This Magic Trick Fools 99% of Audiences [Cellini Cups and Balls]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
- After 900 street performances, this is my presentation of Cellini's Cups and Balls which is based on the Vernon - Miller Cups and Balls routine.
In Cellini's words, the cups and balls is the "Grand Daddy of them all." He's right, and this is my presentational spin on it. If you are a magician, you owe it to yourself to study this brilliant routine.
Remember, when you see a street magician on the street (after Covid), if they're any good, drop a $5 or more in their hat. :)
NOTE: If you subscribe, please leave a comment that says, "I subscribed!" and I will write back to you. :-)
ATTENTION MAGICIANS: the wand sequence after Flip's move is my original material, and I have not released it to the magic community for use.
![This is My Go-To Coin Trick to Fry Spectators! [Hanging Coins]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I_7pr-zq8LM/mqdefault.jpg)
![This is My Go-To Coin Trick to Fry Spectators! [Hanging Coins]](/img/tr.png)
Even when you know all the moves, it's always amazing to see someone master it and do it as good as you do. I will never get bored of seeing someone master this amazing art and performance.
Wow, Stephen, this is super kind of you. Thank you. You've made my morning.
I have heard people say that when you know the method of a trick it is no longer entertaining. Your performance has proven this absolutely wrong. I loved it. Wonderful in so many ways. Thank you.
Wow, thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. :)
Agreed
@@AlyxMagic It's very Daivernonesque minus the tip up loads which was nice plus some original sequences. And I like the Mora-Vernon wand vanish but, I felt the f***l l****s were compromised at 4:37 with a long pause with the hand in the pouch. This was not natural. Dai always said be natural and this pause telegraphed the f****l l***s which is the big kicker in the routine.
Street magicians are some of the best. You develop such a thick skin which allows you to handle any sort of situation/spectator, and have well rehearsed "plan B's" for your faux pas's...skill is attained by repeating your tricks over and over again on a near daily basis. This shows in you...mere hobbyist (like me) that show friends and family never get it down as well. Keep up the great work Alyx...and of course share.
Hey there, Thank you for this super kind comment. I really appreciated reading your evaluation of me and what I have taken from the street. Thank you. All my best to you. -Alyx
As a street performer who often cringes at amateur performances knowing they have not put as much time and dedication into the slights, patter and stage presence, you nailed it buddy. Glad someone can appreciate our efforts.
I always skip the cups and balls videos, but the thumbnail had a woman doing it so I clicked and wasn’t disappointed.
Nice routine and well executed.
Timing was spot on . Nice patter.
Thank you for posting.
You are most welcome. I'm glad I didn't disappoint. Thanks for the kind words! :)
I subscribed!! I just wanted you to know that that was a fantastic routine. At the ripe ol' age of 59 (in May), I've been doing magic off and on since I was about 10. Though I have a cups and balls set, I've never really developed a routine outside just the basics. Yours is hands down great! Thank you. And have a nice day.
Aww, thanks so much. Glad you liked the routine.
I've been doing stage and close-up magic for many years and I have never invested time with the Cups and Balls. Your performance has changed my mind and I will start with the Cellinni book. Your Magic is an absolute delight to watch. Congratulations a thousand times over!
Wow, this makes my day. Thank you so much for sharing those thoughts. How cool is that. Yeah, the Cellini book is delightful. It is so full of wonderful material. Much of it I've never seen anyone perform before (until recently, that is -- there is a British magician named Paul Kitchen who is performing some of the more obscure material in the book).
If you have it, you are fortunate. If you don't happy hunting, it's such a gem of a book. He goes over two cups and balls routines, btw.
So nice to see the spirit of Cellini alive and well! Wonderful video Alyx, thank you!
Thanks, Doug. I really appreciate that. I must have subconsciously chose this content this week due to all that talk of Cellini's Busker's convention. ;)
The delivery of that "Naaah I'm just kidding" at 1:10/1:11 made me feel like I was watching Cellini perform again. Thanks for the great performance! :)
That made me smile. I try not to be a Cellini clone, but I've spent so much time reading about and watching Cellini that I think I've absorbed a few mannerisms. Thanks for the comment. :)
Excellent Performance. You've mastered the illusion. Continue the passion.
