Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

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Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Severussnape » Oct 20th, '13, 21:11



Hi I'm trying to expand my repertoire with a few self working tricks. I generally really don't like self workers that require a lot of pre preparing the deck or rigging it somehow. I also don't like ones with a lot of counting. My favourite self worker is Gemini twins.
After experimenting with it can be a great trick. I've heard some pros use it even. It's visual and seems baffling and is impromptu. With good patter it can really stun audience, with wrong patter it can be worked out though as once that did happen. But it's my favourite self worker. Second one I like is out of this world which despite the pre ordering of the deck is still great. Any others that people can point me towards?

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby JustCraig » Oct 20th, '13, 21:44

There are hundreds of self workers out there - If you’re looking for recourses, try any of Karl Fulves “Self Working” books, The BBM Self working Card Tricks DVDs also contain some pretty strong effects. Shuffleboard is a good effect.

That said OOTW and GT are two pretty strong effects though. Two I perform regularly and two of my favourites and pretty difficult to beat.

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Severussnape » Oct 21st, '13, 15:00

Do you know if the resources you mention avoid long counting patterns and lots of pre preparing? Like I say I love the spontaneity of the Gemini trick as it can be done with any set of cards. The odd thing is I've totally baffled adults with it but once my 6 year old niece worked it out. It taught me a lot because I guess when showing the trick to her I didn't make the effort and patter I would have done with an adult. So I learnt a lot there about performing a trick.

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby bmat » Oct 21st, '13, 17:17

Severussnape wrote:Hi I'm trying to expand my repertoire with a few self working tricks. I generally really don't like self workers that require a lot of pre preparing the deck or rigging it somehow. I also don't like ones with a lot of counting. My favourite self worker is Gemini twins.
After experimenting with it can be a great trick. I've heard some pros use it even. It's visual and seems baffling and is impromptu. With good patter it can really stun audience, with wrong patter it can be worked out though as once that did happen. But it's my favourite self worker. Second one I like is out of this world which despite the pre ordering of the deck is still great. Any others that people can point me towards?



All effects are powerful, all effects are also garbage. What it comes down to is the performance of the magician. Rather than look for method. Look for effects you like. Look for effects that make you pause and wonder. Learn them and you will be better for it.

And just because a 'Pro' uses something or doesn't use something doesn't make it good or bad. The only standard that matters is does it work for you.

To answer your question in a manner you would like, try

The ID
Mental photo/nudist deck

As for non gimmicked self working tricks there are numerous dvd's that explain self working effects. Find a magic dealer and see what they have. Do the effects meet your very narrow specifications? Some will, some won't. Are they any good? That all depends on your presentation.

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Severussnape » Oct 21st, '13, 21:33

Hi thanks for reply, the id and nudist deck appear to be bought effects with special deck or device. The reason I liked Gemini twins and out of this world are because they are relatively spontaneous and with Gemini twins can be totally impromptu.
Many thanks

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Ted » Oct 22nd, '13, 11:25

Do you have Royal Road to Card Magic? There's a really nice self-worker called Do and I Do in there.
T.

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Mr Grumpy » Sep 28th, '14, 09:40

bmat wrote:
Severussnape wrote:
To answer your question in a manner you would like, try

The ID
Mental photo/nudist deck


Who's effect is The ID? I'm trying to find it but searching for "The ID" and the word 'magic' on Google doesn't seem to find it...

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Boris » Sep 28th, '14, 12:04

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Mr Grumpy » Sep 28th, '14, 12:18

Oh, I thought it was something else. I've never seen an ID referred to as 'The ID' before! Thanks for the clarification. I have an ID, don't use it much, not sure why...

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Happy Madison » Sep 29th, '14, 10:54

There are loads of fantastic self workers out there but I have to agree with what has already been said about presentation. Even if the effect is amazingly structured and the sleights are tremendously clever, without good patter and presentation it will fall.

That said, however, you may want to take a look at Harry Lorayne's Best Of DVD series. On disk 2 there is Harry's Out of this Universe which I think is a really strong effect. I have been performing this for years and it always, always, always astonishes. I get into into by using Harry's 'The Great Divide' separation technique after asking layman for their favorite four of a kind. I then perform Twisting the Aces, but with the Layman's chosen 4. By the time this is over Layman has totally forgotten about the deck so when you launch into Out of this Universe it's as if you are picking up a fairly shuffled deck.

There's also Duck and Deal which, again, is a very strong effect. The only sleight in the whole effect is palming which is right at the start.

Take a look at the Ultimate Self Workers DVD's. Some really, really good pieces of magic.

Hope that helps.

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Mr Grumpy » Sep 29th, '14, 17:19

I'll take a look, thank you. It's all cards on the DVD presumably. Well, I'll look it up now...

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby magicofthemind » Sep 30th, '14, 09:27

In Amateur Magican's Handbook, Henry Hay strongly recommends a classic called "The Whispering Queen". You'll also find it in Hugard's Encyclopedia of Card Tricks, which is the textbook for non-sleight effects. That book has a whole chapter on "Do As I Do", but it's hard to beat the basic original.

Barry

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Magiclancs60 » Oct 2nd, '14, 20:34

One of my best self workers is Gary Jones Thought wave one of the first tricks I bought 4 years ago,the Phil deck fools layman every time and just as strong is a new trick I have just reviewed on here called Casino Con by Steve Gore what I have learnt is that you need to stick to the type of magic that suits yourself and practice your presentation,unless you are a pro and have more skill.Another strong SWorker is Its A Match cannot remember by who,I am at work at the moment.

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby Mr Grumpy » Oct 4th, '14, 09:20

Last night I performed Casino Con followed by Ring on a String for a bloke I met in a pub, and he then told me organises dinner events for football teams and needs a magician... I highly recommend it.

It's a Match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK3qByQTlBI
Looks good though it plays out pretty much the same as the first phase of Casino Con, plus I wouldn't want to carry twenty odd matchboxes around, so I'll give that one a miss, but it does look good.

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Re: Powerful self working tricks like Gemini twins???

Postby JAQK » Oct 4th, '14, 21:50

I suggest three piles from Royal Road, Search and Destroy of Aron Fisher is really nice, Upside Down di Scarne.

bu i really suggest you to watch the dvds 1 Deck 14 Tricks 24 Hours of Matt Dowden, he performs some old classics (like poker's player picnic or princess card trick) with a new spin. very interesting!

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