talkmagic.co.uk

GREETINGS!

My name is Mike Skutt (don't worry...I haven't heard of you either!) and I have the distinct pleasure of being one of Jay Sankey's creative consultants. Last December, we released a DVD called, "The Sankey/Skutt Sessions", which I am very proud of. Jay is not only my mentor, but my best friend. I am so lucky to have worked with the man.

One of my big things when creating magic is not being bound by "moves" or "methods". This is a sure fire way to limit yourself! When you are exploring, you should let your mind go as far as it will take you! I try to drive this point home when I lecture.

Ok...I'm starting to sound a little "New Age".

Here is the contest: Simply think of a title to a trick (original) and describe the effect to the best of your ability. That's it. Don't worry about describing the method because the whole goal of this excercise is to forget about the method...concentrate on CREATIVITY!

Example: Cheeri-oh-no's by Mike Skutt

Effect: While eating cereal with a spectator (what?) you point out how your Cheerios look like little hoops. Scooping two Cheerios onto your spoon, you invite the spectator to watch. Fairly placing the two Cheerios in your mouth, you immediately open your mouth to show that the Cheerios are linked! To up the ante, you suddenly place your whole FACE down in the bowl and suck up all of the milk and Cheerios while the spectator shakes with fear.
Suddenly, you stop shaking while you are still face down in the bowl of cereal. After a few moments, the spectator shakes you to make sure you didn't just drown at breakfast. Suddenly you sit straight up and, without saying a word, push one Cheerio out of your mouth. You grab it and proceed to pull out a chain of linked Cheerios 4 feet long!

The spectator weeps.

It's that simple. All you have to do is be creative and reply to this post once you are done. I will pick the best (most creative) essay and I will send them a copy of "The Sankey/Skutt Sessions" as my way of saying,"Good Job, Wacko".

I will announce the winner August 1st.

Good Luck!

Mike Skutt
www.planetskutt.com

(This contest is not sponsered by Talk Magic, Sankey Magic, or Disney... especially not Disney.)

Oooh will have to put my thinking cap on!

Now where did i put it?

Is there a word limit?

Update:

There is absolutely no word limit on this task. If you can sum up the effect in one word...well, that's damn good. If you want to write an entire book about your made up effect, that's too long. Some where in between will suffice.

Also, don't be afraid to post more than once. Some people may be hesitant to post because they want to make sure that its perfect...it doesn't have to be. I'm just trying to get you to brainstorm off the wall ideas!

So, yes, you can post more than once!

Peace!

Installment 1

Gerald the Wildebeast of Wonder

This killer effect will blow your audience away! Imagine the scene at your next gig when someone asks for an impromptu trick and you pull out this baby... Unbelievable, your audience will go wild!

Here's the lowdown. Firstly a spectator pulls from his wallet his own crisp £7 note and conceals the serial number. Then you ask them to think of a wild animal, naturally they name a Wildebeast. Imagine their surprise when from your pocket you pull a small bag (made from genuine faux wildebeast leather) and you empty it to reveal a minature plastic wildebeast called Gerald! Wow!

Slowly you ask Gerald the hidden serial number on the £7 note, no reply... You ask again, still no reply... You look worried "Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we have a problem... I think the Gerald the wildebeast of wonder has unfortunately passed away (well he's certainly stopped breathing)... but do not worry he shall communicate the number from beyond the grave..." Gerald at this point magically falls over and on the plastic stand under his feet is revealed the concealed serial number - Unreal!! Packs small plays big! Instant reset! No forces!

Coming soon... Life size stage version! Watch Gerald tapdance the number before keeling over!

well you did say make it off the wall...

I'm bored. So I thought I'd give it a go


Shop Assistance! by EckoZero

Ever wanted to do real visual magic whilst doing your shopping? With Shop Assistance you can!

You walk up to someone with a trolleyfull of shopping and ask them if they've ever seen "that Copperfield illusion, where some scantily clad woman climbs through his body".
Whether they reply yes or no you proceed to show them.
Ask them to think of their favourite fruit, lets suppose they say "Bananas". You take an item from their trolley and cover it with a handkerchief (best keep it a small item unless your nose is as big as mine!) and magically, a Banana shape shows through the handkerchief. You remove the handkerchief and an unpeeled banana is seen portruding through their item of shopping! You then pull the banna fully out of their shopping! No holes, and no banana skin to be seen!
"In this case we made a scantily clad banana climb through your shopping!" you say excitedly.
Moments before they call security, you point to their basket, which is now FULL of unpeeled bananas!