Aww, thank you. These are very kind things to say, and I'm glad you could see my passion. Means a lot to hear that. Thank you again.
Very well executed, it takes hours just to set up the routine in your own head and months getting it fluid but literally years to make it seamless with the right banter.
Aww, thanks for recognizing that. This routine served me really well, and I am so grateful for the giants upon whose shoulders I stand every time I perform it. :)
You can tell you have done this hundreds of times. Very nice!
Haha, that's true. And thank you!
Very nice flowing routine. I need to dust mine off and get busy. You've inspired me to be consistent.
Cellini gets the credit for inspiring. Hope you have lots of fun working on your routine again. :)
In my humble opinion, the Professor would approve ;) Awesome!
Aww, thank you so much. That means a lot.
@@AlyxMagic Just now watched a movie called Shade. Have you seen it? Awake all night with that movie and working on material. BTW: You are cool. I hope your gigs are going well!
Your pacing, and tone of voice lends for a very almost “Did I just do that.” Fun experience… looking forward to more vids SOON!!!… and thanks for being at the Mstery School Street classes…
Thanks for the kind note. Hope the Mystery School bit was useful or at least interesting! All the best!
@@AlyxMagic for sure… Where did you get your apron/pouch.. it looks really soft and pliable.. I want one!.. cheers!
I subscribed. Congratulation on your works. You make Jim proud. I performed with Jim in NY in1981 and New Orleans in 1982. It was the golden age of street performing
Stay blessed.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Hi Philip. That is so cool that you worked with Cellini in both New York and Nola. I wish so much that I'd had the chance to work alongside him or even just to spend some time talking about the art with him. Thanks for writing!
If you want to know about Cellini life in details from 1981 and 1982 let me know.
So smooth! It's obvious you've worked this a lot, it's so polished!
Thanks so much, Daniel! I've gotten a lot of great mileage out of this brilliant routine. Thank goodness for the giants whose shoulders we stand upon. :)
@@AlyxMagic Dan and I are just jealous of the cups used in the routine :) jkjk awesome stuff!
Pleasant smooth convincing; born a natural talent!
Tage, it means the world to me that you watched this. Thank you for your kind message. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Will be in touch!
I “liked” and “subscribed”. I’ve never incorporated this into my act, as I am mostly a stage performer, with birds, bunnies, ducks, and larger illusions. But it’s better than the rudimentary form I have in my close-up repertoire. You do it really well, even for someone who knows what to look for. I like the lemons at the end!😊
Bravo princesse👸....une routine originale ...simple et efficace....Best of the Best....
Alyx, this is a _superb_ performance (in ALL aspects). Thank you for uploading this recording our your finely honed routine, which you obviously perfected as a hard-working street performer. Watching your routine is timely because - I am enthusiasticFrom Max... with an x. The Magical Entertainer.
Hey there! Wow, thanks for the kind compliments. I'm glad you enjoyed the performance!
So beautifully polished very high energy for just a camera. Excellent
I liked and subscribed. Close up magic is magic in its purest form---skill and showmanship at their finest. And the Cups & Balls is THE acid test of a clise up magicians ability. You nailed it! Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, Johnny Thompson, and Ricky Jay would be proud.
Aww, thank you for the kind words, Jun. I really appreciate that. :)
Love your performance...everything. your handling, routine, and personality...top notch
Hey Cory, So glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for your kindness.
So excited to find your great channel!
Wow! Thank you so much, Brooklyn. Glad you are enjoying the content! 😊
Great Performance! Fantastic wandspin and vanishing of the wand! Thank you for that wonderful Presentation of the Cups and Balls!
Aww, thank you so much. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. And yes, the wand sequence is my take on Cellini's wand of Merlin routine. It's what I've come up with since I don't wear a vest. Glad you appreciated it. :)
Loved this! Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it, Jason! :)
Great performance! As a wizzard I know the moves, but it is a great pleasure to watch your performance. What you do is real magic! Great job!!!
