Woofle Dust is what I call posts with no unifying theme, other than it’s some stuff I’d think would be helpful for you to consider. For you youngsters out there, woofle dust was once a popular presentational conceit of dubious efficacy. Have something hidden in your right hand you want to ditch while your left hand holds the thingamajig? Then reach inside your right pocket, ditch the doohickey, and come out and mime sprinkling woofle dust on the thingamajig.
Yep. Parts of Tarbell (both the book and the author) didn’t age that well, either.
REIGN MAN JUST GOT BETTER
In case you’re not familiar with it, a few years ago I released Reign Man – The KING of All Magic Square Routines.
I created to solve all the problems that kept me from presenting the more traditional magic square routines. It’s bulletproof, impervious to the minor math mistakes that can haunt a magic square routine, and it has “button” — a definitive ending that POPS the applause.
Well, as Leonardo DaVinci is thought to have said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” So here’s an addition to the Reign Man that might occasionally prove useful for you Reign Man owners.
As an alternative to the 4×4 square, you can perform
Reign Man with a 3×3 square.
UPSIDES:
Now why would you want to do that? A 3×3 can play a little bigger in the same amount of grid surface. Because you’re dealing with 3 number streaks, the math is slightly easier for audiences to follow.
DOWNSIDES (MAYBE):
A 3×3 magic square will give you horizontal, vertical, and diagonal. No four corners and no four squares. In a conventional magic square performance, that’s a real problem because it takes away from the build up.
That’s not really a problem with Reign Man. Why? Because Reign Man has a FINISH — a definitive climax. The conventional magic square does not.
Will I be switching to a 3×3 square for Reign Man? In most cases …no. But there are a few performance situations where the advantages mentioned here will push me to make that switch.
Francis Bacon said “Knowledge is power.” A subset of that is know about options, as you never know when they might come in handy.
AND BY THE WAY …
My stock of Reign Man is SUPER LOW.
Like I can hold then all in one hand.
AND IT’S ON SALE.
GET YOURS TODAY BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE.
One Is None. Two Is One
There are some props that are easier to misplace than others.
There are some props that are more critical than others.
There are som props that are inexpensive.
So carry backups of these things.
This post is inspired by a few posts I’ve seen over the years about improvising a mic holder, like the Gimcrack. Ugh. I feel for you. Those little gizmos can be critical if you use one regularly. There are a number of solutions offered, like “here’s how to make one out of a coat hanger” to “learn how to use a mic stand.”
So here’s my preventive advice: Have backups. Done. Left one at the last gig? So what, as you have a backup in your case.
Mic holders, thumb tips, markers, gypsy thread set ups, decks, gaffed decks, mem decks, shot glasses, nail writers, USB cords, and maybe whatever is in your case that costs less than twenty bucks, and fits in your hand — all of these items are inexpensive, easily lost, and can be critical. SO CARRY A BACK UP.
An EDC Question
I recently read a post discussing a magician’s EDC (Every Day Carry). It was the props he carries in his pockets (I assume pockets) to be ready to perform, as he said, “a 50 minute parlor show.” There are eight objects in the pic.
I want to make it clear, I don’t know this magician, and other than this post, I don’t know of this magician. This is not a comment on him or his magic. I am merely using the post as a jump off point for a question. Putting aside the merit of being ready to perform a 50 minute parlor show, here’s my question:
Wouldn’t it be easier and more impactful to carry a deck of cards?
I imagine the opinions on this are all over the place and the answers vary greatly from magician to magician. But a deck of cards has a lot going for it, and it’s an option I rarely see mentioned in EDC discussion.
Best,
Doc
PS: As always, please visit the store and check out sales on Reign Man and Diary of Decision
