The Zanadu Ming Dynasty Sticks are available again.
They look good and have a nice smooth action.

I just ordered a set of sticks from General Grant. I'm really looking forward to getting them. I wanted a set the first time I saw them, but could never justify buying a set. I'll have enough money shortly to get a set, and since it takes a little while to get a set since General makes them in his workshop/garage, I should have the cash by the time he has them finished.

I've worked out a routine using Pete Biro's extra tassel with an Chinese/Japanese theme. Works for me because I'm Japanese.

I see there's a new set of Chinese Sticks on the block: http://www.mjmmagic.com/store/ping-and-p......48b55dc7

This one looks like it might have some presentation possibilities.

Rick

I saw Kevin Spencer's show in New York. He did the Pom-pom Pole trick. First I was amazed that he would use such a tired old trick as that. After all, everyone knows how it works, it's been around for so long. Then he did his presentation and at the end, the audience gasped when he broke the pole apart.

I forgot this was a public performance not one for a magician's convention and I'll bet most of the people in that audience have never seen this trick before. The audience reaction was amazing. I went out and bought a nice pole from Hank Lee's Magic Factory. I've used it a couple times for lay people and I hear the same gasp of amazement from them at the end. I think this trick is more powerful than some magicians here realize. Sometimes the simplest of tricks to us "in the know" can appear to be near god-like powers to those who don't know.

Proving once again...IT IS ALL IN THE PRESENTATION.

Posted: Aug 6, 2008 11:23pm
OH, RANNIE... did you ever decide what to get?

Has anyone seen the Wayne Dobson Ping and Pong routine? I'd love to get someone's thoughts on it.

Gaetan Bloom had a great effect years ago on the sam line but with a different technique. He was using two bicycle pumps and when he would push one in, the other one would come out. A great effect opening plenty of comical situations.

I will be getting the ping pong routine tomorrow.
the ping pong sticks are much cheaper than the kovari sticks but I'm not buying either, so far, for personal use.

if anyone wants either of those and is willing to give me an honest review, contact me for a good price on them.

pete biro has a great routine.

Who has a really surprising climax for his routine. This seems to me to be a problem with the chinese sticks.

French magician Dany Ray used to have a good finish.

The best has to be Pete's plumber routine. I saw him do that the first time I met him about 10 years ago and I had never laughed so hard.

You lie Pepka. You laughed harder when I tried to bowl.

That is the problem: Spectators find a solution, it is the wrong solution, but it is one and that's enough for them. "The performer is a bad magician! We detect his methods."

I claim nowadays in our technical time we have to think about many tricks if they appear as magic - chinese sticks and pom pom poles are two of them!

Angelo

Biro's routine has a great ending.

Posted: Aug 14, 2008 4:50pm
Well I checked out the ping pong routine and was not super impressed BUT I am glad I got the booklet because his Sam The Bellhop routine has some very unique humor in it that I do like. Not all of it is PG material but quite funny. It's worth it just for that.

I still have no idea about the sticks themselves.

The ping & pong sticks are phenomenal!

What makes the "Phenomenal" ???

Very very smooth operation very quiet. No need to tilt the Sticks back to an extreme angle. Makes kovari sticks look like junk... I've bought over six sets of sticks this year and all have sucked until these.

How much are they and where do you get them?

150$ murphys

wow. that's quite a good review. I don't do the routine but this makes me want to jump in the pool! Anyone want to split an extra set of sticks or get a set of 3?

I'll make sure you get a ridiculous price on the set/etxra.