Not dead. Just
busy!
08/05/2008 -- My apologies for taking so long between
notes. We've just been up to our ears in work!
What's the latest? SILLY
ARTILLERY! We've finally released the "POP
Gun!" It's a hilarious routine that would be great
for kidshows, or even adult shows! (It's a real fooler.)
You may have seen the POP
Gun in our Past Projects Gallery. The first one was
originally created as a one-off custom prop. After road-testing it
in about 700 shows, the client finally decided he liked it! We think
you will to.
We've got a dozen of these goofy things
ready to go. THREE have already been spoken for, but the rest are up
for grabs. You can find out more about it in the Stage
Magic section. Sorry, there's no demo video yet. (Our camera
broke!)
We also personally delivered an original
illusion this week, "Martyr."
A local theatre is doing their annual Halloween
Show and needed to cut an actor's head off...which is many a
director's fantasy, anyway.
The classic Lester Lake Guillotine wouldn't
work, since this guy isn't supposed to survive. So, I developed a
brand new illusion for them. It'll debut October 17th, 2008. (Tickets
are only six bucks!) We should have video of it posted soon after
that, but snapshots of the prop and a description are available in the Past
Projects Gallery.
There's SO much more I should mention; Mospundsow
is back in stock, our "Thru
Steel" illusion was presented at the British IBM
Convention last week, Chainsawing
will be ready to ship soon, etc. EXCITING STUFF! But I haven't
the time. I've got to get back into the workshop!
More later...I PROMISE!
We've MOVED!
07/31/2008 -- ...and hopefully you didn't even notice.
There were some "issues" with our old web hosting
provider. They raised their cost and lowered their quality.
So, we're outta there!
There's also been an issue with
spelling. NO ONE could ever remember if "Smoky Mountain"
is spelled with an "E." For the record, it's not.
"Smokey the Bear" spells HIS name with an "E."
The "Great Smoky Mountains" don't. Never did. Sorry.
So, we've registered www.SMMagic.com
as our new little spot on the web. The old addresses will still
bring you here (we had to register BOTH spellings), but the new email
address will be MUCH easier to spell.
...and no S & M jokes, please!
Although we have been getting more inquiries about rope tricks and
escapes, lately. Hmmm...
Anyway, everything has been transferred, but a few
links here and there may be problematic. We'll get everything
inspected and fixed as necessary. Our apologies for any inconvenience.
By the way, I personally audience-tested
our newest product during a live performance last night. It
was hilarious! THEY LOVED IT! I think you will, too.
Details coming soon...
New "Mospundsow"
Tubes!
07/13/2008 -- Magicians have emailed to ask if it were
possible to get a SQUARE tube for this trick, like the one in our demo
video. You can read more about all that below under
"Squaring the Circle."
The new tube has arrived! You folks
asked for it. Here
it is!
We're still perfecting the look of the Wine
Box version, but it should be available very soon, too. And yes, it
will be available a'la carte to folks who already own the bottle and just
want the other tube. Price indeterminate.
So, there you have it. Just rub a
lamp and we appear!
OH! You'll notice that there has been
a sudden price increase on the Mospundsow
Bottles. That's for two reasons.
First, in order to keep up with the demand,
we've had to take time out from building illusions to make these silly
things (which we never planned to do). I'll make 'em, but I won't
lose money on 'em.
Second, remember I mentioned a supplier
here a few weeks ago who had jacked their prices way up? We use
their stuff to make the gimmicked bottles. Figures, huh?
Anyway, if you had already placed an order
(which should ship out this week, by the way) you won't be
charged any extra. You bought yours BEFORE the increase.
That's it...back to the workshop...
Something's gone
"Haywire"
07/06/2008 -- We're SO excited about our latest little
project. I want to tell you about it SO BADLY! But, they've
sworn me to secrecy.
Okay, I'll blab...but just a little.
It's called "Haywire" and it's
probably the most FUN prop we've ever created. It's also probably
the most complex; electronics, lights, bells, buzzers, levers, buttons,
more springs than a Slinky Convention ...engineered for comedy from the
ground up. The routine we put together for it even makes MAGICIANS
laugh! (Six of them have already been pre-ordered...and they
haven't even SEEN the thing yet!)
I'm not allowed to tell you yet what it
does, but I will soon. A working prototype has been shipped to a
good client to kick the tires for us. His reaction to the test
drive? "WOW!" Lord willing, we'll have a demo video
for it in a few weeks...and a few on the shelf by the end of August.
