Stapled opens my close-up performances. The effect is fast, visual, and interactive. It also is a great lead-in to rubber band magic. The piece immediately establishes my sense of humor and naturally invites audience participation as spectators guess what could be hidden beneath the cloth.
The method stays direct because the effect requires simplicity. When I was thinking of this idea, I thought of it almost as a gag, but then it presented itself as a strong piece of magic.
The routine has a clear goal: introduce a prop in a playful and magical way rather than overwhelming the audience. That goal allows the method to remain simple and economical.
I enjoyed playing with the element of sound when creating this effect. I feel sound can stand on its own as a tool of deception, guiding the spectator to construct the visual moment in their own mind. A clink of a coin, the punch of a hole punch, or the click of a stapler signals that everything behaves exactly as expected. Spectators expect deception through words or sight, but rarely through ordinary sounds. Familiar noises feel trustworthy.
Engaging the audience through other senses—sound, in this case—whether in an offbeat way (think of a squeaker toy) or a subtle one (such as a stapler producing its expected sound), can strongly reinforce an effect and elicit powerful reactions. It makes the performance more dynamic, as spectators are required to engage with the visual story using more than just their eyes.