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Random thought - how about PK effects? If guys can 'position' the hidden items (such as Big Bertha from NUMS) under trousers etc, it must be even easier for the ladies to do something similar. Gaffed matches and similar small items would be fairly easy to carry around and the right kind of coins can always be borrowed.

The Keymaster wrote:Sounds like you need to learn some impromptu magic using props gathered from around you. I.e napkins, cutlery, matches, Rubber bands ect.

Things you would expect to find in any bar/resturant or general working enviroment.

I would reccomend (as i do in most cases) Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic Probably the best value for money purchase you can make in magic.

It has been a long time since I've carried any "props" with me. I love reading the posts where guys have this long list of things they take with them, so that they'll always have something to show. Fact of the matter is, you don't need a single thing on your person to show some arrestingly good magic.

What I'm saying, in my round about way, is that The Keymaster is spot on. Also, the advice given (earlier in the thread) for impromptu DVDs, like Greg Wilson's "On The Spot" is good.

Pootle wrote:Also, I am practising but, for now, I am pretty rubbish at sleight of hand stuff too I am afraid.

Then you get in front of your mirror and you practice. I've been doing magic for over 30 years and I don't do any sleights that are labor intensive. I leave the Tenkai palms and the passes to the guys who have a desire for such things. I believe in economy of motion and naturalness, but in my world, simplicity is the master.

A finger palm is simple; throw in a Ramsay subtlety and you have a pair of sleights that will knock a crowd dead, if you use them properly. I watched John Carney (a master of sleight of hand) completely slay an audience of all magicians using nothing but those two sleights. No, you don't need props to carry along, Poodle, you need to study impromptu magic.

I would recommend that you pick up a copy of "The Secrets of Alkazar" by Kronzek. It has exactly 12 tricks in it. It takes each trick and does a study of it, teaching the student to properly block the trick, how to present it for the most "punch," how to vest your audience in the trick...In my opinion, it is a "must have" for anyone new to magic. The book has an excellent "coins thru table" effect, which can be done with any borrowed coins - exactly what you're looking for.

So, start looking for books that have an impromptu section in them and keep in mind, it isn't the prop that is magic, and it isn't your sleight that is magic...Magic is experienced in the mind of the spectator. As Doc Eason says, "They won't remember what you did, they will remember how you made them feel." It's not the tools that you have, it is how well you use those tools.

Mike.

Oops, sorry, I wanted to comment on this:

saxmad wrote:"Loops".

You can wear them round your wrist and float/move objects.

I think that, over and above any impromptu magic that can be done with nothing but items at hand, the "Loops" are an excellent choice for you.

Caution: You will have to invest a reasonable amount of time in practicing with them and expect to break your first two or three fairly quickly, while you get used to handling them. However, once you've got the technique down, the loop will travel with you, around your wrist, and nobody is going to see or notice it.

It can be a challenge to get into position to use one if you're under fire, but other than that you are really only required to go from the wrist position with the loop to hand position. Not too difficult, at all!

You might want to look into "Loops."

Mike.

Hey Michael Jay - haven't seen you in a while. Welcome back

i would agree with many posts above. impromptu magic is the best bet. ropes tricks, which could be done with ribbons or what not. maybe coin tricks or note tricks, if you ask a man at the table to hand you what you need.

but if this doesn't tickle your fancy, i purse or hand bag, nice and stylish obv with some little props in there.

otherwise, there isn't much else you could get around the problem.
but i would say impromptu.

Mikey.666 wrote:ropes tricks, which could be done with ribbons or what not.

In her opening post, Becky wrote:...I can tie a piece of 'string' in my hair or around my wrist etc.

And, there ya are. A ribbon in your hair coupled with a good borrowed ring (ring and string) would do the trick (no pun intended).

This idea was already put forward by greedoniz, when he wrote:I'm a big fan of Gregory Wilsons Ring Leader routine which is available on DVd and has plenty of material that only requites you to carry around a "quite classy" foot long length of velvet rope...

