talkmagic.co.uk

'Tis just like da man say!

Put quite simply, these things aren't meant to blend seamlessly with your body... and in that respect they're similar to a TT.

Nobody makes any claims at all that these things are going to be camouflaged well enough that you could even fool your manicurist. They just work - it's one of those magician's paranoia things - like the first time you use a gaffed deck, or the first time you use a TT...

The paranoia is shortlived once you've used them in the real world. Try them on someone who's not got any knowledge of them, then ditch them casually... they will ask you if they can play with the lights!!! Of course, they're nowhere to be seen.

There's also the issue of believing the illusion yourself. It's not the case that people are supposed to think your thumbs glow bright red - the idea is that you've got a ball of light between your thumb and finger.

And if you keep it moving, like suggested above, the illusion is very strong.

It really does take a lot to get some confidence up - not with just this effect, but with many of Magic's offerings... but when you start getting the buzz, there's no looking back...

For those of you that bought the d'lite video this is nothing new - but if you didn't ..... try them at home with with red silks and / or glasses of slightly opaque water (moo'd for example) this can help add to / finish off your routine really well.

Excellent effect with many routine possibilities

Cliff

Are the D'lites something that i could use halfway through a close up routine ie: without giving too much away how discreet are they ?

can I get rid of them quickly and easily to get my cards out for example?
and how easy are they to get working in the middle of a routine?

You can load the D'Lite's almost invisibly in seconds, under cover of reaching for cards etc., or even tuck them in your waistband or sleeve, and load them under cover of heaving your trousers/sleeves up.

Once on, they only work when you want them too, and ditching them is as easy (if not easier) than stealing them.

They're not too discrete, but because nobody expects them to be there, they're reasonably invisible most of the time.

They work well as a distraction, and are possibly more suited to stage than closeup - but they are a perfect integration into a silk routine. And if you're a smoker - you can even steal the 'glow' off the end of your cigarette - and throw it around!

I used to do that one, but alas, since being a non-smoker (hurrah!!!) after quitting the weed, I've missed that little gem!

You could always do a 'borrowed lit cigarette vanishes in silk, and you take the glow and throw it around' routine????

Hmmm... that gives me an idea!

D'Lites are basically slightly larger TT's - if that helps! I'd say they are best used at a bit of a distance as the audience won't fully appreciate the movement of lights being tossed around if they're up too close.

Depending on the layout in your pocket, or whatever acts as a servante, D'Lites would be easy to acquire, use and ditch again - no noises or anything.

I know there are some earlier postings regarding using these in close up but if you check out the demo vid on penguin magic, you can see why the effect is probably better from a few yards/metres away.

"How descreet are they?"

It really depends on the lighting - but then again you wouldn't use the d'lites in a brightly lit room anyway. As mentioned in this thread position of the hands / being relaxed and confident and movement are key to this effect working well and the method being undetected

"can I get rid of them quickly and easily to get my cards out for example? and how easy are they to get working in the middle of a routine?"

Yes as easy as any standard gimmick of this kind


Hope this helps

Cliff

ok... I'm sold... saw a pair of these on ebay so i just had to buy them... i have to say it... the people here are really great and i thank them from the bottom of my heart for all the advice and support but would you PLEASE stop recommending stuff... my poor ever diminishing bank balance REALLY cant take any more... heh heh heh

Well, if you just bought D'Lites then you really have to invest £85.00 in..... OK, only joking, have fun!!

Just a quick heads up - you might have seen that both Alakazam and magictricks.co.uk are offering the new blue D'Lites at £16.99 a pair but hang on before buying as I understand that Penguin will be doing them soon at about £4 a pair cheaper.

I have a D'Lite and carry it around in my pocket all the time. It's almost become like a security blanket.

Here is something I enjoy doing around just the right people (I mean, uh, pretty women): The elevators where I work have round buttons that light up when pressed. The color of the light is exactly the same as the red D'Lite. I like to reach over and press an elevator button, and then activate the D'Lite as I retract my hand, acting as if I'm trying to shake off the light that got stuck to my fingertips.

The effect is beautiful. I'll say something like this: "Oh I hate that! I have a special magnetism that causes the photons of red light to stick to me."

I ditch the D'Lite in my pocket and leave people saying, "What the heck just happened?"

One more thing: The problem I have with the D'Lite thumb is that the color is so different from the color of my skin. I am white, but I wish they would produce several shades. It seems as if the one they do sell was designed not to match anybody's skin.

I saw gold D'lites in a store, but have yet to see them in a working environment. I was just wondering if the light is actually golden, or is it more like yellowish white? I'm curious as these seem to be more suited to pulling light from a light...something I've always wanted to do.

I've used D'Lites on a few occasions and the reaction has always been worthwhile. My personal preference is for the red's as I always begin by creating the illusion that I'm stealing the small light and it's therefore difficult to find blue lights, unless you're often in the back of a police car

I usually find a smoke or fire detector with a flashing red LED, or a remote control of some sort that's infre red etc.

What makes D'Lites work is confidence. Yes, do follow the tips posted above butunless you're confident in presenting then you need to be carefull. At the right time and in the right place these can be used to present a wonderful illusion but don't over do them.

ab5zn wrote:One more thing: The problem I have with the D'Lite thumb is that the color is so different from the color of my skin. I am white, but I wish they would produce several shades. It seems as if the one they do sell was designed not to match anybody's skin.

Read this thread from the start... the colour is totally inconsequential because:

A: You usually perform the D'Lite effect in 'dim' surroundings by default
B: The focus is on the GLOWING END, not the join to your own flesh
C: Nobody is suspecting that THE WHOLE OF YOUR THUMB is a prosthetic. The illusion is such that you are holding a piece of light, and nothing more.

It's all in the performance. You shouldn't forget that that like all magical illusions, the D'Lite routine should be structured well and practiced. Otherwise, it'll just be a 'so what' routine.

The output is related to the input

As for the Golden D'Lites, I can confirm (from my reliable sources) that the colour is a yellowy colour rather than gold, and as such is suitable for 'light bulb' related effects. Although, it is apparently quite a bright golden yellow (hence the name ) rather than a (!) < that sort of yellow.