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I like to do a little mentalism in my acts, bit I also like to keep it light. So no ESP cards for me, just some funny what-seem-to-be-mentalism acts.

I was thinking about using a gumball machine in my next performance. You know the ones that have those balls in them with the little toys inside.
Instead of toys I wan't to put a folded up playing card in them and try to create an act around it.

Before I buy a gumball machine (they're not cheap ) I'd like some advice.

1) It's visually appealing but it's a mechanical thing. So won't people think the ball that comes out is forced ? Or isn't randomly selected.

2) would it be best to fold the card, so that the pips are showing (instead of the backs) so people can see that all balls have a different card in them ?

and so on

Start with it empty, have it inspected, then have it filled with the balls by an audience member. (Bingo, I know, I know).

That would be a lot of stage time for the effect, though...

firstly, you may as well buy the gumball machine that is gaffed.

secondly, one big problem i can see with your idea is that you can not prove that the balls contain different cards.

the best method, is as i say, to invest in a gumball machine, and force the cards.

daleshrimpton wrote:firstly, you may as well buy the gumball machine that is gaffed.

secondly, one big problem i can see with your idea is that you can not prove that the balls contain different cards.

the best method, is as i say, to invest in a gumball machine, and force the cards.

If I fold the cards so the pips are on the outside people can see trough the see-trough part of the plastic balls that there are different cards, but then it will be hard to force a card

Try it, but I dont think that a playing card will fold up enough to go into a gum ball ball, and still allow the pip to show.

and, my other thought is, if your going to do this, it might be cleaner if you did away with the gum ball machine, ( which weighs a ton you know, they are mostly cast iron) and use a clear plastic bag.

In Syzygy there's a Gumball routine where the spec has to guess the number of balls. I don't know if it's been reviewed anywhere though, but it might give you some other ideas.

Alternatively, instead of a machine (which screams "I'm gaffed, I'm gaffed") why not have a large sack (egg bag?) with balls containing a billet and the spec picks one. you can toss out the others to prove that they are unique.

Christian Chelman has a routine for a gumball machine in 'Hauntiques'. Clearly, he thought that it was OK to use them in an effect (as I recall, it was something he did for television).

There is an item called 'Gumball Poker' that features gumballs printed with different playing cards. Not sure if it'll do for your purposes, but it retails at around £70 (at the moment). Possibly cheaper than a full size machine.

Part-Timer wrote:Christian Chelman has a routine for a gumball machine in 'Hauntiques'. Clearly, he thought that it was OK to use them in an effect (as I recall, it was something he did for television).

Yep, for Flemish TV show "Ongelooflijk maar Bardi".
There are TV performance rights on those effects.

Groovebird wrote:I like to do a little mentalism in my acts, bit I also like to keep it light. So no ESP cards for me, just some funny what-seem-to-be-mentalism acts.

I was thinking about using a gumball machine in my next performance. You know the ones that have those balls in them with the little toys inside.
Instead of toys I wan't to put a folded up playing card in them and try to create an act around it.

Before I buy a gumball machine (they're not cheap ) I'd like some advice.

1) It's visually appealing but it's a mechanical thing. So won't people think the ball that comes out is forced ? Or isn't randomly selected.

2) would it be best to fold the card, so that the pips are showing (instead of the backs) so people can see that all balls have a different card in them ?

and so on

Let's start with the first reality... THIS IS A MAGIC TRICK NOT "Mentalism" e.g. it will be seen by your audience as such.

This is not me slamming you or the effect, just a glass of cold water on the fact that you are over thinking things a bit.

The Gumball Machine is a hilarious bit of business in the right hands, I know of several acts that use it or who did use it long ago during its original incarnation. It is what most refer to as a "Dumb Executive" bit of business i.e. anyone can make it work if they simply follow the script outline and personalize it a bit.

You state that you want lighthearted quasi-psychic stuff in your act, this is a good one as is Casino Royal, any one of the variations to the old Dr. Rhine Tests and for that matter, a huge portion of the Psychic Roulette type bits that are so popular these days. If you are a magician that does mostly "family" audiences and stage shows, I'd go so far as to encourage you to look at my Chair Prediction routine in the book CRITTERS (entitled "Baby Elephant Walk") in that the routine was created specifically for people in your situation -- magicians looking for something that's sortof psychic that can be comfortably added to their program.

I'm uncertain if Critters is posted yet or not at Lybrary.com but send Chris an eMail with an inquiry should it catch your interest.

thx for the reply. I'll look into Critters when I have the time

Btw: is the chair trick something like smart ass ?

Groovebird wrote:thx for the reply. I'll look into Critters when I have the time

Btw: is the chair trick something like smart ass ?

I don't know that particular title of an effect (or if you're calling me one, for that matter )

But Here's the Effect as outlined in the book...

The bit’s name comes from the popular 1960’s era musical score by award winning composer Henry Mancini (created for the John Wayne movie “Hatari”). The reason is very simple; the music is cute and funny e.g. it adds to the amusement aspect of the routine. This has always been a “thing” for me, even when I was doing stage magic, making certain I had the right music and the right artist’s version of a piece, so as to accent what I was doing; finding those very subtle chimes in the background and using them as a subtle tool for enhancing a particular action, etc. It’s an art in and of itself that I highly recommend all performers to invest a bit of time towards learning and “seeing” as it were. I was in my 20s when I met composure Ralph Burns (a close associate of Mancini’s) and it was in watching him study a soundless film track and look at how to adapt the right kind of background music to it that seemed to drive this philosophy deeper into my rather hard Irish noggin.

