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Sign of the times. Yesterday working at a wedding reception, I had the bridegroom burn a billet while performing the standard centre tear routine. A bar maid came legging it from behind the bar, face like thunder, outraged that there was smoke in the bar area! Oh how we laughed.

Serious point though - the burning of billets is now practically impossible in pub, restaurant and hotel environments thanks to hyper-sensitive smoke alarms and the smoking ban.

The best solution I've managed to come up with is eating the billet rather than burning it - but it's not as impressive as fire. Flash paper might be a solution. The flames are out before they've started, but the consitancy of flash paper is not ideal for writing on.

Any ideas?

Oddly enough... flash paper—even though it is smokeless—will set off a fire alarm.

seige wrote:Oddly enough... flash paper—even though it is smokeless—will set off a fire alarm.

Yeah, been there done that! Happened in a restaurant I was working in once. Me, fire, magic. Recipe for disaster. Or at least recipe for the evacuation of the premises.

Perhaps dropping the torn up billet into a glass of water is the solution. Again, not overly impressive compared to the mighty anger god Fire, but tastes better than eating it.

themagicwand wrote:Serious point though - the burning of billets is now practically impossible in pub, restaurant and hotel environments thanks to hyper-sensitive smoke alarms and the smoking ban.

I'm not an expert, but I wouldn't have thought that burning a billet is caught by the ban. See section 1(2) of the Health Act 2006, and the definition of 'smoking'. In practice, though, the ban means ashtrays won't be common indoors, people will object to the smoke, it can cause confusion for staff, etc.

You could use Dissolvo Paper and put it in a glass of water. I've never used the stuff, but Docc Hilford mentions it in a couple of his booklets.

http://puppetproductions.stores.yahoo.n ... paper.html

However, using any kind of funny paper risks people thinking that the whole thing is a trick. Which it is, of course, but you don't want it too magicky, unless you're doing a bizarre type of reading, perhaps.

Richard Osterlind suggests putting the pieces into an (empty) drink can. It certainly works as a way to stop people easily going through all the bits, but it seems a bit incongruous to me.

Another alternative is to use a different method for the routine.

Or perform it out of doors.

DISSOLVO Paper!

I've yet had a fire alarm go off from flash paper but then I've not worked in a club since the various bad fires and all this non-smoking insanity has taken root. I can just imagine what would happen if I still did my Cremation act...

This is something that I have been thinking about lately. If you're a smoker you get rather confused what you can and can't do and where you can do it.
Say what you like about Hitler, you could still have a ciggie in a pub. And the buses ran on time.

I've never had a problem with flash paper setting off the fire alarms and I did an effect on stage recently at quite a small-ish venue which used a LOT of flash paper, resulting in a singed finger, and there was not even a peep of an alarm.
As for writing on flash paper, I think it depends what kind of pen is used as some of it is a bit like crepe paper in it's feel and could lead to suspicion.
The first person who brings out an informative pamphlet entitled "Magic and the Smoking Ban - What You Can Do and Where." gets ten points?

Any takers?......

Kras?......

if cigarettes are part of your stage act, then you (apparently) are allowed to smoke indoors with the permission of the owner/manager. I do not think this extends to walkaround sets.
I would presume that flash paper would also be covered by this in spite of being a somewhat grey area causing confusion to staff, so informing them of your intentions to use certain items within the set would be prudent.

I know that you can use cigarettes (also pipes, cigars) etc on stage whether it be a magic show or play if it is part of the act as they are considered props.

What I have wondered is how is Keith Richards going to get round it?

I for one am glad the burning of billets is a thing of the past. There are so many ways to get the infomation of a billet. Rather then engage in some sort of vodoo ritual.

Markdini wrote:I for one am glad the burning of billets is a thing of the past. There are so many ways to get the infomation of a billet. Rather then engage in some sort of vodoo ritual.

Obviously you aren't familiar with at least one of the coolest methods of doing so... The Master Gimmick i.e. a gaffed box of matches

Secondly, not all routines in which the billets are burnt were part of some "Voodoo Ritual" such would be up to the performer's personal style. You'd be up the creek though if you wanted to replicate the Oracle of Delphi and not have the smoldering urn though... (in other words, stop picking on Voodoo, it's an honorable religion, once you understand it.)

Then too, there are "peeks" that depend on the fire itself... a little something you can discover in Mind, Myth & Magic as well as some of the older tomes that are out there... then again, there are some very cool things you can do when you have the right to use pyro (provided you're trained and safety certified, of course).

Actually I was being sarcastic about voodoo if you prefer “burning the bit of paper like some sort of Mormon ritual”

I ve never and probably never will see the point of having something written down, ripped up then burnt. See I was on about the centre tear its self.

There's an article on Magic Week this week about this very subject. If you know John from House of Magic in Stourbridge, he is raising this as an issue and despite there being a clause in the legislation for legitimate performance rights, very few know about this.

It's worth a read http://www.magicweek.co.uk/ but you need to scroll down as it's towards the bottom of the last week section.

The peek methods that Craig refers to, there is also one in Tabell (vol 7)where you peek the info whilst the billet is burning. It's a good method but needs the handling just right to do it successfully.

seige wrote:Oddly enough... flash paper—even though it is smokeless—will set off a fire alarm.

yep been there too. My house alarm. Nearly blew my pc up too. set the whole pad alight by accident

ID wrote: set the whole pad alight by accident

Wow. Bet that was one helluva flash!!!

I always practice my billet work and the burning of said paper when my wife has gone to bed. Long story, but it saves having to get moaned at for "making a burning smell" and "nearly setting the house on fire". Anyway, the nightmare scenario in this situation is setting the smoke alarm off. It would wake up the wife and more importantly wake up the kids. Then an angry wife would descend from above and catch me red handed with burning billets, flash paper, and lighter in hand. If that ever happened my life would be over.