talkmagic.co.uk

Michael Kras wrote:AS FOR YOU, Markdini... Laypeople do NOT know card palming even exists, so how do they know I am not just adjusting the deck?

Just the fact that you think that laypeople don't know that card palming exists proves that you have barely performed for ordinary spectators. It's not that hard to find out about magic, unfortunatey. A random guy (a "layperson" if you will) can buy a book all about palming cards. They guy selling it isn't going to ask for an ID make sure that the customer is a magician and its okay to sell him the book.
Also, stop taking these comments so seriously, you've got to learn to take the criticisms and leave the insults behind. That being said, I am going to write something I hope to never say again: Grow a pair, stop being such a whiny snob, and do what teenage magicians are supposed to do; practice magic without writing a book or speaking at a lecture every week!

*I'd like to apologize to the rest of the members of the forum for my comments and if I offended anybody, but I felt it needed to be said. If a mod would like to edit it, I see it as only reasonable.*

Thank you, Monker. The next video will be up shortly everyone!

Michael Kras

Here is the new video! I look forward to your advice!

Michael Kras

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3NigsphRgQ

Mike, I don't think you understood what was being said to you. People are saying you need to practice more on your card palms. That can't be done after a couple of hours. You need to spend a much longer time working on your sleight of hand for this effect. Since you didn't really improve at all, two thumbs down:
p(>_<)q

Also, I think you actually flashed the card palm: not good.

The palm doesn't need practice. My hands were not workable... too slippery for card palms. SO, the second time, I executed a proper Upjog Palm.

Mike,

I'll take a moment out of my busy schedule of watching Panorama reruns and scratching myself to give you straightforward, objective advice on your latest, erm... "effect." (That hint of sarcasm takes away the objectivity, doesn't it?)

Michael Kras wrote:The palm doesn't need practice. My hands were not workable... too slippery for card palms. SO, the second time, I executed a proper Upjog Palm.

1.) Your palm is indeed c*** (not the best) (I only use that word because I get a kick out of the way it's censored). Your claim that lay people don't know palming exists is indeed c*** (not the best). In my closeup routine, I do a Rub-A-Dub vanish and hold my empty hand stiff as a board (much like you do with your palm) and 100% of the time spectators assume it's in the hand. That's not an exaggeration--100%. Slippery hands, small hands... there's no excuse. There is a palm that will work for you, but you just need to practice and find it.

2.) The duct tape and showing the pocket empty is 100% unnecessary. There's no reason to call attention to what's going to happen; your spectators are only going to look where you're telling them, and that's right were the (crudely performed) sleight is about to take place. Going back to my closeup routine (which is pretty poor, by the way) and the Rub-A-Dub example, I use it to end my ambitious card, using the rub-a-dub and the cheesy fake palm for misdirection to blatantly load the card to my back pocket. They're first conditioned to expect to see the card on the table as I legitimately rub the card, say "and your card hasn't changed yet" as I return it to the deck, and THEN perform the move. 100% of the time, someone in my audience gasps because it's unexpected--they don't see it coming! Between the conditioning, the time misdirection, and the physical misdirection, I've got a decent effect. Pointing neon signs at your pocket my waving it like a flag and covering it in duct tape takes away from that "WHOA!" moment.

3.) The arrogance is indeed an issue. Your effects really aren't anything to be boasting about as you have been, and the spamming of your vids is quite annoying. . Just because you're 14 or whatever doesn't mean we should have 100% pity on you. Perhaps that's why you maintained an audience for two hours and sold a few copies of your "lecture" notes?

Now for some suggestions from Rob the Mediocre!

a.) Modesty. Learn some. Especially once you start dating--few people find an arrogant person attractive in any way.

b.) Work on your sleights before you work on your own effects! I've been interested in magic for 14 years, performing regularly for four, and I'm just now THINKING about creating my own effects.

d.) You are indeed making a name for yourself at the tender age of 14, but it's not a very good one at all. You're pushing yourself on us, trying to prove that you're this great magician who has been lecturing at all these clubs and such. Be honest with us and yourself about your abilities and experiences. Precious few young magicians make a name for themselves until they've been performing (get ready...) FOR LIVE AUDIENCES, REAL PEOPLE, AND REAL SITUATIONS for several years. Luke Jermay and Joshua Jay are shining examples of young magicians that have gotten where they are through hard work, dedication, and MODESTY. Did you notice the "modesty" bit under (a) in this section? Did you notice the lack of a (c)?

Hopefully this will open your eyes a bit, but I don't expect it to. In the meantime, I'm going back to my collection of disappointing Internet erotica and healthy supply of Heiniken lager. Please don't reply to me with one of your "thanks for your comments but I'm going to ignore them and keep doing what I've been doing anyway because I don't value your opinion in any way" stock responses.

Ciao,
Rob

P.S. If you can tell me how many times I used "100%" in this post WITHOUT LOOKING, you win a special prize!

Your improvement of the effect, with the duct tape - serves only to ruin the effect entirely. One thing which, I don't think has been said yet, is that you have completely missed the point of a card to pocket routine.

Card to pocket is a stunner because it's a surprise effect. It's a card to impossible location. Your version eliminates the "impossible". You make everyone keenly aware of where the card is going to end up. There's no surprise to it - there's no magical moment. How am I supposed to feel that magic has occured when the card has only managed to wind up exactly where you said it would go?

