talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

im still struggling with my d/l at the moment and wondered if there was a general consensus on whether to lift from the side or the rear with the thumb?

I assume i'll get a 'whatever suits you best' but i thought i'd put it out there.

thanks

ps

if you have any other directions that i should be looking in re d/l please feel free to show off your vast knowledge!

I think your D/L should look as near as possible exactly as your S/L does to avoid suspicion.

the lift is covered in the current edition of reelmagic dvd.
as to side v rear... well, it depends on how you hold the deck, and what feels right for you.
i tend to waiver between the side, and the corner.


Idont think i ever lift from the rear. Its un-natural, and raises suspision, since its the only edge of the card that isnt seen by the spectator.


dont forget that esentialy what the dl Is supposed to look like, is you, flipping the top card ove. Not picking it up.

which does sugest that the side is the better option.

There so many methods and variations for this move. To be honest, I think this particular sleight depends heavily on the user. Depending on what suits your hands and performance style, will probably dictate which method to use.

You may want to spend some time thinking about which 'get ready' you are going to be using as well.

I agree with Tomo too. The only good advice I can think to give you is to watch yourself closely when you handle individual cards. Try and mimic that action as closely as you can when performing a D/L. I think it was no less than Dai Vernon who said "Be Natural" when handling cards. Dodgy looking moves, or quick rapid hand motions attract far more spectator attention than If you were to just appear naturally relaxed about it.

Good look with your search. Hope you find the version which suits you best.

Im in agreement re- the get ready. I only count on the dl for one effect that i do, and the get ready, happens about 2 1?" foot away from where they are looking.

so often people these days tend to try to do things when the heat is on.

also, too many people do to many effects using the lift.

Used sparingly its a powerfull tool. Used Too often, its bleedin obvious!

Tomo wrote:I think your D/L should look as near as possible exactly as your S/L does to avoid suspicion.

I agree. I've never been happy with my d/l and have recently started working on it more studiously. I'd previously become obssessed with the push-off, something that I had never been able to make any kind of real progress with. However if you ask most pro cardicians, they'll probably tell you that what lets a DL down is the overall manner in which it is carried out; not the particular mechanical process, but the stiffness and the guilt! I finally feel I'm getting somewhere with my own d/l simply because I've followed Tomo's advice, basing it on how I handle the cards normally. I'd never push a card off with my thumb before flipping it over, so it's not something I'm going to learn to fake. There are additional convincers you can incorporate to a d/l but I think it's much better to consider these as "bolt ons" to a basic handling that ought to match your s/l.

I've approached this from a slightly different angle than the others. Rather than looking at what my SL looks like and trying to mimick that, I've looked at what my DL looks like and make sure my SLs are done the same way. That way you can lift a single card using the mechanics of your DL, toss it onto the table, etc. Then when you perform a DL at a later point you've already unconsciously established that is how you display the top card.

queen of clubs wrote:I've approached this from a slightly different angle than the others. Rather than looking at what my SL looks like and trying to mimick that, I've looked at what my DL looks like and make sure my SLs are done the same way. That way you can lift a single card using the mechanics of your DL, toss it onto the table, etc. Then when you perform a DL at a later point you've already unconsciously established that is how you display the top card.

I've heard a quote like that somewhere: "Don't make your dls look like sls, make your sls look like dls."

Anyone know who said it?

I've heard that being said by someone before, no idea where though.

All I can say is something that hasn't been recommended yet, and that's the Pinky Count. I personally learnt it from Darwin Ortiz's At the Card Table but I'm pretty sure there are a lot of places to learn it. It's an incredibly direct way of getting a break between any amount of cards you wish, and you should be able to do it after a few days. It's not a knack, it's simply building up strength in your little finger, so eat lots of protein whilst you practice

Transferring a thumb count to a pinkie break is easy peasy and sets you up nicely for a DL.

I was happy with the Thumb Count until I learnt the Pinky Count. The Pinky Count is a lot more discreet and much quicker than the Thumb and in my opinion well worth learning.

It doesn't have to only be used for a get-ready for a DL, it's quite useful for other things aswell. I would have to say it's probably one of my favourite moves to do with a deck of cards!

For sure babyshanks, but a cheap and easier alternative to the pinkie, if it was a bit advance, is the thumb count. Plus you can use Larry Jenning's snap double instead! The thumb count is extremely discrete if done properly, as Ortiz often proves!

Oh dear dear dear, no no no. Agecroft, please tell them. Don't take a break, pinky, thumb or otherwise, AND like I keep telling them at the Ooop North meets, DON'T pinch when turning over.

Tenko is right, thanks to him I now have the turn over spot on but not the get ready (as in I have one most of the time and its not needed). I'm getting there slowly but surely!

if your spectators dont suspect a thing then its right