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Hi.
I need some help for patter for the rubber bands trick. You know, where they 'melt thru' each other? I'm doing it for kids 10-15yrs, AND I have to translate it into Jp which I'm not native to. Any good ideas?

It's a very visual effect - so in many ways it can speak for itself. Maybe emphasise that they are behind each other and there's no way hey can get out from that position. Then be quiet and focus o the bands. Do the main part really slowly so that it reall looks like the bands are melting through each other.

Yes it is a very visual effect, however even visual effects need patter.

I perform a mini routine using Rubber Bands, including Crazy Mans Handcuffs, Optical Link-Up, sometimes I will use the Ladder Effect and I usually finish with the Great Divide.

Now the patter I use will probably only work for a few people however it may be worth taking into account.

Everybody has the big steel rings that link and unlink on stage... well I'm scottish and so I had to find a cheaper version to use... (this isnt the actual patter by the way just trying to give you the jist of things) I make a little joke about how I start at the end and work backwards.

The first unlink happens as I am explaining what is going to happen and goes along the lines of "...unlinking the bands" (bands are streched) "without letting go" (bands unlinked) "of the band from this finger or this finger" (use right index finger to point to left index finger and thumb) - This is where I pause for a few seconds and wait for it to click.

Because its a visual effect you can get away with little patter, however don't not speak becuase your audience will get bored VERY quickly no matter how visual it is.

The patter with scotman and money works well for me as A) I am scottish and B) I am a coin magician, so my whole act is based around that sort of idea. As I said though this might not work for the English Cardie

COuple of other things that might help with your routine mate... Don't feel the need to strech the band away from each other too many times. The spectators will understand they are linked by doing this only once.... IF you keep repeating this then they will know something is up. Perform the unlink the first time you stretch them and then you can use the side to side motion as your show them melting through each other.

Also, I am not a funny magician, however I use little lines here and there that create a light atmosphere... This effect is great for it. For example I don't call them Rubber Bands... They are "Variable Tension Grippers - or as I like to call them VTG for short. I do this as I don't want to say Variable Tension Grippers whenever I need to say..... Variable Tension Gripper. Makes you wonder why I called them Variable Tension Grippers in the first place" I looks a little weird when written down however used with the right sort of tone... it never fails to get a small giggle which at the start of an effect really can help settle everyone down. The idea of Variable Tension Grippers is actually credited to Carl Andrews... I saw it on his Strolling Magician video some time ago and it stuck in my head when I started developing my own routine for this effect so I changed it slightly to fit my own style and personality.

Hope this helps

Scotty