ANNEMANN did not pick many losers. " A Cigarette by Proxy," was an effect he thought to be a great opener for any club act. The effect is credited to Orville Meyer, appeared in the Jinx and was reprinted in Jinx Programme No. I.
Briefly, the effect is that of a " trick " rolling of a cigarette. Tobacco is put in a cigarette paper, and paper and tobacco are then popped into the mouth. After a few violent cheek movements, the rolled cigarette works its way out at the lips. It is then lighted, and the performer goes on into his routine. This, as Annemann suggested, might well be the vanish of a lighted cigarette.
I have always LOVED this plot but never liked the handling. One day the presentation finally dawned on me. We've all heard the story about the guy who gets pulled over by the cops and has a bag of weed so he tries to eat it before the cop can find it.
Now we have a great presentation!
Plus its a lot cooler with a joint.
It took me years to figure out the right materials to perform this effect. I will tip the real work on how to perform this.
This is a great and VERY visual bit that you can use to loosen up your audience and get them laughing. You'll use it for stage and close up.
Ever seen a dove fart sparks? yeehaw!!! (you don't need a real dove...)
I have 5 ENTERTAINING minutes with this classic magic shop prop the Puff Cigarette. It is a great prop as it takes up no space. The jokes and lines are great and you'll learn how to use this gimmick in a very MAGICAL WAY.
This is a great presentatin for the classic Quantimental stand. Five objects displayed on a stand are hidden in five locations (or five pockets) and the mind reader is able to locate all five objects with 100% accuracy. The mechanism is a clever stand/base that holds the objects. You can find the card version still available for only around $30 on the internets.
I've disguised the prop and also use modern objects that are funny, topical and socially hip. You will WANT THIS!!! Packs small plays HUGE.
A great piece of situational comedy that involves a classic of magic, you, a volunteer and a 9 volt battery. ; )
An AMAZING transposition. It is a RISING CARD gone wrong effect. Rather than the selected card rising... random items from your wallet, like a $20 dollar bill, drivers license, and credit card all rise from the deck! When you check your wallet... it is now a deck of cards and the deck of cards in your other hand INSTANTLY changes into your wallet. This is amazingly visual.
You guessed it. The selected card is now found inside the wallet.
This effect is amazing and I predict will be one of the most performed effects in the book.
For this effect you will need a couple of existing props that you probably already own. One of them is a rising card effect. While the method can vary I use the Arne Card Rise. This is the version with a piece of sticum and a weight that slides causing the card that adheres to it to rise out of the deck.
You will also need a fake foam wallet. They just so happen to make a fantastic one that was created by Tom Burgoon and is sold by Magic by Gosh. Steve Goshman rocks and he is cool. Order his stuff!
You'll also need a twenty dollar bill (denomination doesn't really matter), a driver license or similar I.D. card, and another item from your wallet like a credit card or picture of your kids or a condom etc.
These three OTHER items must be similar in size to a playing card; at least as big or smaller. If they are bigger, it will be difficult to hide them in the deck. The only thing that tends to be a problem is the money, so I just fold it up and it is still just as effective.
So the idea is simple. A card is selected and lost in the deck. You place the deck into a plastic bag and give it a little shake announcing “the card you are thinking off will rise from the deck!”
Having said that a twenty dollar bill rises, after this false start you try again and this time the credit card pops up, and then the driver license, etc. Finally you say “that’s all stuff that is from my wallet.” As you say this you slowly turn to your side and grab for your wallet. When you reach for it you pull out the DECK of Cards instead... and when you face forward again the deck that was just in your hand is now YOUR WALLET.
And yes, you guessed it. The wallet is opened to reveal the selected card inside.
This BLOWS people away.
Set up. In your right back pocket where your wallet usually is...is a deck of cards not in a box. You will also need one of Tom Burgoon's Sponge Wallets made by Goshman. I load this wallet with a folded card that matches the force card as in the pic below.
Once the folded card is in place I fold the wallet up into a bundle and hold it in my left hand.
Your left hand really needs something to do to make it look natural so thats what we will do in a moment! : )
For now the folded wallet bundle goes in your left back pocket. I usually fold up a clear plastic bag and place this in my front right pocket. You will also need an aditional deck of cards in a box. This can be already “in play”. This deck is a rising card deck. I prefer the Arne Card Rise Deck. Or a loop of eleastic thread words great too.
Last but not least you'll need a few objects like a driverse license and a condom etc. Things that you'd find in your wallet...
