talkmagic.co.uk

Hey everybody,
i have a "serious" problem. I'm not a professional magician but i nevertheless like to do some magic for my friends and colleagues at work. They used to really appreciate my card tricks (since this is what i do) but the other night i was really drunk and everybody wanted to see some magic. Although i knew i was to drunk i decided to show them the 3 card monte but didn't turn the cards properly so everybody was able to see THE cards!!! Now they suspect me to use gimmicked cards at every trick and I'm not able to show them the monte or twisted sisters anymore, which were my favourites (because of the effect and because they are quite easy).
Has anybody any tips with which tricks i can gain back their respect for my magic? It would have to be something which is quite easy but has an awesome effect!
I appreciate all tips and help!
PS: Money is not an issue so please feel free to recommend any tricks even if they are expensive!
Thanking you all in advance for your help!

Blimey... if they suspect you're using gimmicks or gaffs after doing a 3 card monte, then something really must be wrong with your performance...

... Because you don't need gaffs or gimmicks to perform that effect!

Age old TM advice: forget spending loads of money, and invest in some books first. You'll be surprised at how much stuff can be done with a standard deck of cards which will blow people's socks off.

Try something which involves an initial shuffle by the spectators should in all my cases, erradicate any thoughts of dodgy gaffs. Failing that, a couple of numerical tricks that can happen 100% in the spectators hands, or a "do as I do" using 2 seperate decks and they ultimatly shuffle both decks. Bit of research in these areas should prove fruitful for your needs.
Dave

since money is no object then royal road to card magic dvd set and book as a chacer.

Seige, he may have been doing the "Ultimate Three Card Monte", which does use gaffed cards.

If money is no object, why not just buy them all yachts?

Seriously, if you try to perform while drunk then you deserve people thinking you're a poor magician, because if you perform while drunk... you are.

sleightlycrazy wrote:Seige, he may have been doing the "Ultimate Three Card Monte", which does use gaffed cards.

He didn't mention that. He mentioned 3 Card Monte,

I hate to say it, but I agree with queenie. I don't mean I hate to agree with her, because I don't; I mean I hate to agree with what she said about performing while drunk because you're not doing yourself (or your spectators) any favours.

I'm sorry if that made absolutely no sense - I've been up since 4am and really should retire to bed now.

Come on folks - give the guy a break. So, he made a mistake but who amongst us have not at one time or another?

Money is not an issue so please feel free to recommend any tricks even if they are expensive!

Okay, if money is no object, then I strongly suggest that you get the three card monte DVD by School for Scoundrels or Daryl Does the Full Monte by Daryl.

Depending on what you want, specifically, one is better than the other (Daryl offers a massive amount of moves, Scoundrels offers a several strong routines and a full history of the game).

Once you get your DVD, sit down and learn how to do a pure three card monte without any gaffes at all. Put the time in and really learn it, forward and backward. While you're learning this, don't show any tricks to your friends, at all.

Now, once you've got it down perfectly, the next time that you're out with your friends, you can hand them a deck of cards, ask them to take out the cards that you'll be using (ace with two dueces for "chase the ace," two aces with a queen for "find the lady," etc.) and then they can examine those cards under a microscope if they want, because you'll be doing a fully ungaffed version of three card monte.

Or, if you think that won't be enough to prove your point, then ask one of your friends to purchase a deck on the way to the pub for which you'll pay him. Then, have your friends open the deck, get the cards and start from there.

A word to the wise, though:

Show your routine before you start drinking.

Mike.

...and tell someone to bring along some cards, or buy a pack with someone before you go out boozing...

Card tricks are a bit much drunk. Rope magic on the other hand can lead to all sorts of fun setting challenges for tying particular knots.

I've done tricks while I am drunk and tricks to people who are very drunk.

Neither is favourable.

When I was drunk I did coins across to a girl. All my mates thought it was ace but she was suitably unimpressed and saw through the whole routine. Luckily I've never seen her again.

Second was showing a stunner card trick to some friends late at night in a club. Made them show the card to each other so the spectator couldn't lie. Well they were all that drunk they thought one of the others would remember the card. When it was revealed in a spectacular manner none of them could remember if it was the card or not.


I have a number of other stories about when I've been druunk or performing to drunks including loosing all my tricks I hjad on me that evening.

So the moral is never do magic when drunk and if doing magic for very drunk people make sure they don't have to use their brains too much.

Cheers Alan.

On a side note, you may just enjoy The Professor's presentation of the ungaffed three card monte:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ztPiSXzsjTg

Hey, Mike... I don't think anyone's 'having a go' at the guy, we're only stating that if he's worried about people finding gimmicks or gaffs (whether drunk or otherwise) then it's best to remove them from the occasion.

I am a little confused. You already showed them Twisted Sister and a gaffed version of 3 card monty then I'm not sure of the problem. You wouldn't show them these same effects again. What you need to continue doing those two effects is a new audience.

So now it is time to simply move forward. Learn some effects without the use of a gaff and use a borrowed deck from your friends. I'd learn a 'do as I do' effect. I don't know where the heck you would find it but here is the description and somebody else may be able to help you locate the effect. Everybody has four cards. Everybody shows the cards are face down. You lead the spectator through a few card placements (I.E. Turn the top card face up, place it on the bottom, take the second card leave it face down, place it on the bottom..blah blah) Very simple very straight forward. They always have one face up card at the end. All of yours are face down. Just when they think your cards are gaffed you switch cards using the cards they were just using. It is much better then it sounds.

You can thank me later.

Brian