talkmagic.co.uk

Has everyone met my cousins, Seige and YankeeTom?

Maybe only in spirit, and text.

Thank you for your comments.

Pinnacle has sold out of its first printing. The second printing is in progress right now.

I continue to receive a bunch of e-mails, and I have to say that you folks in the UK have been very generous with your positive comments. Many of my sales have been overseas. Thank you for the support.

In the coming weeks, I plan to make some changes to my website. I hope you take some time to visit:

www.magicbuzz.net

I'd appreciate hearing from you, and letting me know your progress with Pinnacle.

Russ Niedzwiecki

I'd just like to amend a point I made in my original review, where I said that I wouldn't be using the "killer ending" as it meant the ring/band couldn't be handed out afterwards.

I have at the moment two identical really nice (and very cheap) silver rings that I use for putting a ring onto a rope, and then removing it again. I have just bought a third one that I have now set up for the "killer ending".

When I do the pinnacle routine now, I hand the ring and band out - and immediately after putting it back in my pocket - say, oh I forgot to show you something - then get the gimmicked ring/band out and show the proposed ending. As long as I end up with the ring off the band, and put it staright back in my pocket everyone assumes it is the same ring/band that they have already checked...

So far I have found this really enhances the effect (but then it's early days yet).

Bananafish-

I have not quite used it that way, and this appears to be a great ending when you do look around and do not find a ring to borrow. I'll have to try this- sounds exciting! Thanks!

Russ Niedzwiecki

Yes, I admit the way I do it has the one major draw back, in that you aren't borrowing a spectators ring, but for me personally I feel the advantage you get from the killer ending in that it forces the skeptics to have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the ring has penetrated the band far out wiighs any advantage you would get by doing it with a borrowed ring.

Also the ring and band (albeit duplicates) are fully examinable. Coupled with the fact that I have already used the same ring in other effects, after which it is very closely examined, I personally feel nothing is lost by not borrowing thr ring.

To be honest I have another reason why I am not so hot on borrowing the ring, and that is I once ended up doing it with one that was far too small for me to be able to properly manipulate. I appreciate that says more about my capabilities than anything else - but the fact is I feel much more confident doing it with my own ring - and as we all know being confident has a large part to play in any magic routine.

It's still getting me some great reactions though - this is going to end up being a "classic".

Bananafish-

Sounds like you have explored with some really positive results. And I guess I hadn't thought about it but, your justification for your own ring in a previous routine, then close with the miracle finish really can shut the door on the spectators' path. It's satisfying to hear you've had such a great response with it.

The 4 phase routine has been the real foundation for me personally. Whether you incorporate the MF to close or not, I think you have a really strong piece of magic in your hands.

Thanks-

Russ Niedzwiecki

Just as an additional note:

The rubber bands available from Russ's website (magicbuzz.net) are fantastic - 400 rubber bands direct to your door for less than the price of a couple of Bike decks - outstanding.

Pinnacle has served me well this summer. As a handy tip, to launch into a rubber band routine, I've been doing the following:

Whilst wearing shorts this summer, I've been 'packing light' my pockets with effects. The favourite so far (which allows room for cash, wallet and mobile phone) is to take a regular deck of bikes (with which I can do MANY effects!!!), a Sharpie, and two rubber bands, binding the Sharpie to the deck.

Now, this sounds innocent enough, and when the deck and Sharpie come out on the table, there's two bands there - ready to perform! It's then a natural thing to say 'Hang on, before the card tricks - anyone got ring I can borrow???'.

Natural, simple and a great way to keep the deck and Sharpie together, too!

I can't tell you just how satisfying it is to work with a borrowed ring, perform the routine and finish with nothing but a rubber band. Twice the other day people just had to pick up the rubber band off the table, thinking there had to be something funny with it. They looked at it for a second or two and put it back down.

There are no roads to go down.

I hope all magicians are having this much fun!

Russ

So much fun that it will probably be made illegal soon!

Since purchasing the 'bag-o-bands' from Russ, I actually give the band away to the ring owner instantly as the trick finishes...

Hi Everyone.

I was interested in buying the Pinnacle DVD, and wanted to get a little more information about it. In the first phase (ring links onto ONE strand), is the ring actually inserted onto the strand or it's just an illusion?
Does the miracle finish uses a gimmicked rubber band or ring? Does the DVD teaches you how to make the gaff? How difficult is the gaff to use?
How difficult is the whole trick?

Thanks for the reply, Tom. But you didn't answer my first question. Is the ring actually inserted onto the strand of the band, or it's just an illusion?
Thanks.

'Tis an illusion, but a mighty good one. As far as the prformance is concerned I think it matters not that it is not really linked since it would break the continuity of the whole effect to hand it out at that stage, and since you move on to the next phase immediately there is likely to be no question of it not being real.

How different (in method and effect) is this compared to the ring/band stuff in Ammar's book?

Neil wrote:How different (in method and effect) is this compared to the ring/band stuff in Ammar's book?

I assume you're talking about 'Ring Band-it' of Ammars???

Well, in that instance—it's similar. But what you have here is a rather amazing 'phased' routine, with VERY visible links/unlinks formulated into a very well taught and 'together' ensemble.

It's difficult to try and get into the mechanics of this. There are alternative handlings, for instance, which give a 'miracle' finish... which would contradict the answers to the questions in the thread.

However... what you get is a creative masterpiece. A mini-routine which CAN be done with a BORROWED band and a BORROWED ring.