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Ahh. The homely return to the topic of expensive diligent equipment to produce an unfathomable climax.
The Master Prediction System.
I have found myself embracing a warm liking to the idea of the hanging chest with 'the prediction' all sealed inside about to succumb to the most excited perpetual claps of the seals awaiting a miracle. Often I have pondered about the effectiveness of this metal closure, but after seeing many performances and being alongside the endless seas of applause, I have finally given in and would love to place one into my act.
I have researched this system enough. It is a lot of money, which I am prepared to spend to improve my act seven fold, BUT the inevitable question underlies my conscience being - which one.
Now there are not many out there, but some are of course cheaper than others. That eliminates all the cheaper ones from my mind as I know you GET what you PAY for. Through experience, I am sure most of us have had that lump in the back of your throat after realizing what you have just spent your wage on only to find out that it was a lousy over-used idea but sold commercially and 'bigged' up to make it seem like a miracle!
I have looked at the Malloy Chest and a few others, and I was hoping that if ANY of you have ANY master chest systems, if you could leave your '2 cents' (that seems to be a running phrase for magicians) on this post please, and any feedback would be much obliged.
I know how the system works (which for copyright reasons, I shall not go into) and have all the requirements. Recently I have been using a "behind the chair" with a hanging envelope, to produce this effect previously but I feel it's time to grow in congruence and workmanship within the props.
Price is not an issue.
Thank you,
Alex

There is a version available for 5 pounds that is rather nice...

It is called 'balls'

Lots of possibilties, small investment....

I heard of this 'balls' earlier today whilst browsing. Who is it by, once again? I shall invest in this cheap version just as to try out a few little things, but I think I have fully decided on the Malloy £1500 box now. I want to do also a newspaper headline prediction and leave a hanging box in the town centre quadrant for publicity. Anyhow, thank you!
Hope you can get back to me.
Alex

Just out of interest, where abouts in Wales are you based?

In South Shields this year, Jon Stetson talked about being made to use a Master Prediction System by a producer who was also an over-enthusiastic hobbyist.

Stetson wanted to perform the same effect with the prediction on display for the duration of the show, clamped in a bulldog clip and suspended on a ribbon in a sealed glass jar, which is held by a spectator. The spectator gets to open the jar at the end too.

But he had to use the MPS at the producer's behest.

So... which is a better effect?

The proppy box with Tardis properties, the additional items that must go with it and the need for reliable stage hands

Or a self-contained solution, which can be done as a one-person effect, in which the paper itself is in full view for the whole show, and a spectator gets to open it up at the ta-dah moment?

Those who know the jar method will realise that the solution is one that's been detailed by John Riggs, and costs about £30 to achieve. ersonally, I think it blasts the MPS out of the water for cost, effectiveness and versatility.

But that's just me.

Pete

You could just use a stooge. All that will cost you is a couple of beers.

Beardy wrote:Just out of interest, where abouts in Wales are you based?

I'd guess Swansea, ive not heard of another quadrant in a town centre in Wales (although i maybe wrong)

The one Doug sells is the ONLY ONE being legally marketed that's based on the original Dick Zimmerman set-up, last I heard Dick was still making one specific piece that goes to the prop because of some proprietary secrets that are involved with the materials.

There are however 101 methods of accomplishing what is essentially CONFABULATION and 99% of them involve that secret someone that does that hidden something in order to make you look like a master prognosticator. I am quite grateful that you distinguished the idea behind quality vs. price. . . this is an effect/system that you really don't want to cut corners on simply because it is presented as a BIG DEAL and thus, it must be 110% reliable. That said, does it have to be a box hanging in the air, why couldn't it be a large envelope?

For roughly $100.00 you could make-up the Sylvester the Jester version to this effect and I can assure you, it will make magician's drop their jaws. I've used this system on and off for over a dozen years and I believe the guy that shared it with me (Kevin James) is still using it as well; it is pure dynamite and bloody awful simple.

I'd be more than glad to help you with insights around the various methods and presentational facades that are out there if it would help you in your decision making process.

Craig Browning wrote:That said, does it have to be a box hanging in the air, why couldn't it be a large envelope?

Somewhere in Phil Goldstein's colour series is an almost identical plot involving a rubber duck.

pcwells wrote:

Craig Browning wrote:That said, does it have to be a box hanging in the air, why couldn't it be a large envelope?

Somewhere in Phil Goldstein's colour series is an almost identical plot involving a rubber duck.

I'll never forget the time Max produced a 7 ft. tall Rubber Ducky on stage as his prediction. . . I believe it's on his VIDEOMIND series which, unfortunately, is very hard to find copies of now days.

Craig Browning wrote:VIDEOMIND series which, unfortunately, is very hard to find copies of now days.

It's not really that hard to find: http://www.magicbox.uk.com/max-maven-videomind.html

My favourite budget version of the MPS is the similar effect (using a suspended envelope, Craig, as it happens) is detailed in Peter Eldin's Pocket Magic. I bought a second-hand copy via eBay for a few quid. Loads of great stuff in that tiny book.

It was out of production for quite a while, but thanks!

Thanks for all your replies by the way guys!
They have helped !
I think I am going to save for the MPS, but shall look into these other methods also!
Very grateful!
And also, I live near Swansea, yes.
Good guess! Or did you somehow use the MPS to 'guess?'
or are you just a stalker?...
Thank you!
Alex