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Busted By Airport Security

Kansas City Lecture

I just wanted to say thanks to the folks in Kansas, particularly Eddie Pease from Mindgames and Magic. The lecture went great from what I can tell, and as always, I learned. What I learned isn’t the point. The point is that with each performance whether it’s a show for lay-folk or a show for magicians (lecture), we must grow and improve.

The lecture was great, but the trip there was not as fun. For those who are familiar with the trick “The Target Card” on my Stone Cold Magic DVD, you know that when I perform that effect, I use a miniture cap gun as part of the routine to get a reaction/laugh during the effect. Well the cap gun I use is a Walmart brand toy derringer looking gun. It was in one of my carry on bags. It turns out that it’s illegal to have a cap gun in a carry-on bag, so I got “pulled over” by TSA.

I got written up and the cap gun was taken. To their credit, they were totally cool about the whole thing, but alas, my cap gun is gone forever. Eddie and I stopped at 3 different places in Kansas trying to find a cap gun for the lecture that night . . . no luck. Live and learn I guess.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Speaking of the Kansas lecture, I always bring hard copies of my book Stone Frixion Fire. I have 5 copies left. The Hard Bound edition has two extra effects in it. I also have 5 copies of Kingside Castling (the new edition). So the leftovers from the Lecture are yours for the taking. They each retail for $19.95. However, for the five remaining copies I’m combining them. The first five to order can have them for $29 bucks. That’s almost 30% off. Of course, as always, Free International Shipping. Get ’em Now. You’ll also get the instant download videos included with Kingside Castling, and you’ll even get the E-Book version (instant download) of Stone Frixion Fire for Free! There are only 5 people who will get this, so Order Now!

Contest Update

Finally, all the entries are in for the Free Magic For Life Contest. I got some last minute entries, so my team and I will be reviewing the videos over the next couple of weeks. The winner will be announced in the December 2009 Issue.

Enjoy the rest of this month’s issue . . .

17 Responses to "Busted By Airport Security"

Rob says:

December 2009 at 8:12 am

Hi Tom,

I’ve purchased your Stone Frixion Fire ebook, and wondered why your hardback copy has extra effects that I am not entitled to?

Rob
Jeff Stone says:

December 2009 at 12:27 pm

@Rob – Thanks for ordering The E-book.

The Hard Bound Frixion book doesn’t have effects that you’re not entitled to; Those who bought it paid more money for that book than those who bought the E-Book.

It’s like when you buy DVD movies. You can get the regular edition for one price, and the extended edition with bonus footage for another price.
Donny Orbit says:

December 2009 at 9:35 pm

Jeff,

Sorry to hear that about security man! I’m sure a fertile mind like yours improvised the situation.

To everyone reading this: Stone Frixion Fire and Kingside Castling are worth their weight in leftover turkey!
1. Jeff Stone says:
  
  December 2009 at 9:37 pm
  
  @Donny – it’s good to “see” ya brother. Thanks for the post man.
Gordon Meyer says:

December 2009 at 5:13 pm

Instead of a cap gun, you might consider a squirt gun and a separate bang gimmick. You might even end up with an extra moment for your routine where a squirt gun makes a bang sound!

Of course, I’m depending on the TSA not knowing what a bang gimmick is, and that an empty squirt gun would fly, so to speak. Never underestimate their ability to illogically banish an item.
Jeff Stone says:

December 2009 at 7:21 pm

@Gordon – They described the cap gun as being illegal because it’s a replica, so the squirt gun might fall into the same category. Here’s a link to an image that looks (roughly) like what I had on board: Derringer Cap Gun
Gordon Meyer says:

December 2009 at 12:52 pm

Right, but I was thinking of a squirt gun that sensible people couldn’t claim was a replica. There are plenty of those to choose from. But I haven’t seen your routine, so I’m just brainstorming, really.
1. Jeff Stone says:
  
  December 2009 at 1:55 pm
  
  @Gordon – I’ve been thinking about different ways around this as well. Thanks for the ideas. I was so paranoid on the way back home that I gave my flash paper, matches and caps away to another magician in Kansas.
  
  By the way, the trick is on my Stone Cold Magic DVD that you reviewed on MLA. It’s the effect called Target Card. Watch that effect again. I added a sound effect to the DVD of a gunshot at the moment that I would normally use a cap gun.
  
  At the critical moment as I’m standing behind the spectator telling them “on the count of three, pull the trigger – of the faro-gun-deck,” On “one” I hold up the cap gun for the audience to see. On “Two” I cock the gun, and on “Three” I pull the trigger.
  
  In the performance at the Kansas lecture I just clapped my hand to make a loud bang. Maybe I’ll bring a tape recorder of a gunshot. 🙂
Dale Huffman says:

December 2009 at 2:15 pm

Jeff, I was the male person you used in the lecture performance in KC. My thoughts on this may help. I think if you may a gun with your fore finger and thumb use a small recorder for the gun shot may work. The only downfall I see would be the recorder not work or the timing maybe off. Just be careful on how you pack the recorder in your carry on bag don’t put it next to rope or any cords. In the x-ray it may come across to TSA as a devise to make a bomb. That would not be good.
1. Jeff Stone says:
  
  December 2009 at 3:03 pm
  
  Hey Dale!
  
  Good to “see” you again. I like the finger gun idea. Not bad.
  
  It’s just such a nice visual for the audience, however, to see that gun, then see it cocked, then hear it pop. It turns a silly little card trick into almost a stage piece.
  
  🙂
  
  By the way, didn’t you say you had a website? What is it again?
Dale Huffman says:

December 2009 at 12:04 pm

Hi Jeff, My site is in my personal info. I will be working on a new site after all my holiday shows.
Thanks
OldZombie says:

December 2009 at 12:54 am

I have heard of magicians losing gimmicked coins and color changing knives to TSA agents. I can understand the knives, but what exactly could you do with a half dollar shell?
Jeff Stone says:

December 2009 at 6:15 am

@OZ – Maybe the shell is “illegal coin abuse.”
salmononius2 says:

December 2009 at 11:02 pm

Like I said, I wasn’t able to post a video for the contest, but I came up with a variation of Overtime that I thought I would share with you guys, in case you had the same problem with it that I did. Here it is: http://stonecoldmagicmagazine.com/free-monthly-magic-trick/overtime-by-david-acer/

It isn’t a video entry, but just imagine that it is 😀
Grandpa Chet says:

December 2009 at 9:40 pm

Going back to the first post, who’s Tom?
OldZombie says:

January 2010 at 4:28 am

Thats a good question Uncle Bill…
Jeff Stone says:

January 2010 at 11:58 am

“Tom” is my alter ego. I only use it when I want to be truly frightening . . . It’s kind of like “Susan” from Monsters vs. Aliens.

Comments are closed.