Recently on Revision3 my buddy Brian Brushwood (and co-host of the Weird Things podcast) taught my impromptu origami effect.  He’s added some cool touches.  Check it out here:

Revision3 link 

SOLD OUT!

A modern redesign of a classic illusion by Andrew Mayne. Made from aluminum and Coroplast (a lightweight yet durable plastic used in industrial containers and signs) the Sword Basket is an extremely affordable and portable illusion that folds down flat for easy transport and storage. The Sword Basket only requires one assistant (a 6’2″ male can even fit in the basket) and can be performed completely surrounded. Using the “Ikea” approach, Andrew updated the classic illusion with modern materials and industrial design. Perfect for the magician that wants to add an illusion to their show or the starting illusionist. Price $299 US and Canadian orders International orders

Includes

+ The basket made from Coroplast a durable plastic used in industrial containers and signs.

+ Five full-sized aluminum swords with large plastic handles.

+ Performance instructions.

Weird Things Live: Hunting the Night Creeper from Andrew Mayne on Vimeo.

Last Monday night in front of a live internet audience we set out to solve the mystery of the Night Creeper. Ghost? Frogman? Or something else? Although we’re pretty sure we figured it out, we haven’t definitively proved our theory. The mystery continues… Running time 55 minutes.

Check out our photos of the scene on Flickr.

We’re trying something new in conjunction with WeirdThings.com.  WeirdThings.TV, all the weird you can handle 3 times a week.

Andrew Mayne presents an evil twist on a classic shock magic effect:

Phase 1:  Demonstrate your ability to control pain by piercing a fish hook through your skin.

Phase 2:  Display your uncanny ability to control your blood flow by moving the hook around without a single drop of blood.

Phase 3:  Rip the fish hook from you flesh and appear to heal instantaneously in a supernatural manner. 

…All of this takes place while the spectator holds on to one end of the hook.

Hook is Andrew Mayne’s devious update to the classic needle through arm effect.  Shove an unprepared fish hook through your arm while a spectator holds on to one end of it at all time.  For a disturbing finale, you rip the fish hook straight out of your arm completely unharmed.

Includes step-by-step instructions and special handling instructions.

DVD running time 30 minutes

Price only $14.95 (free shipping)

So Rudy Coby, calls me up and asks me if I want to perform at the Castle during his week there. “Sure”, I respond without really thinking it through. After I hang up I realize I haven’t done a straight up magic show in the last million years that didn’t involve explaining how oxytocin receptors can be manipulated to encourage confabulation or how long dead Scottish philosphers deeply understood modern neuroeconomic principles. No problem…

Ever since I stopped touring most of my performing has been at conferences on economics and science. It’s a very fun venue and has allowed me to meet some very cool people. I’ve learned a lot from those folks and my show has evolved considerably from the experience. The problem is that my show evolved into a lecture. Great for those conferences, not so much for general audiences. While I think lay people would be interested in the same stuff I am, just not in that venue.

So now I find myself starting over from square one. Only this time I plan on using some of what I’ve learned in the structure of the show. I’ve actually called on one of my super genius science friends to help me with a stunt that I’ll be doing unless it actually kills me first.

In ten days I’ll get to perform this new hybrid of a show that evolved from the lecture that evolved from my original show. I’ve got some cool stuff planned and I hope it all works out right. We’ve already tested some of the stuff (Like Puppet Prestige) and called in a favor or two for a special guest appearance…

If you’re in town and want to check it out, rumor has it that there may be day passes available here: broman@magiccastle.com

I’ll also be posting on Twitter when I have guest slots available.

Hope to see you there…

I’ll be lecturing along with Jeff Hobson, Chad Long and Karl Hein in a special one-day mini-convention.

For those interested I’ll also be doing a special workshop on marketing your creativity.

/// Magic Comedy Jam ///

4 Amazing Lectures, Q&A Panel Discussion, Ask the Experts
Evening Parlor Show, Optional Workshops
Just Added: The man from iTricks.com, Justin Robert Young, will host the Q & A Panel
Over $500 worth of FREE Magic from drawings throughout the day!
Sunday, March 28th 2010 9:00 AM-10:00 PM

Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter North 800 Hammond Dr. Atlanta, GA 30328 (404) 564-3000

Great Room Rate (To get the special rate you must tell them you’re with the Magic Comedy Jam)

March 11th-27th $99.00. At the Door (if available) $149.00

Evening Show Tickets available for $15.00.  $20.00 at the door.

