I was thinking of using more interesting animals than normal for an act. How about bats instead of doves (can they be trained)? You could use them for a halloween show. A monkey/lemur? How about one of those huge Flying Foxes insted of a parrot? I know nothing about where to get exotic animals, or endangered species, and I probably won't be able to buy and support any of these animals any time soon. But who out there works with "other animals". I've seen specials on Animal planet where butterflies and worms were used, and Criss uses mice and spiders. But who out there has taught their lemur slight of hand? Just a thought.

Brian

Brian,

Over the years I have used a variety of animals in my act. Most people only think of me with doves because I started and wrote Dove Hotline on the Net for many years. It is currently written by Tony Clark. (I have got to get two books finished this year!)

However, I grew up as a cowboy. So I have used horses, donkeys, rabbits, geese, guineas, ducks, fish, chickens, hampsters, goats and even live lobsters. Currently my wife Lucy has a stage show with a Tea Party with a live rabbit and goose. Next year we work with a live unicorn (actually a blue-eyed white horse). Watch for the StarDancerCastle site to be opened in March.

Bob
Magic By Sander

Click here to view attached image.

I use my three ferrets. Two of them (one ivory, and the other striped).. for a stripe removing act. The other I use as an appearance through a circus wagon, with circus music. It's actually a real crowd pleaser.

You know that there are times when you may have shows and have to produce a human in costume as an animal. (Fortunately, I have never had an animal complain about that!)

For years I produced Easter Bunnies at malls all over the country. I have also produced "dogs" for fire departments and animal shelters.

Doves don't require near as much training.

Bob
Magic By Sander

I was thinking about Chinchillas, since they are smaller than a rabbit, basically a large rat with a mink coat. They are cuter than producing rats, and more "pet-able". I haven't tried them since my Mini-Rex rabbit does not want to get upstaged!

"Next year we work with a live unicorn (actually a blue-eyed white horse)"

Oh no I'm going to cry You mean you faked the picture of the Unicorn? I thought they were real.
(hehe girly laughter)
Matt

Matt,

Only a young virgin can see a unicorn. Ask around.

Bob
Magic By Sander

I've used Rats and Mice. Their bowel control is the reason I stopped

How about roaches? Cheap and easy to feed. Well then again, maybe not.

X-treem, only 185 more posts and you'll be in the Circle too:)

P & T did use roaches! Roaches from an "empty" match box. (Note that it hasn't made the dealers' tables.)

Bob
Magic By Sander

Bob, I remember years back (well not so long ago as I am only 24!). Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus (is that spelled right?) came through Witchita Kansas and brought along a unicorn. I believe it was a goat with a horn. There is not a whole lot of memory of it. That was in '86.

I just mentioned this in another forum. I have a friend that uses a Tucan (SP?) in his act and it really doesn't get much more of a reation than my macaw.

MDS

Ringling caught a lot of flack for doing the one horned goat. The story I heard was that they had a baby goat modified by a vet surgeon to remove part of the skull and grow the horns together. Urban legend? I also heard that it did not live long after it was shown.

BTW I couldn't see it so it may have been real.

Same problem here! They could fool me too.

Bob
Magic By Sander

A Tucan, can you believe it?

I used mice too. It was a bad idea...

Chinese Cochan Chickens for a Chinese Magician.

And watch the crowd disappear when the chicken sneezes....

I am glad this topic got started. I have been working with rabbits for years now and love them to death. However, I have been looking for another animal to add to my show as an opener but can't make up my mind what to do. The problem is that many other animals are so difficult to work with and make noise. I am going to keep my eyes posted on this topic for what others have to say.

I have used (still use) a snake, doves, rats, mice, spiders, and scorpions. I no longer use the rats and mice. I remember that goat "unicorn" as well, it really made a bad impression. I remember thinking "how cheap is that". I don't think they did surgery on it, it looked more like they had a string holding it on-if I remember it was crooked.

Oh well, no unicorns.