talkmagic.co.uk

The question was to give your "biggest reactions" that is what it seems people have done. And hey there's nothing wrong with being an ametuer

I concur with those previously that the mental effects seem to generate the best reaction. With cards I try to keep my work impromptu and using a borrowed deck can really add to impossibility of things. If I'm using my pack I like to start with having the spectator shuffle the deck and this highlights the fact that no set up is in place. I have had great reactions to Lewis Jones's Houdini Hand which normally gets a response along the lines of "How on earth did you do that" or "I wouldn't want to play poker with you" which is always nice to hear. I also like Thought Anticipated from Hugard and Braue Card Manipulations (no. 1 I think). Again impromptu and can be a mentalist effect.

Paul

CMH has a really good reaction.
Jean Gallo's prediction impossible is hard to beat - but I do it sparingly.
I have a card effect linked to a card on their birthday in my diary - that's usually a killer.
I get awsome responses from elevator - where a ring moves up an elastic band. And then my best responses are from my fork/spoon bending routine - although I don't like thinking of that as a magic trick.

Isn't this a bit like saying Who is the better musician -- Vladimir Horowitz or Yo-yo Ma?

Lovers of piano music will generally pick Horowitz, while cello lovers will pic Ma.

The best trick depends enormously on who's doing it and what it's done with. (For example, I hate card tricks and would never pick a card trick; someone else would . . . . Well, there's no accounting for taste and less accounting for lack of it! LOL!)

i find breaking out a contact ball and doing a bit of that will get a nice reaction, the only form a juggling that looks kinda magical

Yeah I dont think this thread is actually about "the best trick", isn't it about what tricks get the biggest reactions in peoples experience?

Undoubtfully: Ultimate Transpo !

Mahoney wrote:

Yeah I dont think this thread is actually about "the best trick", isn't it about what tricks get the biggest reactions in peoples experience?

I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this but when I read this I couldn't help but think it basically says:

I don't think this thread is about the best trick, it's about the best trick.

I personally cannot think of a better way to judge what the "best trick" is other than the reaction it elicits from your spectators.

My Favourite tricks for best reactions (In no particular order)...:

1) Jay Sankey's "Astral Projection"
2) Peter Nardi's "Knock 'Em Dead"
3) My Own "Shrinking Card"
4) Gerry Griffin's "Oil & Water" (Don't know original origin)
5) Triumph (Whichever version I decide to use)
6) Invisible Palm (any version)
7) Gerry Griffin's "Invisible Cards"
Gerry Griffin's "Jacks Or Better"
9) "Bodyguards" - My own version of the Sankey trick
10) Jay Sankey's "Parallel Worlds"

Mahoney wrote:...what tricks get the biggest reactions in peoples experience?

"In peoples experience"

Your point is loud and clear though - you're right the tricks that get the biggest reactions are the best tricks. But if I said that I had "the biggest reaction I've had", does this mean I've done "the best trick"? You see what I mean?

Anyway its a silly point

I only bought it up because of:

Blade Master wrote:No offense guy's, but you must be ametuers to think these are the best. Their all of David Blaine's c*** (not the best) and the stuff from Penguin. [/url][/list]

and because of:

Peter Marucci wrote:The best trick depends enormously on who's doing it and what it's done with. (For example, I hate card tricks and would never pick a card trick; someone else would . . . . Well, there's no accounting for taste and less accounting for lack of it! LOL!)

Biggest reactions from tricks is non negotiable. You either have a big reaction or you don't.

Also if someone performs a trick and doesn't get a good reaction, but another magician gets a great reaction from that some trick, then this must have been down to performance as well.

Sorry for going on I got carried away talking to myself

I suppose mine was a bit of a daft point too. We're basically arguing over semantics. Never mind. I see your point, you see mine, 'nuff said.

Blade Master wrote:

1.2 card monte
2.healed and sealed
3.sighned coin in soda can(wayne houchin)
4.bite out of quarter
5.Ultimate card through window
6.head-ache(cyrils version)
7.andrew maynes beside yourself
8.cigarette through quarter
9.arm twist
10.yoga levitation(my own invention)


- Jokers Wild
- NFW
- Biddle trick
- Triumph
- ACR
- Do As I Do (both versions)
- Queens Out Of Control
- Jumping Gemini
- Twisted Sisters

No offense guy's, but you must be ametuers to think these are the best. Their all of David Blaine's c*** (not the best) and the stuff from Penguin.