Comes complete with insanity plea for when you get arrested!
"Please officer, the bananas made me do it!"
Guaranteed (criminal) record maker!
No forces! Any fruit can be named and will appear peeled!
No funny moves! The handkerchief can be borrowed!

*UPDATED EDITION*

Comes complete with lockpick to break out of those police handcuffs!



Erm. Yes

THAT'S WHAT I'm TALKING ABOUT! GREAT JOB GUYS!

THESE ARE EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!

I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GIVE IT A TRY. THE IDEA IS NOT THE PRIZE, BUT THE EXPERIENCE!

SHAZAAM!

I feel honoured.
Mike Skutt just (sort of, in a roundabout way) complimented me

Wowzers

Mr Skutt, you really shouldn't encourage me...

Installment 2

The big bang

The magician asks a spectator to think of a nation, any nation will do.

The magician explains that he has been employed to make procedings go with a bang and hands a large uninflated balloon to a second spectator.
Just by staring intently at the balloon he inflates it magically... Then with a loud pop the balloon bursts and from it flys: Gerald the Wonder Wildebeast!
Imagine your spectators surprise and delight when they realise that not only is Gerald wearing the national dress of their selected nation, but he is also gripping the wedding ring of the second spectator in his teeth (not bad for a plastic wildebeast)! Instant reset, ideal for table hopping, buy the best, buy Gerald!

MACDONALDS $100 DRIVE THRU

Picture the scene: two speccys are selected from audience. The first selects card, signs it and places it in an envelope. The spectator takes envelope to stage left and places it at the base of coke can pyramid. Second speccy is given a remote control for model car sitting stage right. To the overtures of Bonnie Tylers Holding out for a Hero from Kevin Bacons seminal movie Footloose, the remote control car is driven head long into coke can pyramid. Flash paper maybe added for effect.

Ask second speccy to find envelope in coke can massacre. No envelope can be found ... it has VANISHED. The signed card is found sitting proud inside the remote control vehicle! Accept applause and get off stage, as you've overrun and the juggler whose on next is getting tetchy.

Note (1): You can vary the type of can used depending on your main sponsor.
Note (2): Make sure the remote handled by speccy 2 has no batteries. The actual driving is done by out of sight stage hand. Speccy will miss enormous pyramid of cans, especially if someone important is in the audience; critic, producer, your mum.
Note (3): An overpriced closeup version is available using minature cars. In this version the speccy signs the car, and it ends up sitting proud inside the envelope. Many prominent magicians who I cannot name, have said this is the most astounding commerial effect available today ... apart from all the others. Not currently available from NUMS ... as seige has taste.

Incidentally if you need a pilot (stunt driver) for the remote control car, Gerald is currently available. Although his diary is fast filling up he has a distinct fondness for the work of Miss Tyler and would love to do a routine to his favourite track (also as her personal friend he may be able to get her to perform it live)...

I Miss You, My Baby

IMAGINE THIS:

Throwing your shoes in to the audience (to ensure a random selection) a spectator is selected and invited up on stage.

"Do you have a son?" you enquire, to which the spectator (hopefully) says that yes, they do indeed have a son.

"And how old is this son of yours?" you continue as you pick up a large and heavy box from behind your magicians table.

"Why, he's 28 this Thursday."

"28...my, I bet you miss those times when he was a toddler, don't you?"

"I do actually."

"Here. Take this box."

The spectator takes the box.

"Hold it in your hands, and wish. Just wish."

Suddenly the box ignites, burning away in to nothingness revealing A SCREAMING AND SPEWING BABY within!

"Does this baby look familiar to you?"

"Y-yes! This is my son Alison - when he was a baby! He has that birthmark on the forehead and the same whimsical smile! How did you do that?!?"

"Of course, such things are an illusion only, and we cannot leave things in such a state."

You take the baby from her and it immediately turns in to a handful of photos -

"Photos, from all of the occasions you have shared with your child."

"Oh my God!"

"Let us try one final thing...one last thing with these photographs. Let us try and bring your son here in his present form!"

And on your comman the photographs rise up, dancing, whirling around you, your spectator, the auditorium until they SMASH together, forming the body of her twenty-eight year old son!

By this point your spectator will have fainted. No clean-up necessary, just brush her offstage until she comes around.

