talkmagic.co.uk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guPE2oIx0x4

I'm still very much a newbie, but I would love your feedback. It's my first video here, first time I've 'performed' for magicians. As I say in the video, there's nothing astounding here, but I'd love your feedback on my presentation, patter, style (if I have any!), etc.

The reverse fan blank to full deck is something I've seen done with an ace on top and some awkward covering of the pips. I like to keep a blank card on top of the deck to make it more natural, it's probably something that people have been doing for years, but I like it. I like the "oops I brought the wrong deck, these are all blank" opener, that's something I made up.

I normally keep the deck in my pocket with a blank backed queen of hearts on the bottom of the deck, blank side showing, so I can start the way I do in the video. I also normally have a loose card on top of four aces on the top of the deck so I can do a DL to show an ace, put it into the middle of the deck and then show the ace at the top again. It also allows me to move into "a poker player's picnic" with ease, and the blank backed Qh makes for a nice reveal if I ask someone to think of a card and they name the Qh - I can cut the deck, fan the backs and the Qh index peeks out - the only reversed card in the deck. If they don't choose Qh I can just do another effect with their chosen card.

Would like some tips on how best to lose the Qh later in the routine, as the blank-to-full effect leaves the blank backed Qh 2nd from bottom for the rest of the routine, and she can pop up unexpectedly if I can't squirrel her away into a pocket or back into the box.

Thanks guys

edit: oh, yes tips on how to reduce the noise my colour change makes would be very gratefully received too!

When you pop the DL'd card on top, I would not say that you're popping it on top. Just do it, otherwise you're making an event out of something innocent (even though you and I know that this actually *is* an event ).

EDIT: The lighter you hold the deck, the quieter the change, in my experience.

It always annoyes the c*** (not the best) out of me when a novice of magic with only a few months experience demonstrates card skill that's superior to mine.
It's an excellent opener short, impressive, and unique (from a laymans perspective). I really really want to find some fault to this but I can't.

This is good stuff, well done.

In terms of ditching the gaffed card - personally, I would get rid of it as part of another routine - either as a mistake, or as an effect by itself... off the top of my head, an ACR phase that involves the (gaffed) QH going visibly into pocket, and then returning to the top of the deck.

Having said that, I don't perform an ACR, so take that with a pinch of whatever condiment you desire

Wow, thanks everyone, I'm chuffed (and genuinely surprised) that you all have such nice things to say! More, more!

Dominic - I love the idea of showing the gaffed Qh face, putting it in my pocket and then voila she's turned up in the middle of the deck again (or the top). Taking advantage of the fact that there'll be 2 Qh's in the deck. Thanks! Combined with other ACR bits there shouldn't be any suggestion that I've got more than one Qh.

Jean - well that comment made my day, thankyou

Ted - Yep, by saying "I take the top card, pop it on there and take it into the middle" it creates the idea that there were three stages to the trick - taking the card, putting it on top, putting it in the middle. Where really I want the memory to be two stages - taking the card, putting it in the middle. I'll try to alter that part to take the emphasis off, thanks. And thanks for the tip about holding the deck more lightly, I'll experiment with that.

My own criticism:

You can just see an index peeking out in the reverse fan. This is something I try to mitigate against by fanning with the backs showing first so I can inspect the fan to make sure it's good before I turn it over to show the blank faces. If there are indices showing I just close the fan and try again. I don't often need to, but sometimes a card will break away showing a big fat heart or something

I didn't time the patter with the first erdnase change very well; the word 'change' came after the change happened. Maybe that's a good thing though, I don't know.

With the 2c ACR I don't like the fact that I say 'turn it over' when I reveal it's back on top; it shows that 'it' was always on top. I'd prefer "Now let's just turn this top card over and see...." because otherwise the wording slightly hints at the reveal to come - 'this top card' doesn't indicate anything, but 'it' hints that 'it' is still there. Subtle, but something I'd like to get right.

With the disappearing 2c at 0:55, you can just see the card peeking out from under my little finger, this is the worst part I think as it's a nasty flash. Something I'll get better with more practice.

Thanks again everyone, really great to hear such positive feedback, very encouraging

Very nice my friend!! You've come along very well for six months. I had the same troubles with the noise with that change and flip switch. Like was said before a lighter touch and practice will make it go away. Again very nicely done can't wait to see more from you down the road

I really enjoyed that i loved your presentation, and you have a very very calming voice - not sure thats very magic related but there have a compliment ^_^

user24 wrote: the blank backed Qh makes for a nice reveal if I ask someone to think of a card and they name the Qh - I can cut the deck, fan the backs and the Qh index peeks out - the only reversed card in the deck. If they don't choose Qh I can just do another effect with their chosen card.

I like your thinking here. I have a couple of things like this aswell. If it doesnt hit, no-one is any the wiser. When it does however, it can be very strong. I hadnt really put much thought into this type of approach until I read Derren Browns books.

I enjoyed your video In addition to the points that have already been mentioned Id like to add the following for your consideration. How do you want this to look ? At the moment it looks like a display of sleight of hand. Im not saying thats a bad thing, and it may be what you intended. With minor alterations it could be made more magical.
The 'magic moment' is (in my opinion) very important in a magic effect. It lets the spectator know WHEN (apparently) the magic actually takes place. When the card is inserted into the centre of the deck there should be a slight pause, and some sort of indication that something magical happened at that point (a snap of the fingers, or a riffle of the deck or something), before turning the card over to show them the effect of the magic. Turning the card over straight away with no magic moment is a display of skill.

