CANDY SURPRISE:
Submitted by Trent Williams

Tell a story of twin boys (or twin pigs - pig won’t and pig will) one who was always ungrateful and selfish and the other who was very kind and considerate. On their birthday their birthday the ungrateful one is given a large box (motion to Cubed Square). Without saying thank you or anything Ungrateful opens it to find nothing inside. “I don’t want it” he yells “here you can have it” he says to his brother “Oh thank you!” replies his grateful brother who is delighted at the idea of playing in the big empty boxes. He opens them and to his surprise another large box is found wrapped inside he opens this to reveal it completely full of candy which of course he shares with his brother and the crowd. (Note: you can glue pieces of candy to a piece of cardboard which is secured close but not too close to the top and place loose candy on top of this. The illusion is that the box is full of candy and you can tip it forward and let some dump out.


DUCK CROSSING
Submitted by Cameron B.

I would paint the victory cubes with different street signs and have a forcing deck of random signs that forced a duck crossing sign. Grab the cube with the duck crossing sign and place it in the Cube Squared (the sign should have been painted so that it show through the diamond mesh perfectly). Now lift up the cube and drop it and the ducks are missing (the trick is that the ducks weren't actually painted on the sign - they're just magnents and they slide off when you drop the cube hard enough). Lift up both cubes and, sure enough, there is a mommy duck with two babies just like the sign.

If you don't like live animals there are other thing you could do with warnings signs and inanimate objects like school crossing and a bunch of back packs or road work and pull out construction stuff like a ladder and so on.

TORN RESTORED JUMBO CARD
Submitted by Trevor Smith

Have super large cards printed on 8.5 by 11 poster board and force the queen of diamonds. Have the spectator tear the queen up and then sprinkle the pieces in an empty Cube Squared. Shake the things up and then lift up the red cube and drop it to reveal your lovely assistant dressed as a queen and wearing diamonds!

SMOKE AND MIRRORS
Submitted by Jared Carpenter

Have the stage decorated in plain cubes (mirror cubes) and explain that magicians do sometimes do magic with smoke and mirrors. Cue the smoke machine and proceed to make a person appear form the empty mirror cubes!

MIND READING PUPPET
Submitted by Trent Williams
(Trent Sent in a lot of great ideas and we will get more up later)

Show device empty have puppet appear then proceed to do a mind reading trick with puppet sitting on the edge of the cube. Of course an assistant is needed (inside the square) and slips gathered in a change cap, clear force bag or paper sack gimmicked. Also a forced card revealed this way would work as well.

DREAM WOMAN
Submitted by Brandon Smith

The cubes are shown empty and placed so they are nested into each other with the three spot facing forward. A bare mannequin torso is brought out and dropped into the top of the cubes. Next the two mannequin legs are pushed so the ends are in the bottom holes, one sticking out the bottom of the five and the other the bottom of the four, both nearest the front of the cube. Then, the two mannequin arms are inserted into the top holes of the four and five, also nearest the front three spot side. Finally the mannequin head is brought out and dropped into the top. As soon as the head falls into the box the legs and arms start moving around. The magician goes to look into the top of the cube and before he can open the lid to look in one of the arms swats him away. The arm then turns palm up and one of the legs starts tapping up and down impatiently. The magician brings over a leotard and places it onto the hand. The legs and arms then immediately draw into the cube pulling the leotard with it. Your assistant then pops out of the top of the cube wearing the same outfit. She is helped out of the top of the cube and you both take your bows.

Of course to accomplish this effect, your assistant loads herself into the cubes in the traditional fashion when you first are showing them empty. The movement of the arms and legs are accomplished by loops of cord that are fed through eyelets attached to the top of each appendage. Your assistant can then hold two sets of cords in each hand in order to move both the legs and arms at the same time. If the cords are made long enough the assistant can hold a leg cord from one side and an arm cord from the opposite side in each hand. This way the legs and arms from the same side appear to move in different directions and not in unison. The arm turning palm up is done by the assistant transferring all the cords to one hand and twisting the arm itself palm up with the other hand (the swatting motion is also accomplished in a similar manner). Marks should be made at the end of the arm to indicate which side is palm up and palm down. Velcro is attached to the palm of the one hand so the costume will stick to the hand and be pulled into the cube with it. The cords on the arms and legs also allow the assistant to quickly pull in all the appendages by yanking on them as she stands up out of the cube.