(Note: If you are using a condom you can open it up, take out the condom and glue it back together so its flat enabling it to rise from the deck easier and it will still have that little circle shaped impression)
To perform the effect, set up the objects just like you would three cards ready to rise. If you are using the Arne Card Rise, just keep these items on the bottom. They will rise in order. I have a twenty card bank of force cards that are below ten NORMAL, indifferent cards. In this way I can show several cards different and then have one selected via in the hands spread. Just spread the force card bank and you'll be fine. : )
After the card is “freely” selected you take it and shove it back anywhere. Give the deck a cut centralizing the three wallet items that were on the bottom.
You can either table the deck or place it into the box. Your next move is to get the plast ic baggy while at the same time grabbing the folded wallet and getting it into your left hand so it will not be seen.
Now you can drop the deck in the box or in the plastic bag.
The photo shows how your hand holds the bag and hides the folded wallet.
The plastic bag is there to give your dirty palming hand something to do. It also makes the rise look cool. And last but not least, it makes turning the deck end for end seem logical. Each time you pull the deck out of the bag and extract the newly risen object, it’s natural to revolve the deck and place it back in the other way. Thus in the process you have subtly reset the deck for the next object to rise.
The cards won't naturally rise while it’s inside the bag. You can either tap the bag gently on the table or their hand. Or better yet, have THEM wiggle their fingers under the deck/bag and have them tap the bottom with their fingers. This will cause the bank card to rise. This is a great tip I got from Tony Miller. After the third object has risen, take the deck out of the bag and toss the bag away or onto the table.
You'll now take the deck at the fingertips of your left hand and toss the bag away. It is the turning of your body to grab your wallet that motivates this great magic moment.
Slowly turn to your left as you reach to your right back pocket with your right hand. You will still be palming the wallet in your hand so the deck will actually both the deck and the wallet. The deck will be on top of the smushed and folded wallet.
Slowly turn t your left bringing your right back pocket into view. With your right hand reach into your pocket and pull the deck out as you simultaneously drop the real deck in your left pocket. As soon as the deck is dropped from your left hand you can relax your grip on the folded wallet and let the wallet flip open as in the next photo.
Slowly turn back around to face them and look shocked to see the objects in your hands have apparently changes places INSTANTLY!!!
Get rid of the deck and slowly open the wallet to reveal the folded card. Hand the card to the person who selected it and ask them to unfold it as you put away your fake sponge wallet. It's probably a good idea to have a wallet that matches the fake one. But I don't.
Here are some pics of the rise in action...
WIF
The idea is absurd. Visually amazing. Social props doing absurd things. The visual of a CONDOM rising from the deck is really funny and cool.
A highly visual sight gag that will have you running off to go find your Funkenring.
Another hilarious sight gag that will get the audience laughing and loosened up. Use it whenever you have a microphone.
A presentation for the classic Card Stab that involves gore and blood and questionable decisions.
This is just mean. You'll want to perform it as soon as you read it. It involves soaking someone's crotch with water while they are unaware of it. My only regret is I couldn't get you with this gag before you read it.
Based on an old idea from Robert Harbin you apparently hypnotize several people into thinking a piece of paper tastes like a buttery biscuit, a peppermint and finally a piece of shit. Good times.
Just like it sounds. A SIGNED selection is lost and then found INSIDE a sealed and freely selected random tampon.
Foot Fungus got you down? This funny site gag will cheer you up.
The classic Brainwave Card Effect done with EGGS!!! An egg is freely selected from a carton of a dozen eggs. Amazingly they choose the ONLY egg that is NOT ROTTEN...and to prove it you toss the other eggs into the audience! This has become a favorite effect of mine and one of the few effects from these pages I have performed at Magic conventions. It always gets a HUGE laugh. This gag is so much fun to perform.
A test of Psychometry. You are able to detect danger by finding the ONE condom with a hole in it...while blindfolded!!!
You'll just have to wait and see on this one.
A very cool book test you can perform with a normal book. This really is a great book test......disguised as a comedy revelation that will surprise many and disgust all.
Why use a fucking knife? The audience will be much more interested in the effect if there is a chance the first seven rows will have burning eyes and bloody tears.
A great visual gag you can use ANY TIME you vanish a borrowed object. It is very funny and it uses Fire. Double Bonus.
Whenever I need to borrow a deck of cards I use this gag. Its a gag thats great for stand up and stage. Gets the audience laughing and is quite unexpected!
Great sight gag. You can probably already visualize it! : )
I use this gag whenever I am performing and need to have a card or a dollar bill signed. Its a great extension of the old "sniff the Sharpie" gag.
