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You could do a whole stage show from Mark Wilson's book. The section on sponge balls is really good (except for the pointing to the hand that is "supposed" to have the sponge ball). He also has a great Bill in Lemon effect that works well for stage.

Stand up isn't the same as stage. Sankey's Hardcore won't work on stage. Out of what you listed, Fiber Optics is the only stage effect. Its a great effect, however you can develop a routine that is as good from Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. For what you are doing, you can come up...

That's why routining is so important.

Your best bet is to buy one. The run around $35 and there is a variety to choose from (raccoon, rabbit, skunk, fox). The puppet itself would cost $25 to $30, so the additional cost for getting one that is well made is minimal.

I'll second the Bannon recommendations. Also, I second John Guastaferro's One Degree, Paper Engine and AoA. All great books. I'll add to the list Stars of Magic. This has the original Ambitious Card, Triumph, Cutting the Aces, Travelers, and Homing Card routines. Its a great book.

Your best bet (for the price) is Card Control. Your other best bet is Card College Volume 3 (excellent teaching and multiple methods). Vernon's Multiple Shift is good, but you have to turn the pack upside down to get the cards to the top. My favorite is Elias Multiple Shift. John Bannon has...

Assuming it isn't a performance (e.g. magic show) within a performance (the play), I would think the character would need to do quick visual effects. Without knowing the play, it is hard to give you a good sense of what would work. I think it would be great if the character does magic when...

Guys: I thought EP's response to my post was on topic and made some good points. No need to go after him when he posts a well thought out response. I know his posts have a bit of arrogance to them, but that is his character and he plays it well. Anyway, I take it all as being...

Obviously my subtle (and slightly sarcastic) sense of humor doesn't translate well to posting in a forum. I knew that you had started that thread and referred you to it because it seems as if you are asking the same question. I can recommend a lot of card books that are under $30, but none...

I agree with Rick about the Appearing Cane and the Appearing Straw. The effects are too similar. Just do the appearing cane. Also, you can routine the Appearing Cane into the 20th Century Silks. That is, use the Appearing Cane to vanish the silk. Then, for the Dove Pan effect, use the cane...

The books I recommended in THIS POST are less than $35 and would fit your experience level.

Failure... is not... in... my vocabulary.... Your response is a false dichotomy. A performer's choices are not limited to providing a hackneyed presentation based on a stereotypical magician or providing a "flawless execution/performance" without patter. Let me explain.... Magic is...

All too often would be magicians fall into the trap of presenting effects as a challenge because they feel superior based on knowing the secret. That superiority comes across to the spectators as arrogance and they feel inferior because they were tricked or become motivated to burn the magician...

Check out Jim Steinmeyer's Hiding the Elephant. It's not a biography, but a great book on the history of magic in the golden era of magic. The book explains the concepts behind some classic illusions. Jim also has a book on Alan Wakeling called, appropriately, The Magic of Alan Wakeling.It...

I'm going to guess that other than Rick, none of the people responding have ever done a kids show. Although, RediSpades has good advice with Seriously Silly. But there isn't time for that. Go and watch the Wiggles on the Disney Channel. That will give you a sense of how to relate to the 2 to...

Craig: Everybody is probably scratching their heads at this because they know Stephen Minch as an author (of this book and probably other such as Relaxed Impossibilities and Books of Wonder) rather than an amazing mentalist. This book is written by Minch but deals with the card sleights of...

I know he teaches Revolution #9 and Helter Skelter. I'm not sure if there are any other effects taught.

The face up handling seems a little odd, but this is just me -- although it works beautifully in Vernon's The Travelers. There are other shifts out there which work just as well. Card College Volume 3 describes Vernon's and several others (such as the Elias Multiple Shift which I'm working on...