Comments for Stone Cold Magic Magazine

Comment on Threads by Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 01:00:40 +0000

In reply to Emory Kimbrough. Not too shabby sir. I like it. What a funny surprise that would be when you pull the rope out.

Comment on BINGO by Emory Kimbrough

Emory Kimbrough — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 23:48:07 +0000

Trade-show idea – Make a bingo card, but with the squares having words like DURABILITY, TECH SUPPORT, TRAINING, PORTABILITY, etc. – whatever are good features of the product you want to pitch. Use your method to force, say, RUGGEDNESS. Show your written prediction: “Gizmotronics Inc. Knows You Are Particularly Concerned About RUGGEDNESS.” Now magically produce your sledgehammer and launch into your product’s impressive ruggedness demonstration. Yep, Gizmotronics Inc. ANTICIPATES your needs and concerns.

That card could also be used as a game card for some big giveaway – RUGGEDNESS is now their free space towards maybe winning the hourly prize.

Comment on Threads by Emory Kimbrough

Emory Kimbrough — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 23:21:24 +0000

Pluck off the occasional two-inch loose thread from the edge of the lapel, showing minor annoyance but without calling great attention to it – just barely enough for the action to be noted. After doing this a few times, pluck off about three feet of rope.

I’m a jumbo-climax kinda guy.

This will require a little surgery on your jacket: Create a buttonhole or, even put a grommet, in the jacket, hidden by the lapel and placed somewhat higher than where your thread-spool gimmick is located. Drape most of the rope back over your shoulder (under the jacket) so that it won’t make a sharp turn at the buttonhole or grommet, and pull about two inches through the hole, where it will rest hidden under the lapel to grab.

I just tested running the rope up the lapel on one side, under the collar behind the neck, and about halfway down the lapel on the other side. This plucks off quite well with a downward pull, although the amount of rope that can be concealed this way was a little shorter than what I wanted for the follow-on effect that I’d like to use the rope for. ( I do a ring-and-rope penetration routine using a five-inch ring and little over three feet of de-cored rope.) That suggested the grommet method to produce a rope that’s funnier for being longer, and also of a more practical length for the typical effect that uses a medium-length rope.

See also Gene Anderson’s loose-buttons effect from his Part-Time Pro lecture notes for another effect that might be combined with your loose-thread gimmick.

Comment on Remember the Feeling by Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 20:01:07 +0000

In reply to Kozmo. @Kozmo - Thanks for dropping by. You're totally right brother. It's critical that we see things from the perspective of our audience. Check out Don't Be a Magician in the February 2014 issue.

Comment on Remember the Feeling by Kozmo

Kozmo — Thu, 22 May 2014 02:30:52 +0000

The question for a magician when hes creating or picking an effect. Can it be explained away. Sam the bell Hop in Bill Malone’s hands is not magic, its theater but not magic, its entertaining and that entertainment is its value. But it can be explained away “Man that guys good with a pack of cards, I wouldn’t want to play cards with that guy”…explained away. And most card effects can be explained away with that one statement…..

So the question is, what does it look like from your audiences view…..that’s whats important…not that i know anything….

Comment on Shut Up and Listen by Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:40:27 +0000

In reply to Mystic Mel.

@MM – Thanks for the feedback. You’re totally correct. It’s all about self-confidence. That’s a tough thing to have. It’s also the reason guys like Jim Carrey are so funny . . . he has so much confidence that he’s willing to just “let go” and not care what other people think. This allows you to take risks. Without taking some risk, you never know how far you can go.

Comment on Shut Up and Listen by Mystic Mel

Mystic Mel — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:53:11 +0000

I agree, this comes when you are comfortable with your routine and confident in yourself. Another factor is having the ability to be creative. This is where sharing of skills come in to play. You share your mechanic skills and I share my creative skills and we both gain keeping our own personality. To accomplish this, we must both be humble and self confident to share.

Thanks, I enjoyed the article, it was a good learning experience.

Comment on The Challenge – No Card Tricks by Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 20:33:16 +0000

In reply to Eustaquio. @Eustaquio - Thanks for the comment. Dig through the Roots and Branches Archives and you'll find plenty of tips on improving.

Comment on The Challenge – No Card Tricks by Eustaquio

Eustaquio — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:30:20 +0000

That’s good Jeff, We must challenge ourselves to grow and improve, one of my challenges is do and create alot of impromptu magic without cards… I hope that you help me with this and anybody(anyone) that want… 😉 Thanks…

Comment on The Magical Passion of Adele by Jeff Stone

Jeff Stone — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 08:01:52 +0000

In reply to Andy.

@Andy – That’s beautiful . . . Opening a door to “this is me.” Thanks for sharing!

Jeffro