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Today I will be focussing on my cups and balls routine and want some patter to go along about it being the oldest recorded trick....well as near as damn it (before anyone shouts pulling the head off of birds)

Any suggestions for good lines of patter?

Much love

Aza

The 2 best performers of C&B in my eyes are PENN & TELLER and LANCE BURTON. Two completely different ways of presenting so should give you some ideas

Are you using standard or are you using a chop cup too? Use of the chop opens up more possibilities

Also check out Tommy Wonder's routine, my personal favourite.

I'm creating my own, and I love all the above mentioned routines.

Mine is going to be similar to Ricky jays version I'm covering the history of cups and balls and how it began.

Much love

Aza

I'm doing a doctor who themed cups and balls soon. The sonic screwdriver will alter the metal for the balls to fall through

You really need to spend time watching footage of other performers. In my mind Jason Latimer is one of the most remarkable "new" talents out there when it comes to most anything he does, but his C&B act is awesome. Then again Mike Ammar does a great, more traditional routine that gives you a storyteller route with things. I bring this out because you say you want patter and not all demonstrations of skill involve such. My patter begins with my removing the cups from their bag and stating something along the lines that "It is said that this is the world's oldest known magical effect; It involves 3 solid cups, three little balls and roughly 3,000 years ago they gave it a mesmerizing name -- The Cups & Balls. . .

That's the gist as to what I say but I know of guys that borrow from Mother Goose as well, "Rubba Dub Dub, 3 Men in a Tub" And then we have specialty routines such as those cups I mentioned to you privately that have a liquid final load. My Coconut & Pineapple version was made specifically for a given client and the story around it... the "spiel" if you would, centered on the things tied to that client (Bicardi Rum).

THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS. . . study as many other performances of the C&B as you can in which a story line is in play. This will give you a foundation or perspective from which to build YOUR OWN story and presentation. Look at the effect, the many things you can do with it, and then evolve your story so it fits. The other thing to consider are the variations to the C&B such as the older Hindu C&B {http://www.vikingmagic.com/Hindu-Cups-Balls} routine. Some claim that version more closely resembles the originals but they are quite rare because of the skill level required for presenting them.

Another thing for you to understand is that it takes YEARS to master this effect and that's after you've learned the basics. The C&B are one of those "standards" we get graded on by our peers, so if you are going to set aside time to focus on that one effect, set aside a minimum of 6 months and not just a single day.

Also check out Michael Vincent's version. Traditional with some in built history...very good.

A fine example of cups, balls and applause cues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvIxgO6hVAQ

Cheers all very useful, Craig I have decided I will dedicate the rest of my life to this one effect!! It will be the one I master!!

Len, Mr Vincent is always wonderful and Lawrence great as usual!!

Thanks all

Much love

Aza

Lawrence wrote:A fine example of cups, balls and applause cues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvIxgO6hVAQ" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

I can watch that kid work all day, regardless which of his routines he's presenting. He's awesome!

Craig I have decided I will dedicate the rest of my life to this one effect!! It will be the one I master!!

Don't strive to "Master" them, take baby steps. First, learn how to work with them and then learn how to deliver a solid routine and to be good at that handling. Mastery requires years of constant dedication. Think about concert pianists and the number of hours a day they invest into learning that one instrument just to qualify to be part of an orchestra let alone a featured performer & "maestro".

Here's a Linking Ring act that I absolutely love in that Richard spent more than a year practicing the simple routine (+ the watches, etc.) before showing it to anyone at the public level. It is how he ultimately won FISM and he's just one example of how dedication is required if one is to be "more" than another guy that does tricks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di4XxI3BzqQ

Besides practice and dedication, Mr Ross' success with the Rings was largely due to his complete understanding of the true secret of the effect. Oddly enough, despite being called the "Chinese" Linking Rings this secret seems to have been largely ignored or not understood by the Chinese masters who teach it (at the school magic lessons).

As for patter for the Cups and Balls, try to think fresh. The history aspect is a very common lead in to the effect, but there are other approaches. What do the cups mean to you ? Why are you presenting them ? What does the effect say about YOU. These aren't questions I'm expecting an answer to, but questions to ask yourself and think about. Your patter should come from YOU.

As for mastery of an effect - as Craig says this can take a long time, a VERY long time. I've always considered the quality of ones magic to be a direct result of our own self critcism. Be your own worst critic, and don't settle for the usual standard we often see. Mastery requires serious dedication and work. Study ALL you can on the Cups and give serious thought to every aspect of the performance as a whole.

I highly recommend you study Michael Ammars work on the Cups and Balls. He is a true master of the effect and studied under Vernon.

While were on the subject - the depiction on the wall of that Egyptian tomb is NOT the Cups and Balls.


Jim

jim ferguson wrote: the depiction on the wall of that Egyptian tomb is NOT the Cups and Balls.

Very true!

The Conjurer by Hieronymus Bosch shows Cups & Balls but not exactly in a good light !

Thanks all for the constructive feedback, I tend to have this talent whereby I can repeat the same thing over and over for hours on end without getting bored or distracted, it's slight autism I believe but it's useful. I did it 10 years ago taught myself to play guitar just by repeating the same thing over and over until I could do it perfectly and I do the same with my magic and I intend to make the cups and balls my signature effect.

Hopefully one day people will say I want to do the cups and balls like Aaron Phillips

Much love

Aza