I know, I know.... add this to the stuff I said I would "never" do.... I bought some sponge balls and have been practising with them. Well, my 5 yr old just loves it... she thinks it is just spectacular. And I'm really not very good, but it doesn't matter.

So, what I need now is how to work this into my routine. I can do the little thing with one in my hand disappears and they have 2 in their hand instead of just one... I'm thinking I'll do that somewhere near the beginning of my show and then randomly have these sponge balls appearing throughout the show all over the place, like I'm plagued by the darn things and I can't seem to stop them from popping up. I need to think of phrasing to go along with the original trick and what's the best way of going about pulling them from random places? I know I'll have them hidden in my pockets to hide them in my hands but it can't all be coming from behind someone's ear, you know?

Any ideas would be appreciated. At this point, I just want to work with the 2 inch balls that I have so I'd rather not go buy the ones that turn into a square or a star or anything like that. Maybe after I've "mastered" working with these more.

Do a You Tube search on Sponge balls and watch the different takes people have on the basics. You can get a lot of different ideas just from taking 15 to 45 minutes watching the clips.

Congrats Perry. I didn't do any magic in my show until camp. Now I love, love ,love it. Especially working with Rex's influence on I am clown and I can't do this and getting the kids to do it. The children love it. I have now got to the point of having a magic trolley and table. So watch out it becomes irresistable.

not sure about size but the super soft ones can fit into a thumb tip

I'm thinking I'll do that somewhere near the beginning of my show and then randomly have these sponge balls appearing throughout the show all over the place, like I'm plagued by the darn things and I can't seem to stop them from popping up. I need to think of phrasing to go along with the original trick and what's the best way of going about pulling them from random places? I know I'll have them hidden in my pockets to hide them in my hands but it can't all be coming from behind someone's ear, you know?

I like the callback concept.

A lot of people produce them from their mouths.

is there a particular one you recommend, Fitz? I keep finding the same 2 tricks all the time.

Robo the clown does a routine where his puppet keeps them coming from his mouth

You could just conceal a number of them in your props and costume. A clip in your dress could be released during a curtsy to drop several on the floor. Adjust your hat to drop a couple more. Have them get in the way when you go to use a magic wand or shake a child's hand. Each time you should have increasing numbers appear.

I will have to look Perry. I remember seeing a few that were pretty good and a number that were average to slightly better than average. But even so, when you watch the videos what you are really watching for is not the "tricks" that the performers are doing but the WAY they PRESENT the effects. There are some tremendous variations on the patter. There is one that I remember that takes place in a bar, I will take a look and see if I can get a link, the effects were mostly standard (after all, there is only so much you can do with the things,) but the patter and presentation was much better than usual.

I have read and watched many books and DVDs concerning sponge ball magic. I would recommend the DVD Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic DVD: Buy magic tricks: Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic DVD (http://www.magictrickstore.com/encyclopedia-sponge-ball-magic-dvd-p-26176.html) It shows many ways to handle sponge balls. There are plenty of routines taught too.

Remember sponge balls can be advised to children as "clown noses". :D Say to a kid, "Do you know what this is?" They will say, "A ball." You say, "No, it is a clown nose." You can do a routine from there.

Some of my favorite tricks are with sponges. I started with sponge balls, now I use sponge rabbits. You will be able to see a few clippings of using sponge rabbits in my video: YouTube - Dynamike, Detroit Michigan Magician Magic Promo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHEz2bqrp9Q)

Most sponge tricks are difficult to do because it takes manipulation. It becomes easy with a lot of practice. A good easy self-working magic sponge trick is Miracle Rabbit: Miracle Rabbit [1384] : Hippity Hop Magic, Magic tricks Magician supplies Make-up Gags Novelties Collectibles Clowning (http://www.hippityhop.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=36&products_id=1461)

Another ball trick that is not too hard is Multiplying Sponge Balls: Multiplying Sponge Balls [Multiplying Sponge Balls_P1385] : Hippity Hop Magic, Magic tricks Magician supplies Make-up Gags Novelties Collectibles Clowning (http://www.hippityhop.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=36&products_id=1463)