Ask for details on Jeff Hobson’s Business Workshop.
Andrew Mayne’s How to Create & sell your Products Workshop.
Karl Hein’s Teach In Workshops.

This convention is limited to 135 registrations, so book now!

Call Jamie Porter (561) 471- 0038 or e-mail jamiecomic@yahoo.com

Inversion: The Inside-Out Balloon

Want to create and give away an impossible object your audience will never forget?  

Create an inside-out balloon right before their eyes in this 3-phase routine.

Phase 1: Rip the knot off a balloon and make it vanish

Phase 2: Create a new knot on the smooth balloon

Phase 3: Push the knot INSIDE the balloon and give it away

In this DVD Andrew teaches his method for tying a knot on the inside of the balloon and using it in an incredibly visual magic routine.

+ Uses regular balloons.  

+ No special tools required.

+ Place a playing card or business card in the balloon as a giveaway!

DVD running time 20 minutes

Get the DVD for just $14.95!

US and Canadian orders (free shipping)

International orders (just $2.00 shipping)

I love getting email like this:

Dear Andrew,

As an All Round Entertainer who mostly sings and acts I also have a huge soft spot for magic and illusions.

I practise a little in an amateur manner and that’s enough for me at the moment.

My last singing gig was at a huge corporate party of a moving company, the guy who booked me for the event asked me if I could do something special for the ending of the event. I told him I would look into it but didn’t tell him if I could do something.

Searching the internet I found your In Half Routine and bought it at a local magic supplier ( a long with two of your other DVD’s)

I called the guy and asked him if I could get some warderobe boxes, I didn’t tell him why I needed them but that was no problem.

I build the illusion in 2 days and after some practising it went great.

A few weeks later the event went smoothly and when the guy announced the end of the evening I went on stage with a trolley and the boxes, he was surprised and didn’t expect anything to happen and asked me what I was doing:-) I stole his microphone and told the audience I was going to do something with “their” boxes.

I did the In Half Illusion and all went great, the crowd couldn’t believe what they just saw.

The reactions were undescribeble and fantastic.

I now added the routine to all of my gigs.

Thank you so much for this illusion, thanks a million!

I’m proud to announce my first ever iPhone app. It features the return of a friend of mine from my Shock FX DVD: Bob the Psychic Cockroach!

Get the app in the iTunes App Store for just 99¢

He reads your friend’s mind (with a little help from you).

This animated application features Bob the talking psychic cockroach. He’ll ask your friend to choose one ESP symbol. After he hypnotizes them he’ll reveal what they’re thinking.

If Bob gets it wrong you can squish him!

It’s the best iPhone app out there that features a dancing singing magic cockroach!

+ Fun to perform
+ Features animation and sound effects
+ Can be played over and over again
+ Works on iPhone and iPod Touch

Buy now for 99¢

To celebrate the new year, Justin Robert Young and I decided to make a short film – with puppets, yeti drug dealers and lots of gratuitous violence. It contains graphic language and is not intended for younger ears.

We hope you enjoy it. If you do, please retweet and forward it to your friends. If not, we sincerely apologize and want you to know that we’re getting the help you think we need.

Here’s the short link: http://bit.ly/8GaQvE

As I sit across from the table I can tell Rudy Coby is using one of his superhero powers to try and figure out what’s up. He’s cordial, but I can sense he knows something is afoot. Like Lex Luther meeting Superman or Ra’s al Ghul and Batman, or maybe even a Batman versus Superman meet up, there’s a mental chess match going on.

The conversation is polite. We share some stories and viewpoints. I keep waiting for him to relent and give me what I want. Something I’ve been after for 10 years. If I can obtain it, I know world domination will be MINE.

As I look down at the suitcase by his feet I can tell it’s in there. I sense its presence calling to me. I think of a distraction. Maybe I could claim flesh eating beetles are attacking his face and throw my drink in his eyes and grab it and run. I wrap my fingers around my glass preparing to do just that when he slides the suitcase back a few inches wedging it between himself and the wall. Damn your cunningness Rudy Coby.

I keep ordering more soft drinks hoping he’ll have to take a bathroom break sooner or later. Its a desperate ploy, I know. Yet, after an eternity it works. Rudy politely excuses himself to use the restroom. It’s mine!