FRANKENSTIEN’S MONSTER
Submitted by Zeke Powerz

I would use them for a Halloween theme. I actually begin by telling the story of Frankenstein\'s Monster. I would start by showing the (empty) chamber and begin by adding the stolen body parts (Mannequins) and after the lightening strike(flashpot) the monster will rise from the dead. from here he could be used in another effect perhaps a head chopper, sawing in half, etc

GIANT TISSUE BOX
Submitted by Matt Roberts
Matt sent in lots of great ideas and we will get more up later)

Effect: The magician introduces his brand new invention. “This is perfect for when you have a really, really bad cold.” He pulls a sheet away to reveal a giant tissue box. He pulls a couple of enormous tissues out of the top, then lifts the two cubes to show them empty. Referring to the outer cube with the windows he says, “It even comes complete with one of these fancy covers so that noooooo oooone knooows that it’s a tissue box… and even though the box is empty and your nose is running, you will never run out of tissues” He produces more tissues out of the top, then says, “Of course, the best way to fight a bad cold is with a big bowl of chicken soup!” He lifts the inner cube to reveal 100 rubber chickens!

Method: I think it’s self explanatory. You can use tissue paper that you would use for wrapping gifts as the giant tissues. Z-fold those on top of your pile of chickens inside the gimmick. The bright yellow chickens make for a very visual (albeit ridiculous) effect!

SWITCH
Submitted by Matt Schick

The magician will need to be wearing an outfit and a mask and the assistant must be standing offstage. To start, the magician puts on the outfit and mask and opens up the first box (with triangles). Realizing that he forgot something, thus providing justification for walking backstage, the magician walks behind the curtain and secretly takes off the outfit rapidly. The magician then jumps inside of the loading chamber and the assistant then slides the box out from behind the curtain to center stage. (The magician will need to secretly slide with the box while in the inner chamber). It should look just like the magician went backstage to grab the second box and then pushed it across to the center of the stage. The assistant begins to do the standard procedure, \"showing both cubes to be empty\" and then produces the magician. Instantly, in a dramatic fashion, the assistant whips off the cape and the mask revealing that she is indeed the assistant and the magician has magically transported to the boxes. This has KILLER potential and acts almost as a metamorphosis at the same time!

TREMORS AND HORNS
Submitted by David Koenig

This my submission for the 2008 Out Of The Box Contest. I will use real names as no one is innocent in this cast.

This Illusion is designed for a stage in a convention ball room. In general any situation in which the band sits in front of pipe and drape.
A proper stage with wings is not needed. The design fits most mid sized or larger convention set ups. No front curtain is required.

The band, Tremors and the Earthquake Horns, ( A 9 pieces band with a full horn section) is on the stage and begin playing an up-tempo version of Peter Gunn.
http://www.tremorsonline.com/
Slim King appears in full Mardi Gras regalia, and quickly carries the Cube Squared to stage right several feet in front of the band.
He shows the Cube "Empty" and Woo Haaa .. It is shown to be Jam Packed with Mardi Gras costumes ( Conventional Production) The feathery costumes are dumped onto the floor in a colorful heap.
The band emphasizes the "Appearance" with the usual cymbal crashes and horn stabs.
Slim grabs a bag labeled "Party" And pops open a Dice Cube and sets it Mid-stage in front of the drummer. He pulls out another Dice Cube and places it over the first one ... Wooo Haaa ... He lifts the Dice and beneath it are two beautiful Showgirls!
The two girls dash towards the pile of Boas, Feathered Headpieces, and Huge Fans, all in Mardi Gras Green, Gold and Purple. As they adorn themselves Slim again places the first Cube mid-stage and then covers it with the other showing them both empty in the process.
Wooo Haaaaa ....
He quickly lifts the two dice and WOW!!!!!
TINA TURNER (Tamisha Hillman from Bring it on 4) as the band hits the final volley of Horn stabs to end Peter Gunn.
All legs and a big voice to accent the showgirls in the matching short attire, Tina jump right into her performance.

