Performing Magic I HATE! | Steven Bridges
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
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Hey Stephen,
My gut feeling is that the chip trick didn't land as well because of you physically manipulating the changing chip. The "wow" effect is much stronger when the audience perceives you're not interacting with the props at all, rather than the "sleight of hand" of the chip trick.
Love the videos, and if you want to learn how to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded, hmu :D
Definitely agree, to me the chip trick just looked a bit.. fumbled, there is nothing more suspicious in a trick than a magician manipulating the props where no one can see what his hands are doing.
It almost feels like it's a special chip made for the specific trick and that makes it less impressive than if it where a normal one
I think I agree with this comment and its replies. It feels like you're somehow cheating the audience with the chips trick. In the other tricks there's more "wow" effect. I would try building more suspense (I don't know how to say it more accurately) in the ending of the chips trick. I think the way you're doing it right now they are waiting for something amazing to happen and the result isn't as satisfactory as they hoped.
Steven Bridges
is working with *Demons.*
the sponge balls trick works even better with impromptu soft props that are laying around the area you are performing in. Don't schedule the trick in, but instead take advantage of the opportunity to perform it when the opportunity arises.
I think the sponge balls trick worked well partially because it was a multi-phase routine, and also the fact that the balls "grow" so it works as a visual thing - but I feel your pain. I have a hate for the linking rings and think its horribly outdated and not a very impressive trick, but a lot of people will never have seen it before, and they like it. It's a mental block because of our personal opinions on the matter.
I'm very certain the red ball trick is more exciting, beacous people can feel it's a sponge, witch make's it fimiliar and their expectation's of what you can do with a sponge are so much lower. therefor when something does happen, it get's them much more excited. while a chip trick. most people don't use chip's that often, especially compared to the sponge. to the card, kindof the same. just less extreem difference
I don't think the spongeballs are cheesy. To be honest I found it very easy to understand how that trick worked even though I have no experience in doing magic tricks.
Can you do the ball trick but make it or them change colour?
.......but my real question is.... why was the girl crying????
I think magicians generally like colour changes more than the general public. Not sure why, and I have naught but anecdotal evidence of this.
I feel the balls work well for this kind of magic, however the boring aspect is probably because of cups and balls, where the spectators are less impressed as they know the balls can be squished, and thus easier manipulated.
For the card trick the fact that it is their selected card it probably the reason (instead of it "just" changing colour like the chips)
Yes I think magicians tend to be very impressed by and interested in colour changes because they are (in general) more difficult to perform than vanishes and appearences. And upgrading a colour to something where it changes into the spectators card is certainly more impressive to the audience, even if the sleight of hand is the same
It would be more difficult, but changing to a freely (or "freely") named colour might get the same effect?
You're on a roll with these uploads! Great topic for the video, I know you hate it but I have such a soft spot for the sponge balls/sponge rabbits. To the point where I'll perform it for adults and it will incite more of a reaction than some of my other (what I would consider) "elite" material. I guess certain people just love a bright colourful prop!
Agree :)
Also agree
I think the sponge balls are just easier to figure out. Especially when you can touch it, clearly they are very compressible and you know that you can fit 2, 3, 4 or how many you need in your hand. But just because we know the punchline doesn't make the delivery any less fascinating. The fact is that because the balls are so compressible when they inflate back to their full size it's a much more visible result and can induce a larger reaction because of it.
Do more experiences like this!
For example: should you do cardestry while doing a trick, or pretend it is your first time handling a deck of cards?
What gets better reactions?
Well, both work good, cardistry makes spectators think that this guy's good, and when you act like it's your first time handling a deck they think the trick would probably be trash but it ends up being great
I don't like the sponge balls because they look like a special prop.that makes the magic more prop magic then sleight of hand. I think the chips are is less popular because the change is smaller than the other two tricks
Wanted to say a huge thank you to you Steven for performing a trick for my family and I this Sunday when we couldn’t stay for your show! It was fantastic and greatly appreciated! I always go to Leicester Square when I’m in London to hopefully see you so I was so happy that I finally got to meet you! Thank you for being so lovely and bloody talented!