I saw Jimmy Cellini lecture at the 4F convention. God rest his Soul... you are doing him proud!
That must have been an awesome lecture. I never had the chance to see Cellini work, but I've read his books (and now Eileen McFall's memoir) so many times, and watched videos of his lectures so many times, I feel as if I know him. I wish that I really had. Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your 4F experience. Means a lot. :)
Nicely done. The final loads were exceptionally clean. It was a pleasure to watch you perform. I subscribed.
Thanks, Gary! Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for subscribing.
This is sooooo much fun! Very clean and smooth! I m in awe for the entire vdo. Stay healthy and thanks for the vdo!
You are so welcome. Thanks for the kind comment. :)
Its rare to see performers reference Cellini.
My mentor and good friend Nick Nickolas was a student of Cellini's.
You do the art a great justice with your presentation and slights, I hope our paths cross on day on the great dreamers highway ;)
Hi Alyx, That's a very engaging and extremely entertaining cups and balls performance. As a novice to the cups and balls, I hope to be even partly as entertaining and skilled as you.
Hey Glenn, thanks for the kind comment. The only difference between me and most of the people who do it is mileage. That's really all it takes. Hope you're having fun with the cups and balls. :)
Enjoyed it a lot AlyxMagic. Keep it coming.
Thanks, Gary! Really appreciate the comment. :)
Very smooth...lots of fun to watch, thank you
You are so welcome. Thank you for your kind comment. 🙂
So happy you popped up in my feed today. Really great presentation.
Thanks for letting me know, Matthew. It's awesome to know that people are enjoying this work. Hope you have a great day! :)
One of the 99% is looking at one of the 1% with utter disbelief. What just happened in 5 minutes! My jaw dropped on the very first minute and it was like that all the time! And the ending! Ooof!
You are too funny. That's awesome. I'm glad you liked it. :)
@@AlyxMagic I'm just being honest. Credit is all to your charm!
@@AlyxMagic Watching this over and over again for last 2/3 days. This is just so so good! And every single time, I feel like I'm enjoying it for the first time! Amazing!
I think I can suggest one thing for your next video after watching it so many times. Next time, show the full table. That'd be cinematographically better I think.
@@cardcrime7208 glad you're enjoy the video. And I agree with you 100%. I am so new to filming and video editing, and after I realized my mistake, I cringed.
I'm learning a lot, but I still have lots more to learn about youtube and filming magic. :)
@@AlyxMagic It's no problem. You are a terrific artist. And that covers a lot!
Amazingly done.. so deceptive, so clean, even though if one knows the moves. Enjoyed every moment. Thanks for the wonderful experience...
Wow! Thanks for the super kind remarks. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
I’ve subscribed and really love that cups and balls trick!🎩
So glad you liked it. Thanks for subscribing.
Absolutely fantastic! I keep coming back to this again and again. There are very few acts that are as polished as this! This is what magic should look like. Many magicians kid themselves about the art of magic and about being artists but you have presented yourself/your act in such a way I would consider you as a master with the skill level of Vernon and cellini. I hope more people discover your show and videos 🤘🏻🎴
Oh my gosh, that is super kind of you. Thank you so much. I'm glad the video was worthy of your time. :-)
I've seen cups-and-balls so many times, and keep watching new versions because I enjoy it so much. I still don't know how it's done, and don't want to know. Thanks for keeping the suspense, including a little hint that you were about to reveal it. :)) This was a perfect performance, both with the moves and the patter.
Wow, what a wonderful comment to wake up to. Thank you so much for your kindness in writing this note. :)
Love this. Thank you! I subscribed and I think you will go far!
Aww, thank you for your encouragement, for your comment, and for subscribing. I really appreciate these things!
Would love to see you perform your "street magic" show at the Magic Castle in Hollywood!
Aww, that would be awesome. Maybe some day!
Wonderful handling! Great rhythm too!
Great performance! Hope you continue to post.
