The Regal Ring Chain Photographic Instructions
copyright © 2011 by David Regal
The Regal Ring Chain
You now own a prop specially designed for a specific effect: To cause a borrowed ring to appear threaded on a chain around your neck. This chain was fashioned by a jewelry manufacturer out of stainless steel, and with proper care should last you a lifetime. Just as there are special “magic” wallets designed to accept the introduction of a playing card, this elegant necklace is a tool that facilitates the loading of a borrowed ring. Its working is simple, but the effect is both amazing and memorable. *** The chain you receive is gimmicked at both ends. A length of stiff, yet bendable, metal has been soldiered near the ends (FIG. 1). Notice that each length of metal also has a magnet soldiered to it. Bend the metal outward a bit, away from the magnets, as in FIG 2. Do NOT bend the metal in the opposite direction, as that would apply tension to the chain, and could possibly snap it.
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
You will never use the actual clasps when you perform with the chain. Instead, you will use the magnets to secure the chain around your neck.
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The set up takes all of a couple of seconds. Figure 3 shows the chain’s magnets being brought together behind the neck. In some performing situations you may be able to leave the chain exposed (FIG. 4) but I generally tuck the ends under my shirt (FIG 5).
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
FIG. 5 Tuck the front of the chain into your shirt, and you are ready to perform. Step 1) Borrow a ring. Do you know what an empath is? An empath can come close to a person and tell him what he’s feeling. I’ve found I can do the same thing if I touch an object that’s close to a person, like a watch…or how about that ring? Don’t tell me where you got it. If I hold it in my hand I can tell you how you feel about that ring….
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Step 2) Vanish the ring. While it’s possible to use a ring handkerchief or other prop to cause the borrowed ring to vanish, a sleight of hand vanish does the job just as well. Here are four: The False Transfer Easiest and possibly the best, the key to a false transfer is to stay relaxed, and simulate the actions you would perform were you to really place a ring into the hand. Perform the actual transfer of a ring in the mirror, then practice making the false transfer look the same. The actual mechanics of the false transfer are simple. The ring is displayed in the open right hand (FIG. 6). In the action of placing the ring into the left hand, the right thumb contacts the ring and prevents it from falling into the left hand as the left fingers start to close (FIG. 7).
FIG. 6
FIG. 7
The exposed view is shown in Fig. 8.
FIG. 8
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After the false placement the right hand drops to the side, the held ring in loose finger palm, and the left hand closes the rest of the way (FIG. 9). I’ll sometimes hold my hand in front of the ring-loaner’s face and partially open the hand as I speak (FIG. 10). The fingers obscure the palm from his sight, and he will not be able to tell the ring is no longer there.
FIG. 9
FIG. 10
The Retention Vanish The properties of a ring can be put to good use to perform an easy retention-type vanish. The right thumb and first finger hold the ring as in Figure 11. The ring is placed onto the left palm and the left fingers close (FIG. 12).
FIG. 11
FIG. 12
The right hand never releases the ring. The left fingers act as a screen during the closing of the hand, and the “dirty work” is done during the action of the fist closing.
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Figure 13 and 14 show the situation from the rear – the ring is stolen out from the hand by inserting the right second finger into the ring, making the nabbing of the ring a simple process.
FIG. 13
FIG. 14
After the ring is stolen out of the left hand, the right hand drops to the side. The following two vanishes differ from the previous two in that the ring is actually placed into the left hand. In both cases the left hand is turned palm down during the action of making a fist, and the ring is secretly worked to the position shown in Figure 15.
FIG. 15 Note that the body of the ring projects from the left fingertips. This is not seen by the audience as the hand is palm down – the photograph is a worm’s-eye view. The Point Vanish For this vanish, you must motivate the touching of the back of your left fist. I generally say something to the effect of: 5
I need you to help me connect with your emotions. Touch the back of my hand for three seconds. By way of demonstration I touch the back of my right fist with my right first finger (FIG. 16).
FIG. 16 It is during this moment that the ring is stolen. The right little finger reaches out under the cover of the left fist and snags the ring (FIG. 17). The little finger then curls in (FIG. 18) and the right hand drops to the side. Both photos are worm’s-eye views.
FIG. 17
FIG. 18
The Pulse Vanish To motivate this steal, you must bring up the topic of taking someone’s pulse: Do you know how to take a person’s pulse? Take my pulse and when you feel my heartbeat slowing down, tell me.
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It is during a demonstration of the taking of a pulse that the ring is stolen. The open right palm comes under the left forearm and moves to a “pulse-taking position” (FIGS. 19 & 20).
FIG. 19
FIG. 20
As you can see in Figure 19, the right first finger is in a perfect position to snag the ring, and that’s exactly what it does (FIG. 21 – worm’s eye view) just before the hand slides up the forearm and closes around it. The stolen ring is hidden by the forearm.
FIG. 21 After the ring is stolen, drop the right hand to the side. There is no rush here, I usually wait for the spectator to start taking my pulse. Regardless of the vanish used, it’s important to let time pass after the false transfer or steal of the ring. I pretend to rub the ring, peek at it, etc. before the vanish: Yes, I can tell how you feel about this ring. Perform the vanish, opening the left hand and continue with: 7
You miss it! And I’m sensing mild concern. Don’t worry, I know how you feel, because I have jewelry I’m fond of, too. In fact, I have a necklace…. As I talk I make sure to gesture with both hands, hiding the ring in right hand finger palm, via the Ramsay Subtlety (FIG. 22).
FIG. 22 Step 3) Load the ring and display it on the chain. The hands move to supposedly unclasp the necklace. Do not move the hands to the neck until after you have mentioned the existence of your necklace, motivating the movement. The left hand moves slightly ahead of the right. Behind the neck, the left fingers gasp and lift the gimmicked portion of the necklace in preparation for the load (FIG. 23). The right fingers drop the ring onto either projecting “wing” of the gimmick (FIG. 24).
] FIG. 23
FIG. 24
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The fingertips of the hands dip below the collar as they move forward (FIG. 25).
FIG. 25 During the “dip” the ring slides unseen down the length of chain. There is no hesitation, the ring descends as the chain is being brought forward. Slow down as you reach the center of the chain, to build suspense (FIG. 26), then let the ring emerge (FIG. 27)
FIG. 26
FIG. 27
I like to move the chain so the audience can see the ring sliding along its length, clearly threaded on the necklace. Sometimes I ask a spectator to give the ring a yank to prove that it cannot come off. Slide the ring off the chain, and hand it back to the spectator. Finis.
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