A visual and pretty darn magical production gag that involves masturbation and money. Something we all need.
Another side splitting visual gag. The production is so ironic and funny you'll be running to go and tryit!
Great comedy bit you can use with a slate or any pad of paper. I use it to get the audience on my side and let them know I'm a fun performer and they are about to have a great time!!!
You ever think a party popper kinda looks like a tampon with the little string hanging out? Me too.
A sight gag that is funny and topical. Everyone either has an ipad or has seen one so this is a great one to take advantage of.
A borrowed and signed bill vanishes only to be found in your pants. With empty hands you slwoly unzip your fly and cleanly extract the bill from your pants. There is more where that came from....
Billy McComb would be proud! Have a Hot Book or FIre Book that looks like a BIBLE on hand for the next visit from the local church. As you go to quote scripture light/ignite the book and scream like a little girl as you say "satan is among us". This really sells it.
A classic piece of Comedy Mentalism spruced up that will fool and entertain. It also is a little gruesome.
This is a great effec to either on stage OR close up. You pour a little water from a bottle of water into your fist. When you dump it back out it is now wine. You offer to take everyone to the nearby drinking fountain to get drunk!
Once again. You just have to be there.
Another sight gag and play on words that will be one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments.
Once the folded card is in place I fold the wallet up into a bundle and hold it in my left hand.
Your left hand really needs something to do to make it look natural so thats what we will do in a moment! : )
For now the folded wallet bundle goes in your left back pocket. I usually fold up a clear plastic bag and place this in my front right pocket. You will also need an aditional deck of cards in a box. This can be already “in play”. This deck is a rising card deck. I prefer the Arne Card Rise Deck. Or a loop of eleastic thread words great too.
Last but not least you'll need a few objects like a driverse license and a condom etc. Things that you'd find in your wallet...
(Note: If you are using a condom you can open it up, take out the condom and glue it back together so its flat enabling it to rise from the deck easier and it will still have that little circle shaped impression)
To perform the effect, set up the objects just like you would three cards ready to rise. If you are using the Arne Card Rise, just keep these items on the bottom. They will rise in order. I have a twenty card bank of force cards that are below ten NORMAL, indifferent cards. In this way I can show several cards different and then have one selected via in the hands spread. Just spread the force card bank and you'll be fine. : )
After the card is “freely” selected you take it and shove it back anywhere. Give the deck a cut centralizing the three wallet items that were on the bottom.
You can either table the deck or place it into the box. Your next move is to get the plast ic baggy while at the same time grabbing the folded wallet and getting it into your left hand so it will not be seen.
Now you can drop the deck in the box or in the plastic bag.
The photo shows how your hand holds the bag and hides the folded wallet.
The plastic bag is there to give your dirty palming hand something to do. It also makes the rise look cool. And last but not least, it makes turning the deck end for end seem logical. Each time you pull the deck out of the bag and extract the newly risen object, it’s natural to revolve the deck and place it back in the other way. Thus in the process you have subtly reset the deck for the next object to rise.
The cards won't naturally rise while it’s inside the bag. You can either tap the bag gently on the table or their hand. Or better yet, have THEM wiggle their fingers under the deck/bag and have them tap the bottom with their fingers. This will cause the bank card to rise. This is a great tip I got from Tony Miller. After the third object has risen, take the deck out of the bag and toss the bag away or onto the table.
You'll now take the deck at the fingertips of your left hand and toss the bag away. It is the turning of your body to grab your wallet that motivates this great magic moment.
Slowly turn to your left as you reach to your right back pocket with your right hand. You will still be palming the wallet in your hand so the deck will actually both the deck and the wallet. The deck will be on top of the smushed and folded wallet.
Slowly turn t your left bringing your right back pocket into view. With your right hand reach into your pocket and pull the deck out as you simultaneously drop the real deck in your left pocket. As soon as the deck is dropped from your left hand you can relax your grip on the folded wallet and let the wallet flip open as in the next photo.
Slowly turn back around to face them and look shocked to see the objects in your hands have apparently changes places INSTANTLY!!!
Get rid of the deck and slowly open the wallet to reveal the folded card. Hand the card to the person who selected it and ask them to open it as you put away your fake sponge wallet. It's probably a good idea to have a wallet that matches the fake one. But I don't.
WIF
The idea is absurd. Visually amazing. Social props doing absurd things. The visual of a CONDOM rising from the deck is really funny and cool.
