MEETING MINUTES
April 5, 2000
OFFICERS
Eric Wanner, President
Ron E. Seward Jr., Vice-President
Harry Schumann, Treasurer
Ed Rock, Secretary
Anthony White, Sergeant-at-Arms
ATTENDANCE: Andrew Baerlocker, Paul Brewer, Brad
Gordon, Craig Hartman, Chris Huddleston, Brandon, Johnson, Chris
Kenney, Don & Inabelle Lujan, Ron Nelson, Ed Rock, Ron Seward,
Steve Simbeck, Cheryl Smith, Kerry Summers, Len & Thalia Swinyer,
Dian Thomas, Kim Walkowski, Eric Wanner, Murlin Ray Wenzel, Dale
Winger, Paul Draper
MEETING MINUTES:
This month we had the opportunity to see Jay Scott
Berry present his Illusioneering 2000 lecture. Jay started the
lecture by performing “Rainbow Eclipse,” “Sponge
Wonders,” and “21st Century Silks.” All of these
effects are made possible by using one of Jay's ingenious inventions
– the Eclipse Tip. The Eclipse Tip, a modified thumb tip, allows
you to produce, vanish, and change a variety of items, including
sponge balls and silks.
Just as creative as the invention of the Eclipse Tip itself, however, are Jay's methods of handling a thumb tip. Jay discussed several traditional problems with a thumb tip. One of the major problems with a traditional thumb tip is that the performer is limited to the amount of material that can be stuffed into the tip. In general, you must leave enough empty space in the thumb tip to fit over the end of your thumb. Jay showed us several creative ways that he has developed to solve this problem. He explained that it is not necessary to keep the tip on the thumb all of the time. He demonstrated several techniques for concealing a thumb tip without ever putting it on your thumb, including the Berry steal (a full-tip steal), two different finger palms, a Downs palm, sleeving the tip, and even the use of a toppit. These techniques allow a performer to fill the entire tip, thus doubling the amount of material you can load.
Another traditional problem with a thumb tip is that relatively small silks must be used to fit into the tip. Jay has overcome this problem by using Diamond Silks. These creative silks appear to be a large silk when displayed, but are only a fraction of the size of a large silk. By combining Diamond Silks with the “filling the tip to the top” principle, Jay is able to squeeze what appears to be three or four 10-inch silks into one thumb tip
Jay demonstrated several ways of stealing a preloaded eclipse tip. He uses a rubber cork that is inserted into the end of a preloaded Eclipse Tip and then pinned inside of your pocket, or even inside of your sleeve. This makes it easy for a performer to get quick access to a loaded thumb tip without drawing attention to the action.
Jay also spent some time discussing how to use a toppit. He showed us a modified toppit that he has built into his vest. Jay explained that because a vest is basically a short coat, toppits can be easily modified to fit inside of a vest. That way, you don't have to wear a full coat if you want to use a toppit. Jay showed us his method of ditching an item into his toppit. He uses a magical, sweeping gesture with his hand to vanish an object. However, to make the move look more natural, Jay uses the same gesture several times before he actually uses it to ditch an item in his toppit so that the gesture appears to be part of his natural moves.
Jay then spent some time discussing his coin routine and some of his theory behind coin sleights. He explained that, in his opinion, in the quest to develop better methods of fooling people, many coin sleights have been developed that do not look natural. Although such sleights are excellent for fooling other magicians, they appear unnatural and awkward to a lay person. He discussed the importance of studying how the move looks and the amount of energy it requires to really take the coin and then mimicking that action and amount of energy when the sleight is performed. It was excellent advice. Other coin topics that Jay discussed included: a secret pocket in his sleeves to load a coin, a toss vanish, and a discussion on sleeving coins, including a discussion about curling the hands prior to loading a sleeved object so that attention is not drawn to your hand by the curling motion at the exact time you load the object.
During the second half of his lecture Jay performed “Candlelyte,” a routine that shows the flame of a lit candle mysteriously floating off the candle and behind a $100 bill.
Jay then spent some time discussing the use of the super-soft sponge material that he uses and how to treat the sponges. Jay sprays his sponges with water just prior to performance. He explained that the water makes the sponges open faster and larger. He showed how this super-soft sponge material could be used with his Eclipse Tip to create very stunning magic in his routine “Sponge Wonders.” He also introduced us to his Sonada Gimmick that literally makes it appear that sponge balls are appearing out of nowhere.
Jay then showed us his “Finger Fazers,” a bare hand production and manipulation of light (as he puts it). He explained that this trick is a classic example of how new magic can be created even today because the technology used in his “Finger Fazers” was not even available ten years ago.
Jay concluded his lecture by giving a stirring explanation about why magic has such a powerful impact on those who watch it. Magic, he explained, stirs emotions of mystery, surprise, and wonder. It inspires people who see it because even though the trick is only an illusion, the experience is real. That, he explained, is real magic. Thanks to Jay for an evening of inspiring magic.
