Hi All and Happy New Year

what is the best silk size for a vanishing cane routine, 12 or 18?

thanks/Fabio

18" or even 24", or two 18", one one each end.
There is a lot of room in there. We are speaking of the metal one, yes?
The plastic can also hold two 18" but you must be careful not to jam the silks in because it will bindthe plastic.

I use two 18" in a plastic Fantsio cane. Been doing it for years and have never had a problem.

Jim

Don't overlook using diamond cut silks. Two 18" diamond cuts look like two 24" squares. The cane moves better and an 18" diamond cut only takes the space of a 12" square cut.

Check with MagicIanS above for a great way to go the other way too with three diamond cuts that become a flag on an appearing cane. (I'll bet you he could make one vanish a white and red or black silk and produce a red/white or black/white zebra striped flag on the cane.)

Scheme!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

I use a 36" in a Fantasio.

Chris,

Is that a 36" square silk or a diamond cut that looks 36"?

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Al Delage used to load a 12' streamer in his.

Richard

One 36" in a fantasio is the same (or so) as four 18". So you are winding up with holding the two top corners of the 36" silk?

I think diamond cut is the way to go. I use two black 18, square. I often have trouble with the cane vanishing "slowly."

Some of the best advice (or idea) that I have been given was...

Black and White confetti! Fill up the cane with confetti and make a lunging motion upward, spreading the confetti everywhere!

However, if you can't afford to clean that all up every time, I'd suggest yo use black diamond cut silks

Bob / Ian
It is a 36" square. Yes I end with the two top corners.
It is the first routine I bought from Duane Laflin. I tell the story of Blind Bartimaeus.

That is a "stuffed" cane. But makes a beautiful transposition. Even better, it sets you up to steal a body load the size of an elephant.

Scheme!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

PS --- Ever combine it with the production of a Card Silk?

Bob
I work it in as I extend the cane, using half a set of chop sticks. Also as the cap is removed I twist it, which makes it a little faster and quieter. Although now that I added music noise is not a problem.

I use several different silks, "butterfly", "the end",etc. no cards yet. I do use it for cover mostly silk fountain or appearing candle. I also use it to retrieve things from my table. I am starting to add more body loads.

I like using silk and hang out in this area of the Café a lot.

Fantasio tells how to fold a 36" picture silk to fit and work in his canes in his book.

Richard

I am an expert with the metal appearing canes and have 10 minutes devoted to it in my lecture, the vanishing cane has never been a staple in my act. Just as a dealer.
The twist just prior to vanish is a great help. I think my problem years ago, was that I used acetate foulards for a while cause I was "frugal". That and those cheap India feather flowers which jammed the cane vanish as well.

Another thing that helps is I twist the silk the opposite direction of the cane a few turns before I load it. This helps the silk to come out untwisted and easier to catch the lose corner.

The large silk fountain is the perfect "next step" in this routine. I like it!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

What I do is I produce two silks and hold one in each hand... then I get the cane vanish it and the silks I have in my hand help hide the cane.

I use 18" silks for everything.

Thanks

Carlos

I use a 12-foot Rice streamer in a Fantasio vanishing cane as the finale to my dancing cane routine. You can see a video including the transformation at
http://members.cavtel.net/parmenides/cane.mov
I think it adds to the impact of "magic" if the cane transforms into a streamer that is at least double the length of the cane.

If I'm performing in a venue that is not conducive to the dancing cane, I do just the transformation without the dancing cane bit. This is usually my opener, since it makes sense for a magician to "arrive" at a destination with a cane in hand as opposed to making an entrance, performing two other routines, and then picking up the cane to do the transformation.

I always found it puzzling/interesting that when I do the cane to streamer for a kid show audience, the kids think the cane is a magic wand. (I think when kids hear the word "cane" the only image that comes to mind is a red and white striped candy cane.)

----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez

Sonny,
Instead of "cane," maybe kids would relate more to the term "walking stick" or "walking cane," or even "staff" (for the Lord of the Rings & D&D crowds)

Perhaps it could be a large magic wand. That's what I say when I do an appearing cane.