In order to present this act you need to make a few serious investments at the local Toy Store or via your favorite on-line sources in that you will want some artificial trees so as to create the idea of being in the jungle… even a roll down set that can work with your existing backdrop piece might not be a bad move. Then you want to add some critter…

• Ms. Ellie Phunt … is your charming assistant… she will hold onto your prediction throughout the routine
o ALTERNATIVES: a Toucan or Parrot Puppet up in a nearby tree or a very large Gorilla toy.

• BIG ENOUGH TO SIT ON TOYS… Gorilla, Lion, Zebra, Giraffe, Hippo, and Rhino.

Yes, these over-sized toys are the expensive part of the entire procedure but we’re confident that you’ll learn to use them in other ways… for the sake of this routine, they are your chairs.

The Routine…
If you were to ask my mother, she would tell you that I have a very active imagination, especially when it comes to what I call “games” that can be played that secretly employ my rather novel abilities… I’m certain you’ll admit that what you’ve seen so far this evening supports the fact that I’m far from normal…

…nonetheless, I’d like to take a few of you on a one of my favorite journeys; you see, a few years ago I had the privilege of studying with a genuine African Shaman – a Medicine Man or Witch Doctor if you would – he taught me about people and how we all have animals in the world that we are naturally drawn towards and how fate itself connects us to these things….

… how many of you here this evening believe in the idea of fate or pre-destination?

I didn’t for a very long time, I’m a firm believer in FREE WILL but what you are about to see is an exercise this Shaman gent took me and my fellow students through just to prove a point; the fact that when we are destined to learn or accomplish a specific thing, it will happen, no matter what. The scary thing is, it will show all of you how one versed in the magickle or psychic arts, can influence our lives and our actions without us knowing.

I’d like to have about five or six gentlemen up here to help me out…

[Once you have helpers on stage, greetings are completed, etc.] As I mentioned, this little “ritual” if you would, was part of a class taught by a very real African Shaman so if you don’t mind, I brought a few things along that will help us all get in the right frame of mind…

[If possible set pieces, etc will move in ala “pulls chords” e.g. Palm Trees, a backdrop of the jungle and of course sound effects. If timed right, this will get a big chuckle from the audience in that it is not expected. This action can be followed up with the following…]

[Girl Assistant in barely clad in “Tarzanesque” costume, pushing a small cart with items laying atop] We are in the midst of an African forest so it is only right that we dress the part… [Girl and mage hand out Safari Jackets and Pith Helmets… this will add to the “corn” already in play. Also opens the door of opportunity for numerous one-liner gags as well as innuendo via the scantly clad young lady and her playing with the gents]

Of course, we are in the wilds of deepest Africa so we need a few more special elements to really set the mood… [Stuffed Animal Chairs are brought in]

There we go… this is really starting to bring back some memories for me… Not of the shaman but more like my Nursery when I was but a wee one…

Now, before we begin there is one other very special someone I need to bring out to help us with this… my amazing female assistant Ellie… [Enter Elephant Critter/Puppet … NOTE: an obvious envelope is seen in her trunk]

Who were you guys expecting?

… As you can see, Ellie has an envelope that is being held firmly in her trunk… she is going to hold it up high for all to see and so that it is impossible for me to get to it… Now let me explain a little something, this is NOT a “Prediction”! It is an statement of fact; an outline as to who in this group will do what and which of these five totem animals you will end up with.

I’m certain all of you will agree, the odds are very much against me on this in that we all just met so there is no way I could have singled any one of you out. Too, by have five random individuals involved… well, statistically the odds are against me… which is what we need if this demonstration is going to prove that our sense of Free Choice, isn’t always so… other influences can make things happen in ways that are perfectly innocent in feel but covert in truth.

I’ll assume that most all of you are familiar with the old game of Musical Chairs. Well, we are going to play that game using of course, Ellie’s favorite piece of music…

As noted, the group will now march about just as if playing Musical Chairs… This action of course, reduces both, the number of players as well as the number of “chairs” (critters) used, ultimately leaving you with two players and one critter/chair, which is where your prediction comes into play.

At this point you have dismissed each player except the one now seated in a specific critter. You have some fun playing with him (briefly) and then invite a young lady to join you on stage… I do not wish to touch the envelope that Ellie his holding less someone accuse me of cheating in some horrid way… like I’d do such a thing… so would you mind retrieving the envelope and just keep it visible for now…

Needless to say, this is another point that is perfect for a few gags i.e. the elephant puppet not wishing to let go of the envelope, making some very loud and rude trumpets, etc. Have fun with it but keep it brief so folks don’t get lost as to what’s going on.

Your young lady finally gets the envelope… you step down stage and offer a general recap as to everything that’s happened up to this point… do it fast and as funny as you possibly can in that most recap spiels are exceptionally boring and rather redundant.

Finally, you have your lady helper from the audience, open the envelope and read what it says… sure enough it names the person that will be sitting in the chair and which chair/critter they are sitting in along side a few other insights about that person and their connection to the critter in question… a quasi-Cold Reading.

That's All Folks!

No I'm not calling you a Smart Ass
It's a trick by Bill Abbott with a jumbo card prediction and a deck of cards.
( http://www.morrisseymagic.com/bill_abbo ... rt_ass.htm )

Critters sounds really interesting. Can you give me the mailadres of Chris ?

Groovebird wrote:No I'm not calling you a Smart Ass
It's a trick by Bill Abbott with a jumbo card prediction and a deck of cards.
( http://www.morrisseymagic.com/bill_abbo ... rt_ass.htm )

Critters sounds really interesting. Can you give me the mailadres of Chris ?

Here's his site, just touch base with him through the contact listing.

http://lybrary.com/