Welcome Dave,
1. Jason Latimer comes immediately to mind when at the end of his glass cups and balls routine, all the glasses become solid - it's a very advanced (and brilliant!) routine you can see on YouTube, but not buy. If you have not seen this, then you really need to get out from under your rock more often
2. Al Schneider teaches a terrific cup switch on his Technique DVD series, he is not switching in a solid cup, but the method would be the same.
3. Steve Duschek created a solid brass bell (Duschek's Bell) years ago that was used for an entire routine that ended with the spectator's discovery that the bell was a solid hunk of brass. A very similar and magical routine could be done with one Solid Cup (imagine how good that would be if you could actually switch in the solid cup after the audience has examined a regular cup! Because of the handling, the switch could be done very early in the routine = loads of time misdirection).
4. With the PF Mini cups, you could use several deck switching methods from the jacket pockets while standing.
5. A topit can assist you in producing some very clean switches while standing. See Carl Cloutier's Expert Topiting or Bob Fitch's Topit Workshop or Michael Ammar's Topit DVD.
6. Lou Serrano discusses at length a switch he used in his instructions for his popular Steel Ball Routine that could be adapted for a mini cup switch - this is the cup switch I personally am working on. It's the boldest, it's performed on an off-beat and under strong misdirection, which in my book makes it the most interesting to me.
The cups are about to be offered in a heavy filled version or a light-weight hollow version. I had not previously considered this, but after handling them I realize I, personallly, don't need the extra weight to get the desired effect and the extra weight hinders concealing the cup unless you are sitting, but others may really prefer the extra weight - it is pretty cool.
The heavy cup has a stronger impact for a sucker ending when the spectator picks up the cup and discovers that it appears to be a heavy solid hunk of copper.
The hollow cup will be easier to conceal and carry because it is lighter and still produces an amazing "sealed" cup display. Even if the spectators subsequently examine the hollow cup, it is still an amazing kicker.
I realize this is not for everybody, and I only made the cups because I had an epiphany (no pun intended) regarding how to create them because I wanted one for my own use to experiment with. But I also look forward to eventually seeing some brilliant routine that some magician creates using these cups. So it's all just for the advancement of the craft, my own personal amusement, and because I can!
If you read this whole post, then thank you!
And thank you CupsCon for the space.
Cupscon
