Learning The One Cup Routine

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The cups and balls is said to be the oldest and most well known trick in magic.

It is also said, a Magician’s skill can be judged on how well he does the cups and balls.

Typically the trick is done with three cups and three balls.

Today we’re going to begin with one.

It is my goal to teach 1-4 cups, beginning today with one. My next lesson with two, and so on.

The advantages to this routine-

Portable, with the ability to do walk around, close up, parlor, or stage.

There are no gimmicks and everything fits in the pockets with automatic reset once the trick is finished.

It is street weather resistant in play and storage.

Everything can be made or bought at a store, even the cup can be substituted with an opaque shot glass if need be.

If one wants, they can buy or make their props bigger, but I prefer using a 2” TABLE HOPPING CUP

RNT makes a great Mini Paul Fox Cup

The reason I use these professional cups, is because they are well made for the purpose, look magical, and come in sets of three for back ups. But once again if I’m on the road and I need props quick I can use regular store bought stuff and put together my own rig.

Also, I use a two inch final load ball that just barely doesn’t fit inside the cup, I do this to get the full impact of the effect, but still keep down portability. This way I don’t have to use a POUCH, I can just work out of my pockets and have plenty of room for other tricks.

For further portability I use an 8” or 9” wand, I’ve been moving towards the 8” it’s more portable and it’s just perfect for manipulation effects and widens my repertoire to lengthen or shorten the show as needed.

This one cup routine can be an entire street show, with only the props listed here, simply by adding, wand and prop manipulations, and by the use of more byplay, and extended patter. The street clips below can give you some examples of this variety.

To make the wand I get a 7A Oak drum stick and cut it down to size.

Below is a short performance of what we will be learning today.

Here it is out on the street in action.

This trick of course can be done with a regular final load that actually does fit as seen below.

You’ll notice that small yellow ball had plenty of impact. To make that yellow ball, I use a 1 1/2” wooden ball from any craft store, and simply sew yellow cloth around it the same way I make the bean bags with the BBs

So lets take a look at the tutorial video below and learn how I do this.