Using IT

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Using IT

Postby Johnny Wizz » Apr 22nd, '17, 12:04



I have never tried any work using IT. I suppose I feel that I am a bit clumsy for it. So I have been looking at the sales blurb for Yigal Mesika's Tarantula 2.

https://www.magicworld.co.uk/tarantula- ... esika.html.

Does anyone have any experience of the original version of this? How fiddly is it to use? How "connected" do you have to remain if you are just using it as part of a walk around set. The sales pitch looks attractive (don't they always?) but it is fairly pricey and I wouldn't want something of that value ending up in my drawer of embarassing purchases that I never use but bought because they looked good.

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Re: Using IT

Postby Mandrake » Apr 22nd, '17, 12:58

I've tried basic IT and also the Spider Pen. In both cases the T was too fragile and, as my eyes are getting on a bit I couldn't see it. OK, I know that's the point but there are times when you need to see what you're doing and I never had any confidence that the T would be strong enough to serve its purpose but be I to the specs! Ambient lighting is always a problem and I never felt in control enough to be sure. This new incarnation seems to be a very expensive item and ought to come with some guarantees rather than hype.

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Re: Using IT

Postby Lady of Mystery » Apr 24th, '17, 15:39

I'm another one who's hopeless with T. I've always found it far too fiddly and I quickly lost me patience with on. Loops on the other hand are great, I often use those for all sorts of things.

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Re: Using IT

Postby bmat » Apr 24th, '17, 17:29

I absolutly love the original Tarantula. Yes, chances are you will end up leaving it in the drawer simply because it is IT. Sorry no matter how you slice and dice it thread is always a pain in the bottom. And to add to the misery it is mechanical and to add to that everyone's hands are different so before you can even play with it and break it in the first 30 seconds you first need to adjust it to your hand, get out your scissors people.

With that out of the way, I love this product. (don't have version 2 nor will I purchase it because I really do like version 1) Can you walk around with it? Certainly because you can hook it up on the fly so to speak. It is also important to figure out exactly what you are going to use it for. For example I would never recomend a reel of any sort for a rising card or a haunted deck routine. Loops are the way to go for that and much more user friendly. Want to float a handkerchief from the table to your hand, then a reel is the way to go.

The wonderful thing about Tarantula is that you can set it to release a pre determined length or just have it so it lets out as much as you want when you want it with the bonus of having it retract of course. Are you familiar with Steve Fearson's floating cig? I think it is a great piece of magic, I don't use a cig I use a little disco ball. In short the ball is on my palm, floats up and down, then almost to the floor, then up about waist high them moves off to the right then left. I can have the spectator place his/her thumbs and index fingers together creating a large circle and float the object through the spectators hands. If you are gutsy you can then give the spectator the object. Steve Fearson gets around this by floating the cig and having it float to his mouth where he smokes it, or he uses a lifesaver and he floats it to his mouth and eats it.

The problem with the Fearson's approach is that you have to be set up before hand so the thread is always in the way. Sure he has a way of positioning the thread so it is not in the way, (but it is in the way, or broken by the time you get to it) Then years later out comes Tarantula. You can use the exact set up but it is never in your way. Literally just set it up and take it down right in front of the spectator using a most natural gesture.

Is the mechanism going to break, sure is it is mechanical. More than likely what will happen is the thread will get caught up in the mechanism and you will spend many hours with home made tools using and a magnifying glass yelling at everyone who crosses your path while you attempt to get the thing untangled and eventually buy a replacement anyway. I actually fix mine but I am stubborn that way.

I am willing to bet that out of every 10 that are sold, nine end up in the drawer of magic never to be looked at again after the first few hours. That one person who does use it is slightly insane but also has an insanely fantastic effect on his hands.

And why won't I purchase version 2. A few reasons. The cost, although I understand it, but it is still expensive. 2, I really don't perform as much as I used too.
3. I am fifty two and simply can't see the thread enough to do any major repairs anymore. 4. first version does everything I need it to do and I already own it.

Granted I haven't looked at version 2 and I'm afraid too because I don't want to be tempted.

Just watched the link in the first post. Most of that lifesaver stuff is the same set up as Steve Fearson.

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Re: Using IT

Postby Johnny Wizz » May 1st, '17, 00:45

Thanks for the very detailed reply. I suspect that with my tendency to clumsiness plus my increasingly arthritic fingers and my lack of patience that IT is not for me. Pity given the effects that it can produce.

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