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This is just a small tip which I have used myself for some time, but its come to my attention that a lot of people haven't thought of this.
It helps a lot with double/triple lifts, but has a whole host of other uses as well:
The key is, a shortened card- if you simply trim about a millimetre off the top of a card, and put it under the two cards you want to DL, they just come off the deck naturally as one card.

I know that its easy enough without, but Im sure some people can releate to the horrible sensation of a lift-gone-wrong :S

Also, Im quite aware that a lot of people use this shortened card trick to perform forces etc, and its also very useful for an load more things - however its the lifts that a lot of people dont seem to have thought of it for, and its improved the smoothness of my performances quite a bit.

How do you make sure it's exactly where it needs to be - whether helping a DL or force?

Yes...the problem with this tip is that the DL will have to be set up beforehand...you can't do, say, an ambitious card routine, and the spectator can't shuffle the deck. It works, but it's not really practical.

Kati

if you're doing a card switch say, and you have it positioned at the top of the deck, you can shuffle the deck making sure not to distrurb the top 3 or so cards then its good to go.

If you want the spectator to shuffle the cards thats fine too- simply cut the deck when you get them back- its easy to cut straight to the shortened card as you can find it with your thumb/finger. You can then have it right on the top where you want it, having had a random guy shuffle the deck

So all in all, I dissagree that it isnt practical

True, true. I take it back. Still, I think I'll stick with normal DLs

Yeah- it isn't for everyone, but having a short card in the deck can be fairly useful for other things too. I never leave without one

For me, I just have some “panic patter” on stand by for when a lift is not going as smooth as I like (or many other sleights as well.) Just something to buy me that split second to make sure I have the lift in hand.

Sometimes, if you distract them on the flip, you will need to employ some extra handling to really sell the fact that you are "holding only one card." Just stay calm and remember what you have practiced.

Of course if you haven’t practiced then you are sol.

What happens if someone hands you their pack of cards and asks you to perform similar tricks with their deck?

I think I will stick to using a normal DL or my version of it!

There are however a lot of uses for a shortened card in the deck unrelated to double lifts!

BTW, I have posted this before elsewhere, I use the dribble DL which I find is excellent, no get ready not push off and you just do it and it works like ..........magic!

Kat, have you got my DL off yet ?? And what do you think of it ??

Tenko wrote:Kat, have you got my DL off yet ?? And what do you think of it ??

What do you mean DL off

On another note, my favourite DL is a standard double turnover, but with a pushover get-ready: take off the top card, gesture with it, whorl flourish it, pushover the new top. I'm working on the dribble, but I still can't hold on to two cards with certainty...about 75% I'd say.

Kati

katrielalex wrote:I'm working on the dribble, but I still can't hold on to two cards with certainty...about 75% I'd say.

Hi Kati,

If I can offer any advice on the dribble then just ask!

Also this is maybe a bit of useless info....but when I am using it in my AC routine, and on the odd occasion that I miss, I bring that into the act by stating that dribbling doesn't always bring it to the top. I then state that sometimes it requires me to blow on the cards and then it rises.

This mostly gets an even better reaction! Jack

That's a nice idea!

I think that I'm ready to perform with the dribble, as I don't think it hurts the illusion doing it slowly - if anything, it just improves it!

Kati