talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

I am looking for a good opener to my close up set. something preferably not using cards as the rest of my set is card material and I want to give audiences a reason to take the set more seriously rather than assuming that all I can do is pull off some card tricks. (Not that I have anything against cards but audiences seem rather prejudice against them)

So basically does anyone know a good, minute long opener for walk around situations ect.

Thanks very much

Benjamin

Metal bending.

When I used to do close-up work I opened with a balloon swallow. That got their attention. If they wanted more I gave them more. If they didn't at least they had seen something weird and memorable.

Now that I do strolling mentalism I still open with the balloon.

Another option, for me, would be a thumb-tip vanish. My favourite routine is to vanish a pink silk, then pull it out of my pocket. If they want more (they usually do) I pretend to teach one of the guys how to vanish the silk. But in his hands it turns into a pair of panties. Sometimes I opened with that; sometimes it was my closer.

Tony,

Can you suggest any material on the balloon swallow? Is there a video of you performing it or one you'd recommend to view?

You could start with Bob Kohler's 'Brass-ackwards Production' which uses a Boston Box.

Both your hands and the box are seen to be totally empty, with a snap of the fingers the lid is removed and the box is seen to be full of coins which are tipped out on the table (or spectators hands)

You could follow this with any Okito/Boston Box routine.

mrzOmbie, Eddie Burke at Mr. E Enterprises has a booklet for sale on this item, if you follow this link you will find it. http://www.mreenterprises.co.uk/viewproduct.php?id=146

Crazy Man's Handcuffs.
It's short and visual, with no need for the specs to carry out any complicated instructions, starts clean, ends clean, very portable. (ideal for an opener). It will make your audience sit up and pay attention.

The way I use it as an opener is to appear at the table with my close-up mat rolled up (two rubber bands are keeping it rolled). I remove the bands, unroll the mat and place the bands on the mat (all this whilst I'm doing my introduction). After that I continue "... and this is the only trick I know that doesn't involve cards.."

You can bet that after this opener, you will have the audiences full and undivided attention.

I quite like the idea suggested of metal bending, Its an area of magic I haven't really looked at yet. Any ideas where to learn it?!

Pickman- Where can I find the coin routine you mentioned?

Thanks for the great ideas!


Benjamin

Fabula, you will find the Bob Kohler routine in John Bannon's 'Impossibilia' book. Bob is a sort of 'guest artist' in the book as it features two of his other routines as well.

I'm sure this effect is available elsewhere, though I googled it and couldn't find anything.

'Impossibilia' is one of the favourite books that I own, even if you don't use the routine you will find lots of other practical, strong, material in there.

themagicwand wrote:Metal bending.

Psychokinetic silverware by Banachek.

themagicwand wrote:

themagicwand wrote:Metal bending.

Psychokinetic silverware by Banachek.

Or liquid metal by Morgan Strebler.

And shhhh Paul! I don't want everybody doing metal bending! That's my nichè at the moment! It looks like I'm bringing it back into fashion...

You'll be reccommending PK Touches next!

mrz0mbie wrote:Tony,

Can you suggest any material on the balloon swallow? Is there a video of you performing it or one you'd recommend to view?

Best place to learn the balloon swallow is the Teach Yourself Magic book, which I'm pretty sure, for some reason, that Tony will suggest..

Tony's balloon routine alone is worth more than the price of the book...

just a thought but , an opener for a walkabout closeup act,, lasting a minute or more seems long, or do oyu meanthe whole routine not just the effect?

al

kartoffelngeist, you took the words out of my mouth! I would not recommend it as a shameless plug, but because I have worked hard on that routine, and I believe my description of how to do it is as thorough as I could make it.

I purchased the Mr E booklet (not Eddie's own material, by the way) and the method was not as well explained, in my view.

Recently a friend videoed me doing this at a festival, and I hope to post it on youtube in the next few days. I have to say I love this routine, and aside from my talking dog, it is what sets me apart from my opposition over here. It has got me work.

It has also got me past bouncers and into gigs where I had no tickets. But that's a whole different matter.

The following would work well,some of which I perform and are fairly snappy so long as you confine your presentations a little.

ID.
5 in 1 transpo
Crazy man's handcuffs
Extreme Burn

I'll add more when they pop into my head