talkmagic.co.uk

Hi there,

Just wondering if anyone can recommend a small case for holding props. The smaller the case the better. Thanks in advance

B&Q or another suitable DIY store sell alluminium looking tool cases which are ideal for keeping your magic props inside.

They are £10.99 each and hold about 100 decks of cards to give you an idea of the space inside.

Well, first of all it depends on the kind of props you're talking about... for me that "small case" used to be about 5,000 sq. feet of warehouse... but I'll assume you're talking about close-up items like your Cups & Balls, Coins, etc.

There are several great cases but you need to ask yourself what your needs are and what the future may bring. There is a very cool close-up worker's case that allows you to use it when doing table hop work in restaurants, giving you a Servante on the backside that flips in and out with great ease, etc. The other one I personally love is a genuine leather reproduction of an old Doctor's Handbag... these things are awesome! Both I believe are available through Stevens Magic here in the U.S. and the Magic Warehouse on line.

Now, when it comes to what's "practical" for you and you budget... go to whatever you have in your area that resembles a Wal*Mart department store, check out the neat make-up cases over in the hair and bath product aisles... there are many for under $10.00 that are neat looking that will do the job (though you might want to make some special inserts so as to better compartmentalize your tools). I also find neat boxes (though a bit more expensive) at Pier One Imports and Target... we have a company here known as BIG LOTS that sells factory remnants that also has some great boxes and as I think of it, check out the fabric & crafts stores like JoAnne Fabrics... they just did a big clearance sell on some great cases and boxes... $40.00 items went for as little as $8.00.

So look around

Check eBay, this is the sort of thing it reigns supreme at.

It does indeed depend on what you want it for, I use a briefcase and I would advise you to do the same. You will be able to pick up a 2nd hand one cheap as chips on ebay - you can then afford to modify it all you like (I put in a plywood strip at the back to keep all my cards in, you can then paint on the names so you don't forget which is your ID and which is your force deck!).
It also gives off an air of professionalism which will be well inkeeping should you work a more sophisticated gig.

Personally I carry mine in a laptop case/bag....it is padded, has tons of pockets, dividers, business card slots, pen/sharpie slots, etc....and has a shoulder strap.

I have two cases of differing sizes.

For a full walkaround gig I take a medium sized fishing tackle box which os perfect as it has lots of small sections to keep coins, paperclips, elastic bands etc in along with a big section at the bottom to keep larger props.

If I have been asked to go to a friends party and do a few things here and the I have a small perspex box (the box that comes with Bill Abbotts Thinmg) which will fit in two packs of cards, some rope, TT, Elastic bands etc.

From your post however it seems you want something smaller. Now I never thought I'd recommend this as I personally think its a tad silly but Jay Sankey has his Assassin pouch which attaches to your belt and will hold a sharpie, cards, TT and one or two other things.

Thanks for the tips guys..Was looking through the www and found a company called Vaultz..they have really nice cases called Stash boxes.. Love something like these..don't think they Mail order though!!

I am in the process of designing a shoulder bag which my wife is going to make for me. My idea is to make it useable intable hopping / walk round situation. Something I can put a deck of cards back in to, bring out a non card trick and then bring out the cards agai, switched where necessary.

Does anybody use anything like this while performing?

I sometimes wish I had something like that as there are situations when I would prefer to peform in a t-shirt but the lack of pocket space with jeans is a bit prohibitive to the routines I tend to have.
I generally carry one pack of bikes, a gaffed or prepared pack of bikes, holey moley, ropes for fiber optics, forks for metal bending, TT, velvet rope for Ring leader, sharpie, flash paper.
Let me know if this man bag idea works

Dat's flight case idea is pretty much spot on - probably real good value on eBay.

I was just thinking - do any kids' performers use anything different? This thread has just sparked an idea in my head about using a lunchbox - you know the type - a brightly coloured one with a cartoon character or whatever on the front with a large plastic handle - maybe two of them could contain a whole magic show...?

I've GOT to stop this 'thinking' business...

Yeah, I'm gonna have to recomend Jay Sankey's assasins pouch, it's strong, convenient, has alot of pockets, holds everything i personally need for a few hours of table hopping.

By the way, I'm 15 and mid way through my GCSEs, and for my DT (woodwork basically) im making a close up case. Basically, does anyone have any ideas that would make a perfect close-up / table-hopping case. If you could let me know, i would be etternally greatful

Tanx

do any kids' performers use anything different?

you called my son.

i use two things firstly because a lot of props for kids stuf like change bags and die boxes are large i use a set of draws you can get in argos, wilkinsons etc, stands about 3ft tall and has four translucent draws to keep my big stuff in, way cheeper than a magicians box and more customisable and lighter.

secondly i have my trusty training sporen, thats a leather bumbag worn around the front, mine has two small coin pockets either side of three main compartments for cards and rope and carry around magic.

Thanks a million to everyone for all the good ideas.. while shopping with the Wife yesterday I saw a aluminium cosmetic briefcase about 12"x6" on sale for €13.00... The last one in store so I snapped it up immediately. Its perfect for a few decks of cards..coin gaffs, Okito boxes and Mark Wilson's cyclopedia, and extra room to spare.

I'm going to have to get something to keep all my bits in, very soon. The old shoe box can't really cope anymore.

lady of Mystery.....I thought someone as classy as you would always keep your bits in!!