talkmagic.co.uk

Following on from the Ouija Board thread really, I was attempting to add further evidence of my "contact" with a particular spirit using the Spirit Slates.

Two questions for the forum -

I don't particularly want to use the Marvin's "Spooky Magic" version as it looks cheaper and not in keeping with the other props and effects I use. Does anyone have any experience of the Bazar de Magia slates? Others I have seen include Docc Hilford's Raven's Slates and Dave Powell's Spirit Slates have other forum members encountered these, and have preferences?

Secondly, I'm going to use the slates to reveal the name of a previously forced Victorian gentleman who will then go on to have a ghostly hand in the rest of the performance - with a name revealed do any forum members have any other suggested applications for the slates? Other than revealing a card etc?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

I personally loathe most commercially offered Slates in that they all look like a magician's prop now days... let me clarify...

The days in which slates of that type were common place are more than a century behind us e.g. they do not make any sense UNLESS you have some kind of haunted tale, such as T.A.'s School Boy story in Mind, Myth & Magic that lends validity and reason for exploiting something so archaic.

When I did the Marilynn Monroe and John Belushi Seances in Hollywood long ago I used mirrors... for Marilynn the message showed up in lipstick for John...well, a line of cocain of course... The thing is, mirrors are far more typical in today's world than writing slates too, there are mirrors of various sizes already set on a compact styled arrangement which lends to you a significant amount of advantage.

Picture Frames can give you the same kind of freedom and message bearing advantages, something Mary Tolmich (sp) revealed to us a few years back. But we can go significantly further with her basic idea given the new static plastics and so forth that are on the market.

BUT if you still want to do something with a slate I would suggest you simply go to a construction site and find yourself an old piece of slate roofing single or two, then contact the good folks at Daytona Magic and tell them you want to order a couple of sticks of GHOST CHALK... this is the only method I use for slates now days, if and when I use real slate. You will find something similar mentioned in Corinda in which a sceptic pencil is used such as those that used to be used for cuts.

I had a strange feeling you would be the one to respond to this Craig! Thank you for taking the time, and thanks for some great ideas!

I'm going to go with the slate because I feel I have a justification in the Victorian theme, I may not have mentioned I'm performing in an historic Victorian building in London's Greenwich. I feel a slate is in keeping with the overall ambiance but I love the Ghost Chalk idea. I've checked on the Daytona Magic web site and I have found the item under the name "Crazy Chalk" for those interested.

On a side note the ideas with Marilyn Monroe and Belushi are fantastic! It must have made for a really strong moment for the audience... spirit writing with the added apport of a line of cocaine... why not!! Can I ask just one other thing - what did you have the spirit say? I don't like the overdone idea of spirit contact in revealing future events but what did your Marilyn say from beyond the grave?

Matt

Marilynn's message was "Love Ya, hun!" with lip marks from a kiss

John's was "I Should've Listened" originally but we changed it one night to "Rubber Biscuit" (Blues Brothers Seance).