Tina shouts "Left a good job in the city" as the band kicks it into high gear and the two dancers Shimmy their way to Mardi Gras heaven surrounding Tina as Slim places the Cube down on the stage again and admires the intense performance of "Rollin of the River" ....

As the song ends Slim picks up the outer portion of the Cube and brings it down over Tina's head as she finishes her final bow.
As he covers Tina she begins to spin and by the time Slim has brought the Die down to the floor and back up again TINA HAS CHANGED INTO A LONG FLOWING EVENING GOWN TO MATCH SLIM KINGS CAPE.
Tina then grabs the inner part of the Cube Squared and both Tina and Slim bring the Cubes down over the two dancers (One each) and when they reach the floor and back up Woooo Haaa
The dancers are also wearing matching long flowing evening gowns!!!!!!
As the four entertainers take another bow Slim grabs the microphone and exclaims,
"WELCOME TO SLIM KING'S CARNIVAL"
Featuring Tamicka Hillman from Bring it on 4, Star Searches favorite band..... Tremors and the Earthquake Horns, Orlando's Universal Dancers, and our special guest from NBC's TV Show Phenomenon, America's most controversial Paranormalist ... Jim Callahan ... And with this Slim King raises the Cube for a final time revealing Jim Callahan.
http://jimclass.com/

The band kicks into Hot Hot Hot and the magic has just begun!

______________________________________

The appearances are made possible via my new concept (new to me at least) of using an empty kick drum as a temporary base. The drum has a false elastic split cover on it and it is connected to the area behind the pipe and drape with a collapsible cloth tunnel. The drummer is actually playing an electronic kick drum. The tunnel is visually covered by audio monitors, stick bags, and drum thrones. The Dancers, Tina and Jim can all easily crawl down the tunnel and out of the kick drum into the Cube. I may use something similar with the Bass cabinet in order to produce Jim from Stage left to even out the appearances if need be. With nine performers in the band, their equipment, piles of Feathers, and several Cubes on stage it will be easy cover any weak angels between the drum and the cube during the loading process.

DOLL TO LIFE
Submitted by Adam Quinn

2008 Outside the Box Submission!
For this trick you will need two sets of Victory Cubes!
You will also need an assistant dressed up as a maching doll.
1. You start of with the sets of cubes inside its pair i.e. the little one inside the bigger one. The doll needs to be preset in the right one.
2. You then put your assistant into a \"trance\" infront of the sets.
3. The assistant then falls onto the ground and you pick them up.
4. You then put them in the set of Victory Cubes on the right side of the stage.
5. Then you move the two sets toghether so their is no room in between them.
6. Next you lift up the right outer cube to show nothing inside. While this is being done the assistant slips out the back and waits behind the 2nd pair.
7. Then you lift up the left outer cube to show it empty; while the assistant slips into the inner cube.
8. Then you seperate them again to show nothing in between.
9. Then on the count of 3 you lift up the cubes where the doll is showing you have transformed your assistant into a doll.
10. Then you make a joke saying that you need your assistant back. You then lay the doll on the ground and put a light sheet over it.
11. You then open up the flap of the left set of cubes.
12. Here is the tricky part take the doll with the sheet on it and put it over the left set of cubes; while you do this from the inside have your assistant grab hold of the doll under the blanket so you can position the sheet all the way around the cube.
13. Then you take hold of it and then on the count of 3 you drop the doll with the blanket still on top and your assistant pops up at the same time so it looks like they instantly changed places.
This trick was an original concept by me Adam Quinn and my sister who is my assistant Isabelle Quinn.
Thanks!

