talkmagic.co.uk

No lie, I'm fishing for ideas.

I was also wondering if you start a routine with a bang, slow it down for story telling and then close with the niggest bang or do you start off good and build up from there?

For cards I close with an effect of my own creation, called Yours, Mine and Nobody's. I'm actually quite proud of it.

A generally accepted opinion is that your routine should have peaks and valleys. Too much hard hitting and it can get confusing and overwhelming (especially if your powerful effects are complex). Too many "middle of the road" without big hitters, and your audience will lose interest.

For me, I like to start with some effects that are easier to do, but still get strong reactions. This helps me to get over my jitters (which I get every single time), but still builds interest in what I'm doing. Then I move through some other effects, some hard hitting, some a bit more laid back and casual. Then finish strong.

You also need to pay attention to routining. Just stringing a bunch of tricks together, no matter how good they are - will not entertain. If there's no point behind it, or some kind of theme to presentation - then it gets boring and/or confusing.

So, while deciding, think of effects that have a logical progression - or which lend themselves to others.

Quick examples - 4 ace routines are perfect examples of this. You can range from productions of the aces to vanishes, to sandwich effects, triumph style, finishing with either a color changing deck or NFW-esque effect, or a McDonald's Aces routine.

As for linking - you could do a few card effects, then perhaps introduce coins for a matrix style effect - then use that as a bridge to other coin routines. It makes a logical progression from cards to coins, rather than just a card trick/a coin trick/etc.

Hope that helps.

I close with my own book test, Cogito Ergo Sum. I use a candle in the middle of the table and do the effect standing in the middle of the audience while I reveal a full page of information. It wraps up all the subjects I have been addressing thoughout my show and gives the audience something to ponder on the way home.

I like to start with a colour changing deck then finish with one as well. Kinda finish by saying that I wanted to change the deck to its original state.

I also like to have ID as a back up or get out clause if things aren't going great. Obviously tricks should be perfected in practise but its great to know I have a back up at the ready. More for my own confidence than anything else.

In a flash by Jay sankey great effect great closer

It depends but one of the following:

Spooked
In A Flash
fork bending (good to leave them with a pressie)


But currently I have Interlace on order and am thinking of doing a Ring Leader routine with the interlace ending as a closer.

i always start with the ID, with a flash-paper production OF the ID, for a finish, McDonalds Aces, and always leaves them with a 'how...' factor expression.

....i see alot of people using in a flash... EVERY time iv done it, at lease one person says, 'was that supposed to happen?' and there always seems to be genuine concern for the well-being of my cards.... i dont get it!

I like to use "Further than that" in the back of CCM. The only problem is I need to switch my deck so I can have the trick prepared.

Thanks for the replies, they were all informative.

I like the idea of ending with In A Flash.

I also like the idea of tying the closing in with the opening. IAF would not do this. Coloring Changing Deck would.

I'm afraid that if I put IAF in the middle that it would over shadow the rest of the routine.

Decisions, decisions.

If I could just pipe up for another second . . . The trick that I posted, Further Than That, in CCM is specifically designed for closing a routine or show. You could do all sorts of card routines and end them all with FTT.

monker59 wrote:If I could just pipe up for another second . . . The trick that I posted, Further Than That, in CCM is specifically designed for closing a routine or show. You could do all sorts of card routines and end them all with FTT.

Oh yeah, I'm still open for suggestions.

What section is FTT under? I can't seem to find it.

Edit:

Just went through some posts before mine and realized you're doing a close-up act so the below will be of no help to you. Sorry .

For children's shows on stage (considering the fact that's the only thing I've been able to do lately...).

My opener is my Fantasio appearing cane and my closer is my Square/Circle Illusion from which, as a final "load" I pull out about 80 or so mini candies and throw them into the audience.

I also use the PB&J Illusion as a gag effect, and also do a cut and restored rope routine using a change bag but I have an audience member come up to wave a wand over the bag and I give them a breakaway wand 2 - 3 times depending on the audience reaction.

If you want the full routine PM me and I'll go into detail as the public forum isn't the best place to do so...Mandrake might make me dissapear

And if you decide to use my closer, remember to have spare candies in your trunk for after the show as some kids get greedy and keep more than one, leaving others sad and candiless walking up to you and begging for candy...which is not a fun lesson to learn the hard way when working with the really young ones...

Hope that gives you some ideas,
~Magically Dave

.robb. wrote:What section is FTT under? I can't seem to find it.

It's on page 487. It's not listed specifically in the back of the book so it's a little bit hard to find

monker59 wrote:

.robb. wrote:What section is FTT under? I can't seem to find it.

It's on page 487. It's not listed specifically in the back of the book so it's a little bit hard to find

Well... when you said CCM I thought you meant (Mark Wilson's) Complete Course in Magic. My copy only goes up to page 472. What book were you referring to?