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I play guitar in a couple of bands. When we're putting together a set list there are always a couple of songs that go down really well with the audience, but we're reluctantly to play as "everyone does them". Examples are Johnny B. Goode, Mustang Sally, All Right Now, Brown Eyed Girl, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Enter Sandman, etc.

I didn't think there was a magical equivalent, but over the last couple of weeks I've seen three different magicians doing the omni deck and coinvexed. So, like those crowd-pleasing but predictable songs, are there any tricks or routines that you avoid because "every other magician does them"?

That's a difficult one to answer .. Because if you present any trick properly, it can be a miracle for the crowd.

But to answer your question , find-a-card tricks are too predictable unless you offer the spectator/skeptic to shuffle as soon as he returns the card. That can be impressive.

Steven Youell's Weapons of Mass Destruction has amazing sleights and routines to set you apart from every average card guy out there. I'll be reviewing the manuscript soon, so check it out !

PS : I think he has a newer set of notes on his website right now. I doubt you could find the older set anywhere.

its the same reason covers bands sometimes become a band that write their own songs...you don't want to be seen as the same as the next band/magician/whatever...so you go off and create your own material...

I don't think any two magicians do exactly the same material but I get your point - things go in and out of fashion and magic's no exception to that. One thing I see done a lot is The ID, and nobody seems to do it any differently.

madvillainy wrote:I don't think any two magicians do exactly the same material but I get your point - things go in and out of fashion and magic's no exception to that. One thing I see done a lot is The ID, and nobody seems to do it any differently.

and however many times it gets done it gets a brilliant reaction.

By the way, Jay Sankeys Invisible DVD does offer about as many ways of presenting the ID as anyone could think of.

madvillainy wrote:I don't think any two magicians do exactly the same material but I get your point - things go in and out of fashion and magic's no exception to that. One thing I see done a lot is The ID, and nobody seems to do it any differently.

.....................and however many times it gets done it gets a brilliant reaction.

By the way, Jay Sankeys Invisible DVD does offer about as many ways of presenting the ID as anyone could think of.

As a spectator... I really really am tired of seeing the rope cut trick.

Granted if they don't have full control of the rope the whole time it gets impressive. The standard holding the rope and switching hands moving the knot around not so much.