Hello all,
My name is Blake Herridge and I have been doing close up magic for a while. I am a professional magician doing table hopping at many restaurants. I have been wanting to develop a stage/illusion show. Mainly a few illusions that play big and pack small like Raizorwire. And stuff like multiplying bottles... I haved saved up around 500 dollars for starting a stage show. I know that not enough but with that amount of money what would yall suggest to buy? What are some good inexpensive illusions and stage effects?
Thanks Blake

UF Grant Victory Cartons book (Illusions out of cardboard)
any thing Andrew Mayne.

I agree with Victory Carton and suggest you use foamcore panels instead of cardboard. With various tapes and corner pieces (available from many retail display selling stores as display parts) with some stick on finishes your stuff will look good -- but not be as durable as pro made stuff.

Where might I get UF grant victory carton book. any other idea

Blake:

See: http://hamiltonholtinc.stores.yahoo.net/viccarilwrit.html

Jim

I like andrew maynes illusions they are very clever and not to expensive also remember in an stage show you need smaller tricks to do during the illusions. Look into Jeff McBrides stage videos they are a great introduction to stage magic.

If you feel up to making your own illusions, Jim Gerrish's "PVC Pipe Illusions for the REALLY, REALLY Cheap Illusiuonist" can show you the way to making your first big illusions inexpensively and which can then become proto-types for building classier versions of the illusions that work out well for you in the PVC pipe stage. It's on my site, along with other stage magic and illusion ideas for the "Do-It-Yourself" magician/builder.

I'd say to pick a theme first. Do as much research as you can into what's possible. Design as much as possible of the plot of the show before building it... it's very easy to waste a lot of money on cool tricks that end up not fitting you show.

Good Luck,
Paul