Normally, I keep a good eye on my props when I’m packing up. However, at yesterday’s morning assembly, a class asked to take a picture with me, and of course, I said yes. While we were doing that, I noticed a teacher had lined up their class to leave the gym right next to my table. It was a really strange place to line up the kids, as my table is in the middle of the gym floor.
While I was getting my picture taken with the class that asked, I could see hands reaching for things. I quickly ran over and moved the kids away. A quick look, and I didn’t notice anything missing or broken. Then, while I was setting up my next show, I noticed one of the “knots” for my BEKOS (smiley face version) was missing!
I’m in the middle of nowhere and in a different hotel almost every day, I really can’t have another one shipped to me. I plan on making a makeshift knot, probably two so that they match, but that’s a project for tonight.
What I did for the next two shows yesterday was do the trick with the first knot, visually sliding off. Then the second knot, I tied a false knot in the silk, and mimed sliding it off. That didn’t play well. For the third (last) show of the day, I tied a false knot and blew on it to make it disappear, and that played much better. That’s the plan on how I’ll do it today.
This is an instance where having a deep background in all sorts of magic really helps! I didn’t need to learn anything. I noticed the knot was missing right before the show, and immediately had a backup plan that I could use 40 minutes later!
I call all of that stuff in my brain that I don’t actively use in my show, but I can do my “magic toolbox of techniques”. When I need to fix something on the spot, it’s much easier than having to figure out something brand new and put it onstage with no practice time.
-Louie
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Love you blog, buddy!
Regarding Knot-off-silk, another option if you haven’t already thought it, is to use your first knot, slide it off, and literally do the vanishing cigarette move as you ‘toss’ it away into a nearby bin, case, etc. (I forgot the name – But the ‘knot’ (loop) is held between the first and second fingers, and as you hand goes into the bin/case/etc., you end your fingers and tuck the edge of the ‘knot’ between your thumb and the bottom of your first finger. (Also used for vanishing a coin). Hand comes up with fingers flaired out a bit, thumb holding tightly next to bottom of first finger. Show the silk in the extended OTHER hand as you reposition the knot so you ring and pinky are holding/squeezing it instead. NOW do a false knott on the rope, and ‘drag’ your hand along it (opening up the false knot) and you ‘pop’ the knot off the silk, showing the ‘knot/loop’ again. Sorry, rambling.
But yes, backups for everything, including ‘outs’ for when props get lost/broken. 🙂
Cheers!!
That’s a great idea!!!!
I briefly thought about using the same knot twice, but I stalled out at the idea of getting it place how the gimmick would normally be used. I didn’t think about just adding it to the silk after a false knot was tied!
Thanks!!!
Louie