What is a change bag used for? I've seen them on the internet, and have heard people talking about them, but would would someone use them for? Are there any tricks that go with them?

a change bag is a utility prop. It can be used in COUNTLESS ways. Simply put it is a bag with two sides on the inside. You can place something inside (on one side) and then have it vanish or turn into something else by changing to the other side pocket in the bag. You can have a child reach into the bag if your thing is small or soft and they can show it to be empty or pull out the thing you want to appear. It can even be inverted to show it empty, or some have zippers on the bottom so the audiance can see all the way thru to the top.

What is choosen to place in the bag could be a silk that turns into a balloon which can then be fun. Several diffeerent color silks that are then transformed into a large one with a picture or saying from the colors that you had before. That is called a blendo.

I'm sure you get the idea.

One of the easiest and best all around props for the beginner to invest in. A basic change bag without a zipper should run you about $20. The zipper adds adds about $5 to the cost but you can create many more laughs when you tell the audience that your bag is empy then you get confused when you reach in and unbeknownst to you you reach through the bag and into your pocket, pulling out all kinds of silly things.

I :heart: my new change bag!! I paid about $37 for one of the nicer ones from LaRocks & it is so much fun! I haven't actually used it in front of an "audience" yet, but I've totally baffled my 5 yr old twin cousins with my new found love of magic!

I'm particularly interested in Gospel magic so one of the things I have is the devil & Jesus silk set. Basicly I show the satan scarf, put it in the bag talking about how we are all sinners & such. Then I cover the bag with the Jesus scarf & talk about how Jesus washes our sins away. Tell about how He died on the cross (my bag is red so it's perfect to equate the blood of Jesus!!) & how He rose again. When we believe this, pray & accept Him as our Savior He makes us cleans us up & makes us white as snow - at that point I pull out a solid white scarf. I also amazed them with the caterpillar to butterfly silk. They loved that one too!

Harmony I ordered the same gospel silk set to use with my purple change bag... Thank you for sharing your patter... I never thought about covering the bag with the Jesus silk.... Thanks again. My supplies from LaRocks are supposed to arrive today... I'm anxiously waiting!

I used mine at Easter. I put a plastic easter egg in and pulled out one of those chicks that clucks when it sets in your hand, then I put the chick back in and pulled out a real egg. The kids were amazed.

What is a change bag used for? I've seen them on the internet, and have heard people talking about them, but would would someone use them for? Are there any tricks that go with them?

Hi ... I kmnow you've had some replies already on this but just revisited and thought I'd add a few thoughts for you:

=> There are several types of change bag <=

=> There is one type that looks like a small tennis racquet with a (usually) velvet bag on and called a One Handed Change Bag. Often described by users (keen to allay suspicion!) as a Church Collection bag. The have either a flat handle or round style and can be operated easily with just one hand. There are several snealk 'moves' with this.

=> Then there is the more simple Flat Change Bag. These can have two or more compartments. These are my personal preference ... but that depends upon the use. They can be very simply made from three pieces of fabric stitched on three sides but the 'better' ones have different colored linings and made so that the central piece is lower than the outer and highly desceptive.

=> What can they be used for? <=

Vanishes, appearances, color changes, transpositions, broken and restored ... a massive range of effects.

I would NEVER use it as an effect on its own. I only use as part of a routine as a device for making a transition to the next stage. I could explain why another time!

Here's a simple effect that is self contained and has lots of room for 'business':

Effect: Funny Rope Restoration

Three pieces of rope are removed from a bag thats sen to be empty.
You claim that you'll join them into one piece (but need some help etc). After suitable business ... you reach in and produce the rope ... all knotted together into one peice! Ta Dah!!!!!

OK .. they expected better! And they'll get it.

Return the knotted piece to the bag ... suitable business .... now the helper can reach in and remove it (as you display it otherwise empty) and gets the applause as it's seen to be one long piece!

=> How? <=

A change bag (of course).

I doubt if I now have to explain this but here a few tips and an additional ending.

Start with the knotted and the whole piece in one side and EITHER the 3 cut bits in the other side or in your pocket. Ensure that they are not tangled and that the knotted one is on top and that you can get one end without problems. TIP: To prevent the ropes fraying, they should be taped or bound with cotton anyway. Somehow mark one end of the one you wish to grab so there is no mistake. A dot on the tape or one thread of a different color cotton ....

. Either take the 3 bits out of the bag and show or remove from pocket, belt, table etc.

Let me explain a good subtlety that overcome a hate of mine. I dislike showing things empty when there was no suspicion in the first place! It can actually draw attention when there was none. SO ... wanting to demonstrate the bag is (apparently) empty though ... here's how:

Don't take the rope out of the bag THEN turn it inside out ... but EITHER push it inside out thus pushing out the rope bits so it's an all in one action ... or (better) start with the bag inside out anyway (perhaps with the top folded back over oif a flat style) and remove the rope from elsewhere. Then simply turn it the right way to insert the rope. It's been SEEN empty without making a 'thing' out of it!

Drop the bits in. Magic gestures, wands, words etc etc etc and you remove the knotted piece (without looking) triumphantly! Room for business here. Did it work? Frayed Knot! (Groan).

OK ...must do better.

Return the rope to the first side (with the separate bits in) then make the change ready for the finale.

When the child takes the whole peice out you can (and should) be immediately truning the bag inside out and discarding -- not as a big display but a an aside action. It shpows it's empty (therefore just one piece) without undue attention and without (most importantly) taking primary focus away from the child.

And that's about it!

IF you want a delayed ending, a 'sucker' ending .. then you can do this:
Instead of the final peice being one simple length .... knot around it in two places some short pieces as knots. It should look like the second one. After you produce the second one you MUST then undo the knots and return the separate pieces to the bag. Finally, you (or your helper) appear to do the same again. But now you wind that piece around your hand (sliding the knots along and off as you go). Then ditch the knots as you reach for your wand, hooter or whatever .... then show it really IS one peice.

---------------------------------

This post has become WAY too long ... IF you want more ideas for change bags or any other magic ... just ask.

John Gordon
[B]The Infotainer
Mr.G

I would NEVER use it as an effect on its own. I only use as part of a routine as a device for making a transition to the next stage. I could explain why another time!

This is good advice, and I have seen good magic/clown/variety shows go bad because the performer tries to us the change bag as a stand alone trick. Just tonight, I saw a Ventriliquist/Magic/Comedy show where the performer did a bill vanish using only a change bag. The trick is virtually fool-proof when done like this, but it is also very weak.

The change bag has its place, but it can be used poorly or used too often. For large changes it is hard to replace, but you may also want to look into vanish boxes, devil handkerchiefs, sanda devices, or thumb tips as alternatives on smaller vanishes and swaps.

Yes, this is good advice. The less attention the audience pays to the bag the better.