Volume 1 of the Illusion Impact Series

Andrew Mayne presents a practical, radical twist on a classic illusion. It’s both a great starter illusion and useful part of a professional repatoire.

The magician offers his audience a demonstration in the latest high-tech pseudoscientific technology: The Voodoo Box. Guaranteed to ward off bad luck and ill omens! His assistant steps inside and the box is closed shut. The magician unveils twenty-one umbrellas that have all been opened indoors. He proceeds to shove the umbrellas through all the sides of the box at various angles. All twenty-one umbrellas are shoved into the box, yet no screams are heard from within. The magician removes the umbrellas (and opens a few to show that they are real). The box is opened and his assistant steps out unharmed!

Is it a feat of teleportation? Is the assistant a contortionist? Are sinister forces at work? Find out for yourself!

Designed to be built in under 30 minutes for less than 30 bucks, the Voodoo Box is a full scale stage illusion that packs flat and travels easily. The effect can be performed surrounded and everything can be inspected afterwards.

Buy it now for only $14.95 includes booklet and PDF (immediate download)

 

Buy the PDF digital download for just $7.95

FAQ

How hard is Voodoo Box to build?
Voodoo Box is very easy to build. The only tool you’ll need is a knife or a box cutter.

How much time will it take to make Voodoo Box?
You can make it in under 30 minutes (after you get the materials).

How expensive is Voodoo Box to make?
I made mine for $30 with materials I found at the store. I bought the umbrellas from the dollar store for a buck each. I’ve checked with several other dollar stores to make sure they carry cheap umbrellas, they do.

I have a show next Saturday; will I have enough time to build it and perform it?
Build it, yes. Perform it well, maybe. That depends on how good you are at practicing and preparation. Most of the work is done by your assistant in the box. If they’re a quick study and understand what’s going on, you should be able to get the effect ready with a couple hours intense practice.

How many people does Voodoo Box take to perform?
Two people. One in the box and one to place the umbrellas in.

Can Voodoo Box be performed surrounded?
Absolutely.

Does Voodoo Box fold down flat?
Very.

How can an audience be fooled by something so simple?
It’s a similar concept to the sword basket with a few extra twists. There are several methods of deception being employed to make the effect work.

How can an audience be fooled by something so cheap?
Some illusions are really expensive, some aren’t. This is one of those effects where the materials lend themselves to being inexpensive. A sub trunk is just a crate, a straitjacket is just canvas and lots of black art effects are just black fabric. It’s how these materials are used that makes the difference.

Can I make Voodoo Box out of some other material besides cardboard?
Yes, but the point of the effect is to look like a cardboard box. Magicians have a habit of trying to make props look like magic props. This isn’t always a good thing. A shiny chrome box with fancy doors and dragons on the side looks like it’s designed for making someone vanish. That can defeat the element of surprise.

Can anyone perform/make this effect?
A twelve-year old could make the trick. A responsible twelve-year old could perform it. Being inside the box requires a certain about of flexibilty, but nothing you didn’t learn in gym class.

How did you think of Voodoo Box?
I’d been playing around with a different kind of sword basket effect that didn’t use swords when I came across a bunch of cheap umbrellas. I started thinking about how some people think opening umbrellas indoors brings bad luck. That gave me a premise. From there I created the effect.

How long did it take you to create Voodoo Box?
Versions of Voodoo Box had been in my head for a long time (years). When I finnally sat down to create it for the Illusion Impact series it took me two weeks to arrive at the final version.