Took the words out of my mouth! Thief! lol

I agree, his post was pretty nasty, and that is coming from me! Uncalled for in my opinion....

^Thank you, my own views may be strong, but they are never aimed at excoriating specific people. I know a lot of the guys on here are working professionals, and they deserve a lot of respect even if we have artistic disagreements.

Indeed my first post was a little tongue-in-cheek, because while I personally agree with it I know there are others who don't(and I'm sure this works for their characters), and I hoped it would provoke some lively discussion.

I also never meant to suggest I wish to emulate Angel (I definitely don't), but was trying to make a point about how television magic always seems to be a bit more "serious" something I strive for, and IMHO excludes sponge-based magic.

I am a jerk, but I'm not wrong. Your posts insult people who do an effect that you call "The most inelegant".

Call out Mr. Riel, he doesn't care. Like I said I'm a happy person. If you think your opinion, regardless of it's content and insult level is appropriate, you must allow me the same. You don't think what I said was acceptable? I think I made my opinion of yours clear too.

Life sucks and turn around is a.... well you know.

Also, if I sweep floors for a living, I am still qualified to point out stupid.

Although I must admit that my post was using a torch to warm my hands...

A tad more aggressive than was warranted. Just a tad.

I do like your signature Josh! lol

Have you seen any of them perform in real world??? I doubt it... So you cant really say for sure

But about the pattern that seems to be forgotten here. Both Bob Sheets and Daryl have very commercial routines with bunnies. Daryls can be even found on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFFGCDF_KXw In my his is best one I have seen. Works well for all ages and has touches for adults as well.

As mentioned in a previous thread, I don't perform the bunnies, but not for the reasons mentioned by Natanel. I do, however, perform a sponge routine using stars purchased from bad to the balloon (balloonguy.net). I found a routine I enjoy performing, which I was able to mold to my satisfaction. But, more importantly, one that my audiences enjoy participating in. If Nathanel prefers not to dirty his image by performing with despicable, vile, unrefined props made from sponge...it is certainly his perogative. I, however, will continue to force my slum-like tendencies on my audiences. How dare I???
patrick

You wretch!

To call the sponge bunnies "inelegant" is to ignore some subtle aspects of our art.

I perform the bunnies and it is elegant in its simplicity. But, I agree that not every magician can perform it well.

Grown-ups, like Alan, usually don't have an issue making things like "the bunnies" elegant.

"Sponge-anything tends to deeply offend my aesthetic sensibilities..:" –Natanel

The topic was adult patter for sponge bunnies. So, why comment here if it offends your aesthetic sensibilities?

Why not start a new topic, something like: "I hate sponge bunnies and other sponge things"

As pointed out earlier in this thread...Rich Marotta does a adult version on one of his walk around tapes (DVDs?) His take on the Bunnies has the perfect adult ending that NEVER fails...I use this all the time! (for adults)

Cheers,

While we are attacking sponge bunnies, who uses feather props? Botania anyone? Feather flowers? Raise your hand! Either you hate them or you love them.

There is no doubt that sponge bunnies\balls get a great response from spectators. The original post was for help for resources for patter for this effect. In response to the patter help, almost all of the good bunnie routines I have seen relate to the obvious reproduction habbits of the bunnies. Do not cross the line on the patter and you will be fine. Let the spectators fill in the blanks.

Jamie Salinas

Now you went and did it. I get in enough trouble on my own. My PM box is FULL with people wanting my stupid opinion on this idiotic thread.

So here goes. First, PLEASE do not use my name to make a point. I hate to read PM's.

As for the idea that you don't like them. Perfect. If you can add that they do not fit your performance style, you can not do them convincingly (which is not a shot, I can not do mentalism in a convincing fashion, I just do not have the ability) or that your spacific audience does not enjoy them, I say great. I say a man has got to know his limitations. (not a shot, read my mentalism point above).

BUT to say they offend your asthetic whatever, seems to not consider the audience in an equasion. Your audience not mine. But please do not make sweeping statements about it being right or wrong for anyone else. This is where the problem lies I think anyhow.

Yes do whatever fits your personal style. If you do not want to dedicate an entire pocket (which are at a PREMIUM in close up work) then cool. If you think that you want to seem above it all and seem more "elegant" and they do not fit some sort of style which you are putting forth, no problem. I think your pronouncements about them being "inelegant" across the board is what has ruffled feathers.

I for one absolutly would rather nail my private parts to a burning building than watch an ACR. BUT some great routines exist by some FANTASTIC workers. I make no pronouncements about whether they are good or bad, only I personally don't like them.

You may run into fewer problems if you avoided large sweeping statements.

For the record, when I do close up restaurant work, (which is almost never now but I did it for a LONG time at some very "elegant" places. Places where the app. was $55) I open with them. I can learn as many as 4 people's names, and it is a great way to introduce fun, and not do a card trick. The reasons to do them FAR outweigh the negatives, of which I can think of a few. They are indeed a pain to carry along with other things.

I do know what Eugene Burger says for explaining why he dropped his sponge ball routine. Nat should have reminded that Eugen loves the sponge ball routine and doesn't say he finds them inelegant: he just realized the misfit with his act.

If Nat feels that the sponge balls look like they came from the dollar store, maybe he should think of introducing them differently: as explained in another post a few weeks ago, I introduce them as the new "fashion" make up sponges that Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent are about to launch... Believe me that gets instant interest from the ladies and an instant very elegant image to the balls (I'm using soft balls which helps)

Nat don't get in the trap of projective psychology: what you fear for yourself may not be what other people perceive. My advice would be that you handle your fears on your side not outside of yourself (whether casting it on props or other people) and get fun doing this imagination game (of fooling your own deamons).

Since you are quoting Tommy Wonder that I knew better than the average magicians, you should know that he was never criticizing a trick "per se" but sometimes complaining about the fact that he could not find how to make it work for him.

I had heard that he put it back in his repertoire, because his audiences kept requesting it. I thought it fit him quite well, although he was probably too close to the routine to see that it did. It's been said that the meaning of communication is the response that you get. His audiences were apparently telling him that the routine did fit him. It just showed another side of him, that's all.

I think he uses them as well. Said he TRIED to drop them but kept having to put them back.

Heidy ho.

My guess is that Nat has been reading Absolute Magic.

It's a good book with some very thought provoking points. It's good to be taking into consideration which types of effects fit your performance style (which I think everyone is in agreement on). Too many people go from one prop to the next, looking like they're performing a bunch of tricks they just picked up at the magic shop.

Danny, I think I have to disagree with you on the ACR stuff. I seriously doubt you're correct in that you'd rather have your private parts nailed to a burning building than watch an ACR. But, I do a pretty sweet ACR, and I'm up for taking on the challenge. That would be a sight for AFHV. I'll bring the hammer and nail - tell you what, you can just nail them to a tree so we don't get in trouble from the fire department.

Finally Nat, I must disagree with you in that I think the hot rod is more inelegant than sponge bunnies. Therefore, I believe sponge bunnies are not the most inelegant.

^ haha. it is true that Absolute magic made a big impact on my magic and my thinking on magic. Indeed, as I tweak my stage act I have to make sure there is not too much Derren Brown and not enough Natanel, as was true in its first iteration.

I would agree with you that sponge balls are far from the least elegant trick in magic. Just about anything explicitly marketed towards birthday performers is worse.