P.S. Personally prefer the chip trick because I’ve never seen anything like it before and the super quick colour change is amazing!
Well, you asked for analysis, so brace yourself Steven! :)
The sponge ball makes me smile before you even do anything with it specifically because it does remind me of clowns and Rudolph. I think most people will associate them with childhood, and they just make you happy before the trick even begins. I've seen this trick many times, and I love it when a dozen balls suddenly pops out. This trick makes me smile every time! :) In contrast, poker chips have an adult association to them - gambling. It puts you in a more serious mindset, even if you think gambling is fun. They denote competition, concentration, and focus (because of course you want to win), so in a way they make it harder for you to be happy in the moment than the sponge balls.
You might try redesigning the sponge balls to be yellow and in the shape of lemons (be on brand!) and see if people still like the trick as much when the sponge "ball" doesn't remind them of childhood concepts.
The reason the card trick wows more people is because cards don't inherently mean gambling the way chips do, people play cards at all ages, and it's a really cool trick. :) I hope this analysis helps! Thank Youuuuu!
Wow. That's very interesting. I love sponge magic, I perform magic and had not thought of that. That's a very fcking good theory.
@@pedronavarrofernandez1443 Thanks! :)
@@xzonia1 Yep, nailed it. It's all about association and psychology.
@@JimmyLundberg Thanks! :)
Wow! Amazing rationale! Loved that analysis!! WOW
I think that magicians should use whichever props they feel comfortable with, otherwise the magic can feel a little bit artificial, as though your heart isn't really in it. A good magician can create great magic with any prop, so why not use the props you love?
So true!
Well said.
I think the sponge balls is a very fooling trick, same with the card. Because the spectator is absolutely certain of what they saw... but then they are proved wrong.
I have the EXACT same thoughts Steven about the spongeballs, but I can’t really complain about them considering that my routine with them got me 4,000,000 views on a video on an app called TikTok and has launched my social media😂! Great idea for a video, I really enjoyed, keep up the good work😀
great video.
Here's why I think the balls work:
1. Balls are weird to magicians but not to layman. Your/my familiarity with them is not the same as the person's on the street
2. Sponge balls are so visual.
3. I also think Sponge Balls have less "suspicion" attached to them. A layman might have built-in mistrust when they us get the cards out: "Uh-oh, here comes some card trickery". I believe the sponge balls disable any suspicion
4. Balls animate: that "animation" as they appear in the palm is really imactful.
I don't like the chips trick, personally. I think the act of removing a chip from their closed fist is clunky and artificial. Also, chips don't do anything when they get revealed.
Keep up the great videos. And do more of these question-type ones. They're very refreshing.
I love your point about the animation of the balls and lack of with the chips, I completely agree, it's due to this reason that I use the chips on certain audiences.
I think the weird thing is that the prop is so well known for people who are into magic that it really looks kinda cheesy, but for random people who might not be familiar with magic they just see the ball/card/chip as equally magical but then the growing thing and simplicity of the balls make them stand out more?
Hhmmm..... interesting....
IMHO, the Spongeball Trick is so popular because:
1. It is so simple (I don’t mean simple to perform, obviously! simple in concept, simple prop, outcome, etc...)
2. It is very tactile (the sponge balls have way more “feel” to them, than a playing card or a chip)
3. It looks like pure magic - when performed this well,
4. I think there is a pleasing, almost child-like simplicity to the entire routine, it almost starts to elicit a smile even before the “punchline”....
Anyway, great vid, great idea! I suspect one could write books and books on the psychology at work during magic routines!
The sponge balls remind me of children's magicians at parties, so I can understand why you might not want to be associated with that, but I think the problem with the tricks that you showed is that most people would be more impressed by something multiplying or appearing/disappearing than changing colour in my opinion.
Was anyone else hoping that the building behind the girls would slowly starting changing the balls into red?
Also amazing video, I think the balls work more because it looks like they're growing and that you're literally seeing magic in front of you!
