Silk Magic

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

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Silk Magic

Postby Ed Wood » Feb 13th, '08, 14:13



If there is one area of magic that has never interested me it is magic with silks...too flourishy, a bit dated and very stereotypical of what you would expect from a magician.
I recently saw someone do a nice colour change with a silk, it was quite subtle and very pleasing to the eye. It got me thinking that I might have been a little hasty in my earlier judgment and maybe silks could have a place, especially when I come across a child when working weddings etc.
I want to get an idea of whats out there silk wise. I guess I'm looking for something small (this will be for close up) that can be kept in the pocket, not too flourishy, mainly aimed at children but will appeal to adults too. I've heard some good things about "sucker colour change silks" anyone used it?
Any advice and recomendations would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

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Postby Ian McCarthy » Feb 13th, '08, 14:18

I don't do much silk magic either, but you may want to take a look at Slydini Silks. There is a version of it on Bill Malones first series of DVDs.

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Postby bmat » Feb 13th, '08, 20:47

I too don't do a lot of silk magic. And it is a serious mistake. Silks play big pack flat. Add texture and colour to a show. Even if just a nice production from a silk. They work great for close up, and stage. Learn to make a few 'puppets' with them and you can keep children entertained for an entire show. I believe Mark Wilson has a chapter devoted to silk magic, I don't have the book in front of me so I can't say for sure.

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Postby Part-Timer » Feb 13th, '08, 23:23

As well as the size and the ability to be rolled up small, silks also have the advantage of being extremely colourful. The red or pink cape used in bullfights isn't there to excite the bull (which can't see colours). It's there for the crowd.

There is a book on the subject (possibly more than one) Rice's Encyclopedia of Silk Magic - four volumes of it in fact. It seems to be available on CD-ROM too. http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=7913

The Slydini Silks are great, although I never got round to mastering the bit where the spectator ties the handkerchiefs together!

While they need other props, so aren't really suitable for walk-around, I have fond memories of performing the 'Crystal Tube' effect, and also 'Silk Serenade'.

The Wonder Box (or Wonderbox) is a nice prop too. I saw it on TV in the very early 80s and was completely fooled. I had absolutely no idea where all the silks were coming from. I believe it's an original Davenports effect (well, that's what I read in an old magic book). There seem to be some absurdly cheap versions around.

Oddly enough, it doesn't seem to be featured on the Davenports website, although it's mentioned in Duane Laflin's double DVD set, 'Sensational Silk Magic' and 'Simply Beautiful Silk Magic', which they do stock.

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Postby magicdiscoman » Feb 13th, '08, 23:51

i use silks and a change bag a lot, then theres self tieing silk and the thing real hoots with kids.
a dye tube is a great way to change a few silks into a thanxs or good night silk, also for walk around there is a 18" silk vanish that is performed wilst your wrist is held by several specs, french, can't remember the name off hand think it was called spirit.
animated silk closeup version is great and has uses for jumping silk and other movement type tricks.

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