This routine is cute and can play a good 5 or 6 minutes if you do it right. There are a couple of
places that may or may not work for your kids show as you appear to be slapping a spongeball up your
rear to pop out of your mouth, and the final reveal is a giant spongeball coming out of your rear as
well. But if you are fearless and can really make it like a cartoon moment, it may fly by with no
hesitation for you.
Joshua Jay comes on to give you his finale to the routine, and to me it
plays a thousand times better and will almost guarantee you being rebooked. It does require one
extra (preferably new) spongeball and a little preshow work, but it's worth it.
That being
said, you will need to add a large black spongeball to your order to do the finale Eric shows you (a
2 inch spongeball is included, but his video shows a large one being produced and it does play
better) and you'll also need a couple of other red 2 inch spongeballs for Joshua's finale (and it's
worth it).
I can't say I'll play this exactly like Eric does, but combining it with
Joshua's ending makes it an awesome routine.
12 of 12 magicians found this helpful.
Love the routine but was a little disappointed with the props so minus a star. The white part on the
end of the wand is just a piece of tape and despite what's seen in the trailer, the black sponge
ball provided is the same size as the other sponge balls which makes the ending a little less
impactful imo. Also, the online instructions are stream only which is annoying, you won't be able to
watch it offline. Otherwise a great trick but if you've got the knowledge to create your own
spongeball routines and are thinking of buying this just for the props maybe give it a miss and just
buy your own wand and the different coloured/sized spongeballs you need.
5 of 5 magicians found this helpful.
For all his verve and energetic enthusiasm, Eric de Clerc is neither educator nor demonstrator. As a
published educational researcher I can say Eric is a student's worst nightmare - the 'educator from
hell': rapid talking, confabulated instructions, no linking with nor integration of any performance
physical movements with an actual performance. Since major portions ( and consequent audience
impact) of the routine rely (as de Clerc wisely narrates) upon the performer's use of body and voice
gestures and sounds, these flaws combine to create an instructional disaster. The whole
presentation lacks instructional COHERANCE. Along with misleading claims regarding the purchased
contents of size and colour of sponge balls included, this magic item is barely one level above a
financial scam. I made the finger pointing wand myself with a piece of wood dowel, some molding
clay and white paint: I learned the methods of placing, retrieving and retaining a palmed sponge
ball in the mouth and in each hand by watching the original YouTube de Clerc performance and other
common 'How to..' Youtube videos. One 'secret' of the effectveness of the routine/performance is the
SPEED' at which it is accomplished; a 2nd secret is the RELENTLESS repetitions; a 3rd is the
VARIABILITY/VARIETY of presentation of balls, body places and methods used. None of these are 'magic
secrets' -they are simply or merely well rehearsed and accomplished acting. Sure, deClerc has paid
his dues via his 'a trick a day' sojourn across Canada gaining him 'Magician of the Year' a couple
of times during the 2nd decade of 2000 millenium, from Canadian TV companies, but educator or
teacher he certainly is not.
This is just what I needed for my Speaking topic!
1 of 3 magicians found this helpful.