I think as magicians we have looked too much into the sponge-balls and think they are a cheesy prop. However to an everyday person surely that just see it as a ball?
Use red and blue sponge balls
I use yellow sponge balls. I introduce one as my pet sponge who does tricks like sit, stay, and jump (where he jumps from hand to hand or to my pocket).
For magicians, sponge balls may remind them of cheesy magic sets as a kid. For laymen, maybe not so much.
So many uploads!! I love it. A friend of mine LOVES sponge balls so I sent this to him. I don’t understand why people love them so much!!
You know still SUCKERPUNCH was one of the best purchases I’ve made. I love the poker chip magic, but I also love the sponge balls. I use both. There’s just also a bit more fun for an audience to see something puffy like the balls.
Bro, I love this trick. I understand what you're saying, but personally...
Spongeballs is almost like its growing and it feels like they have one but as soon as they start to open their hands, the feeling that it feels like it growing is something fascinating. You casino chip trick, while is more impressive to me because I'm a magician, but to those who aren't they see a much bigger effect. Also, the fact that you reached into their hands to remove a chip just makes it feel like, "Oh he could've been doing anything." Whereas with the card trick and balls trick it feels like you only handle those for a little bit. Anyway, that's my thought.
This is so funny because I hate card tricks! Not that they are bad or I can't perform them it's just the same tired pick a card any card thing. Out of all the things you can make appear, disappear, change or grow the sponge balls have them all beat. Even the sponge rabbits cause of the cute shape and story. (which by the way is my go to) This is a fascinating subject that should have over a 100k or responses but, I also know that most just watch and do not comment. I really appreciate you sharing this video. (This is why I need you to come to America and do some lecturing) (I've asked before....) (and I got friends all over)
I think the sponge balls are visual and simple to understand and that is the reason that the people like them, also they are fun because is like a game and they feel more included.
Honestly i have the sensation that props with a weird connotaition in our lives are on themselves magic looking, for that i use old coins from Mexico for coin magic or sponge balls of another color like green for evading the red nose thing that i dont like neither.
There's a simplicity with the sponge balls I recon.
I perform with sponge balls and cards. I usually save the sponge balls for the spectators that show they are lacking interest in cards and then add some mentalism in to the mix to diversify the magic a bit, sponge balls do get great reactions, especially with kids, but I agree with you that they are sort of cheesy and a lot of people think they are clown noses without the hole in them. I usually have greater reactions with the card tricks than the sponge balls, but I like that you tested it out to see what people like!
Can you do A/B testing on Squarespace because you're missing a trick there lad
The ball trick is impressive because the ball just vanishes and reappears in your hand, simple as that. But the one with the chip is kinda dull because I think it looks like it could just be a special prop and not a normal chip. Also, the card trick is the best because there's no way for the card you chose to be switched while it's in your hand and it's mind blowing
Okay here we go! Firstly absolutely wonderful video Steven, been loving your content so much! It's lovely seeing actual good magic content opposed to a lot of the other stuff out there.
So my 2 cents about this is as such:
I totally agree that the red sponge balls definitely come across as extremely clowny and proppy, however, you can of course get a variety of colours for your sponge balls. I personally use black spongeballs, which work absolute wonders. Red spongeballs are definitely not something I would use at say a high end corporate gig, but black could possibly be used as well as combining a variety of colours in some sort of mentalism effect. So to conclude that segment, red spongeballs are clowny, but spongeballs can be incredibly powerful!
Then, the poker chip effect. I think there are a few reasons it falls well short of the spongeball effect. Firstly, those specific poker chips, I think, don't quite have the same feeling and weight that you would normally get from casino poker chips, or even chips in a home poker set, they feel a little flimsy and too light. I then think the fact that you have to remove a chip from there hand after you put them both in, kills it for the spectator.... as in why did you put them both in if you are immediately going to take one out again? (To clarify, I am not knocking your performance. You are by far one of my favourite performers).
