Here is one I thought I would ask everyone.

What was your starting set of Cups? What cups got you on the bandwagon of the cups junkies?

Sean

As for myself, like most I had a set of plastic royal cups to start, but I just could not do the trick with them.

My next step was a cheap set of light Monti look-a-likes. I still had problems. The balls covers were too loses. I could not plam them to save my life.

Then the gates of the Cup Gods opened for me. When Jake from RNT II sold me my frist set of real cups. A set of Copper Monti cups. The weight is right, and the balls are real tight. It was not until that set of cups that I could do the trick as it could be done.

Thank you Jake, for making me a Cup Junkie.

Sean

I started with a plastic set, but I didn't get it, beyond a very very basic routine.  Still it was enough to keep my interest. 

Then I had a wooden set of Uday's (I'm pretty sure that's what they were) and split one of them by being over enthusiastic with a wand. I replaced them with a copper  set of Morrissey's.  About 7 years ago I was given a set of Phoenix cups by a very dear friend.  That's when everything started to fall into place.  Finally, I was able to find a set of small top Animal cups.  I've been working with them about 5 years now. 

I still have the Phoenix cups and the Animal cups.  I am happy with just these.   I keep looking.  I've just not found anything that will replace these two sets.  I mean, there are a lot of great cups out there, but these seem to be extensions of my being at this point.

Mark

My first set was a Morrisey Aluminum Combo Set! I stuck it out with that set for over 10 years. It is now the proud possession of my best student for winning my cups and balls competition. I miss those cups but I am happy its in he right hands.

Rannie

It must of been painful to give away you starter set. I don't know if I can part with mine just yet.

Sean

I started with Morrisseys followed by a wood set from Stevens Magic that I was afraid to use for fear of cracking them. I didn't become a junkie until Gazzo offered to sell me my first set Babes. It was all downhill from there.

About ten years ago I went into Tannens and asked for an inexpensive set of cups and balls, Tony Spina gave me an aluminum set of what I can only imagine were used bazar de magia cups... I think, they had to have been something like that, he only charged me about 15 dollars. I lost them several years later before I knew much more than the basic routine from Now You See It Now You Don't.

Eddie

My first set was a set of the Charlie Miller cups from Magic Inc.  I may upset some people here, but I thought they were ugly as hell.  But, it was what I could afford at the time.  I've always preferred the "Fox" style rounded cup.  After I had cobbled together a decent routine and began working professionally and had a bit more money to spend, they were replaced by Johnson cups, and then Riser standards.  To I liquidated part of my collection to purchase a set of Engraved silver Sherwoods, including the Millers and Johnsons.  No regrets.

Oh that reminds me, I did have a set of Bosco cups at one point.  You're right pepka, the shape just didn't seem right (they're very similar to the Miller cups but bigger) and the center of gravity didn't work so well for me.  I think Jake ended up with them.

Mark

I had a set of Bosco's once, I was using them at the restaurant and put them down for a minute to get something and someone stole them. Since I only do a 2 cup routine at the restaurant I still have one of the cups... just one.

Put together an ungimmicked chop cup routine.

Hello,
My first set of Cups was made by the original RNT Company. They are a set of aluminum combo cups… I purchased them in the 70’s at Holly’s in Salt Lake City, UT. I think I paid around $29.00 dollars at the time. I still have them and they are in good shape, the balls are a little dirty. I purchased my first set of serious Cups sometime around 1995, a set of Johnson’s and matching Chop Cup.
Thanks,
Bruce
 

My first set was a plastic set, which I used for about one and a half years doing the basic routine provided not even knowing what a final load was. Then I was at a party where I saw a magician doing his chop cup routine; that was the first time I was exposed to final loads and I was hooked.

So I searched around for the cheapest set of metal combo cups (because I also wanted a chop cup), and without doing any research at all on what kind of cups I should buy - I bought a set of copper Udays from Penguin Magic for $21. After practicing and performing with them for about a year and a half I realized that I needed new cups. So I bought my first "real" set of cups from Jake - copper Paul Fox cups which I love. (to see the full story CLICK HERE)

First set . . .

The red, yellow and blue Adams cups. I did the routine exactly as it was printed on the instructions. Since then . . .

I'm no Bill Palmer, but I do have eleven sets of cups. Everything from the most recent aquisition - A set of Mendoza cups from the almighty Jakester to a set of three tea cups I found in Japan that I can still do the Vernon routine with. Day to day performing set . . . you can see them in my video.

KG

What video?