Description

“Congratulations on a fine book. When I get my books unpacked, it will go on the shelf with the best of the books on cups and balls, because that is where it belongs!” Bill Palmer – Curator of the Cups & Balls Museum (See DVD option also available at bottom of page – DVD contains same material in video format as in this book).

NOTE: This is the BOOK not the Double DVD Set which is also available – Scroll Down for more details.  This book features 95 pages and contains the same content that can be found on the DVD’s. The book is photographically illustrated throughout. Ideally, having both the book and DVD’s would be the ultimate reference package.

The information for the book is the same as the dvd, except it has 95 pages and is photographically illustrated throughout.

Cups and Balls. Brian Watson is a consummate pro! Yes he loves magic, but he “really” loves the cups and balls.  In addition Brian has incredible skill in putting together exceptionally high quality commercial magic – and those type of people are few and far between, and the one’s we are always looking for – as we take our responsibility to bring you the best – seriously.  NOTE: Optional Complimentary Double DVD Set also available too – See Bottom of this page for more INFO!

After 15 years of honing, refinement and development, this is Brian’s “go to routine,” as it takes up no pocket space, has no clothing restrictions and is ready to go instantly. For me, the cups & balls is now as convenient as the chop cup!

Cups and Balls Book

In terms of cups and balls this is a game changer! I know that sounds like a bold claim but it really is. After 2000 years it’s finally been made a practical routine! Last November I ran a workshop teaching this routine, I’ll post the video review links below for you to take a look at….

Cups and Balls – Brian Watson

Anytime Anywhere Cups & Balls is a BOOK featuring my cups and balls routine that has been worked on and honed for 15 years.

It has many benefits over every other cups and balls routine previously published that make it a worker. There’s no complicated set up, all you need to do is pick up the bag and go. you’re ready to perform the whole routine in an instant. Obviously, previously to this you had pockets full of final loads, working balls, a wand, cups etc. and it also meant clothing restrictions.

The BOOK teaches the routine, the psychology, blocking, how to create and manipulate memory for greater impact, a new cups and balls sleight, a new 3 ball production with no palming and the worlds cleanest 0 3 0 sequence.

Anytime, Anywhere Cups & Balls
The Most Practical Cups & Balls Routine In The World
No Set Up
No Body Loads
No Pockets Used
No Clothing Restrictions
Packs Small, Plays Huge!
Self Contained
Ready To Go Instantly
15 Years Of Refinement
New 3 Ball Production
New Universal Sleight
The World’s Cleanest 0 3 0 Sequence]

Anytime Anywhere Cups & Balls – Review by Tom Pilling:

Ask any magician, what is the oldest trick in the world, and they’ll probably name the cups and balls. For many magicians, the cups and balls are the alpha and the omega of magic. The same simple props can entertain a large theatre full of people, and most practitioners will know the sheer joy of producing four large final loads in a close up environment. Much has been written on the subject, careers have been made from it, and yet so many magicians still slavishly follow Dai Vernon’s routine. It’s a pity, since the Professor’s version, while fine in itself, is just that: it’s his version. And so, it was with some considerable pleasure that I watched Brian Watson’s meticulous offering on this classical piece of magic.

This is very much Watson’s version, and for that alone he has my admiration. From the spoken preamble, which is a piece of art in itself, to the fourth final load, it is clear that this routine has been constructed from the bottom up; it is architecturally sound, if you will. The DVD’s and book do not just deal with the mechanics of the routine, but go into exceptional detail regarding both the psychology and choreography of the trick.

This is a package for grown ups, or rather, for ‘grown up thinkers’, which could well include more mature youngsters, and may exclude certain adult magicians. Watson’s background is in psychotherapy and hypnosis, and his thinking draws on the work of the late Milton Erickson. Much of the ‘work’ here is actually getting the audience into an appropriate state before the trick even begins. This process of ‘indirect hypnotic induction’ is a technique that could feed into all of one’s performances, and the discourse on moods and states is highly significant for the thinking performer. This might have some people scratching their heads, but for me, Watson’s teaching on this subject is one of the high points of the DVD’s. Along with his opening sequence…

Ah yes, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. The opening sequence is delightful; the balls appear one by one, without the magician seeming to do anything at all. As magicians, we are usually best at fooling ourselves, and we so often mistake something that looks clever for something that looks magical. In this case, Watson’s opening sequence is actually what magic looks like: effortless. The routine continues in the same vein; it is a concise piece of art, pared down to the essential elements. There is no wand used, no faux explanations à la Vernon, no juggling or gymnastics. This is a carefully considered piece of theatre, and the owner of this book and DVD set will be treated to an in depth analysis of not only the ‘how’, but more importantly the ‘why’.

But as to the ‘how’. Watson treats us to a new sleight. It’s a very deceptive move, which is thoroughly explained. The only thing lacking is a name; I suggest the ‘Watson Roll’, although I daresay he will be too modest to take me up on it. Another distinctive feature of this routine is the pouch that is used. When I first watched the performance I was completely deceived by it, which is all you can ask for. Put simply, gone are the days when you either have pockets bulging with citrus fruits, or you are carrying some leather accessory that makes you look like an extra from ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. Watson has delivered an elegant solution to a perennial problem, and it is this solution which gives the routine its Martini like moniker.

Another bonus here is a brief explanation of centre line theory, familiar to martial artists and in particular to exponents of Wing Chun. Not what you might expect from your average magic DVD, but this isn’t your average magic DVD. Like the sections on psychology, this is theoretical material which ideally should feed into your wider thinking and inform your performances. And anything, anything that gets magicians to use their feet is worth its weight in gold.

So, what we have is a beautiful routine, precisely explained, with some invaluable teaching on psychology and performance. There are also some great bits on those classic mistakes and flashes that one sees all too often. If you get caught caught flashing your load, (which sounds terribly rude), then buy these DVD’s!

It takes guts to publish new work on the cups and balls, which is perhaps why so many magicians just blithely copy Vernon, Gazzo or Ammar. As I said earlier, it’s a pity. And while I don’t intend to steal Watson’s routine, which would defeat his stated objective in any case, like a magpie I have already taken several jewels for my own nest. When presented with such quality, this much is inevitable. — Tom Pilling March 2015