talkmagic.co.uk

There is a more interesting version of the 21 card trick in David Blaine's book, Mysterious Stranger.

But when it comes down to it, if somebody asks, teach them. Unless you think they're just after the secret, in which case don't bother. But if somebody is genuinly interested, just teach them a trick. Something basic. So basic you could come up with it all by yourself, and wouldn't need us to tell you what it is

GoldFish wrote:There is a more interesting version of the 21 card trick in David Blaine's book, Mysterious Stranger.

Quite possibly the only trick in there (as far as I can remember). He gives it saying something like 'it's the oldest trick there is'. Interestingly, try doing this:
1) Use Tarot cards (just the major arcana, and discarding the Death card '"To avoid accidents"), giving the excuse that the images have greater psychological strength, or imprint deeper, or some such.
2) Stress that they mustn't tell you what column the card is in. I do this as though stopping them from helping me out accidentally. "DO NOT tell me which column the card is in. Please. There's a trick where you tell someone what column you cards in, then he deals them again, and you tell him again, and he deals then again and you tell him again... "(Shake your head and sigh here - almost everyone will have seen that trick) "This isn't like that. So, please don't blurt it out because you've seen that trick and think this works the same way. This is psychological. I am never going to ask you where the card is, at any point."
3) Slowly 'divine' the card, in three stages (first the column, then ask them to split the cards in that column into two piles - and you pick the correct pile - then the card itself) by picking up nonverbal cues (move their hand over the cards, move yours but while staring intently at their eyes, whatever).
Do that and, oldest trick or not, it plays as a rather strong, internally logical piece of mentalism.

Scott Daly wrote:Lozey,

Fairy nuff, I never suggested you were drunk, and I apologise if it seemed that way but if you read back through the posts in this thread someone else said this! I'm sorry if I offended you and yes maybe I could use more tact, there was not enough info in your post to give a true picture but that is my fault for jumping the gun so again I'm sorry. I still feel I make some valid points though, just maybe not in the right way.

I just get really annoyed with misinformed laypeople spoiling things for the likes of me (and now I realise) you who spend a lot of time and effort on their craft.

Obviously things have to be passed on for the survival of the art, but to the right people who have proved themselves somewhat, I'm sure Vernon never just gave out secrets willy nilly!

Acctually, I hear that he often gave out an effect called something like Up and Down. It is a self working trick from Scarne on Card Tricks.

Hi girls and guys,

my usual reply to the request to "teach a trick" is to ask if they are good at keeping a secret, when they give the inevitable response of "yes" , I just smile,wink and say "me too" .
Over the years I've found that those who are genuinly interested will keep coming back, keep asking questions. When some one is that interested I will give them a deck of cards and a coin and show them a coin roll across the knuckles and cutting the deck with one hand, then send them away to practice. No secrets given away, no trick involved, but when/if they come back I can judge how much effort/practice they have put in, and take it from there (and of course direct them to Talkmagic ) .

Xenon