talkmagic.co.uk

Over the last few weeks, I've started using a wand (well it's actually a chopstick that I've painted pretty designs on, but you get the idea), I started using it just because it seemed to fit in with a routine I was working on.

But the more I use it, the more I realise how useful a little tool it really can be. What better excuse does a magician need to go to their pockets than to fetch their magic wand.

Also for misdirection, people naturally seem to follow the magic wand. We always worry about misdirection and how best to divert the specs attention, well what better than a wave of the wand. With the few things I've tried out, I've manged to get away with some very very bold moves that I've covered with a wave of the magic wand.

Another thing I've found it good for is passing a palmed item from one hand to the other. Just pass the wand to the other hand and at the same time transfer the palmed item, easy and very natural looking.

I've just been wondering really, if we've abandoned a very useful little tool in our attempt to get away from the traditional top hat a rabbit type magician.

The wand has always been a useful item, hold the wand and it covers up a multitude of other items palmed in the same hand without raising suspicion. Traditional Cups and Balls always incorporated a wand as part of the routine and, as you rightly say, the trip to a pocket to get the wand is a wonderful cover for stealing other bits and pieces!

It probably has no cred in street magic but the Harry Potter type of Wizards' wands might be acceptable in situations where the traditional black wand with white ends is scorned.

Excellent point, Lommy. I've been lamenting the loss of the magic wand in formal presentations for a long, long time.

In my last formal show in the UK, I bring this specific point up to the audience (during my closing, cup and ball routine). A wand is associated with magicians immediately in the mind of the laymen...Yet, when do you actually see it used? Almost never, really.

But, just as you have pointed out with the chop stick, a wand can be in the guise of anything that is cylindrical and long. Pens work for this application, also.

Just because it isn't silver or gold tipped doesn't change the fact that it is a wand. A good example is Mike Close's use of an "okay" finger configuration on a stick. Mr. Close says, "You don't have to applaude, just give me an 'okay.'" and here he brings out the swizzle stick with the hand configuration on it. In this way, he can access his pockets any time that he pleases to use his swizzle stick (and then ditch or steal or anything that makes him happy).

It allows you to naturally hide things in the hand and it gives natural misdirection. The use of a wand, or wand like device, is terribly overlooked by magicians now-a-days.

Keep on keeping on, Lommy.

Mike.

Funnily enough at a recent Matthew Dowden lecture he spent a few minutes talking about wands and how he likes them. For myself I really can't imagine using a traditional wand but a pen is good. Especially for women.

Dont any one remember the sponge vid I done when I used a tt and dumped it getting my Sharpie "wand". Its a great way to ditch also Greg Wilsons recapped the pen is a wand and item of magic at the same time. Sankey even talks about using invisable wands too.

Now this is a difficult post to respond to with this group of people because of the double and possibly triple entendre's.

I'm happy to say my wand is alive and well.

Seriously I started collecting them when I had a magic shop. I started by making them and incredibly they are a lot more work then they seem now I know why they can be very expensive. Then I saw one from another dealer which I really liked and he offered to trade. Then I was walking around a store that specialized in different woods and found stuff they make pens out of and one material I'm not sure what it is, lucite type was amazing. Way to expensive but I bought enough to turn into a wand. Then I found a few on ebay that peaked my interest and before I knew it I had this collection.

I do actually use one for a few effects. Sponge balls and cups and balls mainly and when I used to do watch steals I'd use one. The wand is very nice teak wood and actually unscrews into two parts so it packs very nicely. I am always on the lookout for one that breaks down into 4 pieces and fits into a case that would normaly hold eye glasses. I know of one Magician who has such a thing and it was presented to him 60 yrs ago as an award.

On the whole however we have lost sight of the magic wand which is pretty sad actually. It is very much part of our heritage and yes there is the argument for evolution, but its still sad.

why not update it? use one of those telescopic pointers or maybe even a long strip of perspex?

apparently you can even get pointers that double as pens...

I pull rabbits out of my top hat, do sponge balls, perform linking rings.

You'd really think a wand would have fit perfectly in my show, and I have tried to find opportunities to fit it in, but somehow there just doesn't appear to be space for it.

I bought a wand recently from Paul Howard's shop, it's a mahogany "close-up wand" with brass tips.

It's brilliant! As mentioned, a really good reason to go to your pockets, to divert attention away from the other hand, for "thinking pause" (you can give wand to someone, then have a slight pause later on as you ask who's got it etc), and also there's a lot of entertainment to be had from the wand itself. "You're holding the wrong end", "don't point that at me", all that kind of stuff. Getting them to wave/tap the wand etc. also focuses the "moment of magic" if the routine doesn't have a clear moment built in.

I thoroughly recommend and endorse wands!

I don't do much that would suit a magic wand, but I think they are rather appealing; they mark you as a magician.

The original idea was that a wand focuses energy, through effort of the will, into the real world (well, something like that). They are possibly symbolic as well, though politeness prevents me from saying exactly what type of symbol.

There's certainly a place for wands for anyone doing bizarre magick (though maybe not the stereotypical black and white stick), someone who likes a bit of classicism in their performance, or simply for a performer looking for a nice excuse to hold their hand in a certain way, and make lots of trips to and from pockets or table. Using pens or pointers is an excellent idea.

There was a thread ages ago where a wand maker asked us what sort of things we'd like to see: http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic4679-0.php

Markdini wrote: Sankey even talks about using invisable wands too.

I've used this technique and it works wonders

A pen would work well but when I'm in the clubs i use my flashing glow stick,i find it nice and natural for hiding the switched palmed coin (:

I can see how a wand would work for a more "traditional" magic show, but I'd feel really stupid with one. I do my magic with a persona of cynical indifference and I do my best to look nothing like the stereotypical idea of a "magician".

The fact I'm female probably helps that a lot, hehe. But still, I'm no fan of wands. I feel the same about them as I do about "I shall now wave my hand over the blah blah blah..." It's a conceit.

I'm more of a daughter of the Derren Brown attitude. He says "This is a trick, it's not real, but it's bloody marvellous and you'll love it"

I wouldn't ever use a wand really. I think it's just another extra thing that is in the way of the magic. Why do you need the wand? Is the magic in the wand? I also wouldn't like the comparisons with Harry Potter et al. A wand is for a wizard. If your character is a wizard then by all means use a wand, otherwise it just looks naff. 'Invisible wands' I have no problem with, like a pen or something, but I think if you come out saying 'this is my magic wand' thats a bit rubbish really. No one believes you (unless they are children) and therefore it's cheesy. It's a joke to the audience. Unless the wand has a point in the effect then its presence is something that separates the magic from the audience. It adds another step into the 'why' or 'how'.

I also jsut don't like the idea that I need to use a magic wand to do magic. How come sometimes I don't need the wand and other times I do? What is different about the magic this time that warrants the use of a wand? Also, would I carry a wand around with me all the time? If I knew someone who carried a 'magic wand' with them I am sure I'd find them rather odd.

I think it's important for magic to start from within the realms of reality rather than asking the spectator to leave theirs, which is often very hard to convince. Surely magic happening within the world of the spectator is much more powerful, than having them enter a fictional world where magic wands exist?