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That's food for thought Steve, thanks.

I suppose there are situations where you have to use whatever you can as a final load, although I think I would usually go with fruit. What I am after is a "quality looking item", a stylish yet understated cup, and I think the highly polished straight-sided aluminium cups fit that bill the best for me. I don't want anything that obviously lends itself to a particular routine, eg. 8 balls etc, although I am making myself a "can-o-peas" cup (a Martin Lewise routine) simply because if I come across the correct balls, it costs all of £2 so why not make it up just incase?!

I'd also like to stay clear of mysterious looking cups. Obviously anything that isn't an every day item that you bring to the table could fall under suspicion, however I think there is a bucket-like simplicity and innocence to the Morrissey style cup. Something with lots of ridges or a mystical goblet is not really what I am looking for, and perhaps for the same reason I'm veering away from wood too, although perhaps that's also simple aesthetics - I like the polished silver better!

The only speciality cup I would consider is the chop mug, but then, you have to ask - if it's just "any mug", why is he going to (whatever) lengths to bring it to the table? I suppose you could approach the spectator with an inch of coffee in it, down it, ask for a bill and secretly shim it etc (otherwise the coffee would make your crocheted balls all manky!), but still... why not use an unused cup of theirs? I think it's almost counter productive... with the silver one, it isn't that far of a stretch to think "OK, magicians do routines with cups and balls, he carries around his own stylish cup" - to go to lengths to use this "perfectly normal mug"... if they even start to suspect that you *couldn't* use just any mug, they will instantly leap on that for the secret. Does that make sense? It feels like the equivalent of carrying "just any old biro" round an office ready to show people a PK effect. If it really doesn't matter, why not do it truly impromptu?

Great thoughts, but I am especially thankful for the word "manky". I've seen many manky things, but until you came along I had no idea what they were! In the states, if something turns bad - much worse than any one could have thought, we just say it looks a little presidential!

Best to you-

Steve

Carlos75 wrote:Out of curiosity do people on here use the morrissey cup directly onto a table or use a close up mat?

Close up pad, table, spectators hand (rare). Never had any problem but reading some of the above post did cause a memory to surface, when I first started I too noticed that too much force can uhm...reset things.

Well, thanks to the sale of 3rd degree burn, one of these babies is on it's way to me. I shall give my tuppence worth when I've had a good go!

Farlsborough wrote:Well, thanks to the sale of 3rd degree burn, one of these babies is on it's way to me. I shall give my tuppence worth when I've had a good go!

Tom

I took Dats advice and ordered a couple of 1" balls from cards4magic, and they seem to suit the cup much better!

Make sure you try it on a variety of surfaces, I'd only really practiced with it on a close up mat and when I came to work tables with it I had to rapidly adjust my routine when the 'magic' was a little stronger than I anticipated!

With the manufacture of the new PK rings that look like wedding bands, you can do Chop Cup routines with almost any opaque glass or cup. making the effect more impromptu. You can use tiny magnets to roll into paper balls.

The Chop Cup is great, but when you use borrowed containers the effect is a little better.

Just a thought

For the record, I'm very happy with this - I agree, the "magic" is a little strong with the supplied balls - I use slightly smaller red crocheted balls from a previous set of combo cups, these work better and are easier to handle too. I notice in the performance section of "Corporate Close-up", even Martin Sanderson uses different balls...!

Fortuitously, the balls that came with the morrissey cup are an ideal size for a spirit measure, non-"chop" cup and ball routine I'm working on.

Other than that, I love the cup. Simple, elegant, well made. Highly recommended.

I recommend the World's Greatest Magic Chop Cup DVD. Some great routines on there and good tips. David Regal's routine using those toy mice you find in pet shops is inspired.
I'll put a review on here soon, but I can tell you it's a goodie.

I agree with you Freddie, a nice DVD and the David Regal was about the best thing that I've seen with a chop cup in a while. Very nice.

There are some other good routines but I thought that it began to get a little repetative towards the end.

Worth having though.

Wheres it available from guys..my CC routine could use some spice! Nice to have a variety of final loads for all different audiences. Fruit ALWAYS goes down a treat though.