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Hi - I'm currently working on an effect in which a borrowed ring is locked onto a combination lock (100% real)... and have just had a thought. Has anybody ever had a prop failure which is rather massively inconvenient? Anybody have personal experience of permanently locking somebody's ring on a combo lock?

Just thinking ahead with this one...


Cheers,
G

I once did a cuff escape which the person putting the chains on did them way to tight. It was than that I found out one of my locks from the cheap dollar store stopped working and I was forced to use my bolt cutters which I now carry in my truck ever time I preform escapes.

I have had a ring flight almost fail me once and fling a ring which is why alot of magicians no longer use some of the fast reels anymore.

I've seen routines with the ring on combination lock, and personally dislike all this mock, oh what's the number? you forgot? oh dear!! etc etc...

To the spectator, who has been kind enough to lend you a ring, they then are made to feel very awkward, stupid, embarressed and worried.

I'm not saying don't do it, but please think of an interesting and engaging presentation, taking into account the feelings of those watching. If a routine like this is possible.

Jing wrote:I've seen routines with the ring on combination lock, and personally dislike all this mock, oh what's the number? you forgot? oh dear!! etc etc...

To the spectator, who has been kind enough to lend you a ring, they then are made to feel very awkward, stupid, embarressed and worried.

I'm not saying don't do it, but please think of an interesting and engaging presentation, taking into account the feelings of those watching. If a routine like this is possible.

Appreciate what you're saying here - but have to completely disagree.

It's a good job I wasn't planning on throwing a little humour in there... but why would the spectator be made to feel awkward, stupid, embarrassed and worried? Not my style. Anyway, the ring on the lock is not the focus of the routine - a multiple spectator psychological extravaganza is*.


G
* probably best not quote me on that

grant_m23 wrote:but why would the spectator be made to feel awkward, stupid, embarrassed and worried?

Rings are expensive and very personal things

Personally I dislike magic which uses a personal item. Especially if you pretend to lose/throw/trap/smash it

Understand that completely.

Awkward, stupid, embarrassed and worried?! It's a volunteered ring going onto a padlock. Worried... perhaps, but that's easily overcome. The others?!

Personal items? Of course, probably best not borrow somebody's pet for a smash & stab routine... but treated with respect I believe a borrowed item can really provide a heightened sense of wonder.

At risk of dragging my own question even further off topic, I should probably just reverse back a few messages and ask the single question I should have originally asked...


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Hi - has anybody ever had a non-gimmicked combination lock fail on them during a performance?

Thanks,
G

Explain to your grandmother that you don't have the ring she gave you as a wedding gift because you gave it to a guy who was holding a padlock.


THAT is what is going through their minds when you say "it's locked and I don't know the number"

To the rest of your audience, the over-riding thought is "he's useing her ring, if this goes wrong he is gonna look so stupid" which yes can raise the tension/wonder a fair bit.
But to that one person, the over riding thought is "if this goes wrong my husband is never going to speak to me again."

Slightly different I think you will agree.

I love how everybody is jumping to conclusions. At what point do i proclaim to not know the combination?

Anyways... does that mean you have or have not had a lock fail on you?

Ta

be fair everyone, he only asked if anyone had had a lock go wrong on them. Let's all be nice

Thanks Lady of Mystery

And the irony with the title of my thread is not lost on me...


G

grant_m23 wrote:Anybody have personal experience of permanently locking somebody's ring on a combo lock?

Keep a little angle grinder in the car, nothing is permanent

My issue is with 'ringflight', I have had a not so favourable issue and I know a few others who encountered the same problem.

With that said, there is nothing wrong with the effect. There is something wrong with people.

Let us say you borrow an engagement ring, you vanish the ring, you make the ring appear. Everybody loves the effect so much that you get a standing ovation.

Two days later you get a call from the employer which goes something like this, "Hey remember when you borrowed that ladies ring?...she just called and one of the diamond chips is missing..."

The above has not happened to me, but it has happened. Just something to keep in mind when borrowing something from a spectator.