talkmagic.co.uk

This is a routine I came up with several weeks ago. So have a watch and tell me what you think. I'm not sure if I really like the trick that much, I've only performed it this one time. Also my patter makes me cringe, but hey you be the judge. Here you go:

http://media.putfile.com/Blank-Deck-Routine

http://youtube.com/watch?v=G9qbPZmcmSw

Me like I wish I had thought of the idea to use a blank fan to pass a deck off as blank like that...

Comments? Sure, a couple. Nothing much.

Pontoon?! Blackjack!

The patter was just a little hard to follow . Maybe try to plan it out a bit beforehand to make it seem a little more structured?...

I love the royal flush production at the end brilliant

Kati

That was really nice Mahoney.

Now, write yourself a proper script and elevate it to miracle status!

Wow, I dont know why you dont like that trick cause it's an amazing one!
Nice handling, color change, pass!
Small comment, just try to do your shapeshifter more calm, like if the card poped from nowhere.

Rly liked it!

looked good

Cheers guys. I only had a vauge idea of what I was going to say, so I wasn't that comfortable with the patter. But I'm glad you like the trick!

The beginning and end of the effect are very nicely handled - but I think the middle needs some work. Not in handling, but in presentation.

You begin the effect with a mistake, which is always a fun plot to go with. However, you then turn it into a blackjack routine. Personally, I don't see a tangible link between a blank deck routine and a blackjack routine. Perhaps with more time to run the idea through your head it can play. As you said yourself - you didn't know exactly what you were going to say as you performed. With some work, this plot can probably play.

With a bit of work, you can make the "mistake" play along a bit and ask if the spectator would like to play a game of Blankjack - where they use a blank deck of cards and merely think of the cards they want to be dealt. Since you gave her the A-K in the first place, I don't think it's a stretch to build patter along those lines - since nearly anyone would pick A-K in a blackjack hand (or A-J of course). Perhaps something to think about?

While I think you can probably make the blanks to blackjack routine work, I'm not sure how I feel about the royal flush production in the end.

Switching from a blackjack patter to a poker finish, for no reason other than satisfying the appearance of the royal flush, seems a bit anti-climactic in a way. It's an amazing production, don't get me wrong - but since it stands in such stark contrast to the blackjack patter you were working with before it, while strong - it feels slightly out of place.

Again, the handling was top notch. I can't make any comments on that. I just think the presentation needs work. Great job.

Thanks for the comments Demitri.

Yeah I was never happy with the switch to the poker bit for no reason. Idealy I wanted it to produce a K-Q for the spec, and a J-10 for me, then I'd ask if they want to stand or hit. Of course if they stand then I hit and produce the ace, and if they hit then I just produce the ace for them and they win. Unfortunately due to the workings of the trick and immediate unavailability of certain gimmicks, I had to go with what I had, so I went with the poker ending.

The idea behind going into the blackjack routine from the blank deck, was a sort of what a gambler could do if he had this 'special' deck. I didn't want to just show the deck blank then not blank. I wanted to 'play' with the blank cards as you might do, to make the change at the end more striking. But yeah I think I should put forward the idea of playing cards with the deck earlier on rather than an after thought.


Thanks for the advice.

How about starting with the blackjack patter, then pointing out that the deck is unfortunately blank. Nevertheless, you are going to ignore this minor stumbling block and play blackjack ANYWAY! Deal out the cards then point out the fact that it's rather easy to cheat with blackjack if you can't see the values - so make faces appear on the cards.

What do you think?

Kati

katrielalex wrote:How about starting with the blackjack patter, then pointing out that the deck is unfortunately blank. Nevertheless, you are going to ignore this minor stumbling block and play blackjack ANYWAY! Deal out the cards then point out the fact that it's rather easy to cheat with blackjack if you can't see the values - so make faces appear on the cards.

That's quite a good idea. It would work nicely.

Lovely trick anyways, and original too