You can practice your sleights from now until the day you die - this effect will not amaze a single person. Yes, that's a bold claim, but someone has to make it. No one with even a moderate level of intelligence would be amazed by this effect. Why?

Because they know where the card is going! You told them - and 15 minutes later - that's where the card ended up. There's no magic here, just a bit of waiting until the card winds up exactly where you told us it was going to be.

To be brutally honest, by the time you brought out the duct tape, I'd have already walked away from you. There's no magic effect here. No sense of wonder. More than anything, this comes off as slightly patronizing. It's moved from a magical effect where the card vanishes and reappears (in a place no one would ever think of - if you perform it properly) to an exercise in "Look how good my sleight of hand is, you'll never see it go in the pocket". In the end, it's more like you're showing off, than performing.

I can think of a few ways to improve this effect, and actually make the use of the duct tape play well. Perhaps you need to think beyond just what you have here. A bit of forward thinking and this effect could actually go somewhere.

If you'd like to keep it as a "challenge" effect - daring your audiences to catch you out, check out Michael Paul's Challenge Card Under Drink. This is precisely the way an effect of this nature should be performed.

Just to add - and please understood that this is said with no malice - the patter needs work. It's pure expositional at the moment with way to many "okay"s.

There were too many fans and rifflings of the cards; it got repetitive and annoying after a bit.

You have picked up a few mannerisms from Sankey; I'd say drop them and be yourself.

Finally there is an idea in "The Award-Winning Magic of John Cornelius" which would make for a far more direct and fair handling, allowing you to work in subtleties to compensate for your palming (which should still be worked on anyway).

what concerns me is that you have penguin magic tuition vids on your favouries page!

OK, I tried to restrain myself, but, please take the following as help, not hindrance...

1. Michael, you remind me of myself when I was in my early teens... enthusiastic, excitable, dedicated. And nowhere near ready to perform to an audience.

2. Your palming still sucks. However, with misdirection (which a camera aimed at your entire upper body can't afford you), you may indeed be able to pull this effect off nicely to the layperson.

although

3. A layperson's first suspicion if they see a the contorted back of your bridging palming hand is that you've carried a card away. Especially as...

4. You SET THE PREMISE before the effect that it has something to do with your pocket. Advice: DO NOT show the empty pocket first. Most good magic depends on surprise, and if you get the card to your pocket before even MENTIONING that 'the pocket is empty', then there is practically no heat at all on your pocket.

which leads nicely onto...

5. Never, never, EVER break the first rule of palming, which is to do it under focus. Palming a card needs to be done as an aside. You bring the whole deck above waist level—ergo bringing attention to it—whilst palming. This puts all focus on the deck during the palm as there is nothing else going on. You know what I'd do? Naturally misdirect by handing the spectator the duct tape and asking THEM to tape up your pocket. Whilst they pick up the duct tape and tear a strip off. Here would be my performance....

a) Have a card selected, and signed
b) Have the card returned to the deck, and shuffled/controlled
c) Ask the spectator to take the duct tape
d) Simultaneously palm the card and place the remainder of the deck down
e) Gesture towards your pocket, load the card to the pocket
f) Ask the spectator to wrap duct tape over the opening
g) WITH EMPTY HANDS re-take the deck, rewrite history
h) End

The whole beauty of a card-to-anywhere effect is that the ending is unexpected. However, even with my notes above, by putting duct tape on the pocket, the surprise has gone... the mechanics are still 'clever', but not a surprise.

my friend i'll add just one thing as youv'e been disected fully already and i don't want to put you down any further but from a performance poin't you come across as overconfident but your actions show panic, you spend too much time looking at the deck, royal road says you need to be able to control the card without looking at the deck and palm off wile looking at the spectator not the deck, were you look they'll look.

Ace video it has imptroved 10 fold just by saying my name. But as everyone else has said your palm is bad and way to much deck gymanstics.

I've lost the will to live....I really have

Sorry - the performance vid just left me completely cold; really very poor, both in terms of the effect, handling and presentation

The ONLY redeeming feature was some of the flourishes....but these were really totally superfluous to the effect itself, and so did nothing the enhance anything....at all

Michael, whilst I applaud your enthusiasm, I'm afraid this type of vid only points to you being in the rank amateur league at the moment.

As with the way you post here (and at various other forums), you seem like you're trying to run before you can walk.

Forget lecturing, putting together manuscripts etc., and go BACK to the basics: Practice, practice, PRACTICE!! Don't perform - at all - until you've spent at least 100-200 hours on a routine, and know it (including the handling and presentation) inside-out.

Enthusiasm will get you so far....after that, you need skill, determination....and patience.

Based on the evidence, you still have a looong way to go yet, I'm afraid

... and furthermore, anyone who is encouraging you—i.e. parents, friends—are NOT as well versed in magic as any of the people who are trying to help you out here.

You came here for a purpose, and I think the purpose has been served.

We're all behind you, but it would appear there are years of practice ahead of you before you get out of Jay Sankey mode and appreciate some of the finer aspects of magic, such as performance, pace and structure.

You'll make it... in the end. But don't choke on your own enthusiasm... feed off it.