Building a Better Nest
A Magical History Lesson By Professor Spellbinder

If you truly believe that you need a “Professionally Built” Nest of Boxes with which to do the magic contained herein, then we begin by sending you to a Professional Magic Prop Builder. You don’t need the rest of the article and can save your money.

--------- Unpaid and Unsolicited Advertisement ------

http://charvetmagic.com/catalog/i2.html

If, on the other hand, the above unsolicited advertisement leaves you wondering if you really need a $1,000 set of nesting boxes to perform at Aunt Milly’s annual Christmas Party and make her gift magically appear before all assembled, then read on.

Honestly, I don’t know what all that fuss is about with magic dealers and the use of the word “professional.” Ginger, who walks the streets by the bars downtown every evening, is also a “professional.” But I digress…

The above advertisement did give us clues to five other methods for loading ordinary inexpensive nesting boxes that you buy at the Dollar Store or make yourself. The ad implies that these methods are NOT the ones preferred by “pros,” but in fact, the real pros always build their own props and use the method that is most advantageous to them, no matter what. Only pro “wannabees” avoid these methods. Good magicians never sneer at a method if it works.

1. Bottomless Box
2. Tricky Tray
3. Tricky Table
4. Backstage Assistance
5. Stooge Assistance

Then the advertisement hints that there are many more methods that the “professional” magician simply does NOT use, with that favorite magic word of advertisers, “etc.” Below, find my list of Et Cetera Methods.

Etc.
6. Ball of Yarn / Bag / Ribbon on Effigy, etc.
7. Duplicate Set of Boxes, etc.
8. “Crystal” boxes, etc.
9. Nesting Envelopes, etc.
10. Nesting Purses, etc. (As a convenience, I have nesting purses HERE)

I could go on, etc., but I think ten methods should be sufficient. Unfortunately, since you are paying $7.00 tops for all ten methods (this is almost a book by itself - 49 pages), there will be no video included, unless you make one yourself. To understand the methods, you’ll actually have to read.

I wish to state now that my own “Ring Into Nest of Boxes” as described in The Wizards’ Journal #11, is NOT included here. You’ll have to pay an additional $7.00 to learn that one, which uses ungimmicked Dollar Store nesting boxes and none of the methods contained in this present article apply.

Our journey through magic history will begin in 1876, with methods currently in use at the time as recorded by Professor Hoffmann, and will travel up through the present day using stuff that has just become available owing to modern technology and Dollar Stores.

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