Sponge Splitting

We all have done the splitting of a sponge ball. But nobody lets the spectator do it. This is a way to do it and the methods used here act as a great cancel to each other. To the spectator it will be that they saw both sides of the story. They have been the ones that pull the balls apart AND the ones that split the ball. Do I have to tell you that this is great. To those wondering what exactly the spectator feels when the magicians pulls the ball apart: Feels like the real thing. The angles on this one are not bad, but this is best done as a one on one thing, as the spectator does block a whole lot of view.

This of course is not an entire routine, but a nice prelude to get to a proper routine. Also "fusing" of sponge balls is not often done.

Now let's talk about the moves involved. The initial splitting move is taken from the bible of sponge ball magic: The Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic by Frank Garcia. "The Slow Motion Transposition and Impromptu Routine" on page 102 teaches the move in detail. Then some shuttle passes and the bold move of pretending to pull apart the spectator's sponge ball.

Try this, you will love it.

Sponge Ball Routine #1

This is taken from a varity of sources the main one being the "The Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic" written by Frank Garcia. I cannot find my copy, so I cannot give you page numbers and all of that. Sorry about that. The routine I have been doing a quite a few years now has a lot to offer. In terms of effects, you get a bunch. A production, a teleportation, two splits, two fusions, another split, another teleportation, a production, a color change, a transposition, yet another production, a vanish from the spectators hand and the usual in the hands finish. That's 14 effects in about two minutes. Say what you want, but it's not boring. In real life I give myself a bit more time to do the effect, waiting for audience reactions to pass and all of that. But here are a few things that I am proud of that I have not seen anybody else do. The second split: I never seen any magician repeating the usual split to create three balls with just two of them. The audience usually demands a repeat after the first split. So I did them the favor they ask for. Then I fuse the balls back into one. Also never seen that.

Let's talk a bit about the "in the pocket phase" I love this phase. I make the claim that it will look like the ball goes to my pocket. The second I remove the ball from the pocket people think of a second ball. And that is exactly what I want them to think. So the effect when I open the other hand and the ball is not there is multiplied. Not only that. The usual audience revise their belief of a second ball in place to be just one ball all along. And suddenly I'm in a wonderful situation to split the ball into two. Also the routine is fairly practical. Two balls in the right pocket and one in the left pocket. Tugged all they way up in the corner. It used to be a little longer and when I do this for kids, I add the usual squeaker phase and a quick multiphased bit of the ball going from my elbow to my hand repeatedly.

Overall sponge balls are a great little thing to have when doing close up magic. People love them. And you can add all sorts of humor to them.

Here is my usual opening line. "I met a clown..." I take out the ball "...he doesn't laugh anymore." That line perfectly captures my style when I'm performing and almost justifies the prop itself.