Thanks, Andrew, I'm glad you enjoyed the performance. A few days ago I posted a bill in lemon routine which you can find on my channel. I'm wrapping up a few projects and am hoping to throw a few new videos up soon. :)
Great job! Cellini was the first street performer I ever saw, brings back memories.
If I can elicit memories of Cellini, then this makes me very happy. Thanks for letting me know, Ronnie. :)
Well done! You're truly a worker. I'm really enjoying these contents!
Thanks, Jay. That means so much to me. You know I'm a huge fan of the work that you do.
Great job. I love the cups and balls. Your routine and patter was excellent. Look forward to seeing your handling.
Thank you so much Dan!
I subscribed. I was super impressed with what I saw. Can, wait to see more. Your kids must love watching you!
Thanks, Kim. Hope you and your family are doing great!
THIS IS REALLY COOL! your performance was excellent! keep up the good work :D
Wow! Thank you so much! :)
Nicely done. Glad I stumbled upon you.
I'm glad you did, too. Thanks for the kind comment, Robert. :)
Thank you very much for the great magic- always makes me happy
You are most certainly welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed the magic. :)
Wonderful skill and showmanship
Thank you, I appreciate that!
I love it!!! Wonderful!!!
Thank you, Tobia. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
Awesome video, I'll be checking out some more of your videos, thanks for the upload
Thanks, Richard! Glad you enjoyed. :)
Watching you perform is a delight. Both in person and on TH-cam.
Thanks, Nic! :)
Most Excellent! Subscribed!
Hey Andrew! Thanks for watching and thanks for subscribing. I really appreciate that. :)
Great performance. Would love to see you put together more video like this one.
Thank you so much! Yes, I need to. I've been working a lot (street shows and privately), and that derailed this channel. But I am hoping to add more to it. Perhaps in November! Thank you again!
Really nice routine! Well done
Thanks for both of these comments on the two videos. I appreciate it! :)
I subscribed a few minutes ago after watching your hanging coins video. Nice work. Never heard of you before but I will be following your career now.
Wow! Thank you. I'm so glad you are enjoying some of the videos.
Saw your post on the water routine; sent an audition to the Castle last week. We shall see!
Wonderful routine. I subscribed 👍🏻
Hey, thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words, and thanks for subscribing. :)
You have super smooth execution. Flawless
Thank you so much, Alto. I appreciate that. :)
WOW! Aly is a rock star! I studied with Cellini in New Orleans and he's smiling down watching Aly perform. I've never seen any of his students perform as well as her. #respect
Wow! That is one of the coolest things anyone has said to me. Thank you! Thanks for taking a chance and checking out the video, and I'm glad you liked it. :)
More to come!
Fantastic performance! 👏
Thank you so much!
Jim Cellini was my mentor for several years before he died. We would sit for hours doing routines and of course I would listen to all his wonderful stories. He inspired much of my magic and I still use his opening dialog for my shows. He would be proud of your performance. I can remember what Dai Vernon told him after his cups and balls routine and that was he went to the pocket too much. His response got him kicked out of the Magic Castle. LOL The man was a legend. I also see the influence of the others. Great job and I subscribed.
Hey there, thanks for this super nice response. I always enjoy hearing from students of Jim. I'm sad that I never got to meet him.
I studied his work so much, and have spent so much time with his handling of the cups that I feel like I know him in a way. But I envy those who really did.
I never heard that he got kicked out of the Castle. That's pretty awesome. I'd sure love to have been a fly on the wall. :)
Thanks again for the great comment. I enjoyed reading it tremendously.
Thank you so much Alyx outstanding skill and showmanship I wish you would post tutorial videos on learning magic I would be willing to pay you for it and help you in any way. I love that flip vanish of your wand and how you take the time to retrieve it , would love if you could teach it.
I subbed 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Well executed love the cups and balls you nailed it😎🖖🏼
Aww, thank you, Raymond. I appreciate that. 🙂
I consider it an honor that a real magician responded to my comment. I was inspired by Peter Marvey way back in about 1998 with The Worlds Greatest Magic on TV.
