talkmagic.co.uk

This is so terribly boring to ask but practical. What type of stationery do you prefer use for Mentalism effects?

A preferred type / size of envelope?
A preferred type of card / size of card and paper?

I like the idea of writing on business cards and sealing them in tiny little envelopes but I'm not having much luck finding tiny little envelopes.

Do you buy your stationery from Rymans, WH Smith or order it direct from the magic paper boffin who operates out of Inner Mongolia?

me_simon wrote:I like the idea of writing on business cards and sealing them in tiny little envelopes but I'm not having much luck finding tiny little envelopes.

Tescos do 50 wage envelopes for 50p that are perfect for this.

W H Smiths also do a nice envelope that is just big enough to hold a playing card.

Alec

Anything that is normal. You start buying 'nice' envelopes etc and they become props. IMHO

Rymans all the way for me, though they need to stock larger black envelopes. I use their blank index cards torn in half for billets.

Thanks for the tips, people. Very helpful.

Ted wrote:Anything that is normal. You start buying 'nice' envelopes etc and they become props. IMHO

Trust me, my motto is "cheaper and plainer is always better". Small brown envelope would be ideal.

me_simon wrote:Thanks for the tips, people. Very helpful.

Ted wrote:Anything that is normal. You start buying 'nice' envelopes etc and they become props. IMHO

Trust me, my motto is "cheaper and plainer is always better". Small brown envelope would be ideal.

In that case join me and the others in the 50 Tesco envelopes. They are perfect

Rymans do some good, business card-sized plain white cards (they could do with being a fraction thicker when you're using a Sharpie, but they're fine with pen and pencils) and I second what Mr Grue says about the blank record cards.

The cheapest place I've found is the stationery cupboard at work (but perhaps I should keep that to myself).

Staples are also a good source and if you really need more visual stuff, try Hobbycraft and other craft stores, they do paper and envelopes in many different colours and sizes.

I have found some good and amazingly cheap post it notes in places like ASDA and Wilkinson. I also like the business card sized cards from Rymans. I don't use Gold envelopes as it makes the envelope seem too important.

Caligari wrote:The cheapest place I've found is the stationery cupboard at work (but perhaps I should keep that to myself).

I'm 'in between jobs' at the moment but trust me, I've already lamented the control I used to have over stationery orders. Sad times. But I'm liking the sound of these 50p envelopes at Tesco. I feel a trip on a dodgy bus is needed. It's the downside of London - the big Tescos are never close!

Ted wrote:Anything that is normal. You start buying 'nice' envelopes etc and they become props. IMHO

I hope my expansion on this idea is how you meant things Ted. . .

"Normal" is what is most important to me, which means I'm on the look out for materials that are common to my environment, be it the performance arena I work in or personal scenarios of happenstance.

Bert Reese frequently tore the blank pages from a book or used segments of newspaper for his billet work because that's what was available and more importantly, the spontaneity of such use (improvisation) took away from the idea that he needed special things.

Granted, there are older writings such as the Larsen book, that speak strongly about using quality papers, card stock, etc. and there is a valuable truth to this axiom, one that centers more on formal performance and packaging what we do in a manner that is on par with if not slightly above the "status" of the audience. It's much like the rules of thumb when it comes to how we dress & groom; being representative of the client's caste or just slightly greater. When working for CEO & CFO types who consider the top of the line suits from Men's Warehouse to be "slumming it" you obviously need nicely tailored, in style "Italian" outfits that are comparable to their own -- the $1,000.00 + per suit sort of thing... then again, this is all a proven means by which to get the top dollar cash flow no matter what your talents may be.

Your working materials when pandering to the big dollar market should not be the same as what one uses when targeting the typical middle-income home market. One can get away with a standard Rubber-Band around a pack of business cards for an OTL styled routine with the latter but should be using the card-clip or business card case method for the same effect, when targeting the upper-level segment of the market.


Truthfully, this is a very big and varied issue that we must each digest the situation for ourselves.

Craig Browning wrote:

Ted wrote:Anything that is normal. You start buying 'nice' envelopes etc and they become props. IMHO

I hope my expansion on this idea is how you meant things Ted. . .

Indeed it is.
Good point about having nicer materials in certain contexts.
T.

John Archer performs his Blank Night routine with coloured envelopes which he buys from Staples.

I have discovered an independent craft shop in my area, that supplies an incredible range of envelopes, for next to nothing.
their DL envelopes are perfect for Johns effect, and have a linen like finish.50 envelopes, for 1.25.
all they odd ball envelope sizes, come with cards to fit. again, 1.25 for
50.
When i get the chance, I am stocking up!