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I'm always wondering what my favourite effects are and what I couldn't live without. I realise that there is a veritable wealth of experience on this forum and I often think that I overlook simple or indeed complicated effects that could be real kickers. So in the spirit of entente cordiale I was wondering what other, more experienced men/women of magic and mystery thought on this subject. Therefore, if you would be so kind and you have a spare moment, please indulge me with the following quandary:

If you had to spend the rest of your life with just FIVE effects, what would they be? (In the interests of efficacy I would include sleights/utility moves/devices in that to give you a huge repotoire).

This isn't just an intellectual exercise of course, I'm genuinely interested in what masters of the art consider indispensable.

Happy thoughts to you all!

(Oh and for those with with a more prurient interest in Radio 4, I do know that Desert Island Discs offer you 8 choices. I just thought you might get bored!!!)

I'll start you all off with my newbie view of things. You may laugh at my naivity but here it goes:

1) Magic Vs Mind Reading (Annemann)

As far as I'm concerned this is one of the most direct/impressive pieces of mentalism in print. It has three (yes THREE) reveals and leaves anyone who sees it completely blown away. It's one of my favourite effects in PMM and I love doing it. Plus it gives me two decks with sxxxt cxxxs.

2) Acidus Novus

I couldn't imagine a world where this amazing principle didn't exist. The possibilities are limitless.

3) Stealth Assassin

This peek wallet has everything that you could possibly want. The sight unseen bit it worth the price alone. Moreover, I use the sight unseen to load/unload - endless possibilities

4) Anneman billet switch

5) A perfect zarrow shuffle.

I think if I were armed with all of the above principles, an endless supply of 3 x 5 stock and lots of sharpies then I'd be more than happy.

Well it did not take a lot of thought or decision

1. The Floating Ball--my favourite ever effect to perform on stage or in cabaret. My own rig/version--took 12 months with the wife's help to perfect in 1976.

2. The Nemo Jumbo Rising Cards

3. My Stage Sponge Ball/Hot Seat/Fall Apart Stool routine.

4. Brearley's Stamp Album. Bought by my Dad for me from Paul Clive's big Magic Shop on the North Pier, in 1945. Album still going strong-not so the jokes!!!

5. Chapender's Diminishing Cards-again my Dad purchased these from the PC shop in 1946. They lasted 30 odd years & I was fortunate to find 3 other sets in the 80's/90's.


Allen Tipton

1) sponge balls- whether a simple two in the hand or a multiplying routine I'm not sure
2) bullet party
3) liquid metal
4) B'rainiac
5) Fibre Optics

This is based on the effect on people I have performed for in terms of smiles and requests to "do that again".

I might substitute bunnies for the sponge balls but those are my "go to" basics when I am performing for strangers (family get all the stuff I'm practicing!

It's certainly interesting how people get used to different things. It seems there are guys on here who've been studying magic since before I was born so I guess I've got a lot of work to do!!

Taking the title literally, to my desert island I'd be taking Water into Wine and also the Barry & Stuart effect from The Magic of Jesus where they fed the Multitude - that way I'd at least be sure of food and a drinkie poo!

Mandrake wrote:Taking the title literally, to my desert island I'd be taking Water into Wine and also the Barry & Stuart effect from The Magic of Jesus where they fed the Multitude - that way I'd at least be sure of food and a drinkie poo!

And the walk on water trick, so that you can go home when you've had enough.

Mandrake: Would you not be as well to take--Baking A Cake.
And if you had David Copperfield's Flying Rig (I have the plans of it) you could fly hone and back whenever you want to.
Allen Tipton

Ah yes, I forgot that! The Self Baking cake is one I bought ages ago and have used several times very successfully plus one time very unsuccessfully. It was Christmas Day, I wanted to produce a small Christmas Cake, for various reasons it had to be proper fruit cake with iced decorations, it took ages to find one small enough (Tesco!) and even though it all worked in three rehearsals, on the big day the load proved to be too heavy for the clips and partially dropped into sight! Only two people spotted this (both under 12 years old - grrrr!) but they ere kept quiet by the promise of a large slice each of said cake! Since then I've always used a small sponge cake..... cheaper and lighter.....

Or better still Mandrake-- a Goshman Sponge Cake.!!!!
Lasts years

An old friend, Alicadabra-- uses pictures or cut out photos (adverts) of food stuff, into a bowl, and covers them with a Devil's Handkerchief.
Result a large Chocolate Bar.

The Baking A Cake routine, in my friend Ian Adair's BRILLIANT book--Cedric's Routine's For Kids-- everything so easy to make up and every routine tested very successfully on thousnads of kids.
Buy it from Practical Magic.
Cedric has The Invisible Fridge Bake A Cake routine. No Fridge--no ingredients--all invisible. But there is an end product.

Allen Tipton

***Oh dear we are going off the original post. Sorry***