Ring Through String.
Posted: Jan 2nd, '08, 14:03This is a prop I picked up a couple of days ago, not sure how famous or popular it is, but i'll write a review anyways!
The Effect :
The performer presents a red shoelace, takes one end and lets a spectaor take the other. They both pull, fully confirming that it is not a gimmick.
The magician hands out a silver ring (about 2inches diametre) and the audience examines this. He then takes the ring, threads it onto the shoelace and with extreme ease seemingly pulls the ring through the string.
The performer then claims that some people claim he is cheating and once again threads the string through the ring but then ties a knot around the ring. As expected, the ring seeminly melts through the string and is free!
The finally shows the magician knotting the ends of the string so it is a loop. He then takes the ring and THROWS it at the string and PING the ring is somehow ON the string, looped through. Of course, the ring is gently tugged, and is free from the string.
Cost
£8.50 at Davenports.
Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
1.) if you show the basics. It's pretty self working.
2/3.) If you present it as a full trick with all the different ways and knots.
Review:
This is an excellent item that really does seem to baffle audiences. I merely asked the man in Davenports to show me a few non coin/card gimmicks and out of everything he showed me that day(including cards and coins) this got to me the most.
With a well polished bit of presentation and an audience that maybe need a bit of waking up, this is perfect. It is easy to follow and the concept is almost stupidly simple but almost UNWORK-OUTABLE.
Good Points:
Amazing opening feat.
Ring fully examinable
Quick and easy
Varying level of diffuculties to perform at.
Almost impossible to figure out.
Bad Points
String not FULLY examinable.
Can be a give away "sound" if your not carefull.
Cannot be repeated more than twice otherwise people will twig!
OverallIt is a fantastic little accesory to have in your colection. I take this with me everywhere now in case of an unresposive audience who seem to know nothing about cards. It's also great for younger audiences as the concept so simple, yet maturer audiences are still amazed.
However, the colour of the shoelace and large ring do make it look a LITTLE bit suspiciously magical. Like stated in the bad points there are some concerns such as (without giving too much away) sounds.
I mentioned earlier the also "semi-examinable" shoelace. With a nice bit of sleight of hand i guess it is fully examinable to your average spectator but someone whos really on the ball will probably cause you trouble
Finally, I reccomend this trick to any budding magician, or even to someone who is raher advanced! I've taken an interest into chinese rings but im 100% sure it would make a great little addition maybe to the younger memebers of your audience!
