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I dont know if this is the right place. But I would like to hear if you guys have some ideas to what kind of magic trick I should buy for the shows I will be showing here in december?

INSTA SNOW - FOR KIDS

Personally I'd say not to get anything new for December, that's not all that long to learn, routine and practice a whole new act. What sort of shows are you performing, what sort of audience, how many, what type of venue?

Perhaps ”christmassing up" existing tricks/routines.

Sponge Christmas puds? Torn and restored Christmas card?

Shuffleshuffles idea of instasnow could be nice, incorporated somewhere

Look at the older Brick & Mortar companies like Abbotts & Magic Inc, they have holiday themed routines such as an Egg Bag (or Change Bags) that look like Xmas Stockings as well as twists to the Run Rabbit Run using Santa or an Elf. Kirkham had a wonderful spin on the old Hip Hop Rabbits using Christmas Trees the ended up being a Snowman & Santa in the climax.

I don't know that anyone is making them anymore but there used to be holiday colored mouth coils that could be used in kids shows in which you are magically creating the decorations for a class room or some similar setting.

The big deal for stage work this time of year, is to produce Santa; there are numerous ways by which to do this but I'd suggest that you look at some of the older 3 screen production designs. I forget exactly who came up with this originally, but you have an empty throne sat in the center of the opened screen (usually elevated on a see through podium). The screens are closed, the unit turned and when the panels are removed Santa is found on his throne ready for the kids. While HUGE, it's a great piece when working a high profile gig. Other less massive productions would be an appropriately adorned Modern Cabinet, the old Story Book Illusion (with a "Night Before Christmas" styled cover, perhaps) . . . you could use the Arabian Tent/Haunted House routine found in the Wilson Course, it plays quite well with or without the switch. Also from the Wilson Course is the Mummy Case or Two Door production systems . . . The two door or screen routine could be decorated as Xmas Cards. . . the Mummy Case would use a flat foamcore Santa that you bring to life.

Oh! Most any Snow Storm is great but if it's a large room you might look into renting the foam-snow systems that create a "Blizzard" in the room. It's reasonably priced as a rental or can be purchased through KJMagic.com. Kevin, I think it was, use to have red,green & white loads for the holidays.

Hope this helps

Some nice ideas already (maybe the sponge balls are just baubles, so you don't even have to buy ones in a different colour).

This might help: http://www.world-of-magic.co.uk/newestChristmas.htm

The "PhotoShop" tricks near the start are probably capable of being learned quickly by a reasonably experienced magician.

Or you could buy the book Christmas Magic...

Part-Timer wrote:Some nice ideas already (maybe the sponge balls are just baubles, so you don't even have to buy ones in a different colour).

This might help: http://www.world-of-magic.co.uk/newestChristmas.htm" target="_blank

The "PhotoShop" tricks near the start are probably capable of being learned quickly by a reasonably experienced magician.

Or you could buy the book Christmas Magic...

That line on the Sponge made me ponder if or not someone could make, for an example, Christmas Trees as a sponge set similar to the Bunnies. . . maybe have a large tree that can be set with a bunch of little sponge presents as the climax load??? (Remember to spell my name right in the credits if anyone markets this idea )

I'm not familiar with this Photoshop effect that's mentioned but there are a lot of effects that use photographs. . . one twist that I'm thinking of is the bit (forget the name of it) in which a phantom appears in a phone camera type presentation. . . If the gimmicks were given a greenish & red accent it could be proof of Elves hard at work . . . or leprechauns come St. Patrick's Day. . . the Easter Bunny, etc. Other phone camera effects however, in which the participant is seen with Santa for example or Santa has their card in his hand (or raising up from a stocking). . . all of these would be rather neat if one were to invest a bit of time creating an app "adjustment" for the season . . . and that includes routines involving the other holidays tied to this time of year.

I would think that D'Lights have already been used with the Xmas theme but if one were to modify the gimmick or have a clean means of switching from one to another so that you can pluck differing colors from the air and ad them to a stand of wire or simply light them onto a tree. . . complete magical lighting of a tree or creation of a light strand being the idea . . . plucking the multiple colors is what I think makes this concept potent; maybe two colors per gimmick x 2 devices would give you the classic red, green, blue, yellow combination.

Craig Browning wrote:That line on the Sponge made me ponder if or not someone could make, for an example, Christmas Trees as a sponge set similar to the Bunnies. . . maybe have a large tree that can be set with a bunch of little sponge presents as the climax load??? (Remember to spell my name right in the credits if anyone markets this idea )

Very nice. You could have sponge Santas instead of a tree (that's where presents really come from, isn't it?) and maybe magically multiple Santas is how he gets through all his deliveries. That, or you have sponge elves (perhaps a bit more logical than splitting Santas).

The other thing regular sponge balls could be is reindeer noses! This could be especially nice if you use Dean Dill's Spotlight or a D'Lite to show the Rudolph's nose really did shine bright.

I would think that D'Lights have already been used with the Xmas theme but if one were to modify the gimmick or have a clean means of switching from one to another so that you can pluck differing colors from the air and ad them to a stand of wire or simply light them onto a tree. . . complete magical lighting of a tree or creation of a light strand being the idea . . . plucking the multiple colors is what I think makes this concept potent; maybe two colors per gimmick x 2 devices would give you the classic red, green, blue, yellow combination.

Jay Scott Berry used to produce a Finger Fazer in a colour-changing variety. I think it was called the Spectra Fazer, but the Magic Café thread I just found suggests that there was a different "rainbow" one that changed more slowly. I am not sure that is right, but this is the Spectra version's blurb:

This incredible new member of the Fazer family employs the very latest in light technology. It is small enough to be concealed in the hand, but it packs an incredible visual punch. With a push of a switch, you can produce a dazzling light that changes color through a full spectrum:red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and even turqoise! It can be used as a light in the hand or concealed to light up a magic crystal or other object. This is an easy-to-perform special effect that is completely safe. The batteries will last for well over 10 hours and can be easily changed. The bulb should never burn out.

Of course, anyone who knows what a Finger Fazer actually is will have an idea of what to look for that might be a little cheaper!

It's not quite what Craig had in mind, but close, should anyone fancy having a go.

My good friend, think creatively. It is possible to purchase children's christmas themed card games such as snap or perhaps just ordinary playing cards with a Christmas theme. With these it'd be a simple thing to turn your favourite card trick into a Christmas wonder, initial thoughts are of an ACR featuring Father Christmas and his travels up and down a chimney.

Try something for me, choose an effect that you perform often and are proficient at. Now look it at and spin a festive story around it. I'm sure that you'll be able to invent some amazing Yuletide wonders with but a little imagination.