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In my magic drawer I've discovered one of these metal circles (like a big ring) that you can transform to a square shape with a flick of the wrist.

Any suggestions on how this can be used in a routine? Or used in a kids show with a story perhaps?

All ideas most welcome!

Many thanks.

How about using it as a throwaway gag about The Magic Circle? I tend to say that you get a free 'real magic circle' when you join up.... but unfortunately I'm such a bad magician that mine keeps turning into a... "boing!" ... square.. The kids always seem to be really interested in the idea of a 'secret magic club' ("are you like Harry Potter?")and get a real shock at the suddenness of the change.

Paul Daniels used this once, many years ago.
He said

" have you ever wondered why the television arial is round, yet the picture.. is square!"

I took the way he handled the item, and adapted it i used to show everybody a magic square.
it was only a magic square when i held it. If i put it "around" someones head it stops being a square, and becomes a-round."

Id then place it over a childs head, changing it as i go, so they have teh circle .then as i removed it from the child, id change it back.
Its amazing how few people do do the transformation just the once.

it registers much better if you repeat it, and the reset is so very easy to do.

Like it... Consider my cap 'doffed' to you Mr Shrimpton.

The term "squaring the circle" is an old geometrical problem which has (I think) been proven impossible to do with only a compass and straightedge. Perhaps a mathematical presentation could use a good visual demonstration like this.

I think squaring the circle was also something alchemists tried to do in their quest for the philosopher's stone - you might work something out of that idea too.

- Rob

Some great ideas folks - thanks! I'll let you know the routine I come up with. Cheers W

RobMagus wrote:The term "squaring the circle" is an old geometrical problem which has (I think) been proven impossible to do with only a compass and straightedge. Perhaps a mathematical presentation could use a good visual demonstration like this.

- Rob

It's to do with the way area is calculated. You can never make a circle with exactly the same area as a square because the circle's area depends on the value of pi, which is an irrational number.

Barry

Dale's idea is very good.

I've also seen this prop used as comedy mental magic. A simple shape is chosen (square, for example). The prediction is revealed, but it's the wrong shape (a circle). The magician changes it so that it is correct.