Stooges

[CaseyRudd]

To inspire this thread, I read a section from Dan and Dave's Organic: A Study on Engineering Miracles booklet, which can be bought here:

http://store.dananddave.com/organic-pdf-dan-dave-buck.html

The effect is basically using a stooge to perform an absolute miracle with a person's signed and selected card. I found this effect to be one of my favorites from the booklet, because I used the same principle last night at a candy shop. I had a friend browsing through the store, acting like a plain Joe. I was performing to a woman with her daughter, doing a couple of card tricks.

I looked at my friend and nodded my head to tell him to come towards me in order to do the "miracle". As soon as I said to her "Take the deck and shuffle is as much as you like..." I palmed it off and handed her the deck. My friend or "stooge" walked behind me, and took the card while she was busy shuffling.

He placed it on the other side of the store inside this candy box, and once he did it he walked away. I noticed her daughter was looking around the store, and heading to the place where my friend put the card to look at the candy boxes (she didn't see anything, don't worry). I asked her..."Do you like those candy boxes?"

She replied "Yeah!"

So I said to the mother, "Because your daughter likes those candy boxes, let me try something."

I had her hold the deck in her hands, and had her squeeze. After she squeezed, I told her to look for her card. She couldn't find it.

I then said, "Do you not see it in there?"

"No! I don't! Where is it?"

"Go to where your daughter wants to go."

So she walked over to the candy boxes, and found a card inside. She pulled it out, and pretty much screamed as loud as she could. IT WAS GREAT!!!! The reactions were so amazing, that I decided to use this more often now. Everyone should at least try this one time in their life, because the reaction is just KILLER!

So just thought I'd tell a story on a performance last night....

Have any of you ever used stooges to your advantage? How?

POST YOUR STORY BELOW!!!

-Casey

 

[RickEverhart]

Nice work man. I have a hard time using stooges because I feel like I am cheating but I need to get past that attitude and think more of it as entertainment.

 

[James Smith]

I've used stooges once or twice, and I think they're a great way to achieve otherwise impossible effects. Sounds like you're doing some great performances.

 

[TheatreHead]

I view stooges the same way that I view gimmicks. If you can create an effect that you couldn't otherwise, and it will produce a stronger reaction, why wouldn't you?

I've used my friends mainly for impossible locations, like signed card to spectators pocket.

 

[worldwideme]

i did a trick or two at lunch and one of the girls i was performing for said

"if you can make my card appear in maury's pocket, i'll be impressed"

so.....

i had them pick a card, then had them write down the name of the card on her placemat... nobody had a pencil, so i asked maury if he had one, when he leaned over to give her his pencil, i slipped him the card. he took it and stashed it in his pocket. so then i did some mumbo jumbo and asked maury to check his pockets. great trick it killed

 

[joshrobarts]

ive rarely used stooges as again, most of my tricks dont require them. The few times i have though ive produced miracles. Ive also been used as a stooge The time i use them is usually card through window or into beer bottle to set up a reveal, also occasionally to assist with a pick pocket effect. i was at a convention where with another magician's help we picked a friends pocket and loaded all kinds of stuff on his body for a weekend of fun. Good times. I have also been used as a stooge in an effect by Daniel Garcia, involving a book test and me scarring several small children for life.... long story. Lastly, with my help as a stooge, another magician used a one card forcing deck to make another magician completely drop his jaw for about an hour. An impossible prediction, he handed the deck off to me to inspect it, i deck switched it and handed it to the victim, clean and done, and we had a good laugh. I dont use them often, but when you do, make it count.

 

[Mat La Vore]

This wouldn't be considered a stooge--it would be an accomplice.

Nice work though. Sounds like it went over great and you created a very memorable moment for your two spectators.

 

[oldavid1]

Nice trick there.

I've only used an accomplice for one trick in my life, and that's a simple, simple one.
I said I'll keep my right hand behind my back, with one finger raised, and ask the spectator to name any finger. I then ask a friend (or otherwise friendLY classmate) to come over and look at the hand behind my back. The spectator names any finger. I take out my hidden hand, revealing their named finger! Tadaa!
I immediately turn around and ask the accomplice "I raised that finger the whole time; you can testify for me right?" Usually, if the accomplice knows the spectator (especially if they're friends) he/she will grasp the joke and go along with it.
Some may say that effect is not worth an accomplice...I don't care. It's fun.

 

[Rev]

Nice work man. I have a hard time using stooges because I feel like I am cheating but I need to get past that attitude and think more of it as entertainment.

If you don't like cheating then you're gonna have problems!


Rev

 

[Justin.Morris]

Just on Saturday I was at a banquet, and there was a guy I knew well there. He doesn't do any magic, but he knows what a TT is. I made a silk appear and vanish and appear again from a napkin. Someone said that I should try it with them holding it. I moved over to my friend, had him put his hand into a fist, slipped the TT in there and started the vanish. As soon as I stole it from his hand, some one asked "Is it still in there? Can you feel it?" With a perfectly straight face he says "Yep, I can feel it". I do my magic hubalub, and tell him to open his hand...

There were a few tables watching and everyone just started clapping and cheering. Fortunately my friend was on the ball with his acting!


Stooges are fantastic.

j

 

[CaseyRudd]

Just on Saturday I was at a banquet, and there was a guy I knew well there. He doesn't do any magic, but he knows what a TT is. I made a silk appear and vanish and appear again from a napkin. Someone said that I should try it with them holding it. I moved over to my friend, had him put his hand into a fist, slipped the TT in there and started the vanish. As soon as I stole it from his hand, some one asked "Is it still in there? Can you feel it?" With a perfectly straight face he says "Yep, I can feel it". I do my magic hubalub, and tell him to open his hand...

There were a few tables watching and everyone just started clapping and cheering. Fortunately my friend was on the ball with his acting!


Stooges are fantastic.

j

Haha, fantastic. There was this guy at my brother's high school before the Talent Show doing a trick with a TT (he sucked really bad). My brother said he would've yelled "My brother can do better than that!!!" I felt so wanted...

 

[Justin.Morris]

Heh, it's always hard to bite your tongue in those situations!

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

I just walk away when I see something like that. Maybe catch up with the person later and help them out, but don't interfere with the learning process of performance