Mongolian Pop-Knot Video
Whit Haydn
Whit Haydn developed the Mongolian Pop-Knot while working as a street performer in New York City during the 60's. This wonderful cut and restored rope routine has been a staple of his famous comedy "teaching act" ever since. Whit has performed this effect in nightclubs, on cruise ships, at corporate banquets-almost every conceivable performing situation. The Mongolian Pop-Knot works surrounded at a private party, or on the largest stage (Whit performed this routine for eight thousand people in an amusement park when opening for Conway Twitty).
What makes this routine unique is that every sequence is justified by the presentation. It is not a series of unrelated tricks with a piece of rope, but a true routine which has an internal consistency and intelligence that draws the audience in and keeps them involved and interested throughout the performance.
While supposedly explaining to the audience how "that old trick" of cutting a rope and restoring it is accomplished, the magician cuts a rope and ties it back together with a special knot. The knot "pops" off the rope and the rope is restored! At this point things get more complicated as the magician seems to lose control of events. The rope is cut in three pieces which change sizes and then are stretched and shrunk back into their original sizes. The three ropes are tied together, the two knots are "popped" off and tossed into the audience before the rope is shown back together again in one piece. It can even be left for audience examination.
The Mongolian Pop-Knot video not only teaches this powerful and entertaining routine that "packs small and plays big," it is a real lesson in magic from one of our great thinkers and performers. Whit Haydn explains what goes into creating a routine, the subtleties of performance and presentation and the little moves and details that can throw the spectator off and make it impossible for him to figure out the secrets.