Karrell has graciously
given us authorization to republish some of the
effects in his new book, "Much Ado About Something."
The regular price for this new treatise is $35
postpaid, but Joe Stevens is offering it at a
savings to GeMiNi subscribers. Please see Joe's
Subscriber Specials column for May.
The Topper The late
prolific U.F. (Gen.) Grant invented many tricks
that have become standard items in today's magic
shops. One of his best sellers for the last 20
years (which is still available at most magic
shops) is called "Strat-O-Spheres." In the effect,
there are four different colored balls. The red
ball is put at the bottom, in the middle, and
second from the top, however it always jumps back
to the top when the tube is removed. If you merely
add a stick-on label of the company you are working
for (logo), this becomes a perfect trick for trade
shows. Patter about "our competitors keep talking
us down, but we always come out on top." Think
about it, and do a little creative writing. It's
a natural.
Jet-Settings I imagine
that every club-date performer has at least one
of Abbott's jet-sets. In case you don't, permit
me to describe it to you. It's a compact backdrop
which sets up to a six-foot by six-foot size,
and breaks down to an extremely light bunch of
metal tubes.
Magicians have been
using them for years, and I'm sure that Abbott
Magic Co. of Colon, Mich., still (quite reasonably)
sells them.
When I was magishing,
I used to carry two of their units in the trunk
of my car. Placing one of these diagonally across
a corner of a room creates a useable dressing
room space for your assistant, or you if you're
shy. I think my second jet-set came in handiest
when I was performing a kid show. Here's the plan.
Set up the jet-set in front of your kid show crowd,
right close to them. Then you can set up your
props and tables *behind* the backdrop. Right
before showtime, have two of the committee members
move the backdrop from in front of you to *behind*
you.
When it's in front, allow the kids to sit
close to it. If you set up about three feet in
back of it, when it's moved, you will have a decent
performing distance between you and your juvenile
admirers.