A ribbon would easily work in the place of the velvet rope.

I can't speak for the character that you want to put forward, but as a man I can say that it is sexy when a woman pulls a ribbon from her hair. You are a woman - use that. Do you realize just how much you can slip past a man?

I know how to do "Card Warp." Not a big deal. I had a woman magician show this to me once. She took my hand ever so gently, she looked into my eyes...Well, she led me by the nose, really.

As a woman, you have a powerful tool. But, I will have to give you the same warning that I give guy magicians...If you target a specific person, using charm, make sure that the person doesn't have a date. If you get my drift, here. You have to be innocuous, but you should use each and every tool that is at your fingertips to do your magic.

Regardless, "ring off of ribbon" would be a good piece of magic...Could make for an excellent, yet impromptu, routine. Dai Vernon stated that if you want to succeed in this industry, then learn one thing better than anyone else - maybe "Ring Off Ribbon" is yours, Pootle.

Mike.

I didn't read all the posts, so forgive me if I cover something that was covered.

Rubber band magic is a killer. Crazy man's handcuffs is a great effect as well as snapping a ring on a rubber band.

Also Warp One (my DVD actually) can be done with business cards and is one of the most inexplicable things you can do in my opinion. It would take some work to get the effect down, but then you can do it anywhere, and it's absolutely amazing.

If you are willing to take a few hidden things with you, I recommend:

Floating a card (inv. thr.) is always a killer, and can use their credit card.
money tricks. I HIGHLY recommend the Juan Hundred dollar bill change, but will take the little special something to secretly pull out of your purse when the time is right.
and I recommend a ring flight. You could set your purse close to your arm and have the str. come out of your purse and up under the bottom of your arm, let it go and it goes into your purse. You would SEEM impromptu.

With some practice you could do a good coin in bottle routine.

Heck, just get an ID and keep it in your purse.

My thoughts.

Good luck!

David

Hi Pootle:

Nice refreshing post!

Buy a copy of Bobo's Modern Coin Magic. There are so many things you can do with borrowed coins. Also, I was thinking perhaps you could use a small PK Ring, which let's you do some nice things with borrowed objects, including some nice mental effects. I would not recommend a D-Lite for most TT work as it might go off unexpectedly For a really cool mental effect that requires no props, check out Dream Signs by Daniel Love. You may also be able to secret a small IT on you with a reel.

Also Warp One (my DVD actually) can be done with business cards and is one of the most inexplicable things you can do in my opinion.

I'm really glad you said that, David! I'm in the middle of practising Warp One and it so happens that my business cards are black on one side and white on the other... perfect... Thanks for the idea!

Great effect by the way!

Expecting my Warp One soon...my cards are blue and white, great idea!

I get mine free through vistaprint: http://www.vistaprint.co.uk

Mark Leveridges Ring off string is fairly eay to learn & can be done with any ring. Use a shoe lace, a ribbon tucked down the cleavage!! A bangle on the wrist can be used for ring off 'rope'/ribbon. Tuck a silk in that.
Why not carry one of those small handbags/ evening purses/ even 'men's hand bags' A camera case hung on the wrist at a party holds quite a few props.! Quite natural.
Then there are serviettes, knives, spoons, matchbooks, etc. around. Make a list of things that might be around at a party and find tricks to do with them. Forget dvds. Seach the Books.
See if one of you magician friends can find you pictures of Celeste Evans, (1950's)anAmerican lady magician, who died not long ago. She wore a sheath like evening dress and produced doves etc.!
Good luck
Allen Tipton

Learn to read palms and do cold reading. If I had to take one "trick" with me to work at any ball/wedding/party etc. it would be this. It slays any close-up audience and it's completely clean! Packs small plays big, as they say.

I would highly recommend getting Jay Sankey's “Anytime Anywhere” DVD. It has some fantastic “impromptu” effects which often have no setup. Most use borrowed objects - rings, notes, etc and can often have better reactions than if you perform “pocket” tricks. I use many of them myself and get great reactions.