MAGIC SHOP - Daytona Magic, Inc.

By Irv Cook

Sometime in the late Seventies a customer walked into my store and asked if I sold Crystal Balls. Being a full service magic shop, I took him over to the magic counter where I had a display of Crystal Balls form about 55mm to 125mm. At that time they ranged in price from $30.00 to $125.00. I asked how big of one he was looking for? He held up his hands indicating he wanted one of the smaller balls and I showed him a 65mm ball. He gave it the once over for a few minutes and asked me the price. I looked on my chart and told him the price. "That fine Lead Crystal Ball cost $35.00." The guy shook his head like I insulted him.

"I'm from Cassadaga! I read crystal. I need a real Crystal Ball not a cheap magician's prop!" Now the guy insulted my fellow conjurers and me. What did he think... we only do cheap tricks? He should only know how much a serious magician spends on his art. Now you have to know that Cassadaga is a spiritual community where many fortunetellers and astrologers live. To each his own... if they choose to have faith in the supernatural, I would be the last person to tell them not to believe. On the other hand, the Crystal Balls I sell are not cheap props. In the Seventies I got my Crystal Balls from Western Germany. They came two in a box, packaged in straw and had a sticker on them that read, "Pure Lead Crystal made in Western Germany."

If you read some of my other musings you know that I don't get mad... I get even! I decided to have some fun and get rid of this guy who snubbed my prop. I went to the stock room grabbing an 18-inch silk scarf on my way. I found the exact box where the "cheap magician's prop" came in, and sure enough... there was its mate. I pealed off the sticker that told of its composition and origin and wrapped it in my magician's silk. "I'll show this guy," I thought under my breath... I'll make a fool out of him." In my younger years I think I definitely had a mean streak in me, but I've mellowed out. My wife and kids have worn me down and today I'm a pretty easygoing guy.

I majestically unwrapped the Crystal Ball from its $1.00 Japanese Silk, pealing each corner away like I was producing the "Hope Diamond." The customer went to reach for the Crystal Ball.... I stopped his forward motion. "Excuse me sir... Only handle the ball using the silk, this is the REAL THING." The customer followed my instructions to the letter for he now had new respect for me. I wouldn't even consider keeping a "Real Crystal Ball" on the same shelf with the imposters.

He literally looked at the ball for ten minutes, constantly turning it within the confines of the silk as he held it up to the fluorescent light. "I would like to look at this in direct sunlight," he asked. A red flag popped into my mind. Was this a con job to get the ball outside the store and then run? No fear... I had my partner with me... skinny, fast, good fighter (except I can kick the snot out of him), Harry. I knew I wouldn't chase the guy. "Look at it in the sun if you like, just be careful and don't drop it," I instructed.

When the guy left the store and stood there flashing the ball every which way in the sun, Harry said, "Let's get back to work! We got to pack for the convention." "Let me have my fun, I'll tell him it is very expensive because it is real and then let him have it for a few bucks more than it sells for." Harry gave me the "YOUR NUTS" look and went back to his job.

The 'Crystal Reader' came back into the store excited, "I love it! How Much?" I figured I could get forty or forty-five bucks for my efforts and of course the 'Handling Silk' came with it. "I can't haggle the price with you but I have to get Two Hundred Dollars for that Crystal Ball." The words flowed out of my mouth like Shakespeare reciting Hamlet. I didn't even realize I started at such a high price. The customer said..."I'll take it!" Now I had a problem. If I tell him the truth, I lose the sale and he will be angry. If I keep mum, I have to deal with my conscience. What a dilemma!

I kept quiet, and to satisfy any guilty feelings, I treated all the employees to dinner that weekend. Somewhere I'm sure that the "Real Crystal Ball' has another story.