And lastly, the card effect. Card transpositions are lovely and extremely powerful. I reckon people enjoyed this because after you cleanly put one card in the spectators hand, it changes without them opening the hand or you getting in there at all. It changes at the snap of your fingers... as if by magic. Creating a much more magical moment compared to the chips, and I would say an equally magic moment as the spongeballs, but the spongeballs are a lot more tactile. Something APPEARED in their hand rather than just changing.
Anyway, thats my 2 cents about this. Personally quite a bit fan of spongeballs, as long as they aren't red...
Love the video and the hopeful discussion points.
Last thing, would you be open to a discussion about the word "trick" in the magic world and how it possibly affects us as magicians and how spectators see us?
Lots of love for you Steven! Keep it up
awesome comment, I agree with the use of the word trick. I have always said "effect" if I am talking about magic, I tend to throw trick around more for children though. But then I think the presentation can change how you use the word also. My stage performances are very "in character this is a magic show" where my walk around is very "unexpected" and could be magic or could not be kind of thing, but then my table shows are specifically labelled as a sleight of hand and dexterity demonstration. I am loving reading peoples opinions and thoughts about this,
Check out Spanish Sponge ball magic. New and so different. Magicians like Xulio Merino or Victor Noir are specialized in sponge ball magic and they are doing incredible things.
I kind of think that the first change in the chips is way too immediate. So people just dont have the same reactions because for them the explanation is plain simple: The magician knows slight of hand.
Another point may be that doubling something in someone's hand is more "magical" than changing its color. Maybe people don't follow the chip trick as well because they have to do the "labor" of remembering colors.
To that, my guess is people don't perceive the hand sandwitch as a card that has its printings changed, but rather as different cards switching places. And maybe, that's not what they think during the chips trick, but rather that chips are changing colors.
Finally, (and I hadn't thought of this before) maybe for them it's a good think that the balls are such a striking magician's prop as they get in the mood better in comparison with the chips.They may wonder what do those objects have to do with a magician in the first place. Cards are associated with tricks too, so there you have it.
Just my two pennies
Oh my God i was thinking about the SAME thing ! I also don’t like using sponge balls, i just think it’s a kind of weird prop to carry around so i like doing tricks with things spectators are used to ...
great video
Only good thing about sponge balls is the ease of ball jokes.
I liked the chip trick best from back here, mostly because I have no idea how you did it. I've watched too much Penn & Teller for the other ones (though I still really appreciate the execution).
Anyway, here's my reasoning behind the reactions. Your eyes trick you all the time to the point where you get used to it. Actually feeling something impossible though, like the ball duplicating, that doesn't usually happen, which is what makes the ball trick better than the chip trick. The card trick is the best because not only do you change the card in their hands, but you also guess the card at the same time. It's two tricks in one.
I'm no magician but I do know a quite a few card tricks. Of all the tricks I've done I've notice the ambitious card routine gets the best reaction. I honestly believe it's how you perform it that makes it even more magical so when I wave over the deck and their card doesn't show up it looks random for me but when they wave or snap and their card shows up the reaction is priceless! Again it's really on how you perform the trick. What if you did a StevenBridgesChallenge where we record us doing simple card tricks or sponge ball, coin, chips, mentalism, etc to see how the performance can turn a simple card trick into the most amazing thing anyone has seen.. yay or nay?
For me (although I am not a magician, but I do some little tricks) it's the visuals that the ball trick gives. Compare it to the chip, the ball trick had more to show, while the chips were shorter. Also the exposure ( I guess) because you see the balls split become two, while the chips are mostly done with covers. For me, sponge balls are not bad, but to do the same trick is kind of boring. Maybe adding a different variable or doing it in a different way. Just like the guy in Pen and Teller, the guy with the metal cup and metal balls. 👌👌 *Imagine being able to do the sponge ball trick with chips.
I think the effect is so straightforward with the sponge balls. Sometimes we magicians complicate things to hide the method but this is simple, the sponge balls are bright and it is something a lot of laymen don’t see coming so the surprise and wonder are great. Thanks for all the uploads.
As a magician, I totally agree with you Steven. I think these are cheesy but also I personally prefer performing card tricks anyway.