I REALLY want to tell you more, but...I'll
give you a clue. There's a picture or two of the prototype of this
goofy thing somewhere on this website. How's that for an Easter Egg
Hunt?
More to come...I promise.
Price of Tea in China?
06/29/2008 -- I hope your Summer vacation hasn't been
shortened (or CANCELLED, like mine) due to the recent rising gasoline
prices here in the States. Transporting anything has become
incredibly expensive!
Problem is, nothing in our workshop arrives
there by magic. Everything from a sheet of plywood to a tiny
stainless steel screw is either shipped, delivered or picked up
somewhere. Our suppliers have hit us hard. One raised their
costs over 15% recently! (Of course, their product line is
petroleum based.) Others have quickly been following suit.
We've been holding the line so far, but it ain't been easy.
Some of our prices will have to be
raised. We're sorry, but it can't be helped. We'll be
squeezing suppliers and crunching numbers during the month of July.
The resulting changes will be posted August 1st.
Personally, I don't care about the
money. I'd happily build this stuff for FREE! I just couldn't
do it for very long...
Sonic Silliness
06/02/2008 -- Reaching into our archives, we pulled out a wad
of song parodies and musical satires that Dan created years ago. (He's
been seriously warped for a LONG time, now.)
Many are rather dated, but the ones
concerning the rising cost of gasoline seem even more relevant now than
when Dan recorded them.
To showcase these
seldom-heard...um..."masterpieces(?)" a Jukebox
has been added to the "Fun
Stuff" section.
Squaring the Circle
05/17/2008 -- We've had numerous customer requests regarding a
square tube for the Mospundsow
Bottle....like in the demo
video.
Mospundsow was originally created for a theme park show in which all the
magic items were found in an enchanted warehouse, so the cardboard box in
the demo clip fit the theme. (That video was one of many created
to show the producers the new effects we were developing.) The
trick was never intended to be mass produced.
The theme park show was eventually cancelled, but Magicians found the
video on the internet. They wanted that trick...NOW! We went
to work.
The molds for the bottle were re-created,
but the cardboard box was cheap, needed replaced often and was just too
cheesy for a marketed version. Butyrate tubing worked well and was
readily available. Woodgrained TuffKote laminate was added to give
the tube a bit more "class" than a solid colored,
plastic-looking tube.
Personally, I have always preferred the square tube. The contrast
between the round bottle and square box just makes the trick seem that
much more impossible! The first problem was manufacturing one that
was durable, but still provided the "flex" necessary to make the
trick easy to present.
The other problem was getting the right "look" for it. I
wanted the new one to seem like it could possibly be actual wine/liquor
packaging...an
expensive gift box. That's what we're working on.
Prototypes have been created. We'll
post photos when they're finished and ready for the world to see.
Sharing the
"Spotlight"
05/10/2008 -- Just had a little something to share with you
folks. Dan Wolfe, Smoky Mountain Magic's Designer, Owner and just
about everything else, was recently featured in the Member Spotlight
section of the I.B.M.
Ring 355 Newsletter.
If you'd like to waste a
few minutes reading his interview, you can find it HERE.
Hitting the Bottle(s)
05/07/2008 -- WOW! The
"Mospundsow" Bottle has become suddenly very popular. (Thank
you, Magic
Café Members!)
Please remember that
our main business is in building stage illusions. Smaller tricks
are built as we have time between projects -- while paint is drying,
glue is curing, as we wait on parts to be delivered, etc.
Since this silly
little bottle trick is rather labor intensive, not many can be produced
at a time. They've got to be made just right or they won't
work at all! THESE, I insist on doing myself.
We are working fervently to get
this trick into the hands of everyone who wants them. More are in the
pipeline, but it will take time. Orders will be filled in the
order in which we receive them. Out-of-stock orders will be placed
at the head of the list when the next batch is complete.
Thanks so much for your patience. Much
obliged! Now, back to work...
A "BLOG?!"
05/01/2008 -- Ever read a fascinating, deep and insightful blog,
only to find that there are only three posts...all written the same
day...two years ago? We hope that this will not be a typical
blog.
It also will not use typical blog
software. Aside from bookmarking the page, you won't be able to
subscribe. It won't feature chats, comments or discussions. We haven't
the time to moderate the inevitable SPAM or inappropriate content.
It WILL be more a collection of news,
announcements, updates, links and information from Smoky Mountain Magic...plus
a few rants, raves, stuff, things and miscellaneous uncategorized
nonsense. Enjoy!
