Self-Tying Shoelace

HeyLeroy · 26th November 2006, 12:45 PM

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I AGREE

This is cool; I think I'll have to invest in this one.

Dinsdale Piranha · 26th November 2006, 08:48 PM

Here's a review:

http://www.mylovelyassistant.com/ind...splay&pid=9161

personable · 27th November 2006, 02:54 AM

I'm not a magician, but from watching the video once I have to say that it is immediately obvious to me how this is done. I'm not sure how effective it would be on a non-intoxicated audience tbh, and I certainly wouldn't spend money on 'learning it'. If you genuinely don't know how this is done, while I won't post the method on here, if you pm me I will tell you (only because I don't think this is worth paying money for and you would be greatly disappointed if you paid for it).

Garrette · 27th November 2006, 06:12 AM

I've got it. As a set-piece, it's abominable. As a throw-off, in a crowd unsuspecting and only paying half-attention, it's great.

Overall: I don't recommend it.

T'ai Chi · 27th November 2006, 07:22 AM

I wonder if he can do it with shorts on?

Garrette · 27th November 2006, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by T'ai Chi

I wonder if he can do it with shorts on?

Yes, but it hurts more and doesn't impress anyone.

Azrael 5 · 27th November 2006, 05:18 PM

Seen it up close,had the secret shown to me,and it's not all that!

LawnOven · 29th November 2006, 02:51 AM

Damn, after watching it 20 times I finally think I understand the trick. I was starting to feel like an idiot.

Though I'm sure it helps that the video is of relatively low quality; I'm not sure I would believe the illusion if I saw it in person and was prepared to see a trick (but then I guess the person doing it wouldn't be a very good magician

)

Orangutan · 29th November 2006, 06:30 AM

I think I know how this is done too, and I'm not a magician! I watched the vid once read the comments and then had the luxury of watching the vid again to confirm my theory.

JPK · 1st December 2006, 03:07 PM

Good evening.
I happen to like this trick. Like all effects it has it's place. The nice thing about this effect is that the person doing it doesn't approach someone and ask them if they want to see some magic. It's the other way around. If you are walking around with your laces untied, complete strangers will be more than happy to point that out to you. You do your effect and move on. It's a subtle thing.
JPK

ChristineR · 1st December 2006, 10:18 PM

I don't think it's obvious how it's done. Obviously there is some sort of mechanism with laces and tugging inside of the pant, but clearly someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make it look convincing, and after the trick is over the mechanism is no longer visible.

If you read the YouTube comments, there are a lot of people insisting that it's a camera trick.

hcmom · 1st December 2006, 10:42 PM

Those of you who know how it's done -- would this be a good one to buy for a 13 year old boy? He's a little into magic, but not too into practicing.

Garrette · 2nd December 2006, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by hcmom

Those of you who know how it's done -- would this be a good one to buy for a 13 year old boy? He's a little into magic, but not too into practicing.

It's easy to do, even easy to do well (as well as you can do this) if that's what you mean.

He'll likely be disappointed, though, unless he's already inured to the disappointment of magical secrets.

hcmom · 2nd December 2006, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Garrette

It's easy to do, even easy to do well (as well as you can do this) if that's what you mean.

He'll likely be disappointed, though, unless he's already inured to the disappointment of magical secrets.

Well, he certainly doesn't expect it to really be magic, if that's what you mean.

Garrette · 4th December 2006, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by hcmom

Well, he certainly doesn't expect it to really be magic, if that's what you mean.

Not what I meant at all.

Magicians know that many, many secrets to apparently miraculous effects are very mundane and, well, boring, if you're wanting hi-tech wizardry or psychological manipulation. Yet even we (at least I) can still be disappointed with some secrets. This is one.

Kind of being a James Bond fan, going excitedly to the new Bond film, and finding that, despite having all the ingredients of Bond (gadgets, girls, guns), it's still somehow down-letting...

ChristineR · 4th December 2006, 11:04 AM

Someone commented on the video that he could build the effect for seven cents. Now my take on it was that a lot more than seven cents worth of thought and planning and design went into the trick...BUT...it's possible that it is just seven cents and shaking the foot so fast that you can't see what's really going on.