I lean over the suitcase ready to take what I’ve been after. Something a long time ago he agreed to provide me with it but then it never arrived. I knew then he was on to me.

As my hand reaches towards the suitcase it freezes. It’s too easy. It’s a trick. He’s booby trapped the suitcase. I look at the other diners in the restaurant and have a vision of one of his horrific Labman science experiments ripping a hole in the building and the ensuing carnage. No. Not his style. I’m the only who would get hurt.

Whatever trap is in there it’d have to be poetic. A squirt gun loaded with acid? A giant Yeti fist ready to deliver an uppercut? 1,000 cubic feet of compressed silly string? Maybe even a booby trap filled with actual blue footed booby birds?

My mind is reeling with the possibilities when I sense his wraithlike presence near the table. Damn you Rudy Coby. Invisibility ray? I feign picking up my napkin and placing it in my lap.

The conversation continues. He tells me of his plans for his new secret lair. I’m impressed. I listen and keep eyeing the suitcase. In my head I’m thinking of starting fires. Kicking tables and faking earthquakes. Anything to create a distraction.

Finally it’s time for him to depart. I get the vague impression the waitress passed him a note. Probably from the president about a science emergency only he can stop. Perhaps one of my experiments gone awry. Again.

As we’re leaving it he hands it to me. As simply as that. The fool just gives it to me. I laugh out loud. A little too maniacal for the other diners. I don’t care. I flip through the pages to make sure it’s legit and not just blank pages or worse some old Archie comic.

It’s the real thing! And I didn’t even have to fake a nosebleed or a seizure to get it.

Rudy says goodbye. I grunt and wave him off.

I start walking down the street the other way. I’m transfixed by what I’m reading. Suddenly I hear furious footsteps. I turn around and Rudy Coby has turned into full-on Labman mode! He lunges at me as if in a warning. And my god, he’s got bionic crystal arms! WTF?

I cower in fear and timidly hold the document out in front of me. He grimaces then fades into the night. Which was kind of odd, because it was broad daylight.

As I look at my prize still in my hands I realize it was part of his plan. I was just one tiny insignificant fly in his web. I was being tested like Hal Jordan for the Green Lantern Corps or maybe like James Rhodes with Tony Stark.

—

The first chance I get I pour through his lecture notes that have been denied to me for so long. It was everything I was seeking and more. It’s all there! It was like Batman handing you his utility belt and the keys to the Batmobile. Or Lex Luther giving you use of his brain or me lending you my Yeti Armor. I re-read them again and laughed my maniacal laugh again. This time I was on an airplane. The other passengers eyed me nervously. I pretend it was a weird yawn and look out the window. For a fleeting second I could have sworn I saw Rudy Coby sitting on the wing nodding knowingly and then leaping off into oblivion. It was a trick of the light I assure myself. Pretty sure.

What could be so important? So earth-shattering? I’d tell you but you must earn it for yourself or at least just buy it.

The most important part of the 25-page lecture notes to me comes down to his section called “3 minutes”. What does it mean? I won’t tell you. In fact to most people it’s totally wasted. However, if you’re an original thinker looking to step light years ahead of everyone else, you must get his lecture notes and read this section. It can change your life. It’s that big of a deal.

Being crazy and original isn’t enough. You have to figure out how to bring that to your audience. Rudy explains precisely that. Like I said, for most people it’ll sail right over their heads. But for a self-selected few…

You can buy Rudy Coby’s lecture notes: How To Become A World Famous Magician (Or At Least Look Like One) at his website RudyCoby.net

Check out this Decembers issue of MAGIC Magazine.

Actor Michael Rooker on why you should follow Weird Things on Twitter @weirdthingscom.

IMDB: Michael Rooker

Did we make contact with Houdini? Well, with over 700 people watching live and the fun time we had, something supernatural had to have occurred.

Thanks to James Randi for making a special appearance and to David Copperfield, Teller, Penn Jillette, David Nott, Michael Shermer, Phil Plait and Barry and Stuart for contributing words to our seance. Thanks to the Ustream folks for hooking it all up.

Thanks to Joke & Biagio for taking the screen cap below!

Here’s the embed of the show:

Batman pajamas, Animal Muppet, life was good back then.