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Hi everybody! As my first review here I thought that I would review the cups and balls trick. Everybodt has heard of this - it is really easy to do and gets great reactions! Rightyho then, here we go...

The Effect

A magician reveals three balls, and three cups which he shows to be empty. He places a ball on the top of one cup, clicks his fingers, and it passes through. He does this several times, before actually making a ball jump to another cup rather than just through one. Finally, he cn make a fourth ball appear! Everything is then handed out to examine

Cost

approx. £6.99 or more

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

1-2

Review

I love this trick. My simplest one, but also gets a big reaction. The "sleight" (it isn't quite a sleight because...well if you get it you will know what I mean) is very easy to pull off, you just have to make it believable and fast. To make it even more believeable put "it" in the yellow cup and show them it quick and empty - they never see "it".

This is a very good and easy trick with lotys of possible routines to do. I can spend possibly about 2 minutes on this one trick - even more! It is very funny when people examine and try to do the trick. Just one thing - don't do this trick twice!

Overall

I love this trick - very much worth its money, and very good to do as an openeer "start off with one evrybody knows!".

I hope this short review helped yo guys. Any questions, just ask

cheers

Blapsing_Beard wrote:Finally, he cn make a fourth ball appear!

The magician can make a fourth ball appear, but shouldn't. Ever. As soon as the spectator knows there is a fourth ball, then a solution is given to him/her on a plate. They might not know the whole solution, but a solution is presented, nonetheless.

sprry about that. That didn't occur to me - I always make aourth ball appear - use a bit of patter - and it goes down very well. Not once has anybody sussed out how it was done from the "finale". Thanks for reminding me about that though.

If you do make the fourth ball appear - use appropriate patter to make sure they don't figure out what you do.

I do agree with Zack.

Personally, it's nice to see someone reviewing a classic piece of magic that relies on good sleight of hand and misdirection. I think many more people who are new to magic should consider cups & balls, linking rings etc rather than just dipping straight into cards and staying there, not that I have anything against cards.

I am just wondering however - do you guys know of any ways in which we can hand out the cups and balls to be examined without making the fourth appear? I would rather not make it appear obviously - but that is all I can think of doing as yet.

dat8962 wrote:rather than just dipping straight into cards and staying there, not that I have anything against cards.

I agree entirely with dat.

...he says, deeply engrossed in his new book Dear Mr Fantasy by John Bannon, a book consisting of card tricks and card tricks only...

It is my experience (though i have not had a lot) that the most fun the magician can have with the cups and balls is by taking the basic idea and evolving it to suit you. you could have the balls jumping from your pocket to under the cup and on the last time leave one in your pocket. everything can be examined then.

just an idea

Pitto

I agree Pitto. Simple palming of the 4th ball is sufficient to allow you to hand out the three cups and balls, as long as one of the cups isn't a chop cup and one of the balls isn't ma******ed.

There are many many cheap pamplets and books that you can buy for a few pounds (or dollar equivilent to keep our good friends across the pond happy ) that all teach the basics and a few variations for C&B routines.

And Micheal Ammar's "Complete Cups and Balls" does exactly what it says on the tin. It includes a number of ball, wand and cup moves, several complete routines and advice on what sets to use. There are also interviews with famous cup and ball practitioners who offer their advice.

I think it is available as a book or DVD, I only have the book so can't comment on the other format.

Nice review bud!

Was great to chat on msn! Hope you do well in your magic.

Cya,

Tom

ps- we joined this group on the same day! lol

nickj wrote:And Micheal Ammar's "Complete Cups and Balls" does exactly what it says on the tin.

I think it is available as a book or DVD, I only have the book so can't comment on the other format.

Yep, it's available in a two volume DVD set. It's a fantastic resource for the Cups and Balls and will teach you far more about this classic effect than just the simple nesting move described above.

It sounds like this is a review of a beginners set of Cups and Balls e.g. a Marvin's Magic set.

This is indeed a great opening to the Cups and Balls (it was the first proper magic trick I ever bought) but it only scratches the surface of what the cups and balls is.

Like it has been said before, you should never reveal the fourth ball, and for somebody who classes themselves as a Skilled Hobbyist in their profile, I'm suprised that you can't think of a way to show the cups empty without revealing the fourth ball.

Your review is also quite misleading. A Cups and Balls routine can range in difficulty from 1 (e.g. this one) to a good 5 (e.g. Gazzo's routine). To say it is a 1-2 only shows that you don't really know what you're talking about.

The same goes for your comments about the "move". It does not have to be done fast to be effective; It has to be naturally to be effective.

