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Mikael Eriksson Inner circle None of your business 1064 Posts |
I´m not sure this is the right place to post, but anyhow:
I love the effect Magic Switchboard. It´s my dream to own one. But there is one hard cracked nut: In what type of gig does it fit? If you have a Magic Switchboard I will be very greatful if you tell me when you use it! Mikael |
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zigmont Regular user 140 Posts |
At home for friends!
Zigmont
Magic F/X |
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MarkFarrar Veteran user U.S.A. 376 Posts |
It's probably also something you could work into a set-piece competition act (with the right presentation, of course).
However, I would tend to agree with Zigmont that it's probably best as one of those intriguing things you leave lying around your house, and then, when visitors ask "What's that?", off you go!
Mark S. Farrar
Email: [email]MarkFarrar@TheMagicCircle.co.uk[/email] Web: www.MagicSquaresBook.com, www.RandMPublishing.com, www.TheDailyGoalMachine.com, www.ParvoBuster.com |
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Steven Steele Chief of Staff 1868 Posts |
I don't own one yet, but I'm planning on adding it to a preschool/primary elementary safety show next year.
Coram Deo
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Jeff Dial Special user Kent, WA 533 Posts |
I have seen it performed. The first thought of anyone seeing it performed must be, "It must be gaffed". Fancy circuitry may make a puzzle, but not magic.
"Think our brains must be too highly trained, Majikthise" HHGG
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-09-17 02:00, Jeff Dial wrote: Yeah but it's still neat. Would love to get one of these but can't justify the price to the amount of time I would use this. I work for the Electric Company so it would have a natural tie in if I could ever get them to sponsor a show.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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Thoughtreader Inner circle Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1565 Posts |
I use it extensively in trade shows and also as a comedic interlude and curiosity in my mentalism show. Has always been one they talk about. (The big one, not the little one)
PSIncerely Yours, Paul Alberstat |
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Sid Mayer Special user Santa Fe, NM 656 Posts |
There have been several versions of this gadget. It's not particularly difficult or unduly expensive to make a somewhat simplified two lamp/two switch version. I figured out how without ever having seen it and built a version for friend who wanted it for a General Electric booth at a trade show.
I don't think that I'm revealing anything much by saying that the keyword is "diodes." Of course fabricating one does require disassembling and reassembling both bulbs and both switches. In my opinion, this is not much of an effect since most people won't understand that what happens is counterintuitive. For that matter, many people won't understand "counterintuitive." If anyone really cares (and has some rudimentary knowledge of electronics) inquire via PM and I'll tell you how. Please don't waste my time if you are merely curious. Sid
All the world's a stage ... and everybody on it is overacting.
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Cashetta Regular user Rehoboth Beach, DE 128 Posts |
There is a smaller and much less expensive version that I recently saw at Tannens in NYC. I believe it's somewhere on their website http://www.tannensmagic.com. It seems just as effective and half the price. It's also half the size.
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
Sid,
Your designs have absolutely nothing in common with the "Magic Switchboard" currently being sold. These are the brainchild of a very brilliant man (and a real rocket scientist). He had made several things (like an electric monte effect) that are very collectable. Delben also used to make a 2 bulb version, but like the one you mentioned, the bulbs are gimmicked (resistance and diodes), and the switches are ordinary. On the newer version, the bulbs are absolutely standard, off the shelf bulbs. The gimmickry is in the very high-tech software. They've even updated the software for the effect in the last few years. I have both the regular (110 v model and the portable battery operated Mini-Switchboard), so to answer your question...it can be performed in a moderate platform setting, and I use a snare drum stand to hold the thing, so you're obviously not doing anything to the back of the gadget while you're holding it, cause you're NOT holding it. Steve Thomas |
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Kendrix Loyal user 229 Posts |
It is a great effect, but hard one to find a proper venue. I use mine when people come to my home and "want to see a trick." I do David Regal's "There and Back" after it.
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
I can't, for the life of me, think of any kind of gig -- short of a convention of electrical engineers -- where this would fit.
