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My first post and already asking for help

I have loved card tricks since I was a kid and recently began take up again the joys of magic and illusion. The ID and svengali decks blow my friends away but I wanted to take it to the next level. I ordered "Showoff with cards" but I am really struggling with even the early demonstrations.

I have very small hands and wondered if this is holding me back or whether I have just gone in at too high a level. Any advice welcome...

when i started out i used bridge sized cards as they would fit neatly in my hand, try buying a deck of those and see if you can preform better

Be patient - stick with it - I only having mediocre card handling skills but all were hard earnt.

You'll value you the skills you develop (over time - you can't force or rush it) as they are so difficult to acquire.

Stick with the poker size deck if you can - it will pay off later

Pick out the bits from the video you think you have a chance at (there is some tough stuff on there) and keep going at them. You may have to break moves down in to smaller pieces and practice those. Look for the sticking points and work on those. You'll basically teach yourself - remember though your hands will take a lot longer to 'learn' than your mind so give them the time they need.

and the charlier cut is done with the index finger! not the middle!

and the charlier cut is done with the index finger! not the middle!

LOL: You muppet.

Now tell us about the swivel cut

Also the flipback is done with the thumb and the pinky, not the index finger and pinky.

Steve

If you dont already have it, Royal road to card magic would be a good book to get on card magic.

Just want to reinforce what was said above. Try buying smaller cards and try to work on effects that don't require special decks. Often they take more work but it can be more satisfying when performed.

I wouldnt ever work with smaller card. Learn what you can do and get great at that. Needing unusual cards makes people assume its a trick deck. There's plenty you can do with the smallest of hands. (You do have all your fingers don't you?) if not... sorry.

practice, practice and more practice.

The size of your hands really shouldn't matter too much, I've only got small hands but can handle a pack of poker sized cards easily enough. I actually find poker cards easier than bridge sized cards, smaller bridge cards can often be too fiddley for me.

Agreed 100% with the comments about sticking to the larger, poker-sized cards - if you ever want/need to use gaffs, you'll be quite limited if you're using bridge size.

Very Important point:

You say you're relatively new to card magic. Whether you have smallish hands, or not (unless they're ridiculously small ), you're going to be performing various moves which rely upon you working the tendons and muscles in your hands in a way that's totally different to what they've been used to.

So, to begin with, it's perfectly normal to struggle (at least for the first month or two), until you've 'trained' your mitts - not only with the actual mechanics of the move, but with building them up and flexing those tendons in new and interesting ways

Stick with it - don't be discouraged during this process; remember - little and often is the very best way to get where you want to be!

Welcome to the wonderful world of Card Magic

Rob

I agree with Lady of Mystery. I have small hands and when I first started learning magic I used Bridge sized decks but as I progress I realised it was harder to get hold of gaffed cards and deck and swapped to poker sized. Swapping held me back for a while and I had to adjust all I'd learnt to the new sized deck.
As advised above I would take things slow and learn mechanics grip, biddle grip, DL's, overhand and hindu shuffle controls, glide, ednase change etc. first giving you a good solid foundation for many good effect.

I would also recommend getting RRTCM and Oz Pearlmans Born To Perform DVD which is the best basics DVD I've come across IMHO.

R. Paul Wilson's On The Royal Road to Card Magic DVD set is helping me tremendously! I have small hands too, by the way, but I have already realized that I must learn to handle the poker deck-not the bridge deck. I like all the special cards and they aren't available, that I've found, in bridge size.
The DVD set goes through the RR step by step and Wilson shows how to do everything. It was a real eye opener for me. I never realized that fingers could do all of that! He is a fantastic teacher.
The book is great, but I had a hard time following it sometimes. Between the two I'm getting MUCH better.
Another thing I have bought is a manipulation deck. That is amazing. Very different from any regular deck. I bought this deck after watching Romaine's DVD on manipulation. It is a great teacher, but I saw the need for the special deck for manipulation. At least, for me.

First things first. Nearly all magicians these days use the standard poker sized Bicycle decks (blue or red backs). Use these always.

Secondly, learn the overhand shuffle control (retaining top stock) from the book called the "Royal Road to Card Magic". It is considered the Card magician's bible and does not contain painfully difficult sleights as explained in "Expert at the card table".

This overhand shuffle control is so versatile I can perform an entire routine with just this. The only bit of advice I can offer you with all sleights in card magic is to never look at the cards whilst doing the bits of "business".

Good luck !

shaneking wrote:First things first. Nearly all magicians these days use the standard poker sized Bicycle decks (blue or red backs). Use these always.

Secondly, learn the overhand shuffle control (retaining top stock) from the book called the "Royal Road to Card Magic". It is considered the Card magician's bible and does not contain painfully difficult sleights as explained in "Expert at the card table".

This overhand shuffle control is so versatile I can perform an entire routine with just this. The only bit of advice I can offer you with all sleights in card magic is to never look at the cards whilst doing the bits of "business".

Good luck !

I second that! Don't like repeating what has already been said, but that is so very true. RRTCM RRTCM RRTCM....