I can spend possibly about 2 minutes on this one trick - even more!

Again, I don't mean to be harsh but this comment is indicative of this new generation of MTV Magicians who class themselves as skilled. A good Cups and Balls routine will last, at the very least, 3 minutes and it is not uncommon for them to last upto 10 minutes and more.

Can I suggest that you save up for a good set of cups (e.g. These ones) rather than the plastic ones and then invest in a good instructional publication e.g. Michael Ammar's Complete Cups and Balls series.

This is a quote from Aldo Colombini, a very skilled Cups and Balls Worker:

"Everyone approaching magic should study the cups and balls not only because it is a so called 'classic' but because the study of the routine allows you to get a 'knack' for an act. If you think about a classic routine for the cups and balls, it is an act in itself; an opening sequence, som 'tricks' in between and a big climax with the revelation of the final loads. Another reason is that the cups and balls contains almost every effect in magic; productions, vanishes, penetrations, transpositions, etc."

-Aldo Colombini, MagicSeen May 2005

Of course the Cups & Balls CAN be easy. All the great Classics are in their initial tryouts. It is the SIMPLICITY and straighfordwardness of the effect that makes it a Classic. BUT it is the routining of each that is difficult. An entertaining routine can only come from experimenting and performing. A Great Classic Routine comes from THOROUGH planning (write it down so you can see what you've worked out) and tryouts in front of a live audience. It has to be built up over a period of time.One final thing. Remember the effect is a clear cut one. Keep your routine the same. In other words AVOID CLUTTER, do not overload it with moves that perhaps you and other magicians appreciate but not a lay audience.They are there to be entertained NOT confused./u] And do not prolong it. I first noticed this some years back when we had a member of the Nottingham Guild of Magicians who became well known for his expertise with the cups and balls. The trouble was it never ended. The routine grew and grew and GREW! None of us could remember after 8 or 9 minutes how many balls were under which cup!
I've always told magic students to [u]begin with the Burtini Routine. He taught it to me when I was about 15 years old and supplied me with the Cups. Add perhaps [u] 2 more ball travels finishing with his 3 apples and a lemon.Perhaps shorten the opening patter too. It is still available (16 pages) at £3 from good old reliable Magic Books By Post; as is his Linking Rings routine.For the younger ones, Burtini (Smethwick in the Midlands) was famous for his production of quality chromium plated props. He was also President of the BMS & the Staffs Magic Society.The you can graduate to the great teachers of magic: Tarbell, Vernon, Ammar etc.
Allen Tipton

I have to agree with Goldfish in that a cup and balls routine should last a good 5 minutes. Take in all the advice given as positive not negative.

My advice is buy Michal Ammars DVD's They are Excellent and show many many different variations on vanishes plus other aspects of Cups and balls.
I've owned these for over a year and still practicng my cups and balls routine (own version) also you'll get to see Dai Vernon a true master of Magic performing his version which is if i remember at least a 9 phase routine before the final loads are produced.

I.M.O and probably many others is -
"The cups and balls routine and moves are easy to learn but to master them will take a lifetime".

SAM

I recently got a decent set of cups and balls.

I felt i was using too much "simple stage" stuff that is easy - Ok, it needs good patter but the general way of doing them is usually really eas - i mean stuff like change bag, dream bag, peanut butter and jelly illusion etc

Cups and Balls requires sleight of hand (in various ways), misdirection and keeping a fast pace without loosing cncentration.

I really like it and although its centries old and most people have seen it time and time again, it always appears fresh and new. The lemon surprise at the end is just fab.

Everyone i've shown has been baffled. Its great! I love it!

For anyone just learning this trick and the lemon surprise - practise placing down the cup with the lemon in it. Once or twice the lemon has dropped out of the cup whilst placing it down. You need to get the speed right.- It shouldnt look as if you are doing it fast for a purpose, yet it cannot be done slowly.
I'd better not say anymor eincase i go too far!

Thanks all,
Tom!

MagicTom wrote:For anyone just learning this trick and the lemon surprise - practise placing down the cup with the lemon in it. Once or twice the lemon has dropped out of the cup whilst placing it down. You need to get the speed right.- It shouldnt look as if you are doing it fast for a purpose, yet it cannot be done slowly.
I'd better not say anymor eincase i go too far!

I disagree Tom the cup can be placed down slowly, it doesn't have to be rushed because the final load is in it. you can even lift the cup back up and show it still empty with the correct technique (if you wanted to do that that is).

If you are serious about doing a C+B routine then Save up and Buy Ammars DVD's. With these DVDs you can learn to end up with 4 final loads.