You have an odd technique for the ECC. Usually Id advise not to make the get ready so visible (if you know what I mean), but for some reason it seems to fit here. Is there a reason you do it so fast ? In my opinion the ECC looks more magical when done slow and deliberate. I dont know if this will be to your liking or style, but try it anyway Hold the deck in the right hand slightly lower than you usually would just before the change (im assuming you are left handed from the clip). Move the left hand over and cover the face card. As soon as the left hand covers the card both hands move together, upwards slightly, so your hands are in your normal position for the move. DURING this upward movement the first part of the move is done, and is completely covered by the motion of the hands. The left hand then moves back, and pauses just for an instant (2nd part of the move) as the card is shown once more and a comment is made. The left hand re-covers the face card (and completes the move) and does some magic gesture - 2 I like to use are a/ suddenly spreading the fingers then slowly moving the hand back (fingers still spread), and b/ opening the fingers slowly while at the same time waving the hand over the card and slowly moving the hand back. While these seem very similar in print they look very different.

Thanks for posting your video, as i said (despite my rather lengthy post) I did enjoy it

jim

I personally liked the fast ECC. You normally get a gasp from the general public when performing a fast colour change. You also have a nice laid backed manner and didn't come across as arrogant at all, which is the trap most performers fall into.

My only criticism is you held your DL a bit awkwardly, but in time that'll pass I'm sure.

Several hoozahs all round.

Starving Stu wrote: You also have a nice laid backed manner and didn't come across as arrogant at all, which is the trap most performers fall into.

I agree, his style of performing is very likeable indeed.

jim

jim ferguson wrote:

Starving Stu wrote: You also have a nice laid backed manner and didn't come across as arrogant at all, which is the trap most performers fall into.

I agree, his style of performing is very likeable indeed.

jim

thats what i meant with his relaxing voice ^_^

Thanks, I'm glad you like the way I perform... I don't really do anything special as such, and I expect I'll develop a theme to my effects as I learn more about performing. But yeah, I'm glad you didn't think it was dull. And as to my voice, heh, thankyou

jim ferguson wrote:How do you want this to look ? At the moment it looks like a display of sleight of hand. Im not saying thats a bad thing, and it may be what you intended. With minor alterations it could be made more magical.

A great point. I've spent some time asking myself "where does the magic come from"; what story am I telling in my magic? At the moment I haven't decided, but I think for the type of performances I do, to start with a very quick display like this is enough to convince them that there's something worth paying attention to here. Once they've seen something like this opener and are paying attention with the knowledge that it'll be worth their while, I can then spend some more time with them building up a more magical effect.

I'm probably drawn towards skill-type effects because I haven't answered that question: Where does the magic come from?

Once I've answered that, I can then build a routine where all the effects also contribute towards telling that story to the audience. To me it seems odd to one minute perform some sleight of hand and the next minute be doing a mind-reading trick - where does the magic come from? If it's from the energy around you then why are you doing sleights? If it's harnessing the psychic power of the spectator and I am merely the channel, then why am I doing memory feats? And so on. I feel that if I can come up with an answer to that question which I'm happy with for me, then I can build a routine which is coherent and tells a consistent story to the audience. Which makes it more believable, and serves as excellent misdirection.

jim ferguson wrote:You have an odd technique for the ECC

heh, yeah I kinda mixed RRTCM's instructions, youtube vids (mea culpa) and my own practice to muddle together something that works well enough. I'm more than happy to receive criticism on my technique - thanks!

jim ferguson wrote:Is there a reason you do it so fast ? In my opinion the ECC looks more magical when done slow and deliberate.

Again, fast in the opener to catch attention and show the spectator that I'm worth watching straight away, and then later on I'll slow down and do some more involved things (perhaps that's not so relevant in the real-world as I'm doing a lot of stuff on chatroulette etc at the moment so that's probably where that comes from - you've got about 2 seconds before someone clicks next. Or maybe there's a lesson for the real-world in there.).

I also perform the ECC from Ah to Ac very slowly with a single finger crossing the card diagonally to reveal (something I saw Michael Vincent do?). I think the two different approaches essentially make it a different effect and so I can 'reuse' the sleight and the spectator won't necessarily know I'm showing them the same trick twice. As far as they're concerned first of all I turned a blank deck into a full deck, and then later I turned an ace of hearts into the ace of clubs. Different tricks entirely. Likewise making a card disappear and reappear is entirely different from the spectator's point of view.

Also the 'no you're imagining it / no I'm only kidding' was kinda impromptu for the video, I'm not sure I'd do that in a performance. It's fun playing around with lies like that, and it makes the audience relax and laugh, and can get them towards a state where they don't know whether to believe you or not, but I'm not sure it helps with the end goal I have of producing a routine where every effect stands on its own but also builds a secondary coherent backstory on which to hang the magic. (eg how Derren Brown hangs his magic on psychology and everything he does also reinforces that secondary narrative which extends beyond the individual effect. Or how Tommy Cooper hangs his magic on the buffoonery and each effect adds to that secondary theme - and so on)

Thanks for the ECC technique tips too, I'll practice them and report back I'm really glad you liked the video.

Phew, that was a long post, lots of unfinished thoughts in there, so season to taste with a pinch of salt

PS: No, I'm right-handed - the video has been flipped for some bizarre photoBooth related reason. (?!??!?!)

That was a great post

For someone who has only been doing this for 6 months youve got some exellent thoughts and a great attitude. I cant wait to see what you'll be like after a few years

PS Its not the ECC Michael uses for that effect. Its the R**r Pa*m Colour Change (if youre not sure what that says PM me). The r**r pa*m can be found in expert card technique, and its use as a colour change is on the Classic Magic of Michael Vincent.

jim

Thanks - I can't wait either And thanks for that tip, I'll check it out!