Hey Steven I was wondering if you had any tips for me?
I’m a kid and I live in Switzerland where good magic is hard to find. The nearest magic shop is 2 hours away and only opens one day a week. I perform magic at my school where I do little shows but do you have any advice for performing and how to start a show? Love the channel by the
way, I’m a proud subscriber👍👍👍
humans are easily amused- chip change colour? i mean its still a chip it just sits there. big red ball grow?? yes from me!
My thoughts:
While I was watching the first set of tricks I was thinking that yes the poker chip trick in my opinion is much better, and it's visually better but the problem is it's not really flashy, where if we take this big bright red silly looking squishy ball, it puts the people in a much more silly atmosphere and gets them primed for having a bit of fun.
When it came to the 2nd set of tricks with the car trick, i think that the car trick has a bit more of the fun factor as well (obviously not as much as the balls trick) but the payoff for the car trick is much better because it's a seemingly much more complex trick to understand.
That being said if you were to perform the tricks in a sequential order for whatever reason I feel it would be best to start off with the balls to prime the fun atmosphere, go 2nd with the poker chip trick because it seems a better setup for the car trick, and since the card trick is already so well on it's own it gets even better having the audience primed for it and then leaving them with the card trick as the last one they remember.
All minor details.
I was also surprised hearing people hadn't seen the balls trick. Seemed alot more common to me but maybe it was just the small sample size was to blame.
Either way this was a good video and I liked it.
Maybe just take it as a lesson on how to order your tricks in the show not necessarily by what trick are good or bad, but how one trick might lead to another to give your shows a sort of story, or at least a sequence of tricks where the next trick is tangentially related the the previous one making the whole show a bit more coherent in general.
I like the chip trick, but I think the shock factor with the ball trick is much stronger! The visual of the balls growing is super cool! I think they all have a very similar visual appeal though, so it is super interesting how different the reactions were. I’m honestly confused as to why the chip trick wasn’t well liked, the color change is just as cool as the card change! Very crazy stuff here man haha.
I'm not sure which are worse... Blue or red balls.
But yeah, I've always like solid props more.
My guess is, people like the cards more because they have more input (pick a card), while for the chips there's really nothing... Maybe if they said a colour and you change the chip into that colour things would go differently.
Fantastic video! I've grappled with this issue too. Here's a solution, why don't they make them in muted, pastel colors? That would help. Using a ball isn't necessarily cheesy. It's more the color than the shape. Easy fix! Maybe I'll give Goshman a call.
I have similar discouragement of doing the spongeball trick just cuz it does look cheesy from a glance. But you just can't deny the visual effect of it and the fact that it happens in their hands, and they even feel it. What I would suggest and even I'm only considering this now, is that you can get Ellusionist/Goshman's black spongeballs. I think just the colour difference would make it feel less cheesy and more professional and, cooler, and mysterious in a sense rather than a child-like looking trick.
I like how you don't like it, but you perform it well. I've seen people perform it horribly also i don't practice magic i don't enjoy. Also enjoy how many people you got to say they enjoyed balls haha
my thoughts on the chip trick is that the reveal is more prolonged. even if it were a better trick the prolonged reveal wil subdue more of the reaction. the audience can guess the outcome in advance with the other two tricks. this often increses tention and therfore response at the reveal.
dude, more card counting vids. I'm just beginning my BJ and card counting training and I need more of those vids in my life.
Tbh, I did get how you did the ball trick and slipped it away. Same with the chips and card tricks, so I don't get why they liked one better bc they are pretty much the same trick and solution.
I think most magicians think the sponge balls are cheesy ! But cards cards cards ! When you go to a magic convention cards fucking cards argh !
I think there's not enough contrast in the colors of the chips. They are watercolor. I don't know... Maybe it's that. Who knows.
It is never tiring seeing how happy magic makes people. Literally made me smile! Great video, man.
I love the concept behind this video. Asking spectators what they prefer and what their impressions are is so interesting. Keep it up 👍🏼
Personal opinion.
Probably completely wrong...
