talkmagic.co.uk

My first attempt at making videos..Im sure I need to work a lot on making my flow much more smooth and natural. Been doing magic for like 6 months but my only practice is when Im goofing around with people at work and I can get away with pretty much anything using misdirection.

I would love any advice and comments

Sorry about the bad quality, Im buying a new camera today.

Shapeshifter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma10b65bhRM

Transpo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1ySI13hzRg


updated the videos!

Some comments.

Shapeshifter isn't bad. But what could make it better? A slight adjustment of the hand post change. If you catch my drift.

The transpo could use some work too. For instance, you pick up the first card a specific way the first time, yet a different way the second time. Why? The answer is obvious... but the better question is how could you change it so I am not asking it.

Keep up the good work.

I see what you mean, Ill work on that now

maybe do a one-handed get ready as you show the first card? good though. isn't it an awesome little move?...it blows people away.

I updated 2 of the videos with new camera

I have never liked Shapeshifter due to what I perceive as a visual discontinuity, but with that said, I believe that your performance of Shapeshifter is as good as any I have seen, well done.

Transpo was done well, though the get-ready for the DL's, and the turn over seem a little stiff and heavy.

Very off-topic but is the music on Transpo Hans Hartz? I haven't heard anything of his since the 80's but the voice sounded vaguely similar, the only other guess I would have would be Udo Lindenberg.

They're very nice, only suggestion that I've got is work on your D/L slightly, they look juts a little bit stiff. Good work, well done.

Thanks a lot for the help, Im practicing now to do D/L smoothly without any stops.

Nice transpo. An idea for you if you want it.
A use for this that I often open with is to ask the spec how their memory is. Almost identical workings from what I could gather but without a d********.

"Show me a card trick then"

"Hmmm, ok. The thing is, I often have trouble with people forgetting what their card was if I ask them to pick one, so lets see how you do. A little test if you like"

So I give them a card (eg KH) "KH for you".
I give me a card (eg 10C) "10C for me".
I then put an indifferent card to one side without showing its face. "And any old card here as a spare in case someone else wants to play"
I ask them which of the three cards are where.
They are wrong as they now have indifferent card, I have the KH and the 10C is to one side.

"ok, not too good there, your memory's terrible. Tell you what, pick another. We'll just try one this time, maybe a bit too ambitious to start with....ok, sign this one just in case you forget again......."
etc etc...

Done tongue in cheek, this gets good reactions.

Not a bad idea for a routine...I will try it when I go to work and see how it works


Normally for card transpo I do something like this...

"Alright I got an easy trick for you this time...all you gotta do is remember this card (KH), now hold it between your hands really tight"

I then show them my card...I say "Im going to try a little something here"..I put one hand under theirs with my card and I use my other hand and smack down on the top of their other hand as if Im trying to knock something through their hand.... then I say "Did you feel anything wierd happen there"..."You had the KH correct?" ...and I reveal

yeah, i used to do similar to that. I added the extra touches to give it more reason for the changes. They often actually question their own memory. Like I said, I don't do it so much as a trick, more as a kind of quick test at the beginning of a routine.

It also gives reason to flow straight into a signed card routine (in case they forget again).

Good point, people forget the card all the time! Never understood how you can forget one little card ;p

It is really easy to forget something stored in short term memory. It is pretty common. If you think about it, I am sure you can remember a time when you took a message or had someone tell you something and then seconds later you were grasping to remember. If you put pressure on the spectator that will also increase their chances to forget the card.

Luke Jermay has a great little effect along this vein.

very true.
If you see someone check the time on their watch, ask them the time the second they put their arm back down. More often than not they have to check again with rather a sheepish look

The all time classic is to ask someone the time and when they've looked at their watch and lowered their arm, tell them not to look at their watch again but ask if it has roman numerals, or the normal ones or perhaps just marks to indicate the hours. Most people can't remember and would have to take a second look.