**SOME FASCINATING POINTS THAT MIGHT BE WORTH NOTING!**

* At no point do you touch anything, apart from when you handle
the items!!
* No gaffs or gimmicks!
* Packs small, plays big!
* GREAT for close-up, formal stand-up, formal close-up, formal
close-up whilst standing up, trade shows, train shows,
walkaround, formal walkaround, formal walkaround standing up,
parties, banquets and Hootananys; please note that this is not
suitable for stage conditions.
* The IDEAL ice-breaker! You produce their MATURED CHILD as they
were when they were a BABY for crying out loud!
* Comes complete with specially printed Bicycle playing cards.
* You provide the vomit, we provide the instructions on one single-
folded sheet of A5 paper, instructions available on either red, green,
yellow or blue coloured paper, please specify when ordering.

And here's the best part...

It is all only $9.99!!!!!!!!!!

DON'T miss out on this FABULOUS new effect from the creator who brought you such CLASSICS such as "I Can Make Your Head Explode!", "Uh-oh, Your Face Is Melting - Let Me Fix That!!" and "Some Trick with the Four Aces!".

Here's the Words from the Pros::

"Wow."

"Incredible."

"Wow."

"I tried this on a hot air balloon, and it ended in tragedy. Learn from my mistakes."

"A stunner."

"It blew me away. Use less flash paper next time."

"Wow."

"Wow."

"Just, incredible, simply marvelously spectatular."

Fruity Surprise

Any note (£5,£10 etc - unknown to the magician) is borrowed from and signed by a spectator. The magician then proceeds to burn the note in flash paper. It has seemingly gone!

Then he displays a series of fruit on the table - apple, ki-wi, orange etc

He asks the volunteer to Select one item on the table and hold it in his hand.

The magician then gets out a pack of cards - He shows that on the back of each card is written a fruit. The spectator selects a card to find that on the back it has the name of the fruit he is holding in his hand.

He proceeds to turn the card over to show I.O.U (the amount that the spec gave him to start with)

eg - I.O.U £5

The fruit that is held by the spectator is then cut open (by them) to reveal the signed note. With a piece of paper saying "Thank you _(thier name)__"

Hmm, okay then, a more sensible one eh? Hows about this:

Coin and Card

Borrowing a coin and handing it to someone, you have them place their initials across it. They can draw or write whatever they want on it.

You then place it upon your open, outstretched and otherwise-empty plam.

You ask them to think of a card, anyone they like, and upon naming it (Eight of Hearts, for example), you wave your other hand both above and over their coin whence it transforms in to a folded playing card (this really looks the biz - you gotta see it! In fact, so do I! ).

"Take it, and open it out", you ask of your spectator who reaches over and takes the playing card...

Upon opening it up they see that not only is it their merely thought of card - the Eight of Hearts in this example - but upon it is also printed the image of their signed coin somehow!

Wowzers!

Oh you want something more sensible, well why didn't you say so!

Installment 3

Leighton's Birthday Cake (featuring Gerald The Wonder Wildebeasttm)
(in honour of Leighton's birthday)

Ever fancied doing some Bizarre seance style magick at a kid's birthday party? Well now you can! Yes everyone's favourite Wildebeast, Gerald, is back and this time he's gone all scooby doo!

Imagine the effect, it's little Leighton's birthday and his mum has hired you to perform. As the lit birthday cake is brought into the darkened room all the kiddiliwinks sing a cheery song... Then suddenly a dramatic and eerie gust of wind blows the candles out and in the darkness the sound of galloping plastic hooves can audibly be heard! When the lights come back on little Leighton is nowhere to be seen, but in his place is a single plastic animal!
Imagine everyone's delight and relief when they realise it's Gerald the Wonder Wildebeast!
You place Gerald on top of the birthday cake and get all the kids to hold hands in a big circle as you ask Gerald where Little Leighton has gone... The lights flicker off and again there is the sound of plastic hooves and a gust of wind, when the lights come back on a whole herd of Wildebeast are standing in formation spelling out the words - "He's In The Cake!"
Before Gerald can give a plastic whinny, the cake explodes and from it springs a joyous little chap covered in crumbs... It's Leighton beaming from head to foot! Outrageous!
But the fun doesn't end there (not when Gerald's about), You say to the kids: "Watch" and before their very eyes the crumbs reform into a Wildebeast shaped cake!!! Unreal!
As an alternative ending why not walk up to Leighton's mum, grasp hold of the top of her head and remove her mask to reveal the villain who planned the whole affair, Mr Jones the local Fairground owner! Brilliant!

And the best part is it's completely self working all you do is talk rubbish and soak up everyone's admiring comments.
When Gerald's here the fun never ends!


You see Mr Skutt, I told you not to encourage me...