talkmagic.co.uk

I have to disagree about the 'clean' bit.

A pass almost certainly needs some sort of cover to justify the move.

Although it IS worth learning some other 'break/control' methods, such as a double undercut or a side slip. Varying your controls is paramount to stopping the effect looking too mechanical.

In my opinion, the pass is not the be-all and end-all. In fact, I believe it to be possibly the most overrated of sleights.

It's great when it first 'clicks' into place. But then it becomes far to relied upon.

Also, I disagree about a side-slip being less efficient?!?!?
A side-slip is very pure, especially if the card is stolen into a lateral palm for example. The pass involves bringing the card to the top THEN moving it on, whereas the side-slip is a continuous move for stealing a card.
Perhaps I read a different book

I think Mark hit more of a nail on the head with the guilt thing.

A pass is by no means invisible. But it can be hidden well, if your technique is strong.

Learning the pass requires patience, and a lot of time spent in front of mirrors.

I like the pass, but mainly for my own benefit or when I need to move a card very quickly. Otherwise I would always go for one of Jerry Andus' shifts or steals as they are different to a lot of the well known ones and are interesting to learn. Note that I'm not talking about practicality, if you are learning complex sleights you almost certainly aren't doing things the easiest way!

Once the pass is mastered it is not hard, and once a little spectator management is learnt it is also not hard to hide. I don't think that efficiency is really an important factor in deciding on what to do, it is entirely down to your confidence to use it. There is no conclusive way to say that one sleight or variation is better than another as they all have their uses, and one magician will always use one in a certain situation where another would swear by another. I think that, like most things it all comes down to your own choice.

I use the classic pass. I've never had anyone say anything about me making a dodgy move as I sort of mess the card up while they put their card back and the move looks like I'm just squaring them up, this gives me a reason to make a move. I also misdirect with the voice at the precise moment I think once you've mastered it, its 1% the move 99% confidence. believe in yourself and it will come.

helllllllllllooooo heloooooo
im a newbie so be gentle with me lol
well as for passes. and stuff. i think that. its best to be flexible. and have plenty of methods of controlling a card. as not to appear theres any system your useing - to make it appear spontaneous. the double undercut is indeed. a good way, i have an annoying cut addiction. ill see a fancier cut and find myself distracted trying to learn that lol. the pass. is i think very valuabe. because its an invisible cut. and i always think. the simpler something looks. and clean the better. i mean they return their card to the deck and see it squared up. so logic dictates. why then shud u always have to shuffle it or cut it. if u inserted it randomly in the deck, squared up - that could be good enuff. so alot of approaches is good. i dont like to feel im playing monte with them lol. im not i would call a magician as such. i love magic and often play cards at my friends. so they are easily accessible and something great to break the routine.
great site. keep it up. i love to see that every1 has problems and not just me lol. and shareing a love of it ish a wonderful thang.
all the best hope to hear from you soon
ps sorry about the long message hehe . i shud get out more lol

Don't worry about the length of the message. by the standards of some we get here it is quite short, but you make up for it with punctuation, always go for quntity rather than quality, that's what I say!

I know the problem most beginners have with the pass is sometimes not the pass itself but the reason for movement of the hands or placement.

It was told to me once that, "it doesn't matter if they see the pass, if the spectator thinks something happened or sees some movement, the essence of magic is lost"!

help?????
with passes i am nothing i don't know how to do one but i have a million routines where i could use them. so if any body knows or can help me with passes please contact me on magicsmart@hotmail.com

Can anyone suggest a good video or dvd that teaches the classic pass along with many other passes in great detail. Thanks for your time

On the Pass is a good DVD, but i think the best one that i learnt from is Ninja, which is from ellusionist. Alot of people put this DVD down, but there is no doubt that Brad Christian is one of the best teachers on DVD.
Check out the site for some demos www.ellusionist .com

Chris