talkmagic.co.uk

At last!!! My Scorpion has arrived after 4 weeks wait. (No fault of Ricks as we had 2 postal strikes.)

I road tested this on some work associates and the reaction was fantastic.
They were begging me for the secret but i just told them their body language gave it away.

Getting more cups for this effect seems to be the biggest problem as they need to be non see through and not too tall. I think i have found the perfect supplier as the cups are small and non see through even under bright daylight. Here is the addie for those of you that need more cups pronto.

http://www.alotofcoffee.co.uk/products/product-info.php?_ProductId=749&_More=1

I can thoroughly recommend this effect

Well done rick. will be buying more of your effects in the near future.

(Note from Mods: Sorry but that animated sig is far too large and distracting which is why it's been removed. Can you find something smaller please? About 3 lines of text high maximum? Ta!)

Thanks for the link, topmaster, I'll have a look at those!

Just a suggestion, but you might want to read this recent thread about sigs...:
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic22032.php&highlight=

Thanks YP. i must admit it was a bit distracting and a bit on the large side for a forum. Working on a nice subtle signature to replace it so apologies to everyone that got blinded by my overkill signature.

On another note.. those cups i gave the link for, well they are the right size and non see through but they take a bit of crushing, you will really need to whack them quite hard, might even take a couple of hits to squash them.

Maybe that might be more dramatic or it could look like there is something under them when they don't crush with the first blow. "oh my god is the Makabishi under that one?"

Cheers for that link! I also find that you can blag some of the small ones that Indian takeaways use to put the salad in when you order poppadoms. They fir the bill perfect.

I have used the Scorpion many times this week and always to great reactions. Twice on stage and, thought not usually my thing, in the street. (Well on a wooden table outside a pub). I wasn't being one of those annoying "Would you like to see some magic?" types (the magic equivalent of those tw*ts with a guitar on their back all the time and an indie haircut whose appearance screams out "I am in a band! Talk to me about it!").
I had just performed at a charity benefit and went for a drink afterwards with a comedian chum and his lady and was still wearing my stage clothes. I was asked what I did and after some persuasion (and they were folks who loved magic - how could you refuse?) I performed the scorpion for them. Great prop, good routine and it really looks the part.

Does anyone know what shops in the UK stock the right size cups? Preferably polystyrene.
I've managed to blag a few from the local Indian restaurant but I want to buy quite a few.

I am still having a cup problem as well. I blagged 10 espresso sized paper coffee cups from Ben and Jerrys in Brighton but I would really like to find a reliable source to make my own purchases. I have tried all of my local catering suppliers with no success.

I think using the 'standard' size ones is possibly too risky. I thought some Dora the Explorer ones would be an amusing contrast to all the drama but alas they seemed to be inappropriate.
The ones that Indian takeaways put salad in when you buy poppadoms are perfect, make the right CRUNCH and the ideal size. I may have to look into some wholesale kind of place like Costco as the supermarkets and 'party' type shops only have the normal sized ones.

I believe you can buy the small sized foam cups from Bookers wholesalers - I will have a look when I am next in there.

Thanks. I think there may be one near me somewhere too, but I'm damned if I can remember where!

I will be in Bookers next week so I will have a look there as well. I have tried bigger cups but they are not suitable, I just don't get the "thought waves" clearly enough. This is not a trick to take chances with!

just ordered my Scorpion yesterday, after selling a few old films and computer games on eBay, and looking forward to receiving it. I'm fortunate in that I have both a Booker and a Makro card, as my dad has his own business, so I can have a look for something suitable once it comes through, and I get an idea of the size, and an idea of the distance that the special little something works from. Has anyone had any luck sourcing any more of the cups that the Scorpion comes with?

I'm thinking about building the routine up, then maybe performing the smash and stab bit silently, by candle light to some spooky Dr John music, and maybe envoking my D'lite 'spirits' to help me before taking the D'lites off, and coming forward to pass my hands over, and find the little urchin...

also, comparing with a ball, what size is the Scorpion itself? Are we talking standard marble size? Ping pong ball or snooker ball?

More ping pong than snooker.

Heed the warning about wearing the gadget on the same hand as you take it out of the box with, this is a truly vicious little beast.

When you get yours you will see why there is some much good stuff said about it. It is a lovely piece of work, a really clever method and comes in a superb wooden box.

it is actually suggested to take the item out with the dodgy hand

And as I've said before it gets great reactions. I have used it onstage and in a 'street' setting and people are very impressed by the prop itself.

I am going to try and find out where I can get the cups that Indian takeaways use as I was given three or four and they worked well and made a great noise as my hand crushed them.

Thanks for that Johnny Wizz, I hope my wife doesn't open the package by mistake and wonder what the h*ll I've been ordering!