This is the tale of 'getting the props'
Now let me start by saying magic props are EXPENSIVE, you are paying for not only the items themselves but your paying your doo's to the Creator/designer.
like anything you can buy on the cheap, there are many fakes out there. For me its like this, if you want to be the best chef in the world then your not going to show up in a kitchen with a set on knives that you have bought from the market place @ Ikea (dont get me wrong i love Ikea and all that it stands for, not to mention those delicious hot dogs and bite size Dime bars, now that's what im talking about!)
Your just not going to feel special, you are going to want the best knives out there and your going to love using them, you will use them with pride!
When you perform you want to feel like 'the shit,' like a pro. and the way to do that is have the best tools/props etc. They DO NOT make the performer BUT they make the performer feel great!
Now this project was about taking it back to basics, no big expensive illusions, it was about real magic for real people, it was about The Street, so in true street style i had to hustle to get my props, my list was simple as i already have an act, i just needed something extra special.
1) a set of cups, street cups, big rough, copper. I wanted cups made by UK street performer and sculptor Gary Animal (who works the streets of Stratford upon Avon)
2) A street wand, other wise known as a stick
3) A poachers pouch, made by the true master of street performing GAZZO (look this guy up if his name means nothing to you)
4) A tabletop
So, i collected together all the magic junk (and by that i mean tricks, which i have been tricked into buying) which i have never used or performed in.
*Side note - it makes me laugh after all the props that i have bought, just out of my love for the art and facination, all of the money that i have spent, I've managed to built a pretty good magic business out of a couple of decks of cards, a sharpie marker and some delicious sponge balls!)
**Young Magicians spend your money on magic books not trick decks, you will thank me one day**
So I got it all together and headed off to TheMagicCafe a wonderful forum for Magicians (my girlfriend calls it my magic porn lol) its a great place 'Magicians helping Magicians) anyway it was a great way to sell all of my stuff. After a while the sales were made and i have enough for my Gary Animal cups, i got a set of 'babes' the name of the cup i might add!!
Next i got a wonderful deal on a Gazzo pouch off a nice Magician who no longer performed on the street due to a disability, he did me an amazing deal on this very expensive item. I thank him very much.
The Wand/Stick was made by Tabman in the USA and made in cherry wood, in all honesty i think its too nice for the street so I'm going to get a drum stick and tape that bad boy up!
The Table is going to be made by a friend of mine 'Gadget' nice guy and pretty handy with the old wood work skills!
So I'm all set, and the best thing is Ive worked hard to use what i had to get something that i wanted (i think this is the way to go in todays harsh economic times, have a look through your magic draw, you may have something that someone will want!!!
Special mention, to street performer Peter WARDELL, his DVD 'CrowdPuller' is fantastic and I would advise anyone wanting to get into street magic to watch this, also GAZZO cups and balls DVD is great, I'm not one for being a clone so I'm working on my own patter but these DVD provide a great starting point for the performer.
One final special mention is for sideshow performer Jimmy talksalot, his writings have been an inspiration for me, again you can find this great guy all over YouTube, worth a watch, or even better if your stateside go watch him and throw some bucks in his hat!
Here you can see me and my Fantastic Gary Animal cups!
ps IM NOW ON TWITTER @tabletoptrixta follow me! (ive got a great comp coming soo to win something AMAZING from my buddy Jamie D Grant, there you have reason to follow on twitter and facebook!!
and also www.facebook.com/thetabletoptrixta (make sure you click the like button
Pleased you like my cups -Gary Animal
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