I was thinking the other day about Tricks that I've practiced through the years; but never got around to performing regularly, for one reason or another.
They are all decent effects - but I truly believe that there are certain props we buy and never use; or feel do not suit our personality.
Well, here's a few of mine.......and the reasons.
DIZZY DOMINOES (also Ken Brooke's version - Spotty Dots).
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -483557765"
Note: Although I'm an admirer of Fred Kaps, his contribution within the instructions (mentioned in the advert above) just muddy the already troubled waters of this trick, in my humble opinion.
I really like the concept of this trick - particularly the normal domino version. I think Ken's version just looks like a Magic prop.
However, try as I might, it has never gained any decent reaction. I've used 3 and 4 phases and even a quicker 2 phase version. All have fallen as flat as a Witches tit.
EGG BAG - a timeless classic.
However, despite learning a couple of routines, including the highly-praised Ken Brooke Malini Egg Bag version, I've just never felt comfortable presenting it.
Yes it has gone over quite well with audiences - but I just don't think the 'props are me'. That probably makes no sense whatsoever; but what I'm trying to get at is that a little cloth bag and an egg just doesn't seem to fit my Cockney Jack the Lad persona.
What's more, when I have presented it, I've continually been asking myself "gawd almighty......surely they aren't dense enough not to realise it's in a secret bit of the bag".
To this end, I dropped it many years ago - it's a Classic and deserves greater respect than I can give it.
SWAMI GIMMICK - something I still need to nail. Nail.....get it? No? Don't blame ya.
Now here is a gimmick that in my opinion, has the potential to make any common mortal appear to be a miracle worker.
Forget the thousands of pounds that you can spend on radio transmitters, etc. or seriously overpriced book tests, because this little gimmick, along with a pencil and a few Post-it notes, can do more or less whatever expensive mentalist gimmicks achieve - AND obviously with normal-looking items.
Fact is though, despite practicing to handle one correctly, I've rarely ever used it - other than to predict a Birthdate.
I don't perform a lot of mentalist-based effects - but I have used a Birthdate theme when I've done Cold Reading and Palm Analysis, areas that Joe Riding pushed me to into learning.
That said, I've probably used the Centre Tear more over the years (for anyone that is comfortable with a Centre Tear and has Harry Lorayne's Close-Up Card Magic, there is a trick within titled 'Tell my Fortune'. I've had a lot of mileage from that trick over many years. It may not read much BUT particularly for Women, it is a a tad more powerful than Benzais-spinning out 4 Aces or a Royal Flush)!
Outside of this, I've never really bothered to grow my left thumbnail long enough to hold one in place (I'm a bit OCD with my hands - preferring short nails).
I must have bought my packet of 4 Swami's around 30 years ago. However, I've never yet even had the need to change a new lead over. I must be missing something.
CHINESE BIT (or Copper/Silver/Brass).
I haven't tried this for years; having sold my Eddie Gibson version to someone who was desperate for a set.
I just could not get people to remember, no matter how slowly I went, which hands held which particular coins. It just only ever garnered what I considered an "oh, that's nice......but what actually happened" attitude. However, the well known (John Scarne/Stars of Magic?) transposition with normal Copper and Silver coins in their hands works a treat - particularly when you use the (I think Dai Vernon) ruse of only showing one of the coins at the outset. It focuses their mind better and just seems to have a greater impact.
There are other tricks that either don't ever appear to have fitted; or indeed that I am too incompetent to deliver effectively - but that's the few that initially spring to mind.
Just to add into the mix, things that are now popular BUT I'd never buy - as quite simply, they make my eyes glaze over:
- The raft of Tricks now featuring a Rubik's Cube. I never had the enthusiasm to bother with one as a kid; so they certainly don't hold any interest now. What's more, surely the audience must know what's coming, the second you point out the mixed-up cube?
- Tricks that involve drawing or writing over a playing card (or card case) with a Sharpie. To paraphrase what I read somewhere once about signing cards - "it cheapens the prop".
- Multiple versions of upgrades for gimmicks that bend coins or keys.
Finally, what else gets on my nerves:
- Magicians who invent utter BS on their websites, such as 'award-winning'; then accompany this with a load of oh so obviously fake testimonials. If I had to so desperately lie to myself in this manner, I'd rather just give up.
- People flogging their unwanted cr@p on MagicWeek, stating 'it was an unwanted gift', or 'bought for me as a present....but I already had one".
Yeah right! Just be honest - such as "personally , having been seduced like a mug into buying it, I think it's pony.....but you must want to buy it from me at a cheaper price than a dealer charges".
Finally, people who slag off sponge ball routines. I don't know of any routine that ever goes over better with people!
I've therefore got a sneaking suspicion that the 'sponge ball haters' dislike the prop simply because they've never been able to vanish/fake transfer one convincingly enough - and it's therefore just pure jealousy!
There ya go - some Bank Holiday ramblings to hopefully get a bit of banter going.