INSTANT CHRISTMAS
Submitted by Robert Payne

A bare Christmas tree is seen on stage, no lights no decorations. Boxes are nested together. Magician lifts the outer box to show its insides, puts it back over the red box, and then pulls out red box to show its insides. All boxes are lifted together and placed over the tree. The red box is lifted to show tree decorated and covered in lights. Outer box is removed to show tree standing alone, decorated.

Method:
Inside the most inner box, suspended from the top of it by fishing line, clipped at the top of the box, centered inside the box, and hanging down, is a coiled, stiff wire in a cone shape to match the tree. It has battery operated lights, and decorations permanently attached to it. The light control is attached by a clip at the top of the box, along with one end of the fishing line. As the boxes are placed over the tree, the cone wire and decorations go over and around the tree. Performer and assistant each undo clipped fishing line to release the cone and decorations, and switch on lights at the same time. Boxes are removed, tree is decorated.

REVERSE DELKOTA
submitted by Dave Grant

Simply show the cubes empty, place a chair in the cubes (this is nice because it sells the fact that it is really empty), lift the red cube up and drop it and wa-la! - you have a person setting on the chair
To do this you need a folding chair with no cross bars (buy an old folding chair and hack saw off the cross bar). Have the chair open and sitting on the stage. As you put the chair in the cubes have the legs straddle the person inside. Lower the chair down and casually fold the chair up once it drops below eye level – lean the chair up against your assistant (this is nice because it will look like the chair is sitting there and the back barely comes up over the top when it is folded – when it is unfolded it will drop below the top but who will catch that?).

As you lift up the red cube and say your magic words have your assistant quickly stand up, unfold the chair, and sit in it! I have done this and it looks really really good!

CUBEAMORPHASIS!
submitted by Ben Powers

As a bit of comedy you take the old scoutmaster that is retiring and tell the pack that you are going to make him disappear. You show the cubes from Cube Squared empty and have him climb in. "Now watch this!" You lift up the red cube and say "And he is gone!" (hold the red cube in place as he remains standing there). "Ha ha and now for the tough part I will bring him back." Drop the cube and there he is. "Do it again you say? OK!" So you lift the red cube again, shake it a bit and say "But this time I won't bring him back - instead we'll bring in the new scout leader!" Drop the cube and the old guy is gone and the new scout leader is standing there!!! And you have yourself a miracle!


TIME MACHINE
Submitted by – Ben Powers

Have the Victory Cubes painted to represent different times in history if you had two sets you could do 4 different times (2 sides for each time on each of the larger cubes) I would do - cave men, the wild west, the 70's and 7 minutes ago!

Have the Cube Squared painted with gears and dials to look like a time machine and explain that by placing in the appropriate cube you can retrieve things from that time.

Put in the cave cubes and pull out some sticks, a rock, and maybe a club. You could pull out some leaves and say, "Ah, cave man toilet paper!"

Pull out that cube and now place in the western cubes. From that you can pull out a boot, a gun, a horse head fashioned on the top of an appearing poll and pull that out, and so on.

Then when you put in the 70's cube smoke could start coming out and you could pull out an afro wig and some records.

Finally for the big finish you decide to go back in time only 7 mins to the moment where you guessed the guys card wrong or got a prediction wrong or, best yet, you opened a prediction envelope and it was just empty. By going back in time you are able to pull out a new prediction envelope and this time it has every detail on it perfectly correct.

Obviously this is all done with an assistant in the Cube Squared and I would avoid the temptation to produce the person if you do the prediction gag other wise you could do it without an assistant and just pull out a jumbo card that they chose or you could have your assistant dressed as an alien and have the final cube the future and then make her appear.



MIRACLE GROW MACHINE
Submitted by – Steven Shepard

Place things in the Cube Squared and they get bigger three times!

First, empty it out. Maybe pull out some crap left over from the last show (this will help it really feel empty and makes showing the cubes empty feel more natural).

"We are going to do an experiment but first let's get rid of this junk. OK, now it's empty we can proceed." First, place in a small fun-size candy bar and pull out a giant one (you can give it away if you like). Second, force the two of diamonds and the six of clubs from a small deck. Drop them in the cubes and then pull up the red cube to reveal 2 giant cards leaning up against the mesh diamonds. Lastly, grab some fruit loops and sprinkle a handful in the cubes then lift up all the cubes and watch the giant 16" fruit loops pour out of the cubes!!!!

The secret! This uses a new principle, I think. The appearing chocolate is simple enough but the jumbo cards appear by having them attached to the black cube and as you are showing everything empty you revolve the black and red cubes (nested together) 180 degrees while placing the outer mesh cube back over top. Pull out those jumbo cards and finally sprinkle in the fruit loops (all the small stuff can be just sitting on top of the black cube or going in a small pocket) and then reveal your custom made giant fruit loops made out of inflatable swimming tubes. The little ones are about 16" or so each and you can even make cloth covers for them out of felt so they look like sugar coated cereal rings!!!