Garrette · 4th December 2006, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by ChristineR

Someone commented on the video that he could build the effect for seven cents. Now my take on it was that a lot more than seven cents worth of thought and planning and design went into the trick...BUT...it's possible that it is just seven cents and shaking the foot so fast that you can't see what's really going on.

I don't know about 7 cents, but you could build the same effect with stuff around the house. The commercial version just packages it and makes it easily re-settable.

Can't remember his name, but the guy who did the first ITR video I ever saw did it all with stuff from around the house. Very ingenious, really, but a bugger to pack up and continually reset.

ChristineR · 4th December 2006, 11:19 AM

Seven cents would pay for a piece of string.

If it's more than a piece of string, then you're paying for someone to design the thing and test it and make it look good. It sounds like it's more than a piece of string.

Think about the classic lady being sawn in half. It doesn't take much thought to figure out how that one is done, but it took a lot of work to get the details right--the fake front that makes the table look shallower than it is, coordinating the assistants, using metal sheets, spinning the table around, that kind of thing.

For someone like me (audience, not magician), the whole fun is in figuring all that stuff out. But others may feel differently.

Garrette · 4th December 2006, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by ChristineR

Seven cents would pay for a piece of string.

If it's more than a piece of string, then you're paying for someone to design the thing and test it and make it look good. It sounds like it's more than a piece of string.

I've said too much and must regrettably have you silenced.

Unless you want to bribe me. The last one I accepted was in the vicinity of six cents.

hcmom · 4th December 2006, 12:47 PM

I'll give you a whole dime if you'll please PM me with what you know. I'm still way on the fence about if I want to spent $20 to buy this...

Orangutan · 4th December 2006, 01:32 PM

PM sent. I wonder if I got it right.

Personally I'd pay the $20 if you think he'll enjoy the trick, but it would be better played when somebody notices your undone laces, it would be harder to say look at this...

Garrette · 4th December 2006, 01:37 PM

I also pm'ed, and as the request was to me, I claim the dime.

(consarned apish interlocutors)

hcmom · 4th December 2006, 01:52 PM

Orangutan, yep, Garrette said pretty much the same thing you did.

Garrette, as soon as I have a chance to run to Walmart and buy a Hot Wheels Mazda, I'll drop it and your dime off.

Thanks, both of you. I still haven't decided to buy it, in part because since I live in sunny Southern California, the kid doesn't wear long pants all that often...

Garrette · 4th December 2006, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by hcmom

Orangutan, yep, Garrette said pretty much the same thing you did.

Garrette, as soon as I have a chance to run to Walmart and buy a Hot Wheels Mazda, I'll drop it and your dime off.

Thanks, both of you. I still haven't decided to buy it, in part because since I live in sunny Southern California, the kid doesn't wear long pants all that often...

I would be extremely grateful if you stuck to the spirit of my messages as opposed to their letter.

hcmom · 4th December 2006, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by Garrette

I would be extremely grateful if you stuck to the spirit of my messages as opposed to their letter.

You shoulda told me that before you made your request...

26th November 2006, 08:48 PM	#2
Dinsdale Piranha A cruel man, but fair. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In the conversation pit. Posts: 842	Here's a review: http://www.mylovelyassistant.com/ind...splay&pid=9161
	__________________ "Don't hit me with them negative waves this early in the morning." Oddball from Kelly's Heroes. "I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met." Steven Wright

27th November 2006, 02:54 AM	#3
personable Scholar Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 57	I'm not a magician, but from watching the video once I have to say that it is immediately obvious to me how this is done. I'm not sure how effective it would be on a non-intoxicated audience tbh, and I certainly wouldn't spend money on 'learning it'. If you genuinely don't know how this is done, while I won't post the method on here, if you pm me I will tell you (only because I don't think this is worth paying money for and you would be greatly disappointed if you paid for it).
personable Scholar Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 57

27th November 2006, 06:12 AM	#4
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	I've got it. As a set-piece, it's abominable. As a throw-off, in a crowd unsuspecting and only paying half-attention, it's great. Overall: I don't recommend it.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

