talkmagic.co.uk

Relish wrote:sorry for my duff maths too

thought there were 3 cups not 5

(and i cant do fractions obviously!)

Don't worry, it's a well known fact that three out of four people struggle with fractions and the other two aren't much better.....

I think this has the potential to be a really powerful effect, and I'm inclined to agree with totally mental that it only goes wrong if you are stupid enough to not practise it to the point of monotony, and even then know when to back down.

Personally I think it should never be done using a spectators hand, because even if you are guaranteed it will work, the audience (not to mention the spectator themselves) still sees you putting someone else at risk instead of yourself, and who are you to do that?

Doing it with a spectator's hand is disgraceful from an ethical point of view. Especially if you have done it wrong as I heard Keith Barry has (although I am not sure if this is true).

And it should certainly never be done in front of children. They are liable to copy it.

Using the spectator is not only unethical, it makes the performer look at best a coward, and at worst like some sort of nasty-minded sadist. What next?

"I have now tied the volunteer from the audience into the straitjacket, so have only to hoist him upside-down on this bit of burning rope..."

I think these spike effects are OK, but you need to be sensible with them. I think dat is right, and it's more the risk of injury that is of interest, than it is the premise. It makes me wonder if someone should come up with a version where the performer apparently gets it wrong, and gets spiked (a bit like the card stab trick Penn and Teller did).

While I don't own it, I've always rather liked the Scorpion. I grew up in a house with a lot of Chinese and Japanese artifacts, and I think that, for something very odd-looking, it is actually more plausible than a spike that just happens to be fitted into a wooden plaque.

the first version of this trick i saw was by Penn Jillette he did it as a Russian roulette style thing, either with an audience member or teller i cant remember which as it was a long time ago.
The effect ended when the third cup (out of five) was smashed by Penn and a spike went through his hand but of course it was a trick spike he had attached to his hand and i assume the real spike was palmed away early on.

i find this the best method for the spike trick. There is no risk, there is tension, and there is a gory finale without anyone actually being hurt.

Ian the Mental-Ian wrote:What's a backup to being dead?

No, like back ups preventing you from getting hurt if the original plan fails.
Its like a sky diver having a back up paracute.

I use the scorpion and i love it,

Gets great reactions, i never use a spectators hand just incase, Tho a chimpanzee could not really get this wrong. I know alot of people are against this trick but it really is great when performed well.

My method for this trick is simple:

1. I have an extremely high pain threshold (Thanks to my codeine addiction Im always topped up and comfortably numb! )

2. Most people feel funny when some high dude spike his hand infront of them (This is crucial and adds to effect)

All in alll its a good and family friendly trick!

Now where is my okito pill box?

not the same effect but in a season 4 episode of mindfreak where 3 skeptics have to guide criss to 3 lift shafts, one of which is empty, as a finale he pushes the spectator through the paper and into the lift

Hey, Mark, that's the second post in which you INFERRED that KB had the spike trick go wrong, without ACTUALLY knowing so. Now I don't know KB from the man in the moon, but maybe you should wait until you know for certain IF something went wrong before floating it out there for consumption?

Thames Iron

Mr. Lewis wait?

There's more chance of Bradford & Bingley winning the mortgage lender of the year award.

Thames Iron wrote:Hey, Mark, that's the second post in which you INFERRED that KB had the spike trick go wrong, without ACTUALLY knowing so. Now I don't know KB from the man in the moon, but maybe you should wait until you know for certain IF something went wrong before floating it out there for consumption?

Thames Iron

Keith Barry has claimed never to have done it wrong but then again he also claims that it's his trick.

I've been performing this on stage for a while now, and I use the spectators hand, for the first cup. When they realise what is expected of them they soon decide not to play anymore. Incidentally, I am not a very nice person.
I was thinking of adding this to childrens shows. Seems like a good idea to me. Mind you, I'm not so good with children, I bought my friends son a jigsaw for his birthday and the little B****** figured out how to plug it in and cut all his fingers off.