COSTUME TRUNK
Submitted by Kyle P

Effect:

Magician approaches Cube Squared and begins to pull various costumes and outfits from the interior and hang them, one by one on a portable clothes rack (available at Wal-Mart). Once all costumes have been removed, magician shows Cube Squared to be empty by first lifting and showing the interior red cube and then by lifting and showing the interior of the silver cube.

Magician then shows the audience a series of cards, each of which contains a photograph (or drawing) of one of the costumes hanging on the rack. Magician places cards into a bag (force bag) and proceeds to have a spectator from the audience reach into the bag and choose the costume of their choice.

Magician then proceeds to show Cube Squared empty again by lifting both the interior red cube and showing it and then the exterior silver cube and showing it before replacing them, one in the other as they were before.

Magician then takes the costume card that had been just previously selected by the spectator and matches it to the correct costume from clothes rack and places it into cube squared. Magician then gives interior red cube a quick toss upwards from the interior (but not high enough to dislodge it from the silver cube) to produce his assistant wearing the chosen costume.

Magician removes assistant from cube and proceeds to show it empty again by lifting both the interior red square and the exterior silver square.*

*Note: If the rip-away bottom was in use, magician could do the above mentioned to show Cube Squared empty at the end and then completely lift it off the floor to give an even greater burden of proof that the prop was indeed empty.

**An added point of presentation would be for the magician to place a scarf or boa around the neck of the hanger containing the costume just before placing it in Cube Squared. Magician could even have this item selected by a different audience member than the one who selected the costume and it could indeed by random (having the choices selected by using a regular bag containing pictures of the scarves/ boas just to keep consistency) so that when the assistant was caused to appear she would not only be wearing the selected costume, but also the selected scarf/boa. This could most likely be done without adding any time to the production since the assistant need only remove the scarf/boa from the hanger and place it around her neck.

CUBE COLOR CHANGE
Submitted by Mike Catanzarito

Effect: Several Objects that are pulled through the Victory Cube change color with a powerful finale.

Preparation: Magician wears white gloves. Assistant is inside Victory Cube wearing white gloves as well. Outside the victory cube (on the stage) is a standard 260Q red balloon, a 10 foot long white rope, and a black glove. Inside the Victory Cube (with the assistant) is a standard 260Q inflated Green balloon, a 10 foot long red rope, and a black and white (striped or spotted) glove.

Presentation:

1) Magician inflates the Red balloon and ties (can be done prior to illusion if you prefer).

2) Magician sticks his hand into the 1 side of Victory cube and in sync the assistant puts her hand out the adjacent side (to make it appear as if it were the magicians hand with the white glove on). On a standard Victory Cube with the dice...you can use the side with the 3 and the adjacent corner of the 5. Pick 2 holes that are fairly close together.

3) Magician hands the red balloon to his assistant\'s protruding hand (again appearing to the audience that he is handing the balloon to himself). Inside the Victory Cube, the assistant gives the magician the green balloon with her free hand.

4) The assistant slowly pulls her hand back in and begins to pull the red balloon into the Victory Cube. In sync, the magician pulls his hand back out along with the green balloon. The magician and assistant pulling at the same speed is critical to make it appear as though the balloon is changing color as it is pulled through the Victory Cube.

5) After the balloon color change is complete, the magician puts his hand in again (the assistant puts hers out the adjacent side in sync) and the process is repeated with the 10 foot rope...as it appears to change from white to red as it is pulled through the Cube.

6) The above steps can be repeated as many times as you wish with any long objects that will fit through the hole. (For the Christian Magician, this is a wonderful illustration of how our sins are washed as white as snow by the blood of Christ...changing red to white).

7) For the finale, magician stick hand inside...assistant sticks hand out in sync (as before).

8) The magician pulls of the assistant\'s white glove (it appears as if he is taking off his own) and replaces it with a black glove.