27th November 2006, 07:22 AM	#5
T'ai Chi Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 11,233	I wonder if he can do it with shorts on?
	__________________ http://www.statisticool.com

27th November 2006, 08:00 AM	#6
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by T'ai Chi I wonder if he can do it with shorts on? Yes, but it hurts more and doesn't impress anyone.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

27th November 2006, 05:18 PM	#7
Azrael 5 Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Yorkshire,Uk Posts: 4,220	Seen it up close,had the secret shown to me,and it's not all that!
	__________________ "I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown Photography here

29th November 2006, 02:51 AM	#8
LawnOven robot Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Matsuyama... well close to it anyways Posts: 1,302	Damn, after watching it 20 times I finally think I understand the trick. I was starting to feel like an idiot. Though I'm sure it helps that the video is of relatively low quality; I'm not sure I would believe the illusion if I saw it in person and was prepared to see a trick (but then I guess the person doing it wouldn't be a very good magician )
	__________________ Principia Discordia

29th November 2006, 06:30 AM	#9
Orangutan Graduate Poster Tagger Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Florida. Posts: 1,163	I think I know how this is done too, and I'm not a magician! I watched the vid once read the comments and then had the luxury of watching the vid again to confirm my theory.

1st December 2006, 03:07 PM	#10
JPK Muse Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 970	Good evening. I happen to like this trick. Like all effects it has it's place. The nice thing about this effect is that the person doing it doesn't approach someone and ask them if they want to see some magic. It's the other way around. If you are walking around with your laces untied, complete strangers will be more than happy to point that out to you. You do your effect and move on. It's a subtle thing. JPK
JPK Muse Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 970	__________________ "I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier... A belief's a dangerous thing. People die for it. People kill for it." Rufus, the 13th apostle, Dogma "You can't prove air." Sylvia Browne www.StopSylvia.com John Kardel

1st December 2006, 10:18 PM	#11
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,071	I don't think it's obvious how it's done. Obviously there is some sort of mechanism with laces and tugging inside of the pant, but clearly someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make it look convincing, and after the trick is over the mechanism is no longer visible. If you read the YouTube comments, there are a lot of people insisting that it's a camera trick.
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,071	__________________ Avatar (c) Neopets.com

1st December 2006, 10:42 PM	#12
hcmom Tagger Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Probably lost. Posts: 8,861	Those of you who know how it's done -- would this be a good one to buy for a 13 year old boy? He's a little into magic, but not too into practicing.
	__________________ JeffWagg> hcmom, you can feel that way if you want, but you're quite innocent. Curnir> Hcmom. taking reality into a wholly new direction

2nd December 2006, 08:45 AM	#13
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by hcmom Those of you who know how it's done -- would this be a good one to buy for a 13 year old boy? He's a little into magic, but not too into practicing. It's easy to do, even easy to do well (as well as you can do this) if that's what you mean. He'll likely be disappointed, though, unless he's already inured to the disappointment of magical secrets.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

2nd December 2006, 09:17 AM	#14
hcmom Tagger Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Probably lost. Posts: 8,861	Originally Posted by Garrette It's easy to do, even easy to do well (as well as you can do this) if that's what you mean. He'll likely be disappointed, though, unless he's already inured to the disappointment of magical secrets. Well, he certainly doesn't expect it to really be magic, if that's what you mean.
	__________________ JeffWagg> hcmom, you can feel that way if you want, but you're quite innocent. Curnir> Hcmom. taking reality into a wholly new direction

4th December 2006, 06:49 AM	#15
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by hcmom Well, he certainly doesn't expect it to really be magic, if that's what you mean. Not what I meant at all. Magicians know that many, many secrets to apparently miraculous effects are very mundane and, well, boring, if you're wanting hi-tech wizardry or psychological manipulation. Yet even we (at least I) can still be disappointed with some secrets. This is one. Kind of being a James Bond fan, going excitedly to the new Bond film, and finding that, despite having all the ingredients of Bond (gadgets, girls, guns), it's still somehow down-letting...
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

