talkmagic.co.uk

Greetings all. I am a 52 year old eager newbie from the Crawfish Capital of the world in Louisiana, USA.
I have always been intrigued buy magic but just never had the time to get into it what with family, work, etc.. Now however an opportunity to delve into a little has come up. I have joined the cast of a medieval fair which focuses on Chaucer's Caterbury Tales and the pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas a Becket. My character is somewhat of a professional pilgrim traveling from shrine to shrine supporting himself by playing music and small magic tricks.

I need to find some tricks that are simple enough for a fumble fingered newbie to do and yet have some pazazz. I need to try and use only materials that were available in the time period of 1300 to 1400. This pretty much eliminates any card or coin tricks. I can use metal items but not plastic, etc.. along that line. I have decided on the following tricks so far.
Cubio - brass and rope
Pea can - brass and cork
Egg bag - material and fake egg

I am not being paid to perform so I can't justify spending big bucks for the really good stuff (ok, ok, my wife wouldn't let me either!). Anybody have any suggestions for things that would fit my criteria?

Frank

welcome to TM and stay active!

Welcomt to TM!

Rope effects are great! The Rope Encyclopedia is not too much and the ring on rope offers tremendous variety that will be well suited for the medieval period. You should also be able to find some reasonably priced cups and balls or chop cup. Even better, I second hand variety would good if you could find some aged ones.

A carnival? Three card monte (using tarot cards) and the good ole pea and shell trick.

What a coincidence that I just finished reading the very same book haha.

Added: Also, some mentalism/prediction routines would be great. Paper and pen is all that you need while you 'read' their minds.

Hi and welcome to TM.

Sounds like an interesting little project you've got there. I'd probabaly tend to keep away from mind reading tricks, if you did something like that back in the middle ages you'd probabaly find yourself tied to a stick with a nice little fire keeping your toes warm.

Coins or cards would be fine I'd think, both would have been around in those days. Other things like cups and balls would probabaly have been performed back then too.

But keep an eye out for those witch hunters

How about using ideas from the granddaddy of all medieval magic - Reginald Scott and his 'Discoverie of Witchcraft'? Have a look at http://www.conjuror.com/archives/discov ... verie.html for a few hints…..

wood woas prevalent so you can get away with a few plastic items and call them painted wood.

multiplying balls.
change bag.
odd ball.
multiplying wands.
sliding die box.
cups and balls.
brass ring in box, you guess which one of three has ring in it.
rune stone prediction, use cup and pour out, take away all face down, re-throw and last one left facing up is the one written on your parchment.

Welcome

Most of what I would recommend has been said already but good luck anyway

Thanks for all the great replies. You've given me a lot of great suggestions that I can track down. I've particularlied enjoyed the link to
Discoverie of Witchcraft. I've only just quickly scanned it but it looks like many of the ideas there are still used... hmmm, I wonder how the bit about rapping a heckler on the knuckles with a knife would be received

Frank

on the knuckles they certainly were the good old days.cups and balls has been around 4 ever and you can use coins if you spray them.you really should stick to foolery or you'll be burned at the stake.good luck

I love newbies, they make me feel like a good person when I give advice to them. Welcome to TM!

.:Ham:.