Just a thought after watching some old Derren Brown footage. The plot behind Russian roulette effects are great but the whole concept of sticking a gun to my head or slamming my hand on a nail is first of all stupid and more importantly way way way out of my character. I am basically light hearted and comedic. Never the less I like the plot. I have heard of a Russian roulette with spray cans that would add an element of danger but the danger is in humiliation, not death or injury. That is more my style. I have only seen that trick being sold on one web sight ion England and it was a tad out of my price range. My question is if there is any good source material on methods. Perhaps even some genuine RR effects that might be able to be adapted to something less dangerous and more comedic? Anyways...open to suggestions. Thanks.


EDIT: I just found this. http://www.penguinmagic.com/product.php?ID=S12245
That is more what I am interested in. Still interested in books that might contain core methodology though.

titanis has one with soda cans where the spectator opens them above ur head, its on the magic of nefesh dvd one of them i think the 3rd one.

though i wouldnt recommend them;i didnt like them that much.

Most of the tricks setup is annoying, but the soda can roulette was impromptu u just need some cans.

Personally, I don't see the Russian Roulette ploy to work with something like a soda can...

What really makes this effect work is the stakes at hand... the gun... the nail. It's what makes spectators cringe... and that's why they enjoy that. It's something that can make you nervous.

A soda can doesn't do that, not even spray paint.

My opinion is to just not do it.

I hate a "sucker is born every minute" type of effect, and in essence, that's what this is. It's not that magical... so there needs to be something else why the spectators enjoy it.. and that is the danger in the effect.

just my two little (soon to be gone) pennies.

well he wanted to do it more along the lines of comedy, and if he fails hed have soda all over him lol.

so as far as comedy magic goes; soda cans are fine in my opinion.

but yes the gun to ur head is better if u wanna go for that style

Thanks for the ideas Jonathan. I hadn't considered soda cans. That might work. And you are absolutely right about my motivations behind this presentational style. I'm getting really into mentalism but as I head into this arena I realize that it isn't easy to dress up some of the standard plots comedically. I have nothing against pure mystery performances....I just can't pull it off! Even my Seance' shows have been very tounge and cheek.

P.S.

You quitting or something?

No, lol. Just this: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2 ... -coin.html

Hopefully they'll get rid of them!

Ahhh! LOL Hadn't heard of that yet. How rude! They need to consider the impact on common English expressions before considering stuff like that!

Have you considered using an egg?