Riser Midi-Traditional Cups-Copper

Howdy gang,

I just received a set of unlacquered Copper Midi-Traditional Cups from Jim Riser. I haven't
been so stoked about a package in the mail since forever. The mailman who had me sign
for them acted more like a Pinkerton employee with his concern for my package. I'm certain
the mugs at UPS or FedEx are incapable of feigning concern for their truck's contents.

The cups Mr Riser made me have that air of art and elegance you can detect when get near
certain marques at the Pebble Beach Concourse. That feeling is so rare is this age and it brings
me the most delight. There are a handful of custom guitars and custom knives that carry this
intent of the artist in every line and I'm grateful to have wallowed with this intangible element
in field of legerdermaine.
Mr Riser's goal in his new design was to, "...get away from the unnecessary bulk seen in most cups---
which are too tall." The accompanying "white paper" indicates further design elements that serve
to make these cups more functional."I have spun these cups to n
est with a very small amount
of looseness. This is because, when in action, it is easier to handle cups with a little slop in the nest.
This small amount of looseness allows the cups to be quickly stacked, unstacked, and with much less noise."
On the loads he states, "The depression and attic space of these cups has been designed to allow
routines utilizing three 0.875 inch balls between the cups. The Riser Midi-Traditional Cups were
designed to hold "Squeaker balls"for the final load. These are miniature tennis balls that squeak when squeezed."
As these are my first set of cups I still needed to find a set of working balls before I could begin
baffling everyone. I looked in the reviews here and a few places on the interweb focusing on the
crocheted balls with out much success. I wasn't confident enough in my abilities to swing with
a set of "Monkey balls". I was intrigued with Michael Ammars hand stitched White baseballs @ 7/8".
They will sit as a trio on the top of the Midi-Traditionals letting another cup cover them and just
come to rest against the edge of the middle ring. This is exactly where the cups nest without any
balls in the attic space. I will get the "Squeakers" later today if my Target has them.
I will be focusing my attention on the the multitude of moves the little balls require. I'm grateful
to Sean, (of Cupscon fame), for gathering the manuscripts of Eddie Joseph on the Cups & Balls and
making them available for next to nothing. The manner with which Eddie Joseph writes can be best
termed "in brevity" as it seems to assume the reader has already a working familiarity with the
slights most associated with Cups & Balls work. The two DVDs produced by Michael Ammar should
be delivered early next week. They ought to show me what i'm not getting from Eddie's papers.
Thanks go to you fine members with an interest in the Cups & Balls and the willingness to share. I
don't think I would have noticed how the Cups & Balls demand a level of showmanship far above
merely working to get the slights seamless. You made me equate this with all magical performances.
A fellow could work on these performance elements his whole life and continually find something
in his performance lacking. Can you imagine how friggin' good the old masters have gotten since
their arrival in Hebbin? We're gonna get so schooled when our respective numbers come up!
In summation, I think many of you magicians will find this current trend toward cups of a smaller
design perfectly acceptable if not much more desirable over all. Thanks again to the wonderful spirit
of community you make this board emanate. It's your only "tell" even at a passing glance,

Noel Grassy.
Itinerant maladroit-