CMH (CRAZY MAN'S HANDCUFFS) by Arthur Setterington

What The Audience Sees:

'Last week Jamie did this neat trick with an elastic band but this week was crazy! He took these 2 elastics, stretched them apart, and then made them pass through one another. It was a miracle! Then he turned the 2 elastics into only 1 and then he made that one disappear completely! It was Crazy, Man!'

How It Went:

Is there anyone reading this that doesn't know this trick? I didn't think so. We all know it, most of us love it, and a few of you hate it. Me? I love it and, more importantly, I perform it while working all the time.

I know some people don't like it because of the very fact that every magician knows it but that doesn't concern me at all, really. I just read a great quote that said, "People don't come to see Needle Through Arm. They come to see Harry Anderson perform Needle Through Arm..." That quote has really hit home for me. Not because I think I'm the most amazing magician of all time or anything, but because if people enjoy you and your personality then it doesn't matter if anyone else is doing the same tricks as you. They are enjoying your company. As I've read, and said, before- The magic is you.

Having said that, though, this just happened at a party I worked at on Thursday night (They actually rented a tiger for the party as well!)...

Best Lines:

I had just completed the first phase where the bands pass through each other. I was performing for the owners of two big clubs in town and a couple of their friends.

'No offense but I've seem some homeless guy do that one.' -4 of the 5 people were freaking out but then this guy said this.

"No, really? Did he do this?" -I made the two bands turn into one.

'Ummm. no. He didn't do that...' -the people are back to freaking out.
"And how about this? Did he do this?" -I make the last one disappear and chaos reigns supreme...

'WTF! No, he definitely didn't do that! You're $%^&^%$ GOOD!'

So even though I'm a firm believer in having an entertaining personality, it also doesn't hurt to know your magic...

Angry Bob Rating:

I have a co-worker (Bob) whose uncle was a magician and thereby has a good working knowledge of how magic works. He's pretty grumpy but likes Magic Friday's because he can tell me how he figured out how the effect is done... A high rating means he'll never figure it out.

Angry Bob's seen this many times, as we all have, and has a good idea of what's going on so 2/5. But don't let that throw you off. If you don't know how to do it (and the public doesn't, or at least shouldn't) then it's one of the most magical effects there is, imo.

My Rating:

I use it, I love it, I earn money with 2 elastics- that's crazy. 10/10.

The JDG Tip:

IMO, CMH is all about the subtleties- the movement of the hands as they're demonstrating the impossibility, the little twitch as they pass through each other, the slow movements as they come apart...Really give it some thought as opposed to just pulling them apart.

Closing Thoughts:

Aside from Magic Friday, I think I performed this at least 20 times at that party. It's a worker. Have fun!

And HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Jamie D. Grant
www.whatizit.net
Vancouver Magician
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