Anyone Know of Any Good Spongeball Routines?

noname · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2008, 11:16 PM

The Spongeballs have always been my favorite, though I have never used them. I have the necessary skills required to accomplish a routine but am looking for something "clowny" rather than that tired patter that so many people use, which was stolen from Ellusionist's Brad Christian anyway

These were all I could find, and though they are helpful, I was looking for something more with the balls and that would be suitable for a clown.

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

Jolly Well · #2 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 07:56 AM

Jay Noblezada - Sponge DvD

Steve Dacri - Sponeball Toolbox

Both of those are excellent, and probably the best Sponge Ball resources out there.

Anything by Al Goshman as well (these will be aged)

noname · #3 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly Well

Jay Noblezada - Sponge DvD

Steve Dacri - Sponeball Toolbox

Both of those are excellent, and probably the best Sponge Ball resources out there.

Anything by Al Goshman as well (these will be aged)

Actually, I have the Toolbox (excellent DVD!) and I have watched Goshman. I was looking more of a clown routine or some way of making it more clowny. I wasn't necessarily looking for the workings but how to make it work for a clown

Thanks though. I never knew Jay had one, may have to check that out

Actually, I also belong here Magic Forum- The Magic Woods • Index page and someone recommended I do a spongeball routine from my red nose. I was thinking more along those lines.

Finito · #4 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 08:09 PM

YouTube Video

noname · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 11:09 PM

I picked up Sponge, and have to say I was definitely more impressed with the Spongeball Tool Box. The only thing that I learned from Jay, that I hadn't already known was the "shuttle pass." However, what really made this DVD worth it, was the extensive learning from Gary Darwin. That man is amazing and his sleights completely effortless. He is also on the Spongeball Toobox DVD as well, and he teaches some amazing sleights there as well.

All in all, if I had to compare I would say the Toolbox is much better and much more worth the purchase, imho.

Fitzwilly · #6 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 02:20 AM

Since sponge balls are fairly easy to learn (at least the basics) many people pick them up and they focus on getting the moves right and they stop there. I went through about 10 the the clips associated with the first vid you posted earlier. There is one that is more of a collage of some very good magicians with little clips of their routines. One was a bar routine where he talked about standing the little guys on their heads, and ribbing their tummies. He actually gave the sponge balls characters of their own. So often they are just sponge balls.

What if you brought out a sponge ball by "accident" not as part of a trick. When you tried to put it away it kept reappearing. Perhaps it would even get larger as you fought with it trying to get it to go away. They you give it a karate chop to knock it out so you can put it away only you hit it too hard and now it becomes two of the smaller balls. The only way to put it away is if you can change the color of the balls. ...

Try to think of a situation or a storyline that is somewhat funny and then try adding the sponge balls. Sometimes working backwards is easier than frontwards (taking the balls and trying to create a funny story around them.

Jolly Well · #7 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 10:16 PM

I bought the toolbox first as well then picked up sponge and found the same to be true: Much of the information had been covered by Steve Dacri that Jay Noblezada went over.

But...

I prefer Sponge over the Toolbox. It's obviously more recent and in a more realistic setting for today's magician (walk-around rather than table top). I still recommend both as a means to see different perspectives on similar magic.

noname · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly Well

I bought the toolbox first as well then picked up sponge and found the same to be true: Much of the information had been covered by Steve Dacri that Jay Noblezada went over.

But...

I prefer Sponge over the Toolbox. It's obviously more recent and in a more realistic setting for today's magician (walk-around rather than table top). I still recommend both as a means to see different perspectives on similar magic.

Yeah, but, quite honestly, I was much more impressed with the routines on the Toolbox rather than Sponge. To be honest, I was expecting more from Jay, and, in my opinion, it really is not that great of a routine. Besides, if you notice, his reactions weren't really that big, as much as other things that he does.

I like Jay, I am just not impressed with his handing of the spongeballs.

Jolly Well · #9 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 07:59 AM

Agreed, for the most part. I thought the guest line-up was what made Sponge a fun DvD.

Jay has a good street presence about him, but like you - I wasn't amazed by his handling of the sponges, up to the point of seeing several windows (to the experienced eye anyway), which was kind of odd for a training DvD. Steve DaCri's toolbox was also a good DvD for sure; and would definately be better for someone with 0 sponge experience.

Even though they are both similar, and even carbon copy on some techniques - they really are different in presentation. I think looking at them as 2 chapters of the same lesson may be a better option and still sugguest any would be sponge magicians buy both