Lets see:
1.2 card monte (Taught on Penguin's Born To Perform with Oz Pearlman)
2.healed and sealed (Performed by David Blaine)
3.sighned coin in soda can(wayne houchin)
4.bite out of quarter(Performed by David Blaine, I think)
5.Ultimate card through window (Performed by David Blaine)
6.head-ache(cyrils version)
7.andrew maynes beside yourself
8.cigarette through quarter (Performed by David Blaine)
9.arm twist (Performed by David Blaine)
10.yoga levitation(my own invention)

You say Blaine's stuff is no good and the penguin stuff is no good either.

First of all, more than half of you're list is made up of stuff from penguin and stuff David Blaine has performed (to great effect in my opinion) - and possibly more that I don't know of.

Secondly, only an amateur would approach an effect with this kind of "Penguin and Blaine are c*** (not the best)" attitude. Some of these tricks are classics, and they are classics for a good reason. For example NFW has it's (full, unabreviated) name because the effect it produces is phenomenal and leaves your spectators thinking "no f***ing way" at the end of it.

Many of us like the tried and tested classics for our magic and you call us amateurs...and then...

Blade master wrote:

No offense guys...

I have to agree with evmeister here. With the exception of Ultimate Card Through Window (I can't comment as I don't own the DVD or know the effects on it, well) - all of the effects listed as "amateur" are pretty powerful effects when performed properly.

Triumph is an amateur effect? So Vernon, Marlo and thousands of card men were just wasting their time coming up with variations of this one?

Jumping Gemini??? To call this amateur and/or c**p is just a dirty lie!

They might not be your style, or you might not use these effects - but it's incredibly dismissive to call them useless or amateurish.

magic_evmeister wrote:First of all, more than half of you're list is made up of stuff from penguin and stuff David Blaine has performed (to great effect in my opinion) - and possibly more that I don't know of.

I maybe mis-reading the thread but neither of the lists quoted were actually Blademasters. Blademaster, can you post your top ten list so that evmeister can rip into them. I would discuss the pengiun/blaine issue but I'll just get referred to a previous thread.

I will however throw ID onto the table, along with torn and restored card (which ever version takes your fancy) and Card to Wallet (KK).

[Edit] Just realised that I have classed Kolossal Killer as a Card to Wallet, and now I'm not so sure. On reflection probably not, but my selection still stands.

I pretty sure these all have a low blaine index.

I really don't think there should be a slanging match about this!

Anyone's 'favourite' selection is a subjective selection, and as we are all different in so many ways (praise the Lord) then everyone is entitled to their own selection—without criticism.

And what's wrong with being an amateur? Everyone is an amateur at something at one stage in their lives... it's called 'progressive learning'.

This forum hosts a mixture of amateurs and professionals. And anyway... does that mean that David Blaine is an amateur?

Come on... lighten up!

Anyhow... my personal 'bests'...

Currently:

1. Vanishing lit cigarette
Always gets HUGE reactions when you stub someone's ciggy out into their posh dress

2. Bill switches of any kind
Turning a £5 note to a £20... your spectators can't believe that your hands are empty and the note can be fully examined... of course, you need to turn it back to their £5 note afterwards!

3. Colour Monte
Easy to perform, looks fantastic, and when done right with a good strong patter, the colour monte really does pack a huge punch, and some laughs.

4. Lennart Green's One-in-Fiftytwo bet
A fantastic impromptu effect, almost self working, but very very effective. Never had any doubts that this is a classic.

5. Oil and Water - the Anthony Owen version
From his fantastic 'pamphlet', 'Some Tricks'. Right before the spectators eyes, two piles of cards are repeatedly dealt black/red/black/red etc. and always mysteriously separate back to their respective coloured groups. Down to the climax, where the cards are displayed face up, and then separate.

This is but a short list, but really these are the effects which I can happily say get the best reactions. The vanishing cigarette has long been a favourite of mine, and it can be performed anywhere—even in short sleeves.

Sorry, my bad. It was confusing that Blade Master has not used the "Quote" convention we operate on this site. For that I apologise. But I still think my comments stand. I agree that all "opinons" are valid on this subject but THIS:
Blade Master wrote:

No offense guy's, but you must be ametuers to think these are the best. Their all of David Blaine's c*** (not the best) and the stuff from Penguin.

is not an opinion. It's an insult.

To call us amateurs for choosing these tricks is nothing short of blatant patronisation. I'm gonna end this paragraph here before I have to find cause to start a sentence with "No Offence, but..."