ICE CUBES
Submitted by – Thomas Michael

Explain that as a kid you liked to play pranks. And tonight you are going to show the audience an old favorite of yours but on a much bigger scale.

Have a plain Victory Cubes painted to look like an ice cube. Put the ice cube back in its tray (the Cube Squared) and pull it out to reveal that there is a bug in the ice cube.

The bug is just an inflatable bug from this place (maybe even a few):
http://www.prankplace.com/inflatable_bee.htm



SHADY CAR APPEARANCE
submitted by Jared Carpenter

Take apart the large cube from a plain Victory Cubes so you have 4 square single panels. Sew Velcro to the two edges of each of the 4 panels. This way you can show them each individually and then Velcro them together to make a makeshift box.

Start with all four rolled into circles. Pop them open explaining that they are sun shades for cars but they have mysterious powers. Place the assembled cube in the Cube Squared and lift the outer Cube Squared cube to show it is empty. Lift up the make shift cube one last time and then drop it down and lift it up again to reveal a remote control car sitting on a stool. Lift up all cubes and let the car drive off!!!


LEAVE IT
Submitted by Matt Roberts

Effect: The magician explains that when he was a kid, it was always his job to rake the leaves in his yard. The performer picks up a child-size plastic rake and pops open a yard waste receptacle which he nests inside another. The outer cube is lifted to show it empty. Rather than spending all day raking the leaves, he came up with a magical solution. Using the rake as a magic wand, he waves it over the containers. Instantly, he lifts the inner cube away to show that the outer cube is now completely full of orange and red leaves.

Method: The bright colors of the fall leaves make this really visual. You can buy a bunch of them at a craft store. This is a one-man effect but if you work with an assistant or a child, you could have them pop out of the pile of leaves as a kicker.

ECOLOGY SHOW FINALE
Submitted by Dal Sanders

This will use a Cube Squared and Two Sets of Victory Classic Cubes (4 Cubes Total). The props will be used for stage decoration, message reinforcement, prop production and show finale. This example is for an “ecology” themed school show but the ideas can be tailored for any show that has four points to teach.
The show begins with the stage bare except for the Cube Squared sitting center stage. The Cube Squared is set up so that the audience can see two sides of the prop. The entertainer comes on to music and looks around…no props are to be seen. He shows the outside of the Cube Squared empty and then the inside. He then produces everything he needs to start the show including two side tables (Harbin Folding Tables).
As he covers the four points of the show (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Replant) he will also take those props out of the “empty” Cube Squared.
At the end of the show he will show the Cube Squared empty like he did during the opening and then wrap up by producing four Victory Cubes one at a time. Each one will have one of the four points from the show airbrushed on it; (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle or Replant), which he will stack on each side of the stage. As he does this the performer says If we all do what we can to Reduce, Produce Cube, Reuse (produce cube) , Recycle (produce cube) and Replant (produce final cube) then we then we will all be “Planet Protectors”. At this point the music swells and a globe of the planet Earth rises out of the Cube Squared and floats above it.
The words should be airbrushed diagonally on the cube in such a way that when stacked on either side of the Cubed Squared they form an arrow pointing to the Cube Squared and ultimately, the beach ball. The last things the audience members see are the four victory cubes with the four important messages written on them and the Earth floating in the air.
The Earth globe is actually a Planet Earth Beach ball and it floats through the use of the Bernoulli Effect. Basically a blower facing upward is also hidden inside the Cube Squared with the Earth Beach Ball sitting on it. At the appropriate time the entertainer hits a hidden remote control and turns the blower on. The fast flowing air creates a zone of low pressure that holds a beach ball aloft. The ball is locked in position by the air flow surrounding it; the fast moving air is at a lower pressure than the still air; should the ball move from the stream, the higher pressure of the still air forces it back in. The pull of gravity is balanced by the force of the rush of air, leaving the ball completely stationary (or lightly bouncing) in space. The stability is such that the ball can be pushed out of place and it will return to its equilibrium position.
The Music will cover the sound of the blower. A collimating nozzle and safety cage over the fan should be added for best results. This could be made from a strong household fan with some sort of nozzle attached (plastic, cardboard or whatever). The nozzle should be somewhat larger than the beach ball. Although all four Victory Cubes will not nest together, they can be open inside the Cubed Squared and left flat…with the corner facing the audience. As the Victory Cubes are taken out of the Cube Squared, they can be filly opened, The audience will only see two of the sides and usually won't notice the back two sides opening up.

