mark lewis wrote:I first came across it in one of the Vernon card books by Lewis Ganson. It was described as done at the very tips of the fingers but nowadays it seems to be done in a more natural manner.
Hi Mark.
The fingertip handling you mention is Vernons take on Elmsleys handling - Alex didn't do it at the fingertips, his handling was more akin to the natural handling you mention (ie into mechanics grip).
I believe Vernon first came up with the fngertip version specifically for using the count with jumbo cards. He then used it for his Twisting The Aces as he felt the fingertip handling looked fairer for this particular effect.
The problem with Vernons handling is that in most magicians hands it tends to look like a mixing of the cards rather than a count or display, and just looks confusing. This is not a problem inherant in the sleight - in most cases it is simply a poor understanding of what the move is supposed to be and the proper choreography (which hand to move and when).
It was mentioned in this thread that the sleight should be seen/thought of as a count - I disagree with this (kind of). There are two ways of using the move, as a count or as a display. While there are effects where the move is indeed used as an actual count in many effects the move is NOT used a count but a display (the affore mentioned Twisting The Aces comes to mind). In this effect the number of cards has nothing to do with it and is not in dispute. The move is used to DISPLAY the condition of the cards, one at a time.
The intention will also dictate the EXACT timing of the sleight. The timing when using it as a count should usually be an even tempo - but when using it as a display the timing can change depending on the particular purpose and context.
As an example, if we look again at Twisting The Aces, the purpose of the move is to display the cards to show one has turned face-up. In this case the tempo should be broken and a slight pause should be held when the face-up card is taken. Withought this pause the effect can seem confusing and rushed to the spectators.
Jim