talkmagic.co.uk

Now I've just gotta figure out what 2.95 pounds is in Australia dollars...

Seriously though, thank you very much for this, one more thing I need to ask, are TTs easily spotted by spectators?

IMO, vanishes aren't the best of tricks. Although visually appealing, I don't think it would give the "wow" to the audience compared with other routines. I like to make my audience laugh rather than to just think that "that guy is good!". That's just my opinion.

StEvEbO!

It's hard to beat a TT for vanishes. Darwin's encyclopedia of TT magic contains some great vanishes and it's well worth the price. Watch Darwin perform and he can and does wow his audience and you'll realise just how versitile this simple gimmick can be.

The TT is miles better than a Raven anyday!

dat8962 wrote:The TT is miles better than a Raven anyday!

It's definitely more versatile but the Raven is extremely visual - the coin just goes! With the TT, there's no moment of surprise - you put it in your fist and then it's gone.

I'd disagree - it's down to the skill of the magician. If you get the Darwin DVD you'll see what I mean as a TT vanish can be just as visual in the right hands (no pun intended)

I have a Raven X2 and have played around but have never really thought that much of it. It's too cumbersome. I really don't like the shirt handling and have always thought of this as more risky than using the jacket.

To address the topic, I would say that vanishes and productions are amongst the more 'florishy' (aka Showing Off ) side of magic on the whole—but giving a vanish some 'raison d'etre' actually turns it into a trick!

To that end, it's always nice if a vanish 'trick' is impromptu, and gimmickless—as mentioned. However, some of the more impressive vanishes or productions are inherently gimmicked—TTs, Ravens, Thread, etc.

Nick mentions his 'what is in my pockets at this moment'. Well, I rarely leave the house on a night without a TT. My favourite EVER all time impromptu pub trick is to vanish a 'ready to stub' lit cigarette into someone's £75 Ted Baker T-Shirt. It's a jaw dropper, every time.

Coin vanishes are amongst the more visual for small objects, and there is probably more ways to vanish a coin without gimmicks than there are to skin a cat.

And the nice thing is, learning these vanishes can also help with vanishing other items too. It's all mainly, as Dale says, misdirection.

In fact, learning to vanish is possibly as much about psychology as it is sleights—focussing the spectators eye(s) into the area which you want takes a lot of skill... (i.e. having them believe a coin is in your LEFT hand when it's really in your RIGHT is a gem!)

Vanishing cards is also a dream, although this is DEFINATELY more of a flourish... or even a production of a Business Card from a Backpalm.

So... back to the topic, the starting point is to decide—are you 'flourishing' or are you wanting to perform tricks...

As mentioned, books like Bobo's will teach fundamentals in vanishes, such as French Drops, etc. But it's really vital that you see some vanishes being performed to realise how these individual moves are used to effect.

However... my FIRM advice, which is how it seems you are already proceeding, is to get a TT.

Here's some 'vanishes/productions' possible:

1. Vanish a silk hanky, completely
2. Vanish a LIT cigarette by stubbing it out into someone's clothing!
3. Vanish/produce salt or pepper from bare hands
4. Vanish practically ANY item of a feasible size

And of course, these utility vanishes can facilitate TRICKS too! Such as, bill switches, transpositions, colour changes etc.

Get a TT and a cheap TT pamphlet (i.e. 100 tricks with a TT) and see how you get on.

But remember, even with a TT, misdirection is going to be a huge part of the performance—the gimmick will NOT do all of the work for you.

Wise words indeed - particular emphasis on the final sentence.

I was going to say get a TT a bit earlier on the the thread, but you said you didn't want any gimmicks.

Just for the record, I taught Seige everything he knows about TTs but he just got there first.

...and if you believe that, then Mandrake has a modelling contract with French Connection...

...and if you believe that, then Mandrake has a modelling contract with French Connection...

Close, it's actually with ASDA, involves Sharon Osborne and rather a lot of bottom slapping !

mmmm bottom slapping