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I'm planning something on a Bram Stoker theme. What effects both in books and as tricks are out there already? I know blackhart does a few. I have the nosferatu nail, which wasn't suited to my needs. Any others commercially available?

'The Card of Noseferatu' by Tony Chris, (not his real name, but still a good friend of mine).

In a nutshell, spread the cards front and back while explaining how a deck of cards is like a a town of old. Kings and queens, jokers and surfs, the farmers, blah blah blah. This deck represents the town just outside nosferatu's castle. (spectator cuts the cards) every night before the last person goes to sleep that person sets up a cross over the town to keep them safe. (spectator choses a card) The four of diamonds? or whatever card they happen to choose. that is the last guy that went to sleep that night... and he forgot to put up the cross. OH NO! (card is lost in the deck). Nosefartu turns into a bat swoops into town and chooses his victim. (spread the cards face down on the table, one card is very pale, in fact all the colour is gone from the back) have the spectator pull that card from the deck, it has two bloody holes in it and when the spectator turns the card over it is the chosen card.

I use red back cards so when the blank back is revealed it looks like it has been drained of its life giving blood.

That is pretty much the routine I use. I believe Tony is now including regular bicycle cards along with some custom made bizarrish looking cards. But I can't swear to it.

Here is the link to the youtube vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_BPHnty8xo

Dracula & the Sorority Girls -- Eugene Burger (still one of my favorites)

Look up Don Duetch a.k.a. Vlad... I think he's still on at the green place but he's a full time blood sucker (for real!)... David Birtwell can get you together or try the DragonSkull directory (where you'll find several other Vampire types... we're not all that rare).

There's a nice Dracula routine described in Director's Cut: Horror Edition by Simon Shaw.

Steve Murray has one involving staking a vampire in his book Seven Shades.

There was a Dracula book test brought out a few years back, but I think it might be out of print now.

The Miracle Factory released a book test for use with the Twilight series of books (don't shoot the messenger, Twilight haters). It's called Undead.

Vincenzo DiFatta brought out the Vampire Card Trick, but it seems a bit bland to me. While I don't own that effect, there is one in Paul Hallas's book Magic from the Overground that involves a similar premise and, in my opinion, sounds like a stronger trick.

You could think about vampires and come up with your own routines. For example, if you know The Web, how about adapting that for a vampire bat?

Penetration (no bingo) effects could be stakes or the vampire's fangs. Perhaps a good reason to do one of the many spike roulette tricks (but be careful).

Blood tricks are obvious (needle through arm?), but what about a more symbolic approach with red silks or cords?

Vampire ashes on the arm or through the palm?

Tricks with reflections, or things vanishing when exposed to the sun?

I'd shy away from crucifix trix, er, tricks (kind of like a vampire would), just in case someone had a strong objection, but it would depend upon the effect. One showing the power of the cross over evil might be less controversial than, say, crucifix monte. Of course, you might offend other religions. And maybe you don't care.

Vampire cluedo! It was Van Helsing, in the sunhouse, with the clove of garlic...

Quincey P. Morris in Carfax Abbey with a Bowie knife?

why not have the cross 'burn' its outline onto the back of a card? that might look nice...

and then there's that Fuse II liquid, that could burn away some crepe paper with something drawn on it....

There is strong evidence that Bram Stokers Dracula wasn't based on Vlad the Impaler, but was closely modeled on Countess Elizabeth Bathory. She was fabulously evil, and evidence points to her bathing in her victims blood! Evidence also suggests she used Iron Maidens made to her specifications by a local clockmaker in the village...

May I humbly point you in this direction : http://www.thaumaturgy.co.uk/shop/index ... &Itemid=23

I have a routine in "The Haunting" called Hot Stone that could be adapted quite easily for use with a crucifix (and bu**er people's sensibilities - this is a vampire routine after all!).

If it wasn't commercially available I'd say more...

I'd also be very tempted to do a faux past life regression - perhaps one of your guests was a servant girl during the lifetime of one of the inspirations for Dracula? Faux past life regressions are one of my fave things in the world.

And of course, why not a vampire seance and glass moving session? My personal opinion is not to piddle around with card tricks - the Jack of Spades is Dracula and the Queen of Hearts is his victim blah blah bleurgh. Go for the jugular (metaphorically). Host a seance! Reincarnate his ass!

Yeah but those are such a pain in the neck.

Jobasha wrote:I'm planning something on a Bram Stoker theme.

*cough* Twilight *cough*

"Vampire" created by Doug Bennett...It was a marketed effect many years ago featuring an image of Dracula printed onto a plastic coffin. The object was to cause the image of Dracula to vanish after plunging a wooden stake (toothpick) through the center of the coffin (Dracula's Heart). At the end of the routine, the entire coffin vanishes! The effect came with a small pocket mirror which is used in the presentation to show Vampires have no reflection. Also included were several toothpicks (Stakes) and well written instructions with hand-illustrated drawings. It really is a pretty cool effect. Here is a photo of the printed coffin...



Best Magical Regards,

Mark Williams

I have combined a vampire hunting kit with the dracula book test in an interesting new way in my show Evening of Enchantmnet....

Theres a new "TWILIGHT" book test thats out...and that is very current!

Reading between the lines, Am i right to think that you are looking for something more theatrical than a card trick, orbook test.
Something more Visual?