talkmagic.co.uk

In the words of the Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy - don't panic!!! (And if anybody adds, ‘Mr.Mainwaring’ I’ll stamp my foot at them!).

NFW! uses the Elmsey count which I confess I couldn't get my head (or hands) round, even with the instructions supplied – and I’m told it isn’t covered in RRCM. I've just bought Techno Magic Booklet and Basic Card Technique Video from emagic tricks and am practising with those aids at the moment. I’ve since dsicovered a very good website of card handling/sleights etc with full colour photos etc and this is at http://www.rapidmagic.com/ so why not have a look and see if it helps?

Cheers,

( Oh, b*gger it – dropped the cards again!)

PS Have since ordered RRCM and Laurence tells me it's on the way even as we speak/type/post/read/whatever.

Mandrake many thanks have just been to this site , and I think it will improve th quality of my Magical life. Trying pause the video and spot how to do the count was really doing my brain in.

Just goes to prove the quality of this board, one again well done Lawrence for bringing us together.

I was amazed that there was so much detail freely available - I could probably have avoided buying the books! (Only joking, Laurence, the books are far easier to handle & carry around!).

This whole subject is so much larger than I ever imagined and I'm sure there are only about 8 people in the UK who don't 'do magic'!

All the best,

Ok - I confess, d****e s***d ***e was not the most inspired piece of coding!

In answer to the message posted by the guest earlier, I do the false count to show all four jokers as described in the instructions accompanying NFW. I practised it a lot before showing it but have not been picked up on it by spectators as yet - perhaps what follows is too mind-blowing! I think I was initially encouraged by seeing this count done at the start of the trick on a video on the web. I have seen various accounts of the Elmsley count, but I think I learnt the most from Richard Kaufman's demonstration on "Basic Card Technique". Michael Ammar does a good demonstration on at least one of his "Easy to Master Card Miracles" series too.

Does anyone have suggestions for tricks that they like to do alongside NFW? I sometimes do a different four ace effect, eg Twisting the Aces, and then switch to the four jokers of NFW "to get away from 4 ace tricks". That usually works quite well!

Maybe you should have tried *oubl* *ide* *ap*!!!

The Elmsley is an absolute bu**er to get right. There's no way I would feel confident in showing this. Yes I know... Practise!

No one has mentioned "Basic Card Techniques" by Kaufman. I would recommend this over Royal Road (although this book is obviously excellent). Kaufman's video shows absolutely clearly all basic sleights, including various counts. If you haven't got it and your new(ish) to magic, you should put it on your buy list.

... Tony

Hi Tonykins!

Kaufman's Basic Card Technique video is the one I was referring to above and I can heartily recommend it. The intro to each routine is a bit stylised but all the moves, sleights etc are shown clearly and slowly with all focus on hands and cards - it's almost like having a personal tutor right in front of you. Definitely the sort of thing to be on anyone's Birthday/Christmas Prezzie list.

Cheers,

Paul

I have found that the gimmick does have a tendency to "fail" [edited by mods]. So what I have found works is that if you use a stencil about the same size as the "aardvark" [edited by mods] and then use a small amount of "lemon juice" [edited by mods] this does the job well and can be removed with a wipe of alchol when it gets dirty.
also the "move" [edited by mods] that is used, I am not sure how else to utilise it and what its main purpose is before it was used in this trick. if anyone can help me out please PM me.

and you can do it (much better IMHO) without the Aardvark Count as well!

There's also the Blind Lemon Frustration Count. And the Count of Monte Cristo.

You can Count on Mandrake to change the tone...

Seriously, though (NO SEIGE - DON'T USE THE 'S' WORD), this is an excellent effect, and with a little imagination (and some mathematical tests!) you can adapt the routine to work with your own style.

The ONLY gripe I have is that most of the items needed to perform this can be renewed - and yet the 'key' item is like hen's teeth to get replacements for.

Ho hum.

I got this trick and found that I needed to learn the Elmsley count - this was a valuable thing in itself but the added benefit of the trick and it's ability to really elicit that NFW moment make this an absolute must.

One of the best tricks I've added to me repetoire and one that should find it's way into every box of tricks. It's slick, it's visula and it makes you get the Elmsley sorted (hours of fun!) so worth weight in fluffy marshmallows!

Vic

If you like tricks with oodles of Elmsleys, try Queens out of Control - just watch the video and see for yourself .

Kati

katrielalex wrote:If you like tricks with oodles of Elmsleys, try Queens out of Control - just watch the video and see for yourself .

Kati

I second that suggestion! KILLER effect

I "third" that.
Does anyone have an alternative patter, as Gerry Griffin's patter bore's me almost to tears. I am working one one at the moment with a story about women. Will post when it is complete.
Bcfaigg

This effect is truly supurb. Highly recommended!