9) At the same time, the assistant is using her free hand from inside to take off the magicians white glove and replaces it with the black and white glove.

10) The assistant pulls her hand in, and then in sync the magician pulls his out. The glove has changed to a combo color (or feel free to make it red, glittery gold, etc) for a powerful ending!

11) Magician is now set to go into balloon swallowing routine, a rope routine, or a gloves-to dove routine.

12) This entire routine can be set to music --- and the objects can be pulled through to the beat...anything that keeps you and your assistant in sync and entertains and amazes your audience!

FOOD PROCESSOR
Submitted by Troy Cochran

Throw in some food ingredients and pull out a table and the food thats prepared, then maybe produce a chair and then your guest!

EXPLOSIVE FINALLY
Submitted by Jeffrey Doan

This is a wonderful finally for a kids show or a easy compact finally for any traveling show. Take a victory cube one of the shipping crate looking ones and paint the words (handle with care explosives) now take the victory crate cube and show it empty now show the cube squared piece empty as well. Now walk over to the shipping crate victory cube and drop it into the cube squared when this happens your assistant who will soon appear inside takes a confetti cannon and shoots the confetti upward with a big bang sound effect then as the confetti is cascading back down your assistant stands up for her well deserved applause. and for a little extra fun add some mission impossible music to the background.

( confetti cannons can be built for under 20 dollers from plans off line and can be built as small as a foot long they can be presurised with a small bike pump and are pretty safe. )

PROPS
Daniel Steep

As you get ready to start your show you search around but cant seem to find any of your props... hmm. this is weird the magician states as he looks around the stage suspiciously. I know who can find my stuff! one of my friends could help us! the magician states this will using the victory cubes and produces a younger volunteer.

Hey! do you know where my show is?
(kid points over at the cube squared)
you lift it to show it is empty...
What are you talking about?! theres nothing in there. (kid reaches in and pulls out a bigger wand or biggest wand if it fits.
HEY! how did you.. but that was.. wait a second! YOUR the magician aren\'t you?!
(child shakes his head)
oh. well then can you help me?
(child nods head)
they together show the cube squared empty and then produce a suitcase table with the show in it. or the props for the next routine.

Works well for someone who has there own younger child at home wanting to get into magic.. so they start as your assistant

SNOW FLAKE
Submitted by Chris Berry

Outer cube is cut with a snowflake on it the inner cube is air brushed like a present.
Effect: show on stage the apparatus and perform the classic square-circle move and produce a bunch of small presents and lift the whole thing and show that there’s a very large present under neigh it. (tip-trunk) the jumbo present empty and produce Santa from it.

HUMAN SUCKER DIE BOX
Submitted by Samuel Slaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNiTJpZHOJw
Length: ~ 4-7 minutes, depending on performance delivery
Effect:
On stage the magician and assistant bring two sets of Victory Cubes to their necessary locations on stage. The Cube Squared will already be set up to one side of the stage. The magician has the assistant step into the Cube Squared and then makes the assistant vanish.
The magician removes the red cube to show that the assistant has truly vanished. The red cube is then folded with the assistant ‘still inside’ and moved to elsewhere on stage. The red cube is allowed to ‘accidentally’ pop open momentarily and the magician states that, ‘Hopefully the assistant didn’t escape! Let me know if you see her.’ The cube is folded again and set on a table.
While the magician is setting up his props for his next trick an arm pokes out of one of the Victory Cubes and steals one of the props while the magician’s back is turned. He turns around befuddled. While he is looking at the Victory Cube for answers as to the location of his prop an arm comes out of the other cube and steals another prop. Again her turns around befuddled. He quickly turns around and places the 4-sided cube over the smaller and mysteriously one cube begins to rise above the other and then drops. The large cube is removed, then the small one – nothing is seen. While examining the cubes an arm comes out of the other cubes and steals one more prop. The magician immediately lifts both cubes to show nothing beneath. He then collapses all four cubes completely flat.
Perplexed, the magician says he cannot perform his effect without his props, so he will bring back his assistant to help with another effect. He grabs the red cube and on the way back to the Cube Squared, the red cube pops open again and the magician mimes wrestling with it then opens it completely and places it into the Cube Squared.
Voila! The assistant reappears and is holding the stolen props. The magician accepts his applause and the proceeds with the other effect with the help of his assistant. (Corporate magicians – fill in your message about teamwork here, because remember you couldn’t do it alone!)
This effect provides the audience with an inexplicable image of human disappearance and production several times in a short routine.