SIZE and VALUE!
The two things humans care about!
How BIG is the bear we have to fight?
How much FOOD can I exchange for this tool?
The ball was one, now it's 2. Double the Size, double the value.
The cards change value as well, and, people know that card are not magical artifacts themselves. Which adds to the cards' trick "wow" effect.
Only a magician cares about color, about shape, or about sound.
So much dirty work.
It would have been interesting to use different coloured balls with different people cause I think the red balls seem more cheesey than say a green ball due to the connotation with clowns.
The casino chips trick is like ”look what i can do with those chips” Kind of trick.
The sponge balls trick is like “I’m going to do some weird shit with weird (but seemingly non gimmicked) props”
The card trick is like “hers cards, and I’m literally changing the card into your card, quite magical eh?”
So I would say, chips trick need more build up, or warming up before performing, or stronger ending or plot.
I think the sponge balls scored higher because it's more visual. Them growing larger as the hand opens, as I think you said toward the end. Also the pressing the ball and "splitting it into two balls" is visual and something the other effects don't have. As for the prop itself, other than the clown nose reference, I don't know why you think a sponge ball is any more cheesy than a poker chip or a playing card. Final thought--perhaps it's just because I'm familiar with the working of the "Scotch and Soda" trick with the shell coin, I think people will instinctively suspect a "gaff" with the poker chips (even if they're not familiar with the term). Sponge balls are sponge balls--perhaps similar to toys they have seen and therefore they don't suspect there's anything dodgy about them--because there isn't. Same with the cards--people are familiar with cards and so when the change has happened they don't have a way to explain it.
I think the presentation you had for the balls is smoother and more robust, which makes it seem like a more impressive trick. If the chip trick had the same level of banter I think it would land better. I think it's more confusing what you're going to do so the reaction is less pronounced. Great video Steven! THHHANNNKKK YOUUU!!!
legit, i was shuffling a deck of cards and practicing a colour change and did the change as the girl said the 6 of spades, the card i looked down and saw was the 6 of spades,
Coincidence, Probably
Illuminati, Confirmed,
Hotel, Trivago
Hi Steven,
I love the sponge ball trick... and since you don't like the red ball, have you thought about choosing another colour? (Although I think the red colour catch the eye of the people more than the others)
Once I saw a magician performing the sponge ball trick using sponge rabbits... was very interesting.. and different from the ball... maybe if you change the shape you will get to like it more?
Balls! They’re a bit dated if you like magic, but fun if not. Personally I preferred the card too. It appears ‘more clever’ because with the balls you’re always left wondering if one ball is in another.
Great topic, love this type of video of yours Steven. Nice to have you back in my life :)
I think the chips trick, it’s just a little easier to spot the sleight of hand. There were more opportunities for you to switch something i.e.
1) When you instructed them to close their hand around the chips, your hand was directly fiddling with the placement
2) And then straight after, when you went fishing around for the chips in their closed fist
It was obvious something was going on, even if I couldn’t spot exactly when/where… With the ball one, it wasn’t til _after_ the trick was over that I started to think of opportunities where the sleight of hand happened. I didnt notice the trickery _whilst_ it was happening. Also watching the balls grow before my eyes was a superbly done illusion, absolute mastery on your part!
Hey Steven. I would REALLY love it if you make about “theory” if aproaching people. I wanna know what is in your mind, and how you prepare yourself other than your charm and your perfect loooking face. I would like to know what you do or don’t show of yourself and things like that, pleeeeeease
Thank Stephen, I think you did a very good research and reflection. I, a magic lover, also think sponge balls are too common but the true feedback from spectators is important, thank you!
Familiarity..
And comfort..
But if a metaphor meaning is attached ..
If what you say and how you exacute .
