talkmagic.co.uk

londonletmedown wrote:I feel it's misleading and degrading to the spectator(s).

So when you ask them to put their card into the middle of the deck and then you do a diagonal insertion getting a break and then you pass the card to the top, that's NOT misleading at all

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, I'd always rather have a good trick that's ungimmicked than one that is. I do know a couple that ARE though and I splash them in from time to time for the wow effect. Sometimes they're either easier or more visual than would be otherwise.

fireshower wrote:

londonletmedown wrote:I feel it's misleading and degrading to the spectator(s).

So when you ask them to put their card into the middle of the deck and then you do a diagonal insertion getting a break and then you pass the card to the top, that's NOT misleading at all

Well, to be honest, this isn't an argument that needs to be had...again. But my point is that, in my opinion, the spectator wants to see the magician do something incredible and produce a great effect. Not see a gimmick perform something incredible. I just think that they want to see something incredible from you as a magician that they can not perform themselves, not see an effect that they could do also if they wanted to invest 30 bucks.

Of course, this is in reference to card magic or other close up performance. I have nothing against stage performance using as many gimmicks as possible to achieve a spectacular effect.

In all fairness, no layperson should ever know whether you're using sleight of hand or gimmicks.
If they can tell it's a gimmicked deck then you're doing something wrong. Badly wrong.
If you need to clean up after a gimmicked deck trick then learn a deck switch.

As for the layperson not wanted to see a gimmick perform a trick I'm afraid I can't even begin to understand that.

I'm going to be bold and brave here and say that 95% of the audience's reaction is based on the magicians performance. The rest belonging to the effect.
A gimmick doesn't perform, it's just another tool in the arsenal of decent performers who can make something either everyday, or gimmicked to the teeth magical.

I've seen two people perform Paul Harris' Cardian Angel.
One was performed well and entertained and baffled me. One was performed badly. yes it baffled me but no it didn't entertain me.

The method is just a means to an end. The end being the overall effect.
To say using a gimmick is cheating is to say that using a pass is cheating.

Unless you're using real honest to god I call on the power of the Earth magick, you're cheating either way.

Why not use a trick that blows a spectator away with a good presentation, gaffed or not?


[edit] As for being able to perform the trick themselves if they invested the money... a brainwave deck costs £6ish and is gimmicked to hell. However, no one has ever thought it might be, and my presentation will often blow people away. If anyone can pick up a brainwave deck and get reactions like that for the £6 and 5 minutes practice that it takes, then I will stand corrected. Although I somehow doubt that this will be the case anytime soon... [/edit]

londonletmedown wrote:

fireshower wrote:

londonletmedown wrote:I feel it's misleading and degrading to the spectator(s).

So when you ask them to put their card into the middle of the deck and then you do a diagonal insertion getting a break and then you pass the card to the top, that's NOT misleading at all

Well, to be honest, this isn't an argument that needs to be had...again. But my point is that, in my opinion, the spectator wants to see the magician do something incredible and produce a great effect.

Not see a gimmick perform something incredible

. I just think that they want to see something incredible from you as a magician that they can not perform themselves, not see an effect that they could do also if they wanted to invest 30 bucks.

Of course, this is in reference to card magic or other close up performance. I have nothing against stage performance using as many gimmicks as possible to achieve a spectacular effect

.

I have no idea how to quote on this site,but i cant really say anything to most of that remark. i think its pure genius....enough said....

To quote, you use [quote ] without the extra space, and then [/quote ] without tyhe extra space too....

Also, click on the top right of the post you want to quote where it says quote and that'll quote the lot for you. You can then just delete bits as and when needed.

And this may be owing to your lack of knowledge of quoting, but I'm afraid I didn't understand your post at all

rrtcm is ace u might also want to try the encyclopedia of card magic by jean hugard ace book and was an essentail purchase for me. tric ks u might want to try ur hand at r things like the ambitious card routine which is an excellent effect and with time and patience is a killer routine

If your looking for begginer card tricks, Scarne on Card Tricks is the way to go. But you will also want RRTCM because Scarne doesn't teach any sleights. The thing about Scarne's book is that it gives you a world of new ideas for new effects.