|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
I have the Axtell Bird Arm Illusion on order. I have watched the Axtell video catalog with the instructions on modifying it so it can be put on and taken off quickly. Steve suggests using a metal coffee can for the modification. Can someone suggest a brand or size of product for the correct type of can? I know everyone may be different, but I just wanted to know some ideas from some of you who have tried this. Also, I'll bet some of you have come up with some good, innovative ideas for this other than a metal can. I would love to hear them.
Thanks in advance for your responses. Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
I remember reading that but mine was on and off in a shot...no Can. Are you sure you need one? (Coffee Can that is.)
Doug Master Of The Mer
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
|
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Uh...I am hardly ever sure of anything Doug. Steve Axtell recommends modifying it if you want to slip it on really quick, like right in front of the audience as you take the bird out of the case, etc. Since I haven't recieved it yet, I don't know for sure. It's supposed to arrive tomorrow. I was trying to get a head start but maybe I need to wait until I get it.
Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
I would.
What puppet(s) did you get? D
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
|
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
I got Vern The Bird. I tried hard to convince myself to get a different bird. I know Vern is the oldest and probably the most common of all Axtell Puppets, but I just kept coming back to him. I had 2 other non-bird puppet choices also, and I let my wife and daughter decide on which one of the three choices to buy for me. They both chose Vern, mostly beause of his versatility. I hope to get the other 2 someday.
Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
olivertwist Special user Nashua, NH 588 Posts |
Regan,
The kids always love Vern. Making the can modification is a really good idea. Use a can that has a large enough diameter to fit loosely over your arm with your typical costume or jacket on. I found the coffee can is too tight for me with some of my jackets on. It's also too tall. Don't be afraid to customize it to suit your needs. Cut it down, make it wider, etc. Also make sure the bird arm is as long as your other arm. I've seen some that were distracting because they were really too short. Oliver |
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Thanks so much Oliver. Vern is supposed to arrive today. I am excited . I promise to give him a good home.
Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
mdspark Special user 784 Posts |
For me it was a toss up between Vern and Ding Dong Do Do...I chose Ding Dong..he seemed to have the most character next to Vern...Getting the bird-arm next. Cant wait to put him in my kids show. Kinda like Christmas as a kid !
|
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Wow, Mdspark, those are the exact 2 birds I struggled to decide between also! I had 2 other non-bird puppets I was considering. My wife and daughter helped make the choice. They both voted for old Vern. Since they were buying it for me, I didn't protest. I know I will be hooked on these puppets and probably want more. Vern was really my favorite, but the biggest negative with him is that he is probably the most common Axtell puppet being used.
Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
mdspark Special user 784 Posts |
You are right Regan, I salivate everytime I look at the Axtell website..lol. I also figured Vern was more like to be the Axtell puppet seen most often. But you just cant seem to go wrong whichever one you choose. Sooo many choices and so limited time and money. What a tragedy...
Mark |
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
I feel your pain.
Regan I had been trying to convince my wife to let poor Vern out of the box for several days. I told her when he arrived he would need air and probably be hungry. She wouldn't buy into it said I had to wait until Christmas. When UPS delivered Vern, I jokingly pestered her to let me open poor Vern, I was relly concerned that he might suffocate. However, she would not give in. I thought that if I could really throw my voice, I would like to make sounds appear to be coming from the box, like "Aawk....I need air...I'm suffocating in here...Help me...Hurry up, I'm dying...Please, Let me out...etc." Well, Dennis Michael told me that I should use walkie-talkies and guess what...I couldn't resist. It was a funny moment for me and I thought I would share it with you all. First, I borrowed my Dad's walkie-talkies and hid one under the tree beneath the package that poor Vern is in. I waited until everyone was in the room and I slipped away to another room. Vern started talking and I could here the commotion as they were looking around the packages. My daughter and niece tried to tell the grown ups that the bird was talking, but no one would believe them. They actually thought that a talking toy in one of the packages had come on accidentally. My wife was arguing that there was no toy that talked wrapped up. My daughter mentioned Vern, but my wife reassured her that he doesn't talk by electronics. I let them settle down a bit and started again. This time my niece jumped up, ran away from the tree and declared, "I told you there was something talking under there!" The grown ups lowered the volume of the television and listened...then I could hear laughter as they searched through the packages and finally traced down the source. We all got a big laugh out of it, even my scared niece. But guess what? They still refused to let poor Vern out of the box! Oh well, Christmas is finally here...it's not long until morning...wait I believe I hear Santa coming on the roof...gotta go....... Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
olivertwist Special user Nashua, NH 588 Posts |
Regan,
That was a great gag. I'm sure it was a lot of fun for everyone. On the subject of the Bird Arm, my next project is to make a life-like cast of my own hand and make a bird arm with a bare hand and a tux sleeve so I can do away with the cotton glove. http://www.sculpt.com sells wax that can be used to easily make an exact replica of your hand. I used it to make a mold of my hand. Now I ned to make a mold of my forearm and cast them in light-weight foam for my new bird arm. Oliver |
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Ooh...that is a terrrific idea Oliver! I can certainly see the value in that.
Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
ChrisJ Loyal user Lapeer, MI 226 Posts |
Regan,that was a great gag!! =)) As for the Vern the bird being the most common Axtell bird seen, my question, seen by whom? We as ventriloquists are seeing them in our piblications and on Axtells website, but your common audience probably has not. ) I too was on the cusp of getting a vern at one point. Things kept me frmo doing so at the time. I still look at all of the greatvariety on Steves' site and know Iwill order one someday. We have ordered the kid birds with arm illusions for my sons when they were younger, as well as the frog for my wife.
Oliver, Have you thought of using alginate and plaster bandage for your arm cast? It will get every detail and allow you to reproduce your arm exactly. It is the stuff like dentists use for teeth casting as well as make-up artists use to cast faces and body parts. Just a thought. If you have any questions about the process I would be more then happy to answer any questions you may have. I have been a hobbyist make-up fx artist for yrs. Chris |
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Thanks Chris. You're probably right. I just figure that Vern has been around for so long that he is the most "common" puppet out there. Of course, his appearance has changed some over the years also.
Maybe Oliver could market his idea. Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
ChrisJ Loyal user Lapeer, MI 226 Posts |
All this talk about Vern has got me looking at him agin. He has such personality! Axtell's possum is also neat. Ah heck now I need to troll his site some more. LOL
Have fun venting! Ventriloquially, Chris |
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Vern is terrific...and I know what you mean about trolling the site. The possum is one I want badly. I am wanting others also. This is a terrible addiction!
Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
Ken Dumm Inner circle 1239 Posts |
Ah...but if you use the characters in your show, it is no longer an addiction, it's an investment. Regan, have you written material for your character yet? I recently saw Steve's Neurotic Rat first hand, and it was beautiful, even for a rat. Such character already built in to the face and body. A local vent in our area was strolling with the rat, and I watched from a far at first. Almost everyone that walked by had to stop and say hello to the rat. He was almost hypnotic. After years of thinking about adding a character to my show, I think I've decided on one of the figures from Axtell. I've written his bio and have even developed some material for our dialoge. Now, I have to convince myself that I'll use the figure in the show. I know the value of the puppets, but it's still a lot of money to drop right after the holidays. I think I'll keep writing and if the character can no longer stay on the script, I'll invest and bring him to life. We'll see how the script goes. I'll let you guys know how things turn out.
Ken |
|||||||||
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
Yeah, an investment...right. That's what I keep telling my wife.
:) Problem is, I have so many investments that I will probably never be able to use them all in my lifetime. I am in the process of writing a routine for my puppet now. It is going to take a while and I am going to try and be patient. I want to get The Maher Course soon, and I know it will take time to become a good enough ventriloquist to actually perform. Regan
Mister Mystery
|
|||||||||
Ken Dumm Inner circle 1239 Posts |
I've been following your threads on this subject and the courses and have thought about getting the Maher course or the Millenium edition.
The dialoge I'm writing is a simple introduction of who the character is, and where he came from, and how we came together to do the show. This type of development is helping me decide if the character will actually fit into my type of show before I make the purchase. I've had many "investments" that haven't worked out as well as planned, so I'm taking my time on this one. My wife appreciates it. Great practical joke on the family. I did a similar one when "Tipper the Monkey" arrived at our house a few years ago. We still talk about that one. Ken |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » I'm a real boy! » » Axtell Bird Arm Illusion (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 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 < |