Oh, wow! World's Greatest Magic had such a huge impact on me, too. I think I saw Juan Tamariz do El Cochito -- the one with the little toy car driving over the cards. I loved that so much. And I remember seeing Mac King teach gags at the poolside and Bill Malone perform Sam the Bellhop (with the cards). What great shows those are.
Even when you know all the moves, it's always amazing to see someone master it and do it as good as you do. I will never get bored of seeing someone master this amazing art and performance. Thanks for posting I really enjoyed it!
Much appreciated, Stephen. Thank you for the kind remarks.
All the best!
Alyx
Fantastic loved your patter and routine cellini would proud stay safe x
Thank you so much, Mike! I appreciate you watching and I appreciate your comment regarding Cellini. Stay safe.
Beautifully done cups and balls routine
Thank you so much! That means a lot. :)
Great presentation!!
Thanks! It is Cellini's, mostly!
Great performance. May I make a suggestion from a magician to another? When you load the fruits, do it in 2 steps. Step 1 get it out of the pouch and rest your arm by your side. Step 2 do the actual load. I think it is smoother and more deceptive. You could even add a 3rd step, where you bring the cup to the fruit to load it, while changing the hand that holds the cup. Pause again, do something with your free hand, then put the cup on the table. By having 2, 3 or 4 steps to load the fruits, you increase both time and space misdirection.
Very nice cellini,love the cups and ball rutine. like the way you make disappear the want.nicely done!. keep it up.be safe!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Well Done 👍
I’ve always loved 🥰 the Cups and Balls. Even the plastic red yellow and blue set.😊
Me, too. :)
And thank you.
Alyx outstanding skill and showmanship The best performance I’ve ever seen of cups and balls
Aside from your outstanding magic technical skill
Alyx your incorporation of the classic moves ( solid through solid ,elevator move etc) into your routine combined with your love, passion ,humour made the entire routine flow, from the beginning to the very end I was captivated.
I would really enjoy learning magic from you Alyx
I have challenges learning how to preform the final loads ( the three fruits)
Wow, Laurence, these are incredibly kind words. Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
Ah yes... The final loads. Im not a fan of the popular loading methods today. The style I use is more similar to Cellini's. At the time I learned there was no video of Cellini working with pouches. I studied videos of Johnny Fox performances. These helped me a lot. Now, there is an amazing video of Cellini from about 86 or 87 I think. It was posted in the last three years or so -- it is an unexpected and wonderful gem. These are all wonderful videos to study. If you need more personalized help, I'd be happy to talk to you about that. Feel free to reach out at alyx@alyxmagic.com
Thanks again for the super kind comment!
I subscribed with great pleasure Alex. I m from France, and the cups and balls are my favorite tricks in magic. Vous le faites remarquablement, avec beaucoup d'aisance. Et vous transmettez le plaisir et la joie.
Merci beaucoup et vivement que l'on puisse à nouveau pratiquer dans la rue.
192 / 5000
Vous êtes tellement gentil! Merci pour votre inscription et pour votre merveilleuse note. Les tasses et les balles sont certainement un merveilleux morceau de magie. Et veuillez également excuser toute mauvaise traduction en français. :)
Found you on TH-cam today and subscribed immediately. Superb performance and a great personality.
Aww, thank you! Apologies that it took me so long to write back. This channel kind of died, but I'm starting it back up! There's a new video here, if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/OeuhxX1wrr0/w-d-xo.html
Ok so I know cups and balls almost by memory by now, but I the silliness with the wand right at the beginning of the trick? Awesome!
Yes, that is my version of Cellini's wand routine, "Wand of Merlin." I call that sequence, in deference to Cellini, "Merlin's Hat."
And thank you. :)
Fabulous As Always!!!
Thanks, Sondra! :)
Very nice... Thank you and step forward
I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for the comment. :)
Very nicely done! Jim would have liked this! I certainly did!
Hey there! I'm sorry that I'm about a year late, but thank you for this kind remark. I wish I had gotten the chance to meet Jim. His work and life have had a big impact on my own.