It's an expensive, high-tech version of a zillion other "I can do it and you can't" type gags. To take it a bit further than Sid Mayer, most people just won't get it; and, as Vernon said, "confusion isn't magic." :hmm: |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
You gotta be kidding! I do it all the time! Just come up with a good story or reason for the thing, and off you go!
I have two presentations: at Christmas time, it's a control board for decorative lights that my Uncle had when I was a kid, and I used to try to fool him by switching things around but he seemed to be one step ahead. Get the idea? In more general performances, it's akin to a game of Monte, using a "follow the lights" con instead of the more usual Card Game or Find The Pea. There are scores of other ideas, just come up with one and you're off! And, despite what Vernon said, it DOES seem impossible to people, thus magical. Good presentation is what keeps it from being "confusing". |
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Steve Hoffman Regular user 143 Posts |
I agree that this might be an item that is more intriguing and fun to magicians seeing it demo'd at a magic shop than to laypeople seeing it performed.
I have twice seen one of my area's (Washington DC-Baltimore) top local magicians perform the large-size version of Magic Switchboard in a stage/parlor setting, and both times I thought it was the weakest part of his act. However, I agree with Starrpower that it can be an successful effect if given an interesting story frame . . . . I'm just not sure it's that effective if you simply go with the basic patter in the instructions (along the lines of, "Now let's see what happens when we switch these two bulbs . . . ") Regarding it being another "look at what I can do and you can't" sort of thing, I'd say no necessarily. The presentation can involve members of the audience helping to make it work ("Okay, Mary, where would you like to place the red bulb? . . . OK, now that you've moved the red bulb, do you think you can get the red switch to still light the red bulb . . . try it and see! Great, let's give Mary a round of applause" etc.) I'm not saying you're going to kill audiences with this, but at least that approach does avoid making it strictly a "look at what I can do" sort of thing. Steve Hoffman (yeah, I bought one! I was one of those guys who was wowed by it when seeing it demo'd!) Also |
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RayBanks Special user Nassau Bay, TX 533 Posts |
I saw it at a trade show last spring. I am an electrical engineer and while it was interesting, the magician doing it didn't have much of a premise other that "Hey, look at this."
I spent most of the time trying to figure out the circuitry and completely missed his patter. Or maybe the patter didn't get and hold my attention. Maybe in a school show it would work but it would certainly have to have the proper premise and some good, no great, patter.
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Pick a card, any card...No. not THAT one...THIS one Ray Banks |
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Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5203 Posts |
I saw this effect recently here in sweden and I think its a very cool effect. The colorful lights and the fun happening must be a hit on almost any kind if gig. Very entertaining... perfect for kids magic. Very visual and easy to watch!
This is the original web: http://www.wellingtonent.com/document/duoswitc.html |
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MagicMan1957 Inner circle 1445 Posts |
lemme think..... $400.00 for the magic switchboard or $5.00 for the color monte..... I think I gotta go for that color monte!!!
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flimnar Special user Salt Lake 577 Posts |
Wow--very different reactions to the same effect--imagine that. I can only say that when I saw the switchboard performed I was amazed. Did I suspect it was actually a trick? Yes, but if we rule out effects that we suspect might be tricks, we would eliminate most of the big extavaganza effects in the
major magic shows in Las Vegas..... Flimnar
"This one goes to eleven..." Nigel Tufnel
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I use it all the time, mostly for adult shows. Kids just don't fully appreciate the concepts of electricity and what is can or can't do.
It definitely requires a good plot or story. To simply bring it out and say "Look, isn't this cool?" is NOT performing. The people don't really have to believe your story, but it must emphasize the impossible nature of what's happening. As I see it, there are three "beats", or chunks of magic, in this prop. The first is that the bulbs still work when you switch them with one another (I always exchange two and two; in other words, I'll switch the red and yellow, and the blue and geen bulbs). The next step is to thoroughly mix 'em up (I do this by letting the audience determine where they should go). Finally, the last hit is to leave the bulbs, but switch the plastic covers around. |
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eb02 Special user 680 Posts |
I saw it preform on a trade show and on a cabaret show and it looks grate. I do not remember the story they gave but I remember the audiance reaction was WOW.
Eran Blizovsky
www.magic4business.net |
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