4th December 2006, 11:04 AM	#16
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,071	Someone commented on the video that he could build the effect for seven cents. Now my take on it was that a lot more than seven cents worth of thought and planning and design went into the trick...BUT...it's possible that it is just seven cents and shaking the foot so fast that you can't see what's really going on.
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,071	__________________ Avatar (c) Neopets.com

4th December 2006, 11:08 AM	#17
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by ChristineR Someone commented on the video that he could build the effect for seven cents. Now my take on it was that a lot more than seven cents worth of thought and planning and design went into the trick...BUT...it's possible that it is just seven cents and shaking the foot so fast that you can't see what's really going on. I don't know about 7 cents, but you could build the same effect with stuff around the house. The commercial version just packages it and makes it easily re-settable. Can't remember his name, but the guy who did the first ITR video I ever saw did it all with stuff from around the house. Very ingenious, really, but a bugger to pack up and continually reset.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

4th December 2006, 11:19 AM	#18
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,071	Seven cents would pay for a piece of string. If it's more than a piece of string, then you're paying for someone to design the thing and test it and make it look good. It sounds like it's more than a piece of string. Think about the classic lady being sawn in half. It doesn't take much thought to figure out how that one is done, but it took a lot of work to get the details right--the fake front that makes the table look shallower than it is, coordinating the assistants, using metal sheets, spinning the table around, that kind of thing. For someone like me (audience, not magician), the whole fun is in figuring all that stuff out. But others may feel differently.
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,071	__________________ Avatar (c) Neopets.com

4th December 2006, 11:23 AM	#19
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by ChristineR Seven cents would pay for a piece of string. If it's more than a piece of string, then you're paying for someone to design the thing and test it and make it look good. It sounds like it's more than a piece of string. I've said too much and must regrettably have you silenced. Unless you want to bribe me. The last one I accepted was in the vicinity of six cents.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

4th December 2006, 12:47 PM	#20
hcmom Tagger Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Probably lost. Posts: 8,861	I'll give you a whole dime if you'll please PM me with what you know. I'm still way on the fence about if I want to spent $20 to buy this...
	__________________ JeffWagg> hcmom, you can feel that way if you want, but you're quite innocent. Curnir> Hcmom. taking reality into a wholly new direction

4th December 2006, 01:32 PM	#21
Orangutan Graduate Poster Tagger Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Florida. Posts: 1,163	RE Shoelaces. PM sent. I wonder if I got it right. Personally I'd pay the $20 if you think he'll enjoy the trick, but it would be better played when somebody notices your undone laces, it would be harder to say look at this...
	Last edited by Orangutan; 4th December 2006 at 01:35 PM.

4th December 2006, 01:37 PM	#22
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	I also pm'ed, and as the request was to me, I claim the dime. (consarned apish interlocutors)
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

4th December 2006, 01:52 PM	#23
hcmom Tagger Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Probably lost. Posts: 8,861	Orangutan, yep, Garrette said pretty much the same thing you did. Garrette, as soon as I have a chance to run to Walmart and buy a Hot Wheels Mazda, I'll drop it and your dime off. Thanks, both of you. I still haven't decided to buy it, in part because since I live in sunny Southern California, the kid doesn't wear long pants all that often...
	__________________ JeffWagg> hcmom, you can feel that way if you want, but you're quite innocent. Curnir> Hcmom. taking reality into a wholly new direction

4th December 2006, 02:02 PM	#24
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by hcmom Orangutan, yep, Garrette said pretty much the same thing you did. Garrette, as soon as I have a chance to run to Walmart and buy a Hot Wheels Mazda, I'll drop it and your dime off. Thanks, both of you. I still haven't decided to buy it, in part because since I live in sunny Southern California, the kid doesn't wear long pants all that often... I would be extremely grateful if you stuck to the spirit of my messages as opposed to their letter.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

4th December 2006, 02:39 PM	#25
hcmom Tagger Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Probably lost. Posts: 8,861	Originally Posted by Garrette I would be extremely grateful if you stuck to the spirit of my messages as opposed to their letter. You shoulda told me that before you made your request...
	__________________ JeffWagg> hcmom, you can feel that way if you want, but you're quite innocent. Curnir> Hcmom. taking reality into a wholly new direction