And I'm aware that you are a bit of a cups and balls connoisseur, so I very much appreciate your remark. Thanks so much, Bill.
All my best,
Alyx
Very nice. I just subscribed, look forward to seeing more.
Hey Karl! Glad you liked it. Thank you for the comment.
Clean, lighting fast & brilliant 👍👋
Thank you. :)
Great performance... wonderful!!
Thank you! I appreciate your kind words. Glad you liked it. :)
Such a beautiful performance👍👍👍👍😊😊😊👏👏👏👏
Wow! Thank you so much, Robert. I really appreciate that kind message. Hope you're having a great day. :)
Very beautiful routine! I like also the acrobatic intro of the props! Well done!
Thank you so much, Martino. I appreciate that.
Awsome ! Brilliant Performance .
Thanks, Andrew! I appreciate you watching and your kind words. Hope you have a great afternoon/evening. :)
Awesome awesome awesome. Expanding my own repertoire and been watching performances of the cups and balls for inspiration. Really great handling and performance!
Hey there! I'm sorry I'm so late getting back to you, but awesome to hear you had been exploring the cups! They are pretty wonderful. Hope your study of the cups is going well. :)
@@AlyxMagic no worries at all. I have a playlist saved which may be of use to you as well. Over 175 cups and balls performances.
th-cam.com/play/PLXQBtlEHUBgiSGCTY_b7UvC6DxvZypdtV.html
I always add to it whenever I come across a new video to add. Congrats on all your recent successes and accomplishments. Hope to meet you and share a pitch one day out west here in CA
That was pretty cool. And you have an easily likeable personality. Enjoyed the routine very much.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the comment. :)
So fabulous, Alyx!
Thanks, Racey. :)
I'm 75 years old. I've been doing magic all my life. I am VERY intolerant of sloppy, ill-thought-out performances. You are TERRIFIC and a model of what is BEST about our ancient art. I have just become an enthusiastic subscriber.
Wow! Thank you so much for this very kind comment. You have warmed my heart; what a lovely way to start my day.
I must say that I very much stand on the shoulders of giants, and in this case so much credit is belonging to Jim Cellini and the masters before him (Vernon, Miller, and all who came before them).
Thank you again for your kind comment and I hope you have an awesome day!
@@AlyxMagic No need to be humble. We ALL owe a HUGE debt to those guys (and they were almost all guys). You imbue your performance, even with no audience in a corner in front of blank walls, with your own style and personality. Hope to see you on the street one day!
Excellent job! Your wand vanish was perfect.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the wand vanish. That is my favorite part of the whole routine. I spent a few weeks working out that wand sequence, and it's nice to see it get noticed. Thank you! :)
Hi Alyx, I love your Cups and Balls covid video has you new routine been done yet also what sort of waist bag do you use in the routine, look forward to more.
So well done!
Liked and subscribed!
Wow! Thank you so much, Jared. I really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed the routine. Hope you have a great evening. :)
Muito bom, parabéns
Thank you!
Really enjoyed your performance. Your handling of the Vernon wand spin made me smile from ear to ear. All the best to you.
Thanks, Keith! I've always enjoyed the wand spin. Eric Decamps recently remarked that my little version of it is almost like an in air han pien chien move. Whatever it is, I enjoy it!
Eric was spot on lol
Loved it! Thanks for that.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment. :)
Nicely done ! I met Jim back in 1984 in New Orleans. I was managing the Magic Shop at the '84 world's Fair, He & Tom Frank were chummin' around together.
Brian, that is so awesome. Eileen McFalls wrote a new book last year about her time travelling with Cellini. She writes about that fair. Must have been fun times. Thank you for your comment!
Just found this video on my YT feed! YAAAAAAS! So freaking awesome Alyx!
Haha, back in the days of lockdown. Thanks, friend.
Brilliant. Jim would approve! Subscribed.
Thank you so much. I'm glad you feel that Cellini would have approved. I wish I could have worked with him... Thanks for watching and for subscribing. Take care, Harry. :)