talkmagic.co.uk

On the drive to work this morning I started wondering:

When, for example, a card has to change location in a deck (and you've already performed the necessary sleights and the effect is ready to go), is it better to just go ahead and simply show that things are not what the spec thinks they are, or should one do a special "move" like shake the cards, or blow on them, or whatever (just a few silly examples).

When I say "a card has to change location in a deck" I mean just about anything - any effect where the audience doesn't realize the "magic" has already happened. Another example is in an ambitious card routine.... you put the selected card in the middle (you know what I mean) of the deck... and then, before you reveal that it's on top, should one give the cards a shake? Or a wave? Or a ruffle? Or just show that it's now on top?

I hope I have made my question clear!

Thanks

Yes I think magical gestures or movements are important. Otherwise the magic isn't under your control, and it's just happening at unspecified times.
Also it detracts from when the magic/moves is really taking place.

Check out Darwin Ortiz's Designing Miracles for some excellent discussion on this subject (in short: yes, something which infers cause and effect is pretty much essential, with a few exceptions). Well worth reading.

for me, it ties in completely as "what you are"...if you are some kind of wizard hybrid like Kenton Knepper, then you can be as theatrical or as mystikal as you want to be...

i hate "give the cards a twist" though..personally speaking...

really like the whole intense concentration pose though

bit like that...though, if done in an over the top manner, can look like you're trying to fart...

I like to give a deck two magic taps and blow on it, seems to fit in nicely with me and the way I perform.

Paul Daniels asks the specs to give the cards two taps, one hot, one cold.....

There should ALWAYS be an action to account for the 'magic' that has happened..

I always click my fingers over the deck in a rather stylish way.. or for any 'mentalism'esque effects.. hold my hand steady and 'concentrate' for a second or two..

' Hey, whats with the special click of the fingers... where do you learn to click like that ?? ' That was rather amusing.. totally takes the heat of the cards..

I think a lot of people also don't take into account length when doing a "magic" move like tapping the cards or shaking them. I've seen people drag it out for much longer than it should be; but I think you can vary the length based on the trick you are performing. If it is a simple one trick effect, you can the "magic" go on for a little bit longer, but when doing something like an ACR, it's best to keep the "magic" short and sweet. The move that I generally stick with is holding the deck in my left hand in meachanic's grip, then, as I snap my right fingers, I give my left and a little jolt. I think this makes it look almost as if snapping my fingers commands the deck to move.

I tend to shy away from clicking my fingers, three's nothing wrong with it but it isn't really my style.

I just feel that people know that clicking your fingers doesn't 'do' anything. I'd rather tap the cards or give them a whirl, I know that specs don't believe that this is magic. But I like to put a bit more emphasis on these movements. It's also nice to sometimes let a spec tap the cards or let them do something to try and make them feel more involved.

Edit: Just as a wee side question- Do you ever get specs take the cards of you after an effect and do the same movements which you did on the cards. Then look at you and ask what they did wrong? That can be quite funny to watch, although I do my best not to laugh

Thanks for the replies...

I always do "something" too... but I was wondering if anyone thought that it was corny or even childish to do so... no one yet, so that's good.

Some tricks demand a move despite the fact that the move has already happened and it depends on the mis-direction needed. it's part of creating the overall effect so that next time you may need to repeat it, the specs are looking at the wrong time as well as in the wrong place.

It all depends on the trick. Sometime a simple pause beofre a turnover of a card is enough to astonish.