I used the PVC Pipe Illusion stage plans, with a few modifications. Here, it's shown with my Witch's Cauldron (Paul Osborne plans) for our Halloween exhibit and magic show (check out the Spooky and Bizarre section of the Magic Cafe Forum, where I posted a "Still High From Halloween" description. We get 4,000 trick-or-treaters on our street each year. Because of this, we have neighbors who are experts in using PVC pipe and duct tape and other inexpensive materials.

A couple of notes. The plans as I received them only called for PVC pipes and dollar store table cloths, which I bought. No problem. Although the plans talk about using them outside, they obviously weren't meant for Kansas, or anywhere wind is a possibility. In this state, a 25 mph wind is considered mild.I cut and built the backstage area, but attaching the cloths was impossible. It was just like a sail.

For those who might run into similar problems with the wind outdoors, here's what I did:

After putting together the frame of PVC, I braced it using 1X2X10s, making an "X" on each side and back. If you have 10-foot PVC's anyway, per the plans, this shouldn't add much to your packing. I attached them using 1 5/8-inch drywall screws (drill pilot holes first). I then used 1/4-inch polystyrene sheathing (50 feet) from Lowe's for $35. It's lightweight and fan folds flat -- again, not taking up much storage space. We used duct tape to attach it and give it some strength. We then attached the tablecloths to the "walls" with more duct tape. This held up, even though we had some pretty strong winds, without adding much to the cost. I think you can get 1X2s for under $2 most places.

But I will tell you, if you're outside and have any wind, the plans as they are will not work. You have to add some strength to it.

You will notice the support on the front curtains sag.  This would have been prevented had I used higher pressure pipe or 3/4-inch pipe. A neighbor, who built a really cool looking spider that withstood the wind and just about everything, told me 3/4-inch pipe works better. The plans mention nothing about the pressure of the pipe. Of course, we're building magic, not running water through them, but my friend pointed out that that higher pressure they are, the thicker they will be.  Just a suggestion you may want to add to the plans.

Next year, I'm just going to spray paint the sheathing black and forget the cloth.

In the pic, you'll see I had a raised stage. I made this out of packing pallets, which you can get free just about anywhere. I found some subflooring on sale for $5 a sheet for the floor of the stage. I screwed the PVC pipe into the stage with conductor brackets from the electrical section at Lowe's for about 60 cents.

By the way, the platform for the witch's cauldron was also made from a packing pallet, sub-flooring and scrap lumber in my basement. Magic has some great upcycling opportunities.

July 2011

Ron Sylvester recently bought "Flowers That Bloom With A Spring" from The Wizards' Journal #21. He had the production boxes and bag already, but the boxes that he bought came with no spring flowers at all. Instead they had cut tissue inside, attached to the sides of the boxes so it would expand when the boxes expanded. He wanted more realistic Spring Flowers, but he decided to stick to flowers that are commonly used for corsages that you might really buy from a florist store in a fancy plastic box like this.

As you can see, the Portrait of Grandma will fit right into Manuel's act. He's the one with the clown nose in the photo. Learn more about him from his Web site, in French or English: http://www.manumagie.com/

Changes he made for the props included laminating the cards, but with the Portrait of Grandma, those in the know can see his lamination eliminated the need for a border of black tape and makes a much cleaner look for the edges of the card.

His improvement on The Three Little Pigs was to eliminate the need for Black Art on the house and use instead Kraft Paper Art. He also used his own artwork for the houses (see below), something we always encourage and applaud.