talkmagic.co.uk

Sorry if this has already been posted somewhere on here, but I was in a 'gadget' shop today in Glasgow and I saw they were selling 'Flying Cardz' - basically the Hummer/UFO effect complete with all the material for only £2.99! Just above the display was a demo video of someone performing the usual visual stunts.

Has anyone else seen these being marketed as a gadget or toy? I perform the Hummer regularly in my restaurant set but if they are readily available in non-magic shops how long before someone recognises the effect?

Worrying times for magic with the level of exposure on YouTube etc and also things like this going on. How long before we see the likes of the ID, omni deck or even TTs appearing on shelves of non-magic shops?

I havent seen the proper (card) version about. But, Argos sells a UFO in the science section of their catalog which is essentially the Hummer Card with a lightweight UFO instead

jim

I don't think there's much to be feared for exposing the secret that when a magician floats a small object he does so using a piece of invisble thread. I think if you ask most people how they think magicians do it, they would say something along those lines.

If you do float objects with IT then you just need to improve your indirect proof that you do not use IT, or make it such a beautiful, balletic performance that the method ceases to be important.

If you use IT for other purposes, then again I wouldn't worry too much about it, because spectators aren't quick to take one method and apply it elsewhere. Lots of people know you use a TT to vanish a silk, but wouldn't dream it had anything to do with a b*** ch****.

When I was but a lad, the big exposure toy was the "dancing cane". Pretty sure that didn't do much harm in the long run.

The TT has been in non magic shops since I was little. In fact all laymen know of the "plastic thumb", but none think it is actually used by magicians. Lucky us!

The Svengali deck is sold in many toy shops and I have seen it in touristy gift shops too, but with the right routine you can still stun an audience with it.

those bloody flying fairy toys that you can get in Hawkins were the thing that got me. not because of the method, more because it was a lovely idea, that we should of had to ourselves.

Lord Freddie wrote:The Svengali deck is sold in many toy shops and I have seen it in touristy gift shops too, but with the right routine you can still stun an audience with it.

my fisrt encounter with a svengali deck was at a carboot sale about 15 years ago and if they've been doing the rounds since then in shops and carboot sales and conventions......and STILL manages to fool 90% of people........ i wouldn't worry about the hummer card falling into the "un-usable" category any time soon

I don't think there's much to be feared for exposing the secret that when a magician floats a small object he does so using a piece of invisble thread.

This. Worrying about this is like a director worrying people might know that the giant alien monster in his movie is CG and not actually a giant alien monster.

The magic, comes from the performer, not the thread.
The performer is teh one that has to prove that there is no possible means of support, by using poition, posture, and hand movements...



Far too many people out there have been dong the floating bill, with all the finesse of an old woman hanging her wet knickers out on the line, so they can swing in the breeze.

( and the flying card and all it's ilk, are just plain awfull magic anyway. In fact I am 100% sure that it came from an old clown gag. )

They are selling this flying card all over the US at the moment for a hell of a lot more than two pounds and ninetynine pence. They are going for as much as $20 to $25 with a DVD and a free magic trick or two. I do think that ultimately the trick will be no use in anyone's act. I think you can still use it in your performance for a few years anyway. After that forget it.

Mr_Grue wrote:When I was but a lad, the big exposure toy was the "dancing cane". Pretty sure that didn't do much harm in the long run.

I remember this well - quite the uproar in the magical community, there was at the time!

http://www.childofthe1980s.com/2010/03/01/trick-stick/

Yep. A chap from New Zealand put that out and even had the nerve to put a patent on it! He became a millionaire overnight with it. It only lasted a year. I think the flying card will have a slower and more insidious effect. Slow but sure. I am psychic and know these things.

I was in a hardware store this afternoon, and I was shocked to see a saw on sale. It is only a matter of time before some amateur tries to saw a lady in half.

TonyB wrote:I was in a hardware store this afternoon, and I was shocked to see a saw on sale. It is only a matter of time before some amateur tries to saw a lady in half.

I've heard that some shops will sell playing cards to non-magicians. A parlous state of affairs.

magicrob wrote:I remember this well - quite the uproar in the magical community, there was at the time!

http://www.childofthe1980s.com/2010/03/01/trick-stick/

I had one of those and never really considered it as exposure. As with many levitations (at least the smaller scale ones), the basic assumption of the audience is the correct one. What makes these tricks so effective is that the audience simply cannot see the workings. There's also the grace with which these things should be performed that help sell the effect rather then the trick.

Neither of these applies in the case of the Trick Stick!

I remember this well - quite the uproar in the magical community, there was at the time!

http://www.childofthe1980s.com/2010/03/01/trick-stick/

I had one of those as well, the cats hated it! Thanks for bringing back happy childhood memories.