Mick Ayres Wares

In the late fall of 1975, I created a Sponge Ball routine for Ripley's that, through a series of curious events, has since become a staple for demonstrators in high-profile magic shops across the country.  In this fully-scripted routine brightly-colored balls divide, jump from one hand to another, multiply and then vanish completely in a humorous, logical series of surprises.

This fun-to-perform routine begins with four Sponge Balls in the right pants pocket and ends there, too.  The sleights are minimal, the presentation flows logically, the surprises are abundant and the spectator is involved every step of the way.  By borrowing bits and pieces of classic sponge ball effects and weaving them together with clever choreography, this is one Sponge Ball routine that not only entertains but sells itself in the process.

Ideal for walk-around, parlor or stage performances.  Presentation only.

Remember the first time you witnessed the magic of the Svengali Deck?  It was an incredible 'rub-your-eyes-in-disbelief' moment.  Chances are, you purchased one of those amazing decks, fumbled a few tricks out of it and tossed it in your sock drawer.  With any luck, it is still there.

The routine offered here might make you dig out that old Svengali Deck and blow the dust of it.  There's a lot of magic waiting to be unleashed from every Svengali Deck...and you don't even have to know how to shuffle a pack of cards to make it all happen.

First, one guest selects a card and another guest somehow finds it.  Now the selected card starts popping up everywhere.  It jumps to the top of the deck over and over, it switches places with another card while trapped under a guest's hand and finally can be found anywhere in the deck...because the whole deck has changed to the selected card.

The script is logical, flowing and funny.  The surprises are startling and most of the magic happens in the guest's hands.

Ideal for walk-around and parlor performances.  Presentation only.

Remember the short stick with the sparkling gems and the silly name?  When performed well, the Hot Rod is probably one of the most dazzling and convenient tricks ever created.  It takes up no more room than a pencil in your pocket so it is always ready to perform.  To a layman, a Hot Rod looks odd but intriguing at the same time.

A short flat rod is shown with several multi-colored gems lining both sides.  A color is chosen and suddenly every gem changes to that color!  With a snap of your fingers, the gems become multi-colored again.  You offer to demonstrate how this happens by rubbing the color from one gem onto some of the other gems.  A guest tries it and it works just as easily for her.  You give the rod a twist and suddenly there are gems on four sides of the rod...some are mutli-colored and the rest are the chosen color!  Another twist and things return to normal.  The Hot Rod is then handed to your guest for examination.

This fully-scripted routine offers a lot of humor and audience-interaction packed into a smooth and logical presentation.  For intimate performances only.

If I have a favorite 'trick deck' it would have to be the Mental Photography Cards.  If performed well, this pack of cards offers a lot of eye-candy for very little effort...in fact, you can perform this effect even if you don't know how to shuffle a deck.

You display a deck of cards that is made from blank 'mental photography' paper.  There is nothing on any card.  While humorously explaining what this special paper is, where it comes from and how it works, playing cards begin to materialize and vanish one-by-one with each passing thought.  Eventually you think of so many cards the deck now looks completely normal, even the backs appear in fine detail.  However, as soon as you lose track of what you're thinking, the cards vanish and the deck becomes blank again.

This startling, unbelievable and hilarious routine comes fully scripted with every motion and nuance thoroughly explained.  Suitable for walk-around, parlor and stage.  Presentation only.