THE FUTURE OF PACKING
Submitted by: Brian Scott

C.S. sits on stage with the outer cube open and around the inner black load cube. The Inner red cube is in its flat state lying across the top of the outer cube. The inner black cube is loaded with 4 or more inflated beach balls- depending on size and space, a child’s or small adult beach chair, a bucket and large shovel, a large oversized rubber ducky, a large golf umbrella that looks like a beach umbrella and a beach towel . The inner load cube is positioned so the flaps are at the bottom and held back with either magnets or Velcro so both top and bottom are open (although bottom will have a slight taper opening which will help in the final production.)

You know...being a magician people are always asking if I can do things like make money appear or if I can make their kids disappear, and while I would love to do that … make money appear that is ...the government doesn’t look too kindly on that sort of thing. But there are a few things out there that I have been able to do that makes everyday jobs easier. In fact I have been working on how to use my magic in a way that will change the shipping and delivery industry as we know it.

Does this situation sound familiar? You get to the beach, you park the car, and you start to unload everything only to discover there is more stuff than people?

I see a lot of you nodding yes.

Imagine packing everything up at home that you need for a day at the beach, but only one person has to carry anything.

(Pick up the flat inner red cube that is lying across the top)

To do this you need two packing crates or boxes...one is for packing items in...

(Open the inner red cube)

We call this box the Port-O-Box.

(Put inner red cube into the outer cube)

Now the Port-O-Box goes into this other box, which with the help of my magic, will transform all the items inside it into little invisible packages.

(As you describe what it does lift the outer cube up and away from the inner red cube.)

We call this box … the Transformer. We’re not that creative with names sorry.

(Start to fold the outer cube flat as you describe the nature of the boxes)

The cool thing about both these boxes is that they fold flat, this way you can tuck them under your arm or put them into a bag and off you go.

(With the outer cube still folded flat in the smallest state tuck it under your arm and wait to open it up until after the next set of lines.)

I could explain how these boxes work but it’s all a little complicated to just tell you about so I’m going to show you instead. That’s why I already put all my beach stuff into the Port-o-Box at home before today’s show.

I know what you’re thinking…you didn’t see anything in the Port-o-Box before …that’s because it’s… invisible.

Once you have a loaded Port-o-Box you would fold both boxes up and be on your way.

(Since the outer cube is still folded under your arm, grab it in your hand and motion with it and leave the inner red cube where it is covering the load cube. This is a discrepancy in words vs. actions but it goes un-noticed.)

Once you reach your destination you open both of them back up.

(Re-open the outer cube.)

Put the Port-o-Box so it’s on the inside of the Transformer.

(Slide the outer cube into place over the inner red cube.)

Just make sure it's empty before you put the Port-o-Box inside. I don’t even want to tell you what can happen if its not.

(Lift the inner red cube up just enough so the black art gives the illusion of the interior of the outer cube being empty.)

That’s why we have these windows on the front.

(Drop inner red cube down again.)

Once it’s in...Wait one second for the Transformer to transform all the items back to how they were and then you can start unloading...let me show you what I bring to the beach.

(Pull out your towel and say the next line as if it is the most amazing thing ever.)

My towel!

I know what you’re thinking all this for a towel...no! I bring a whole lot more with me to the beach.

(Lay out the towel to the front side of the Cubes – over far enough so not to block the front of the cubes)

Like something to shield me from the sun.

(reach into the cubes and start to pull out the umbrella, which is loaded in the cube point down, as soon as the edges are clear of the top of the cubes press the button that opens the umbrella and continue to pull straight up – even though everyone knows and has a umbrella that opens with these buttons the image is very magical and fills up more space than the actual cubes themselves. Place the umbrella on the corner of the towel as one might see on the beach)

I also have something to play with in the water.

(reach in and pull out the large rubber ducky)

(Singing badly)

Rubber Ducky you’re the one…

(Let the song trail off and look embarrassed. Put the rubber ducky down on the edge of the towel).

Of course I also have something to dig in the sand with.

(reach in and pull out the shovel – pause, and grab the bucket but do not yet bring it into view…)

...which means I also need a bucket.

(Pull Bucket into view and place both down on the towel).

(Reach in and start to pull out the chair as you say the next line.)

I have a chair to relax in.

(Take chair over to the towel and position with the other items.)

And my favorite item and the best part of using the Port-o-Box. I don’t have to decide weather or not to deflate those beach balls.

(Pull up both inner boxes quickly and let the beach balls appear. Due to the flaps being held back to form an open end the balls will actually come up with the inner cubes and roll out making it seem as if they are pouring out of nowhere. Do not wait though for them to fall – they will fall out before the inner cubes reach the top edge of the outer cube. In one swift motion continue to lift the cubes up and away from the outer cube. Leave enough space behind and to the side of the cubes so that you can take the cubes out and set them down behind the outer cube with out pause.)

You can bring as many as you want, just as they are.

(Reach in and pull out one of the beach balls and bounce off your hand into the wings, off the floor or if you are really brave into the audience, just make sure your insurance is paid.)

And that is how I use my magic to make life a little easier.