talkmagic.co.uk

Banachek's ring gimmick is a real faff to be honest. There's a version in Tarbell (I can't remember which volume off the top of my head, I'll have a look and let you know when I get a chance) that I've based the method that I use on.

Max Maven does one on his video mind series using a similar principle. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the ring idea but without trying it I can't comment? Rather than doing it with a book it would be better to use a newspaper or a magazine because you can then 'destroy' the gimmick afterwards for the princely sum of 50P - or, if you're a cheapskate like me, bu**er all because you keep hoarding copies of the Metro!

For some reason, (call me strange if you wish) I've been thinking about how I could use the same principle with something a wee bit larger. I was actually thinking of using an empty toilet roll.

If you like book tests as I do then I strongly recommend pretty much any Osterlind DVD. He always has some cracking book/magazine tests on there. There's a lovely headline prediction he does with a broad sheet that appears quite complicated but once you've played with it you can pick up any news paper and do an impromptu headline prediction.

K

I'm not actually a huge fan of book tests.They always feel a bit dry . I feel like I should have one in my arsenal. I've been trying to work on presentations of the Banachek one for a while. Need to bite the bullet and give it a go.

mdawg wrote:I'm not actually a huge fan of book tests.They always feel a bit dry . I feel like I should have one in my arsenal. I've been trying to work on presentations of the Banachek one for a while. Need to bite the bullet and give it a go.

I love book tests, think about ways that you can present them slightly differently. I've got a couple that I use, one in my murder mystery routine to pick the victim from a phone book and the other is a Where's Wally book test where the spec choses a character that I've predicted from one of the puzzles.

I'm being more and more swayed towards magazine/newspaper ones although I feel it is good to have an impromptu BT in your arsenal. Hmm, I shall have to save my pennies and get a couple of the different ones. Osterlind is always going to be a good buy, and it seems that Hoy, AAA, and McLeod figure highly also!! better do soem research and see a: how much these things cost and b: which ones offer best value for money for me!

Isn't Banachek's gimmick a piece of jewellery? It looked like a lot of work to me. Then again, I prefer to strip!

I have used Hoy it works great.

The Banachek gimmick wasn't much work to make really. Only takes a few minutes.

Have I got this wrong? Someone challenges you to do a magic trick and (a) you ask "how high?" and (b) do mentalism as a throwaway trick?

Why not learn some impromptu magic?

No you haven't read it wrong, I believe in mixing it up so having one of these in your arsenal is always a good thing. For someone like me there are many responses I could make like, I'm too tired for cards or coins, someone choose a book from over there etc etc. If you read this, and my many other posts, you'd understand I like to be an all rounder. Like it or hate it that's how it is! I have quite a few mentalism routines I can use, numerous cards, propped and non-propped effects. That's how it is. horses for courses as they'd say depending on to whom I show magic to! Some things are quick and easy and great for the pub, others are better for 'parlour' or rather, at their house!

Not the most effective approach for impact, in my opinion, but that's a discussion for another time!

I think you've already been given the two best impromptu ones - Hoy and Marc Paul. The Banachek ring one is OK, but not even close to impromptu in the way you mean.

I'm inclined to agree that those two appear most popular. Impact is a subjective term. Different environments create different impacts. Lounging around at someones house is different to being in the pub, different to a dinner party and so on. I reiterate, it's ALWAYS useful to have different genre effects in your arsenal for different situations. I was known initially as a walkaround clubbing magician which required hi-impact visual effects, to the extent I would paint things like the colour changing casino discs with UV paint because that sort of thing worked best in that situ - under a lot of UV lights etc. Another in those days was a floating orange orb, and a UV died silk from nowhere (basically soaked in UV reactive paint but nothing more than a silk that appears from a TT and disappears). In those days highly visual magic was the requirement.

nowadays, it's about what fits what environment. I am not a pro, I do not have a particular style, yet, my friends still see me as a magician because I perform the seemingly impossible in different situations, be it coins cards blah blah

I´ve been doing Hoy book test for years. Just grab two books and you´re done.

When I perform in a private party I usually use it as an encore. I end my act and when I´m leaving, if someone ask for one more trick I´ll do it as an offbeat feat. Then leave. It creates a great impression.