talkmagic.co.uk

The vet?

Lenoir wrote:When someone first explained the method Paul Daniel's used, I felt like crying.

LOL! That is, quite possibly, the most poignant reply I've ever read

I've come *this* close to performing it and always bottled out at the last minute... Maybe this year!

You must admit though, it's a work of art!

Sean

It's beautiful for sure. Without divulging too far, I've always been surprised with the extent of the reactions, given the circumstances.

Allen Tipton wrote:.

5. The Famous Electric Chairs & Other Hilarious Stunts by Eddie Buirke,
published when he owned Magictrix House of Magic is hard to find but
brilliant. I have suggested to him it would be well worth re publishing.
One 'Stunt' entitled 'Bathing the Baby' I have wanted to perform for many
years but my own El;ectric Stool routine, of some 35 years, might clash with
it.


Allen Tipton

The Eddie Burke booklet is a fabulous resource for the effect and other related ideas. I have included the 'Chairs' in many of my performances and it never fails to get roars from the audience. I have always been tempted to try ideas with the 'shaky' glass of water and a small throw rug that apparently delivers a hot foot to anyone standing on it!

Happy Thoughts,
Paul Pacific

Harris wrote:

pcwells wrote:
It's one of those childhood mysteries I'd like to get to the bottom of.

Pete

To clear up another one of your childhood mysteries Santa isn't real hun x sorry x

PROVE IT!!

daleshrimpton wrote:

Harris wrote:

pcwells wrote:
It's one of those childhood mysteries I'd like to get to the bottom of.

Pete

To clear up another one of your childhood mysteries Santa isn't real hun x sorry x

yes he is... who do you think delivered the kittens?

Aha! Yes indeedy. The very gorgeousness and wonderfulness of the feline Office Juniors PROVES without question that there is indeed a Santa Claws.

So there.

Pumpy poo to you!

I've sat in, and sold the freakin' chair, it is not really cheating, but they are expensive and really the other methods are much more...hmm user friendly.

Paul Daniels has, at one point, used the expensive chair. He quickly went back to his usual method because it's more practical AND, as paul observed, far funnier too!

The 'special chair' is also cheating! And it limits your routine.
And indeed it not so much fun.
Several times I have been asked by a booker=,'Please can we have the trick with the man jumping off the stool'. He has seen me do it,right from 1975, and still can't work it out!

I have used Roy Baker's 'Fall Apart Stool', since 1975. My routine uses an adaptation of Joe Ridings Sponge Ball Routine. 2 inch sponges.
Every time the 'victim' jumps, the stool is moved, by me, to another spot.
Finally, before the Climax, He moves it and the legs fall off!!
Off the stool for any jokers reading this!
The stool seat & legs are then handed offstage with the remark, "Send this back to IKEA'.
Then the finale with the shower of sponge balls appearing in his hand.

In my first Full Evening Illusion Show in 1978, the victim was a 6 foot tall, deputy headmaster. He was brilliant but jumped so high, at one point he landed up on the stool which swayed dangerously. The legs nearly came off too soon.
He did have a party of his school children in the audience!!!
I have a couple of pics, taken during the performance, by my photographer. Unfortunately he missed the 'up on the stool'.

Allen Tipton

Allen Tipton thanks

I went to see Circus Hilarious today and, as I was in the front row I was one of several people picked to 'help '.

Apart from being dressed up as a teletubby and custard pied, both of which I can just about live with, I was actually electricuted on a gimmicked chair, as were the 2 other volunteers.

Needless to say I was NOT impressed. It flipping well hurt, made me shout out loud and stand up. After the 2nd time I took my blackberry phone out of my back pocket as I was afraid it would get fried and I attempted to hover over the seat instead of sit on it.

I would prefer the Paul Daniel's method anyday

No wonder we find it difficult to get 'volunteers' in our shows !

I forgot to mention:
In 'Simplicty, Audacity & Bluff', Val also uses a metal rod, which when touched on a metal plate on the floor makes both assistants jump up!
Again for the uninitiated--there is NO electricty used!

In the Eddie Burke booklet he also has:
A Hot Coin,
Hot Sausages (yes the final gag is Hot Dogs!)
A Hot Skipping Rope.
A Hot Ball
A Hot Wand
A Hot Pack of Cards.
A Hot Box of Matches ( & no- for the jokers - they do not light!)
A Hypno Disc & a Crystal Ball.
He also uses the same system for 'Voodoo Stunts' with Spectacles, Dropping Cards.

Some years back I saw a Continental magician use 'the Electric Chairs' method with the Linking Rings. It was quite brilliant but alas, before the days of Video Recorders.

Allen Tipton

The first time I saw the explanation, unlike most here, I was delighted. Just my sort of effect.
I have used it occasionally, always to great effect. I plan on working out my own routine this summer. It's pure brilliant.
Another resource, along the same lines, is the Dr Q routine in Ormond McGill's encyclopedia of stage hypnotism.
The gimmicked version is an abomination. If someone did it to me I would probably punch them. I would certainly smash their chair. it's assault.
Why use an expensive and abusive gimmick when the real version is so strong?

I watched Paul Daniels perform this on stage last year. I was sat in an audience of lay people and it was fascinating to see how awed they were by this effect and I'll tell you how he did it....

....he did it really, really well!

Suffice to say the method he uses is incredibly effective, but you have to be a bold and confident performer, but in the right hands it goes down a storm.