talkmagic.co.uk

The DL is such an amazing technique to harness and so much is accomplishable with it. I had a question regarding the DL and some roughing fluid. If a very small amount was applied to each card in a fresh Bicycle deck, would this make the effect even that much more powerful and simpler?

The reason I'm wondering is when I'm performing tricks that involve the DL, sometimes my close friends (who want to try to figure out what and how I'm doing something before I even show them) will ask to actually handle the shown card instead of casually showing them.

Now if roughing fluid were applied, instead of giving in and handing the spectator the "card" right smack in the middle of the routine, I can casually grip the "card" and handle it with two fingers, wave it around, place it in my hand, act like I accidentally dropped it and pick it right back up, rotate it in my hand, etc.. whatever it takes to prove to them it's just a normal "card".

What do you all think? (And Moderators, hope I didn't give too much away, as I'm new here and still undergoing the learning process. Please forgive me.)

It's a terrible idea and on a practical level it won't work either.

My advice would be:
Don't over-use the DL.
Learn to manage spectators.
Don't bother trying to hide a DL from people who know what one is.
Practice your DL until everyone else wouldn't suspect that you were performing one.
Keep your roughing fluid away from perfectly good decks (or, don't try and fix problems with technique and spectator management by using bodgy gimmick fixes).

(or, don't try and fix problems with technique and spectator management by using bodgy gimmick fixes).

I can deal with my spectators, this idea just randomly popped into my head and thought it'd be a neat "out-of-the-box" idea to give it a shot. Thought I'd grab some insight.

I might have to test it myself on some cards and see just how unpractical it really is.

They only way to get two cards to stick together like you want is to have the back of one and the face of the other roughed. Unless you're going to dab a bit of fluid on them on-the-fly(!) you're going to have to rough the back and face of every card in the deck to prevent a pair from splitting in this way. So do that. Now try shuffling them. Or spreading them. Or doing anything with them. I hope you didn't just ruin a hideously over-priced and pointless Ellusionist deck because those cards are going in the bin.

If your specs want to grab a card every time you turn a double over then you're not managing them. If you can manage them then you are trying to solve a problem you don't have.

If you can manage them then you are trying to solve a problem you don't have.

Not really a problem, but an additive to an old routine. No harm in trying new things and inventing new techniques.

Now try shuffling them.

Now if I rough each card in the deck (a normal and inexpensive Bicycle deck), I can over hand shuffle, cut, etc... and make everything appear normal.

Or spreading them.

When spreading, I can utilize a hard fan so that each card will be separated. A person will ask to see the card before asking to see the entire deck, because the trick only involves a single card.

Unless you're going to dab a bit of fluid on them on-the-fly(!)

I also thought of this and this is probably the single-handedly best thing to do with what I'm speaking of. Have the fluid ready in pocket or what-have-you, dab some on thumb, transfer to the back of selected card. Everything will accomplish its purpose and better yet, cleanly. Like I've said, I'd like to experiment a little to see where this takes me.

mafiosoromano wrote:

Unless you're going to dab a bit of fluid on them on-the-fly(!)

I also thought of this and this is probably the single-handedly best thing to do with what I'm speaking of. Have the fluid ready in pocket or what-have-you, dab some on thumb, transfer to the back of selected card. Everything will accomplish its purpose and better yet, cleanly. Like I've said, I'd like to experiment a little to see where this takes me.

I don't think you're thinking this through but if you're determined to try it then go for it. But since you asked people what they thought I think it's one of the most over-complicated, contrived, and impractical solutions to a non-existant problem I've ever heard.
Maybe that's just me though. If I see this being marketed on the Ellusionist website as Romano's Ultimate DL Ghost Deck I wouldn't be too surprised these days.

If you really think this is a good idea I would save your roughing fluid and read Mysterious Stranger by Blaine for inspiration. I'm thinking of a specific effect he describes (not in the context of a DL because you don't really need to do this for a DL but it will probably achieve what you want to achieve without the use of roughing fluid if you think think that you can add something to the back of the face card of a DL-ed pair without anyone noticing).

I think it's one of the most over-complicated, contrived, and impractical solutions to a non-existant problem I've ever heard.

I could have sworn I made it clear after my first post, that it's not really a problem I'm having, but it could be. I'm thinking of this as more of an unpractical, new way to improve an existing trick. I don't find it very complicated at all.. and hey, this is the art of deception and illusion, who said complexity would never be a component?

If I see this being marketed on the Ellusionist website as Romano's Ultimate DL Ghost Deck I wouldn't be too surprised these days.

LOL me either!

I would save your roughing fluid and read Mysterious Stranger by Blaine for inspiration.

Cool, will do. But I still may experiment on just a few cards to see what comes of it.

The DL is a skill. As such, it is something you acquire via perseverance.

As far as it can be traced back, nobody has ever really come up with a credible shortcut or improvement, as its beauty and simplicity are its best assets.

What you suggest is both impractical and unnecessary. Not to mention the fact that putting your efforts into learning the correct and age-old method of the DL will mean you can perform without having your gaffed deck around.

As Charles says, please—do experiment. But if it ain't bust, don't fix it!

This is the most horrific idea i have heard in a long time. Really not needed and will not add anything to the routine. Just IMHO

I had recently posted a thread that i too was struggling with my d/l and since recieving the feedback have found that it is now comming along (big thanks to the mog ), not perfect but getting there, but what i tried as well was using a thick card to start with and also found it quite helpful, as either the 3rd card down so the 2 cards for the d/l are above it or use the thick card at the top so i could get used to the thickness off 2 cards, im not saying it will work for you but it helped me a bit??????

i too was struggling with my d/l

In no way am I struggling with the DL. This was just an idea (apparently bad) that had jumped into my mind and thought I'd post here to gain some insight. Got that insight. I have no roughing fluid of my own to experiment with, so I'll just go with the general flow here and won't resist that is indeed a bad idea.

This is the most horrific idea i have heard in a long time.

Great choice of words.

Tell me, is this how you encourage and build confidence into the young and aspiring minds of upcoming magicians?

Anyway, when Kennedy fist mentioned of a manned-mission to the moon, people thought he was crazy, "just talking", and basically laughed in his face.

I may not be as experienced as you, but there are better ways of going about telling a fellow poster that the idea is simply not good. That's all it was, was an idea, I never entitled this post "Groundbreaking new DL method!!" No reason to cut me down for having an active mind and thinking of new things, how do you suppose any illusion in magic was created in the frist place??

But let bygones be bygones, your point is well taken.

no offense meant at all, just a light-hearted comment. Thank goodness Mark Lewis did not post then

hey there. the DL is a really effective trick the beauty of it is that it's so simple. i've seen lots of good ways of doing it and lots of bad ways. an effective DL shouldn't leave the deck it should be floated around in the air or shown at arms length it should stay firmly on the deck where u have total control over it and it means that if any specs want to grab it u can execute a simple move that will make them think it is normal there are lots of different ways to execute a DL i'd explore them i would forget about the idea of roughing fluid for this trick it isn't required although i applaud u for thinking outside the box.

any questions PM me