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Hi Guys,

I have seen a lot of hand washing techniques out there where the magician for around 10 seconds keeps showing his hands "empty" in a number of ways.I personally do not see the point of them unless you just do a quick one because you wouldn't need to perform them unless you still have the object in your hand otherwise you would just show both hands front and back.I will love to hear what you guys think,cheers.

Handwashing is a bit old school.
most of the "legends" have published routines that use it, Vernon springs to mind.
I.M.H.O It's more a show off thing than an entertaining thing. Akind of flourish for manipulators.

Thank you for your vcomment but what does I.M.H.O stand for?

Depends on the context. If the audience may suspect that something is concealed then show them to be empty- but often a simple open hand gesture should suffice if that is the case.
However, there are other times when overtly mentioning a method which is CERTAINLY going to be assumed, can be the best thing. In Out of this world I make it crystal clear that I am not switching the deck, using slight of hand to arrange them or anything of that kind because that is what people expect magicians to do. When you are confident something will be suspected then that needs adressing and it is justified to draw attention to it, even if it means finding a way to be able to do that which can get around that. Say for example if you were doing a banknote reading trick (I don't so I am not sure how it is received, but lets imagine for the purposes of this example that the natural assumption from the average lay person was that you were swapping the bill somehow- which you may well be doing) then you could explicitly draw attention to the fact that the bill is not being switched- have it placed in your hand ver cleanly and show that you are not switching it, 'read' the serial number and have it recorded, then thank your audience. Of course they want it verified- and by now you have had all the misdirection you want to switch the bill. (Please remove if this is exposure)
It also depends on your character. Is he someone that is meticulous and frantic about obviating trickery and proving fairness in which case ten seconds to show hands are empty, whilst probably being superflous, is consistent with the character.
Is your character relaxed, calm and nonchalant- in which case ten seconds seems suspicious ' What is he up to?', which is counterproductive.
Character is a worthwhile thing to consider- and if I might make a small point, do not make him too different from the 'real' you. 80% of my audience already know me, albeit somewhat vaugley perhaps, but they will know that I am not a mysterious Deity- but a hyperactive, outspoken know it all/ Inredibly cool Jedi warrior - so my character therefore is a savantistic sage, which allows me to bring is a certain artificial mystique without conjealing with my genuine character. So use your ideosyncrasies to your advantage and bring them into your character so the contrast is not overbearing.

magicollie wrote:Thank you for your vcomment but what does I.M.H.O stand for?

In my honest opinion.

SamGurney wrote:

magicollie wrote:Thank you for your vcomment but what does I.M.H.O stand for?

In my honest opinion.

I thought "in my humble opinion", which is a more common phrase.

Robbie wrote:

SamGurney wrote:

magicollie wrote:Thank you for your vcomment but what does I.M.H.O stand for?

In my honest opinion.

I thought "in my humble opinion", which is a more common phrase.

Google says we are both right Only Dale knows..

I use the soap and water technique

I love hand washing techniques. When I see a magician start to prove himself/herself that way I know I'm going to get a good nap.

Dale is both, honest and humble, so I think both could apply.

I'm also hot.. but i couldn't think of any of the other words

Happy? High?

HW is almost as bad as:
Here I have an ordinary deck of cards--What else would they be?
A deck of cards --all different!!
This is an empty box.
Now I am going to insert your card into the deck. Then I shuffle the deck thoroughly till your card is lost from sight!
The rope is in two pieces!
etc. etc etc.

And DW-- that stands for Deck Washing--is one of my favourite Magic hates of all time: You know what happens:

Usually: A card is shuffled back into the deck and the magician proceeds to do split cuts, 3 handed cuts, one handed cuts, fancy shuffles.Everything in fact except the splits!
NOW he has lost the Magic; lost the sense of surprise & wonder he is supposed to create in an unholy exhibition of manipulative juggling. Even Dai Vernon condemned this.
In the spectator's mind: 'Oh he is cleverly manipulating the cards'.
And so they have an explanation in their heads as though they HAD SEEN A PUZZLE AND SOLVED IT!

Allen Tipton

I think hand wash techniques are bit old for today's techniques and ideas but still if you have new that anybody don't have then you can do this. If people like that then it can be your pattern also. So its depends on you that what should you do. At the end hand wash is the technique that is to hide everything from the hand.