Walter can produce the prop himself and sell it wholesale to a dealer (or, perhaps, several dealers). He then makes his profit on each one sold.
Can he protect his idea? An original prop might be "patentable" but the expense isn't worth the work. Walter must saturate the market immediately so the "rip-off" dealers find no economic incentive in reproducing his effect. The major advertising efforts of a dealer like Abbotts will help to accomplish this. Good luck, Walter Stearns. I'll be looking for your effects somewhere .. . sometime soon!
Our topic this month is for the non-illusionist who wants to change his status and offer illusions in his repertoire. I'm not referring to the guy who wants to add "just one" illusion, but the more established performer who feels that several practical illusions would increase his show's appeal.
We will emphasize practical illusions that can be used singly (i.e., one at the climax of a 45 minute show) or together (i.e., a 60 minute show with three illusion features). Many articles have been written about which illusion to pick if you're only going to pick one, but which ones would you pick when featuring several? And, since no illusion is perfect in all situations, which ones allow the greatest coverage? In this case you can be sure that at least one of these can be done anywhere.
After careful consideration, I am sure there are four illusions which will cover all bases. They are The Broom Suspension, Substitution
Trunk, Guillotine and Volunteer or Bow Sawing.
Why these four? They cover all the bases of performing: humor, drama, spectacle, mystery, etc. All can be transported easily, require minimum set-up, no offstage or backstage