Anything can be awesome
From my perspective, we as magician loves card tricks more than a ball. Ofc not everyone, but I’d say majority. But for public/non-magician, they love simple trick like the ball. But they’d still amaze with card tricks, but they afraid of how impossible it is
I personally don't like the sponge balls either and rarely, if ever, use them but I feel like a lot of people actually prefer them over other tricks/props. I guess that's mostly down to them being so 'funny' and colourful which (maybe??) reminds them of their childhood. I mean every kid loves magic and my guess would be that that's kind of like a throwback to their childhood for a lot of people because the prop seems to be so 'childish', which is what makes it so attractive.
Great video as always Steven!
It's funny how you call the red sponge trick a "cheap prop". Well, I would argue that a poker chip is probably a cheaper prop. I like the red sponge trick the most. It's fun, interactive and you see "growth"
I feel that magic is only corny if you make it corny. It all depends on how it's presented to the audience.
I’ve never performed the sponge balls so I can’t really say anything about them. But the chip trick was odd to me. I feel like while a good plot, the moves are just a bit awkward. Everything feels constricted and difficult to see just to keep the trick from being revealed. The sponge balls look much more open and free. Maybe people like it just because the moves feel more natural. Love the videos. Keep up the hard work.
I've always felt you should do the work as much for yourself as for the audience, because if you enjoy doing it, you'll find more innovative ways to approach it, and just generally do it better. Consequently, I feel if you don't care for the sponge balls, don't use them. But, look for other props that give you a comparable reaction. Doing this kind of research into the matter shows wisdom, I'd say.
I think the ball trick has a really nice visual, but I'm a sucker for cards. I'm aware of how often they're used and how some might see them as cliché, but I absolutely love them as a prop. With the chip trick, you're touching one of the chips when it happens, so it's not quite as "in the hand" as the ball trick. Maybe a comparison with a chip trick where it's completely in the hand might get more balanced results like the card trick did.
EDIT: I should've finished watching entirely before commenting, so I missed a question. I don't really have an opinion about spongeballs. They have a kind of "this could be cheesy" vibe but it might be because you said it so much. When I imagine that stereotype magician with the top hat rabbit and white-black-white stick of a wand, red spongeballs have never been in the image, so I guess not. It might be a difference in perception between the audience and the magician. You, as a professional magician, are more likely to know about the common things in the field, whereas the average audience member will have heard of some really famous magicians but not seen much. I hope this is at least coherent, I woke up early today and am a bit dehydrated.
3 years late, but catching up with Steven Bridges vids.
The chip trick sort of implies you can change their color. Making it feel more like the prop is doing the work. It's a great trick, but it feels like a trick rather than magic.
I find magic to be coolest, just involving usual objects. Using props like balls, chips or even cards just feels like using a tool to create magic. And don't get me wrong, i love card magic, but to truly confuse someone, i find objects, that aren't already connected to magic to have a better effect and to cause that mind-blown-i-contemplate-whether-magic-is-real kind of reaction. Again, not knocking any other magic (i actually prefer performing card magic), but i think the association of a prop to magic really influences the tricks effect. A deck of cards is in the middle of being a usual object and a foreign prop, as it has a primary function, that is not magic. Sponge balls on the other side are just what they are, there is no connection, or reason to carry them around. The chips are kinda in between both of them, but they seem so foreign, because you never really see poker chips outside a casino or a poker set. They are kind of in the "uncanny valley" in this case (i know, that the uncanny valley is something else, but it is the best way for me to describe my thoughts.)
Hi Steven,
I think the sponge balls trick is powerful because it’s high impact, props are examinable and it’s simple to follow.
I’ve given some thought to introducing the sponge ball as a prop and have come up with using the sponge ball at the start to demonstrate how attention is like a spotlight (red sponge ball is easy to follow) by making it vanish in my hand and reappear in my pocket. Then I do a ‘which hand’ trick/gag with the sponge ball, before moving on to a more classic sponge ball routine in their hands.
I find that with magic like this, even if the prop seems bizarre and unfamiliar, as long as you can introduce it in a way that makes it seem appropriate (or ‘organic’) to the context/patter or environment in which you are performing, the effect will still be as strong, if not stronger.
Just a few thoughts, would be interested to hear yours!
