Alternative To Ashes

baller08

Banned
Sep 21, 2008
135
0
Not sure how many people utilize the Ash Pen here...but I've found that it gets such an amazing reaction because of the "freak" factor. The basic routine is a spectator selects a card, writes the number and pip down on a piece of paper and burn it. Then you use the ashes to make the number and pip appear on your arm, hand, etc.

The only problem I sometimes have is two folds:

1) Once in awhile, especially in restaurants, people don't want to burn anything. Has anyone found an alternative instead of ashes?

2) Sometimes it takes too long to burn the paper, even a small piece. If I carry a lighter then its faster but a match doesn't burn long enough for the paper to catch on fire completely and you have to light another match. I don't like that it slows down the effect, there's too much down time in between and I feel it loses something when there's too much focus on trying to burn the paper completely.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Baller
 
Perhaps using dirt off the ground will make the reveal visible...but then that kinda defeats the purpose of ashes. Maybe tell a little story that relates to the trick when burning the paper to fill in the akward silence.
 
I honestly don't recommend doing this very often because it can be somewhat messy, but in the right moment-- it does entertain and produce a really good response from an audience.

Prepare a salt shaker for Daniel Madison's Angle Zero. Have two spectators each glimpse a card in the deck. Reveal one of them in any clever way you wish, and perform the corner vanish from Angle Zero with it. Unscrew the top of the salt shaker and pour the salt into your hand to reveal the corner inside. As most people already know, this beat alone allows the audience to have one pretty excited reaction. Let them respond at the sight of the card, and when the response dies down-- ask the second spetator to really think about their mental selection. This is done while you're holding on to a handful of salt-- pour the salt from your hand into a nearby saucer and reveal the second selection scrawled on the palm of your hand.

It's a cute routine and it's worked well for me in the proper circumstances. I've even played around with it so the selection appears on the spectator's palm-- but again-- it's a messy trick that I discourage from using too often.

RS.
 
Oct 28, 2007
453
0
Sydney Australia
I am also looking alternative to ashes. However if you ashes routine does not work in a restaurant environment, try using other methods of obtaining information rather than burning.
 

Deechristopher

theory11 moderator
Moderator
Maybe use flash paper - I'm sure you could make people see ashes to rub across your arm, I'm not sure how solid the writing on the ash pen you use is, but a smudge would be useful in those circumstances.

Flash paper is generally cool in restaurants, as long as you don't use too much...I don't know, throwing ideas around!

D.
 
Sep 15, 2008
69
0
You could always carry a bag of pre-burned ashes. Then when they burn their paper, whether it burns all the way or not, you still have enough ashes. Toss their paper away at the end of the routine and you're bag is reset and good to go.

If you don't like the idea of ashes in a bag, you could carry ground coffee in the bag. Just be careful if you try to "sell it off" as ashes because once that delicious mocha scent fills the air, people might start wondering.

The salt idea is a good one, but hard to see. Well, what I mean is, pepper usually shows up better.

If you're performing for lines outside the restaurant, the dirt idea is a great one. Just make sure the patrons aren't getting their hands dirty.

Good luck with this!

- Frank
 

baller08

Banned
Sep 21, 2008
135
0
Hey thanks for all the ideas guys. I've tried the pepper idea but it doesn't show up well.

I like the routine ideas though, it's giving me some new ideas on how to incorporate.

Flash paper...hmm...I'll have to try that and see if I get enough ashes from it. Thanks for the suggestion!

Baller
 
In my humble opinion, the Ash Pen is a small waste of money. There are plenty of readily available alternatives around the common household. These alternative methods will also improve the visibility of salt, pepper, dirt, or really any other substance you decide to rub on your skin. I recommend looking into the original Frank Garcia Satan's Ash effect for one of the best applications to date.

RS.
 

baller08

Banned
Sep 21, 2008
135
0
In my humble opinion, the Ash Pen is a small waste of money. There are plenty of readily available alternatives around the common household. These alternative methods will also improve the visibility of salt, pepper, dirt, or really any other substance you decide to rub on your skin. I recommend looking into the original Frank Garcia Satan's Ash effect for one of the best applications to date.

RS.

Hey Romeo...I know what you're talking about, I've used household items for this effect. The pen is easy to carry around and the set up is easier. This effect is pretty cool to lay people and I found myself not being able to do it in the past. It's a pretty cheap gimmick for a freaky effect.

It's too bad the pepper don't show up better...that would be a good alternative.
 
Sep 3, 2007
1,231
0
You could try something like powder. If you're trying to stick with a creepy presentation you could squeeze powder out of a voo doo doll, violently as you tell it to give you the card. Or, if you're working in a restaurant you could turn the presentation around 180 and say that the first time you saw a magic trick was when you were a baby.

Another thought, that the strength of the reveal deals with something burning. You could always go with Stigmata if there's nothing to burn.
 

baller08

Banned
Sep 21, 2008
135
0
Hey SirFansAlot....thank you for the suggestion...that may work in certain situations. And I'm with you on using Stigmata..that's exactly what I do if I find myself in a situation where I can't burn the paper.
 
Sep 3, 2007
1,231
0
Hey SirFansAlot....thank you for the suggestion...


No problem man, as for #2. You could make the paper burn without a lighter or matches. Check out this trick:

If you scroll down you'll see a small section about the voodoo effect. Only problem from my point of view is that it was my idea. And they credited me on the website before but now the credit seems to have simply vanished!

Thanks.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

baller08

Banned
Sep 21, 2008
135
0
Hey SirFansAlot...that is a pretty awesome gimmick....I like the idea, thank you for the link. That is a great addition to my routine.
 
Mar 29, 2008
882
3
Baller08 - not sure if anyone mentioned this - but Gregory Wilson uses the idea of ladies lipstick - and it can often be borrowed, even though I know you have your own shade you enjoy. Point is - it's very visable and easy to load - you can find it in his "Off the Cuff" video, I think.

I loved that trick when I first started magic...it's one of those ones that has been on TV a number of times...I think I first read it in Chapers in "Magic for Dummies"...people love when you rub dirt on their hands.

Magician: Hey, do you like magic?
Spectator: I am not sure.
Magician: (Rubbing ash on particiapants hand) Look, now it's on this side of your hand.
Spectator: Wow! Do you have any hand sanitizer?
Magician: No...but what do you think of magic now?
Spectator: Is it always this dirty?
Magician: NO, sometimes I do card tricks.

Glad you are looking for an alternative method.

Good luck.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

baller08

Banned
Sep 21, 2008
135
0
Look at how cute Moronician is.....I get it....I embarrassed you and you're pissed. So you looked up all my old threads like a stalker, trying to desperately to find something. Hh...

It happens...you aren't the first guy I showed up on a forum...you were elementary actually. You basically handed me everything I needed. You need a plastic deck of cards to show other magicians you're a "serious student". You need to brag about your job and an imaginary salary. You needed to tell me on PM how you "rubbed shoulders with giants" (yes folks, I'm not making that up...he is indeed that corny). You reek of insecurity.

Hey..go ahead...mention for the 10th time that you're "good friends" with Lee Asher again....LOL!

Here is a tip, Mr. Viagra Lover...maybe if you spend some time practicing your magic instead of following me around like a love sick school girl, you won't need to spend $200 on plastic cards to try to seem relevent...lol. <shakes head>
 
Mar 29, 2008
882
3
Hmm, it doesn't seem like not being able to burn paper is your problem...but perhaps your inability to stop burning bridges.
 
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