Penn & Teller: Bullet Catch

[RemieV]

Hey, everyone! I thought you might like to see the beginnings of the Penn & Teller Bullet Catch auction, which is coming along swimmingly. We constructed most of the display elements ourselves, so we can safely say this will be a one-of-a-kind auction. The box is solid wood with a cherry finish, brass fittings, and a brass lock with key. Inside are two shell casings (one signed by Penn, one signed by Teller) and two bullets (one initialed by Penn, one initialed by Teller). All of that is displayed on black velvet.

We're having a plaque made for the exterior that will say "Penn & Teller: Bullet Catch" and are including a photograph mounted on the interior of Penn & Teller performing the Bullet Catch.

It's going to be an awesome auction, in other words, and you have to attend TAM to bid!

~Remie

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I bid $100!

 

[RemieV]

I bid $100!

The auction will be at TAM. Tho for a decent bribe, I'll keep you in mind (muahahaha)

 

[paperskater]

OMG. WANT. SERIOUSLY WANT.

This was the trick that made me fall in love with Penn and Teller, and magic in general. Friggin' A, wish I had lots of extra money to bid on it! Rrrrgghhh fffrrrghhh!

*frustrated dance*

 

[exarch]

I have a feeling this item is not going to leave the room for less than a few thousand ...

How much did Adam's boots fetch last year?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

OMG. WANT. SERIOUSLY WANT.

This was the trick that made me fall in love with Penn and Teller, and magic in general. Friggin' A, wish I had lots of extra money to bid on it! Rrrrgghhh fffrrrghhh!

*frustrated dance*

Two words: credit card.

 

[paperskater]

Two words: credit card.

Oh, if only it was in my budget, even with a credit card! *sob*

If anybody here wins this, please let me see it afterward?

 

[ejk]

Are credit cards accepted for auction items? Dangerous.

What other forms of payment? I want to be prepared.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Are credit cards accepted for auction items? Dangerous.

They have been in the past.

 

[krelnik]

I hate to be a killjoy, but really and truly the plaque should NOT say "bullet catch" on it. Penn & Teller make a point of NOT referring to the trick this way.

The actual name of the trick is: "Magic Bullet"

Evidence?
"bullet catch" on pennandteller.com: zero hits.
Penn referring to it as "Magic Bullet" in a column.


Regardless, I'll probably be bidding on this at the show too.

 

[thaiboxerken]

Are they selling the trick, or is it just this box of props?

 

[firecoins]

Make it a silent Auction, so Teller can participate.

 

[Jeff Wagg]

They're not selling "The Trick." They donated signed bullets and casings from their bullet catch, which Penn & Teller do call "The Magic Bullet." I suspect they call it this so they can trademark it, as "bullet catches" have been done for well over 100 years.

At any rate the trick is commonly known as "Penn and Teller's Bullet Catch," and even if it's not the official name, it does describe the trick.

Should this wording on the plaque turn out to be an issue, we'll change the plaque, but at this point it doesn't seem necessary. Actually, the winner could the plaque themselves to say whatever they want.. for example, "Objects Penn & Teller Spit Out."

 

[krelnik]

I don't think its an issue, I'm just being a nitpicking P&T fanboy.

I also don't think its a matter of trademark, I believe it's probably born out of a desire to telegraph a "don't try this at home" message to the audience. If you pay close attention to the patter during the trick itself, Penn never says the word "catch". He says they will "move" a bullet from one side of the stage to the other. The magic wands just happen to be pistols.


Jeff, feel free to whack me on the head at TAM later this week for being a P&T nerd.