Tiny Dice

As seen on page 58 of the book and in the video. Yes, it's possible to stack 5mm dice. Four each of 5mm, 8mm, and 10mm tiny dice. $4.95 for a set of twelve dice.

Ship to:		Shipping charge
U.S.A.	Total: $8.95	Airmail $4.00
Canada	Total: $9.45	Airmail, $4.50
The Rest of the World Oceania, Asia, Africa, South America	Total: $9.95	Airmail, $5.00

Reviews

Review (by Eric Bagai) originally appeared in November/December 1998 issue of JUGGLE magazine. Reprinted with permission of the author and publisher.

The Dice Stacking Book

By Todd Strong. 94 pages, 6 x 9 perfect-bound, $14.95 (w/dice & cup).

The Dice Stacking Video

Starring Todd Strong, hosted by Michael Maxwell. 50 minutes, $19.95. Both from Perceptual Motion, P.O. Box 204, Point Roberts, WA 98281, (360) 945-0786.

One distinction between magic and juggling: in magic the method is hidden, in juggling the method is there for all to see. So how do you classify dice stacking? And what is it, anyway?

Take four dice and scatter them on the surface of a table. Take a standard dice cup and wave it upside down over the table. Keep it in constant motion as you scoop up the dice. Bring the cup to rest on the table, still upside down. Then lift it straight up. If you know the correct technique, the dice are now stacked one on top of the other in a perfect column. If you don't, they ain't.

So, is it magic? If you use a transparent dice cup is it then juggling? Todd Strong will teach you how to do it, clearly, simply, and very thoroughly. Then it's up to you whether it is presented as magic or presented as juggling. At the very least, it's an incredible bar trick.

Each move in dice stacking is stripped to its essentials and then divided into easy steps. Learn the steps and you've got the trick. I suspect it's like learning the cascade: anyone can do it. The only question is whether one is willing to devote the necessary time. After the basics, the real fun starts: the quick stack, quicker stack, two by two, double and triple stacks, numbers, aerial moves, and decapitations. Then odd-sized dice, coin sandwiches, and stacking games.

Did I leave anything out? Only about half. The Dice Stacking Book is a good deal more than the sum of its predecessors on the subject, and no dice stacker can afford to be without it. This book is also literate, funny, and thoroughly researched. If there is one flaw in it, it is the use of a beautiful model who smiles out at you from every other page, scattering all thoughts of dice.

Could there be more? Well, there is more. Todd also offers The Dice Stacking Video. This is just as detailed as the book, though it has a stronger emphasis on magic. For example, Michael Maxwell presents and explains the classic dice stacking routine originated by Senator Clarke Crandall, and Michael and Todd show their own methods to determine (or fix) the top number on the stack.

Both the book and the video do a fine job of teaching, and either can be used independently. Together they make a complete program leading to your own performance routine. Highly recommended.

Review (by Gabi Keast) originally appeared in the May 1999 issue of Kaskade, the European Juggling Magazine. Reprinted with permission of the author and publisher.

The Dice Stacking Book

Anyone who knows Todd Strong also knows that when he gets an idea into his head, he keeps at it until he's discovered everything there is to know about the subject, and has mastered most of the tricks. And even if you don't know him personally, his books on diabolo and devil stick give a pretty good indication of what to expect. Over the past few years, you would never see Todd without a dice shaker and a board under his arm, and whenever he set out the board, he would immediately be surrounded by people curious to see what all the rattling was about. Well, now we all know. His latest book for fans of games involving manual dexterity (e.g. jugglers) is now out. Dice stacking is destined to be the latest craze. The big advantage over juggling: your props fit in your pocket, and no ceiling is too low.

The idea is to build stacks of dice in various patterns, using only the dice shaker - a single stack, two adjacent stacks, a pyramid, and lots more. The hand movement always seems to be the same, but the result is always surprisingly different. Todd explains the techniques step by step, illustrating each stage of the movement with a photo. His descriptions are not only clear and easy to follow, but are also written in an amusing style. So don't miss the chapter on the (seriously researched) history of the game. The book is rounded out by some tips on how to combine dice stacking with juggling and magic, and by some suggestions for dice stacking games.

(in German, auf Deutsch)

Wer Todd Strong kennt, weiß: wenn er sich ein Thema in den Kopf gesetzt hat, ruht er nicht, bis er alles darüber herausgefunden hat und viele Tricks beherrscht. Wer Todd Strongs Bücher über Diabolo und Devil Stick kennt, hat ebenfalls einen Eindruck davon bekommen. So sah man Todd in den letzten Jahren immer mit einem Würfelbecher und einem Brett unter dem Arm herumlaufen, und sobald er stehen blieb, war eine Traube Menschen um ihn, die sehen wollten, was da so rappelt. Jetzt wissen wir es. Sein Buch für die verspielten Geschicklichkeitsfanatiker (wie Jongleure) ist heraus: Dice Stacking ist das neue Hobby. Der Vorteil: die Requisiten passen in die Hosentasche, und diese Jonglage kann auch im niedrigsten Raum ausgeführt werden.

Würfel nur mit Hilfe eines Würfelbechers in die unterschiedlichsten Muster bringen ist das Prinzip: mehrere übereinander gestapelt, zwei Stapel nebeneinander, in Pyramidenform und vieles mehr. Mit anscheinend immer gleicher schneller Handbewegung entstehen die verblüffendsten Muster.

