practice to get the timing right. Here's a hint, place two gimmicks on each end instead of one and yes they need to be on the end of the tube, not farther back. Fold the tail of the first silk over the end of the tube and as you place the second silk inside, fold over the end of it either with your fingers or use the end of the tube. Then release the gimmick. It looks natural. Bob, I used to have the same problem with the silks not coming out tied together sometimes. I have a solution but can't explain it here without giving it away. I'll PM you.
Where the magic begins
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hokeypokey New user Chicago 71 Posts |
Thanks everyone for all of the suggestions. I will try them.
Dave, one question. When you say to use two gimmicks, I assume that they are used together as essentially one. Am I correct? Or do you keep them separate? Out of curiosity, I did an experiment with a friend who is also a beginner magician. I put the silk tube on a table with a gimmick on each end (in the middle of the metal parts). I asked my friend to examine the tube from where he was sitting (about 5' away) and to tell me if he saw anything strange about the tube. He stared at the tube for a couple of minutes and said it looked normal to him. I then did the effect and he still didn't realize how it was done. I was totally amazed by this, because as I said in my first post, I thought the gimmick was completely obvious. The posts here and my friend's reaction have given me new confidence in this trick. I will definitely practice it using the suggestions here. Thanks again. |
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
HokeyPokey, yes. When using two gimmicks, they are put right next to each other on the tube. It serves two purposes. First, you have double the strength when they are released and if you have an accident with one, you are still able to complete the effect since the second acts as a spare.
Remember, the audience doesn't know what you are about to do, so they are not looking for gimmicks. Even if they see something on the end of the tube, they don't know what it is and assume it's part of the tube. My gimmicks are clear so they blend in with the tube even more.
Where the magic begins
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digimaestro New user 57 Posts |
OK...
The performance of this effect was ruined once for me when the gimmick came off at the wrong time on one end. A wonderful suggestion to use two for a backup. I will definitely try it. Thank you. digimaestro |
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
As I mentioned before, the P&A version is a little larger in diameter than most others. It's pretty hard for the gimmicks to come off early.
Where the magic begins
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Alym Amlani Inner circle Canada 1464 Posts |
I went on a hunt but unfortunately local stationary shops only stock paper docu. tubes. I'll check out an electric sign shop - but what product am I looking for?
(Btw, thanks for all your advice!) Alym Quote: On 2004-06-29 22:51, Bob Sanders wrote:
Logic Defied
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Alym,
I checked out our office stores here since your post. They do still have plastic mailing/document tubes but they are useless for this purpose. Now they only get them in black! Foiled again! Bob Magic By Sander |
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thesecretllama New user Dayton, Oh 41 Posts |
Where does one hold the tube during the performance. I've practiced this routine several times and it still does not feel natural. Do I hold it at the end of the tube? Which end? Is there anything to add to this routine that would make it better? funnier? etc.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Aylm,
For the tubing, try large aquarium supply houses. For custom made aquariums this tubing is used for air and custom filers. Bob Magic By Sander |
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Vibono Magic Special user Växjö,Sweden 647 Posts |
Yuji Yammamoto ( owner of UGM ) from Japan has a version with a OH platic sheet rolled into a tube. He puts a rubberband or a string around it to keep it in place as he puts the three silks inside. Removing the rubber band and holding the tube in the "split" he opens the tube in an upwords throwing action the silks are thrown into the air and when they are caught, shown to be tied together.
Vibono Mirage
Magic entertainer and Balloon artist |
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stephenbanning Regular user United States 178 Posts |
I did this for about 20 years before side lining it to concentrate on some other effects. I find it's best to hold the tube in the center because the gimmicks may other wise "fire" prematurely before the silks are in place.
If one gimmick does come off during the loading process prematurely, you can put one silk aside and just tie two silks together. Because the audience doesn't know what you're going to do, this is still a miracle. I make sure the tie area is well up on the silks and not at the tips. If the gimmicks are near the tips the silks can come "untied". I agree with Bob. It does routine well and the audience also seems to think it's funny. I've never had anyone discover how I've done the effect even when I found one young man rummaging through my suitcase after a show. He saw the gimmicks and asked what they were for. I say that to illustrate that the effect is very deceptive. |
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thesecretllama New user Dayton, Oh 41 Posts |
What about routining and patter? How can I make it funnier? I've now performed it twice, and I received a good reaction from the audience, but where it fits into my show requires a bit more humor. How can this be achieved?
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Phred Regular user 118 Posts |
You can buy a package of clear gimmicks in the haircare section of the Dollar store. 100 gimmicks for a buck. They work great and are almost invisible.
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