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Andrew Mayne - Voodoo Box PDF
Andrew Mayne - Voodoo Box PDF
Andrew Mayne - Voodoo Box PDF
VOODOO Box
BUILD IT Y O U R S E L F IN UNDER 3D MINUTES
FOR LESS THAN $3D
The purpose of the Voodoo Box is to protect someone from bad luck. The part of bad
luck is played by 21 umbrellas that are shoved through the box while the magician's
assistant is inside. The assistant is a bit reluctant and the magician a tad overzealous,
the end result is that the box works and the assistant is unharmed.
With a little preparation and practice (perhaps cool background music) you have an
effect that borders on weird. Some people will be convinced that the assistant is no
longer in the box. Others may guess that the assistant is some kind of super human
contortionist. Encourage all of those theories. The more open you seem about how
the effect is performed, the more mysterious it will appear to your audience.
I spent a total of $30 to make this effect. The umbrellas were not difficult to find at a
"Dollar Store". It took some time to find the right way to place the umbrellas, but
eventually I found it with the help of Matthew Barber. Poor Matt spent quite a bit of time
in the box as I tried to figure out the best way to make the effect work. I thank him for
his patience. It's not an easy job to be a human guinea pig in my laboratory.
In the next few pages you'll see a little bit of explanation about the different kinds of
deception that go into this mystery. What I like most about this effect (other than it only
cost $30 to build) is the fact that even if they guess the assistant is still in the box in
some twisted fashion, it looks impossible. In an age when audiences will watch a
magician perform a card trick in one moment and hammer a nail into his head the next,
the transition from trick to stunt has become seamless and audiences are equally
entertained either way.
Best,
Andrew Mayne
^^^•^^^^^••^^^^•^^^^M
the effect
The magician introduces his
hapless assistant and asks
him to step inside of a box.
He explains that this is no
ordinary box. This is a
Voodoo box used to ward of
ill wishes and bad luck.
2. Although the actual area the umbrella penetrates is not that large
{diagram 1), the "blooming effect" of the umbrella fabric makes it appear
that the umbrella penetrates a much larger area (diagram 2)
diagram 1 diagram 2
3. The corners and edge of the box are spray-painted darker than
the rest of the box to make the box appear smaller.
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54 (/m
ACME BOX CO. 20 inches
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23 inches
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32 inches
20 inches
23 inches
23 inches
3 inches
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- 3 inches "?/5c^\
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materia.s
Large boxes can be purchased
at office supply stores such as
Office Depot. You can also find
them at storage facilities and
places that rent moving
vehicles.
on
^
Acan of flat black spray paint
is used to shade the corners
and edges of the box.
*.
i'
Performance note:
The whole effect will appear much
faster and professional if you have
some fast paced music playing in
the background for the entire
effect. An instrumental music loop
would be perfect.
Voodoo Box FAQ
How much time will it take to make Voodoo Box?
You can make it in under 30 minutes (after you get the materials).
I have a show next Saturday; will I have enough time to build it and perform it?
Build it, yes. Perform it well, maybe. That depends on how good you are at practicing and
preparation. Most of the work is done by your assistant in the box. If they're a quick study and
understand what's going on, you should be able to get the effect ready with a couple hours
intense practice.
Is it okay if the umbrella handles stick out at a different angle than how I placed them
(because my assistant positioned them around their body)?
That's fine. Some repositioning is going to occur.
How long should I take to place the umbrellas into the box?
Being safe is the most important factor. With practice you and your assistant should be able
to put the umbrellas in place quickly without risking harm to them.
How long should I leave my assistant in the box?
Not long. It's not fun in there. Your assistant should always be able to open the top of the box
without assistance in case of trouble.
Aren't magicians supposed to put women into the box and not other dudes?
It's the 21st century. We've made enough women victims of our cruel torture devices. It's time
to share the pain. Seriously though, sometimes it's more magical if you use someone who
does not appear to be some lithe agile dancer that could probably fold herself into a pretzel.
If you want to develop a lot of practice as an illusionist it doesn't hurt to be able to make use of
whoever you have standing around as a helper. I've had several girlfriends work as my
assistant as well as plenty of my buddies from school.
light storm
More effects from the mind of Andrew Mayne.
andrew mayne' 8