I've seen a bunch of posts on the Professors Nightmare but none that answers my question. (I hope this post doesn't break the rules by giving too much away, I'll try to be as vague as possible.)

I've seen two ways to do the initial "move" in the PN. The first is to bring the small rope up and do "the move" at that point. The second is to bring the small rope up and position it normally between your index and middle finger, then you show the middle rope off by running it through your right hand and while you're doing that you drop your left hand and do "the move" at that point.

The first method is a little simpler to do and allows you to use both hands, leaving less room for error; the down side is everyone is looking right at your hands at that point, so they may pick up that you're doing something unnatural. The second method is a little more difficult and leaves more room for error, but you have the advantage of a) misdirection, because you're showing the middle rope diverting attention from your left hand, and b) your left hand is in motion making it more difficult to see.

What I want to know is, which way is prefered?

I prefer a third way, created by James Lewis and taught on his Million Dollar Miracles video.

You might want to look at "Professional Professor's Nightmare" by Bruce Kalver. His method allows for a very open display of all 6 ends just before the transformation.

mike

Get "Daryl's Rope Routine". The Karrell Fox handling, that it details, is excellent!

I use the method shown in Daryl's rope routine also. I perform a version of that routine with some variations. Very strong. A cornerstone of my street set.

In thoughts,
Allen

On the initial move

I just do a little "flip". It looks natural, takes only an eyeblink.

Then I take time and deliberately
make the ends even.

The method on Daryl's rope video is by far the best method I have come across. It is easily worth the price of the video alone. This effect, done correctly, is very strong.

And I managed to come up with a great ending
inspired by Dan Harlan.

Personally, I use the simple method with 2 hands at the beginning in my show, and I have no problems with the spectators ... you must have a certain entertaining to hide the secret move with this sort of method ...

Ludo .

Paul Green has a nice move on "In the Trenches" dvd.

Wow, great suggestions. I think whichever approach to "the move" looks the most convincing to you (and your audience) should be the one you choose. Try them and decide, then you can develop the sequence through practice so that it looks natural. Good luck with your rope magic!

Victor is right, in his post, above:
Use whatever seems "right" for you.
If you asked me what move I used, I would be hard pressed for an answer, because it's one I have never seen before and it has become second nature to me.
Which raises another point:
It doesn't matter what move you do, as long as you are so comfortable with it that it is no longer a move!
In other words, only when you stop thinking of it as a "move", will you reach the right point of expertise in your handling.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I had actually put the ropes down for a while to concentrate on cards. Last week, in pursuit of card magic, I went to see one of the world's greatest card guys: Daryl. Other than the ambitious card routine, he did almost all rope magic. Naturally I'm very excited to be working on my rope routines again. Sheesh!

Right on Peter!
I have my own move too that will remain nameless.

Check Roger Sylwester's move in an old Heirophant... NOTHING BETTER.

I've read that Tim Wenk has an alternative handling (with a gimmick) that allows the audience to hold 3 equal lengths, and to even cut the rope themselves, with the same PN effect. Does anyone know where I might find this?

iSawThat,

Check the ALLmagic guide for the single cut sequence. A good set of pictures there.

A guy in the club, does an open swing and catch kind of move where the gimmic ends are shown in plain sight! While they are moving of course.

He said he learned this while working in a shop down in L.A. And the nightmare was a
"push" (high profit sale) item in the shop.

Per the move, I found one that works for me and it falls into the second type original mentioned above.
Per the Daryl's rope routine mentioned above, does anyone know which book or dvd it's on? Thanks.
Jim

Hi Jim:

The Karrell Fox move, which Daryl credits to him, is on Volume 8 of his ropes series. I think the video is called, "The White Rope" and is terrific...but all of Daryl's stuff is terrific!

Ron Reid

Daryl's Rope Routine is a manuscript with a poster that has all of the photos of the routine.

Thank you Ron and Alan.
Jim