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Hi Folks,

I'm playing around with some Joe Mogar Knives at the moment and was wondering if anyone has any good suggestions for introducing the knives to the specs?

I have come across suggestions like approaching the spectator and asking them if 'they have dropped a knife', however I feel approaching a group of strangers asking them if they have dropped a knife may appear to be abit out of sorts because people don't generally carry pocket knifes around with them.

I have been toying with the idea of producing it from a small purse 'which I found'...

Cheers folks,

Rc

There's always this is a 'blah' credit card joke. Gets pretty good laughs.

Wouldn't you worry that they might say that they did drop their knife and try to take it? You might as well put your hand in your pocket and say, "I've got something small and hard in my pocket. Can you guess what it is?" Er... maybe not.

Why not just launch into the patter you use for the trick?

You could sneek up behind someone with the knife and then demand their mobile phone and bank cards.

Seriously though I saw this trick the other day and I thought what a totally inappropriate and insensitive magic trick to be selling when there are currently serious knife problems in certain areas of the country.

It's more subtle than others, but it's there.
I'll be on the sofa. VDB - pass the beers.

Hmm.

I totally understand that there is a issue of them being seen as inappropriate. Thats why I'm attempting to find a solid commercial routine for them before I decide to offer them to a good home! I just cant get them to fit my style.

Going strait into the patter for the effect just doesnt seem to stand up because of the nature of the items being used.

Rc

why not watch whit Haydn and see how he presents the knives. There is no cheesy lead in. Its probably the best routine out there.

Usually the colour changing knives are not that threatening

I think Whit Haydn has a three card monte routine in which he uses a knife to cut a card to make it unique.

Rope / string magic could also justify the use of a knife.

Anything that justifies cutting something I guess gives you a justification for getting a knife out of your pocket?

I've just watched Whit's Magic Castle routine with the knives and I can say it's the best I've seen so far

Le Petit Bateleur, I think your suggestion is a great way of being able to transition into a knife effect. Thanks!

Cheers Guys,

Rc

I used to perform the colour changing knives at every gig before I went all 'Mind-reading mentalist'.

I heartily recommend watching Bill Malone's Colour Changing knife routine, it's on one of his 'On the Loose' DVD's. I think it's fantastic.

Myself personally I always approached people with the line 'How would you like the chance to win some money?' Amazing really how that gets people's attention, I wouldn't even say I was a magician. When they answer yes, I would reply with 'Well all you have to do is tell me where the black knife is and you can win £10!!!!' and show the knives and launch into a nice routine. Naturally they never got it right where the black knife was (but I always made sure they didn't feel foolish and I ended the routine with them getting a round of applause)

Colour Changing Knives are also very useful if you perform around the West Midlands where I live, because you can also use knives as 'credit cards' round here as well

Le Petit Bateleur wrote:Usually the colour changing knives are not that threatening

I think Whit Haydn has a three card monte routine in which he uses a knife to cut a card to make it unique.

Rope / string magic could also justify the use of a knife.

Anything that justifies cutting something I guess gives you a justification for getting a knife out of your pocket?

Along this line of thought, one of the old school presentations of the Svengali calls for the deck to be wrapped in a napkin. Then the spec cuts to a spot using a knife.

.robb. wrote:Along this line of thought, one of the old school presentations of the Svengali calls for the deck to be wrapped in a napkin. Then the spec cuts to a spot using a knife.

Or the performer.

I remember being a bit miffed when I was a kid because I tried this and ended up with a dent in the end of a couple of cards!

Back on topic, if it were me, I would talk about being given a penknife when I was a kid. This is a true story for me; I can remember it now, but I was a bit young, so the knife was taken away, and I never saw it again. Then I'd say that I can't remember it that well as I only saw it for a few minutes, and can't recall if it was black or white. Well, you get the idea.

Also, any kind of scouting or camping activity (Bingo, anyone?) could provide a lead in, for example, an adventure holiday. How about a story of the Wild West, or a vicious thug in the East End? Lots of possible angles.

Starving Stu wrote:Myself personally I always approached people with the line 'How would you like the chance to win some money?' Amazing really how that gets people's attention, I wouldn't even say I was a magician. When they answer yes, I would reply with 'Well all you have to do is tell me where the black knife is and you can win £10!!!!' and show the knives and launch into a nice routine. Naturally they never got it right where the black knife was (but I always made sure they didn't feel foolish and I ended the routine with them getting a round of applause)

Thanks for all your help guys, it's really appreciated. It's gave me quite a few different things to think about. Somtimes it's so handy having that little kickstart to get you going! I like the idea of approaching the table using Stu's suggestion, seems like a great way of initiating the interaction.

Cheers Guys,

Ryan

Never walk up to a table and say "excuse me, have you lost a... because it can do...".

You are not giving the audience chance to say no, its a rude approach and stuns the audience in a way. You have to give them chance to say no. They might be in the middle of a meeting, or a family issue. The last thing they want in an important situation is a magician bothering them.

I personally think that we shouldnt be using knives nowadays anyway. Chad Long has brought out a new effect called "Flash" - its a colour changing knives routine with flash drives. I want it, I think it will be a nice commercial prop which is perfect to use in these modern times







If a Magician ever walks up to me and says "Have you lost..." and then starts performing at me, I will slap them



Mark

There is a presentation for the colour changing knives in the first issue of the mystic menagerie. It's still available free from Lebanon circle.

http://www.lebanoncircle.co.uk/The%20My ... gerie.html