Die box
Method 1:
This effect requires 2 sets of Victory Cubes, one Cube Squared, a black art stage and, depending upon the size of your stage, at least 2 assistants with fairly similar looking arms (matching finger nail jobs, temporary tattoos or body paint make a great memory reference for the audience). It also requires doubles of the stolen props. The black art stage will make this effect very clean and will baffle the audience.
The Cube Squared is set up with the prop doubles already loaded inside. The assistant and the magician move the Victory Cubes side by side to their appropriate marks on stage – this subtly proves to the audience that they are indeed empty.
The magician and the assistant move to the Cube Squared and complete a simple vanish of the assistant. The further away the Cube Squared is from the victory cube should create a greater sense of wonder within the minds of the audience. The red cube is removed, thereby proving to the audience that the assistant is gone. The cube is folded and the magician moves across stage allowing the cube to pop open along the way. The magician makes his statement about the assistant’s escape, folds the cube again and places it on a table before laying out his props for his next trick.
As he does a second assistant climbs into one of the Victory Cubes and steals a prop. The magician turns around to see the prop is gone. While his back is turned the assistant moves to the other box with the cover of the black art stage and steals another prop. The magician turns around again, but before completing his turn he decides to nest the one cube with the other for added security. He then turns around to the other pair. (The stolen props are left behind the black art curtain at the bottom of the stage)
While turned around the nested cubes do a phantom rise (from Andrew Mayne’s Illusiontech book). The magician looks over his shoulder to see it standing freely and then sink back down. The magician attempts to recreate the effect by lifting the outside cube (this is when the assistant moves out) and then dropping it. He lifts both together which proves to the audience that they are empty and the folds them flat. As he is proving this, an arm comes out of the other cube and steals one last prop. The magician immediately moves to the other two cubes, lifts them and folds them flat, proving them to be empty as well.
The magician states that he can’t perform his effect without his props and will perform a different effect with the aid of his assistant. He grabs the red cube off the table and begins his way back to the Cube Squared. As he moves across the stage the red cube once again is allowed to pop open and the magician mimes wrestling with the animated cube. The cube is placed into the Cube Squared and the assistant is caused to reappear now with the ‘stolen’ props in her hands.
The magician can now continue with the effect that required the stolen props.

Die box
Method 2:
This method can be used if a black art stage is not available to you – as seen in the video. Yes, I cheated in the video as you could tell by the poor editing. The video setup was a bit different than what is described here for two reasons. The first reason is because my garage is too small. The second reason is because I didn’t have to worry about my stage working angles. The Victory Cubes are previously set in a row as seen in the picture (4-side, load cube, space for red cube, load cube, 4-side) The assistant hides behind two of the cubes and moves behind the red cube once it is set into place (rather than folded on a table) a la Arabian Framework. This move is completed as many times as necessary to complete the routine.
Everything is done the same except that the cubes are not folded flat at the end of the routine, because the second assistant must remain hidden.
This could be set up prior to the performance with the second assistant in waiting most of the show. If you’re lucky your stage might have a trap door. Another option would be to have the ‘confusion illusion/distraction’ method of several similarly dressed assistants moving on and off stage, but who has that kind of budget?
Well, anyway, I hope you like it. It’s really much easier to perform than it is to read. My wife and I spent about fifteen minutes rehearsing the routine before filming it so; just imagine what it would look like with the proper setting and practice.