I reckon the card and sponge ball tricks both had the climax drawn out with just the right amount of presentation. The chip trick climax was just too fast. It goes into your hand, comes out a different colour. That's impressive, but doesn't build the suspense like the other two, where the spectator actually does the unveiling them self, after you've spent a moment doing magic hand movements.
Sponge balls are no stranger prop than silk handkerchiefs, out of style coins, linking rings and hundreds of other props used by amateur and professional magicians use what works for you! The audience reaction is what you're after. If they enjoyed the show you're a hero.
I feel like it's even better when you don't have to use any unnatural props. The best tricks would use everyday objects. Card tricks are 100% better than cheesy balls - but I'm an intellectual magic enthusiast with a pretty good idea how most tricks are done.
You can perform the multiplying balls trick with coins if you have a distaste for the sponge balls. It’s an equally impressive version.
I really love to perform card magic tricks then anyone else because I just can't learn even easiest moves with anything else then cards... (btw I learning magic for 3 years, but just as hobby)
I think a good trick involves the audience knowing what's supposed to happen, not believing that it can happen, then being amazed when it actually does. With the chips I don't think they knew what amazing thing was about to happen so there was more confusion. Maybe a simple, "now I'm going to swap them", or something would help.
I think the problem is that the chips look like magic props (i mean it also says murphys on it...). Balls are simple, it‘s just a ball. And they fucking grow in their own fucking hand it‘s so great
Size is everything, Spong balls are big and to conceal that in a hand without knowledge is very impressive. Big wow factor. You should test if you get the same reaction with different colours or something equal to size and volume.
good stuff mate... I completely agree with your take on the red sponge balls. this is why I use black ones, which are available on eBay/amazon. they just have much better look about them and you don't have to worry about the goofy clowns nose thing
It's all how you frame it and your individual personality...visually speaking the sponge balls wins.
I suspect that as a magician, you've been dealing with cards for longer and more frequently than with poker chips. As a result, your ability to frame the trick makes it better. Also I think you may have been overproving a bit on the poker chip trick.
I feel like the casion chip is just not as relatable of an object, most people just don't go to the casinos and if they do they play slots most of the time. But magicians use chips all the time so it's kind of a "show bis" item in a way.
But everyone can imagine squishy balls ( lol ) or cards. And even while card's are the most well known item magicians use it's also something everyone else is in contact with more.
I think that us magicians shouldn't really shy away from using sponge balls. We don't really have to use them as part of our act, but we shouldn't really look down on them, as they enable us to do simple, but visually stunning magic that even breaks language barriers.
I've had amazing reactions in the years I've used sponge balls, although nowadays I use sponge rabbits. I think it depends on how the effect is presented. When I start doing any kind of sponge magic to anyone, being a close up magician, I even point out the utter randomness of of having this sponge ball in my pocket.
It's pretty much me pointing out to the audience that I'm aware this looks cheesy. Good video Steven, love your content. :-)
Nothing wrong with sponge balls. Magicians really are the only ones that generally see them as cheesy.
Ultimately this is what I think: Sponge balls have been around for centuries. The poker chip effect, while it is a sucker punch.. is an effect that will most likely be forgotten in ten years. Like a lot of modern magic, it's forgettable after a while as magicians lose the hype. Sponge balls have survived this long because it's entertaining and really interactive with most routines being clean from start to finish. Which is a limitation for the chip effect.
I won a set of sponge balls, I've had them for about four years and I've never performed with them. I'm literally breaking them out now because of this video lol.
I think it's the fact that sponge balls are so obscure that they gain a sense of novelty in the participants mind.
Interesting video though!!
I think the chip trick is less effective because it's the chip in YOUR hand that I see changing colour - I've only inferred the colour of the chip in my hand so it's less of a surprise when it turns out to be a different colour.
The ball trick seems especially effective as it would feel like I should have known that I was holding two balls. I have no chance of feeling the colour of a chip or what card I'm holding so it's not quite such a surprise when it's not what I was expecting.
The way the chips are shown isn't exactly "natural". Something weird like that is bound to tip someone off because they don't know what to expect. They are afraid of the unknown.