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When I first got into magic I had an obsession with flash paper. I used to carry little balls of it in my pocket, it adds an extra dimension to you performance. But the problem I have when watching other performers using flash paper, THEY DON’T HIDE IT. There are a number of tricks that require wrapping a sheet of flash paper around a deck of cards. As far as i’m aware flash paper is meant to be a secret prop and should remain hidden.
If your in the middle of a trick and bring out a piece of flash paper, and take a lighter to it, the spectator may think it’s a piece of tissue paper so when it creates a fast flash its surprising. But the spectator knows tissue paper will set on fire so they will eventually work out that it wasn’t tissue paper but some ‘special magic paper’.
If the flash paper is kept hidden in your hand the sudden appearance of a ball of fire is much more surprising and effective. It’s much better for the spectator to say, “ Fire appeared from his finger tips” rather than, “A piece of paper burst into flames”.

Is it just me who thinks this?

Do it have to be such a hard and fast rule?

Did you ever in all your life before flash paper - accidently ignite something similar to see it react in the way flash paper does?

I'd guess probably not...

If you treat something in a way that discounts it being anything else other than ordinary - it will be treated as so.

If someone produces some flash paper and says "Soooooo, we have some perfectly ordinary paper right here..." deserves to be wrapped in it and set afire.

Do what you like i suppose.

It's clearly down to personal preference, but I certainly side with jhmagic1. If someone sets fire to a piece of paper, and that piece of paper burns in a peculiar way, people will assume it is a peculiar bit of paper. If you can get it to flash without its presence being known about, then the spectators have nothing immediate to work with.

In 13 steps, and living and dead tests, flash paper was used for the dead name, it was treated as a normal piece of paper like the rest...then it was lit on a candle..and whoooooosh! it suddenly dissapears in an instant...

I agree with you, jh. I don't use it any more, but it was an excellent way to produce a coin - FLASH!, and the coin is in your fingertips. Very visual. You do have a valid point, that is somewhat dismissed, and maybe it's an example of creativity gone too far, as it sometimes does when you create an effect and about three thousand things happen in it.

Copperfield's entire carreer has seen a flash paper rose burned up infront of the entire audience....

Can't really see what you're making a case for - it entirely depends on the effect doesn't it?

Sure, if you just want a mysterious flash from "no where", perhaps as you hold two cards over a flame, then don't show the flash paper (but in fact, flash cotton wool serves this purpose way better as it's lighter, burns quick i.e. genuinely in a flash, and is easier to conceal a small amount of between fingers etc).

But effects where you wrap something in tissue and burn it (i.e. Sankey's "In A Flash"), or write someone's name etc, it's perfectly appropriate to let them see the paper. I do a trick with a stick man drawn on paper who eventually finds a card by being burnt up and ending up on the back of card - the flash isn't "the magic", it just brings a sense of excitement and drama to the proceedings.

Flash paper is ace - I use it loads and it always goes down well - and no one has ever, ever said to me or any other performers I know who use it, "wait a second, that wasn't normal tissue paper, was it?"

Love it when Sankey (who is as guilty of flogging gimmicky magic as the next guy) admits jokingly on one of his DVDs, "amateurs spend their money on the latest gimmick. Pros spend their money on cards, flash paper and mouth coils." So true

Jay Sankeys burning a book of matches is a great effect for flash paper because it uses the flash paper in a clever way, and the spectator never even knows the flash paper is in play.

I'm sure our very own FlashMagic can help us out on this?

What is more amazing than flash paper? This conversation was started in 2008! and has not been touched in 3 years. What is old is new again.

Seriously not understanding the issue. It all depends on the effect, how the flash paper is used and the emphasis on whatever it is you are doing.

I love that idea from 13 Steps - had forgotten about it, will have to do it someday.
I agree with jhmagic.

I use it for something, let's wrap the coin in this piece of paper, or I say the paper is a screen for something, then light it, or something along those lines.
It has a good effect, but I try to limit it, to using it in useful and productive ways.

Jing wrote:
I use it for something, let's wrap the coin in this piece of paper, or I say the paper is a screen for something, then light it, or something along those lines.

Even using it to wrap a coin inside still seems wrong - Even if you call it tissue paper the spectator knows tissue paper will create a flame, so when the flame is big they will know that the paper is 'special magic paper' instead of tissue paper.

This is why the Matchbook trick is an ideal use for flash paper - the flash paper is used as a hidden gimmick and not just a bit of paper that creates a big flame

So you're saying you should never ever see the paper, even when it makes sense to be part of a trick?

Yes, we should think of more subtle ways of using flash paper in tricks.

Whilst another of Jay Sankeys effects 'in a flash' is great and gives a great visual moment at the end with the burnt hole in the cards, the only down side is you have to wrap the coin in the 'special paper'. Its only a small flaw in my opinion in an otherwise good effect.

The spectator only believes its tissue paper until you set fire to it and then the secret of the 'special paper' has been revealed.

I disagree, I use Sankeys in a flash with a 10p that I've drawn a smiley face on and steal a Tommy Cooper joke about blindfolding him, adds a nice piece of humour and most people can relate the joke so in my opinion it adds to the trick which is presented in a silly manner, but still a very strong effect