Er beschreibt dies Kunst Schritt für Schritt, wobei jede Bewegung mit einem Foto verdeutlicht wird. Seine Beschreibungen sind nicht nur klar und gut zu verfolgen, sondern auch witzig geschrieben, deshalb sollte man auch das Kapitel über die (ernsthaft recherchierte) Geschichte dieses Speils nicht auslassen. Hinweise über die Verbindung von Dice Stacking und Jonglage bzw. Zauberei und Dice Stacking Spiele runden das Ganze ab.

Review (by Michael Close) originally appeared in the August 1999 issue of MAGIC. Reprinted with permission of the author and publisher.

The Dice Stacking Book by Todd Strong

Todd Strong is a juggler who has taught at the Die Etage, a performing arts school in Berlin, and the National Circus School of France. A while back I reviewed his excellent dice stacking video. The Dice Stacking Book is a companion volume that provides the would-be dice stacker with a ton of information.

Todd discusses the necessary props, the basic stacking move, stacking variations, aerial moves, decapitating moves, and stacking items other than dice. He is thorough, and his explanations are clear. One very cool aspect of the book is that there are two "flip pictures" located on the bottom corners of each page. Flip the pages of the book in one direction and you see a mini-movie of Todd stacking four dice. Flip the pages the other way and you see him "decapitating" and stacking four dice. This is a clever idea, for it allows you to see the stacking motion in action.

Todd is a juggler, not a magician, so the emphasis is on stacking rather than magic effects (two magical ideas are included). Consequently, you'll need to seek out other sources if you're looking for a magic routine. (Todd includes a bibliography to help you track down more information.) If you've been looking for a book on dice stacking, look no further. The Dice Stacking Book is an excellent resource.

Review (by Michael Close) originally appeared in in the September 1998 issue of MAGIC magazine. Reprinted with permission of the author and publisher.

The Dice Stacking Video

Todd Strong is a juggler who has come up with some cool dice stacking moves. These are showcased on The Dice Stacking Video. Todd has an excellent method for learning to stack dice, and he clearly explains this, along with various stacking variations (squares, diamonds, pairs, etc.), aerial stacking techniques, methods for unstacking dice, and techniques for stacking many dice, tiny dice, and things other than dice.

Since Todd does not offer a dice stacking routine, Mike Maxwell demonstrates and explains (with permission) Clarke Crandall's "Dice Stacking Routine." This is a commercial routine which culminates with the appearance of big dice under the dice cup.

If you're a dice stacker, The Dice Stacking Video will give you some new stuff to practice. And if you combine this video with the recently released Jim Zachary video, you'll be well on your way towards being the Dice Stacking Master of the Universe. Recommended.

Excerpts of review by Steven Schneiderman on The Magic Portal web site. Reprinted with permission.

review of The Dice Stacking Video

I have been astounded by this feat (dice stacking) for years and Todd explains it all better than any book I have read. He makes it look easier than it is, and it makes me want to buy a dice cup now. Well produced.

review of The Dice Stacking Book

Having recently purchased Todd Strong's Dice Stacking video, I was particularly intrigued when he contacted me out of the clear blue to review his new kit which consists of a wonderfully entertaining book, a plastic dice cup and four "cancelled" regulation casino dice as seen below.

The book is written somewhat tongue in cheek, but it helps makes a rather dry subject very humorous. While the the dice cup supplied in his kit is nothing to write home about, it is perfect for practicing until you are ready for something more classy like one of Mike Rogers' leather beauties. Todd concentrates more on stacking stunts than he does on the gambling presentations or full routines. In fact, he suggests the use of yogurt containers and film canisters for dice cups. So if you are expecting some kind of old-fashioned riverboat gambling expose', you are barking up the wrong alley. Expect to be wowwed by dice stacking feats -- not fancy props. Todd's approach is quite practical -- especially for the novice.

There are some very cool things about this book, not the least of which are two "flipbook" movies. The left and right lower corners of each page contain small still photos of dice stacking in action. When you flip the corners quickly -- a la a rotoscope -- the still photos come to life and show you a brief animated sequence of dice stacking and dice decapitation.

This should prove helpful to those not yet willing to buy the video (which is well worth your money if for no other reason than to watch Todd perform some of the wildest stacking feats in the world).

Todd is admittedly a juggler first and a magician second, so his approach to stacking comes more from entertaining with balancing stunts than it does from how to fool an audience. He presents stacking in an easy to follow way, and his narrative is clear and concise -- his experience teaching is quite evident. He tries to inject high-brow humor throughout the book with reproduced art masterpieces integrated with imges of dice. A little strange, but good for a quick laugh.

Those of you looking for "magic" may want to look to Todd's video more than his book.

If you want to learn stacking basics, Todd's book is a winner. Once you master the stunts, your audience will most likely remember your dice stacking demonstration more than your most complicated card trick.

Dice stacking isn't for everyone. It takes a knack and requires patience. But once you get it -- much like coin rolling, three ball juggling, or second deals -- it is hard to forget. I'm still working on it, but now I am well-armed with books and videos by Todd Strong.

Highly recommended!

List of other dice-stacking videos

A few years ago I was invited to Japan to teach Sakai Masaaki how to stack dice. The resulting video was broadcast on the annual, New Year's day Japanese television show.

Please let me know if you have any dice stacking videos you would like to have linked.

Photo credits: Roger Dollarhide. Many thanks, Roger.