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Okay so the other day at my gfriends i got the usual calls for 'show us a trick' After a few i had the deck arranged in Nikola (by virtue of a trick) i did a couple of standards then thought id try something new, so i got the spec to select 5 cards face down from the deck, then did a bit of spiel and proceeded to use contact mind reading to determine their card, then slapped down another card below these face down, and got the spec to turn them both over at the same time, this is definetley one of the strongest reactions ive ever had. Was justr wondering what people think of work such as this that combines effects, or what people think of the sound of the trick, any ideas etc, cheers

If you combine effects carefully, you can get something great. However, adding on to effects tends to complicate them. What you need to try and get is that perfect balance that gets an amazing reaction without losing the audience. Then again, it's often the case when you should let tricks be and not try to make something better. It's the whole too many cooks sort of thing.

Take a look at this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifrTi72eO6Y which can also be found on this posting http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic18135.php&highlight=coin+matrix by Mikey.666.

Yes, it is just the coin matrix, however the way the magician adds a bit more business to the routine by having the four aces jump from the pack is, I think, wonderful.

He turns a good trick into a great routine and I think the key to this is his careful choice of what to combine. A card selection of that sort fits naturally with the coin matrix - it doesn't affect or complicate the core trick at all, but it adds that extra bit of entertainment that makes it all the more impressive.

Combining tricks is well worth it, but select your stuff carefully to make sure that it is entertaining and doesn't complicate the trick or confuse and confound your audience.

Here's an idea for combining effects.

Do a standard coin matrix using the four kings. At the end you have all the cards face down in the middle as you hand the coins out for examination and then explain that the routine was done by using magic cards as you turn them over shwoing them all to be aces.

People won't know whether they just saw a card trick or a coin trick or what! Drive 'em batty it will!

Caligari wrote:Take a look at this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifrTi72eO6Y...

That is quite possibly the best coin matrix routine I have ever seen. Sleight of hand to that standard is quite incredible to watch. I also like to produce the four aces when doing my matrix routine, although I have nowhere near the skill levels of the guy in that video.

I usually try and combine two or three effects together to create a little routine as it makes more sense than simply presenting several completely unrelated effects in a row. Otherwise it can appear clumsy and not flow together as well. I don't think it's too difficult to string together a couple of tricks; just go through your collection and some effects will jump out at you as they will sit very naturally together; a classic example is that four ace production leading into a coin matrix. I see it as telling a story with your props; instead of just pulling four cards from the deck, why not produce them in some magical way? Invest some time in putting together a routine - which doesn't have to include lots of tricks - and it will make you a better performer and more interesting and entertaining to watch.

Hmm - some effects are powerful enough to be left alone - like the Matrix. I'm all for putting in little subtle 'effects' that enhance what I'm doing - like having a lightbulb explode while concentrating on a bending a spoon or having candles light automatically - without you drawing attention to it - as if that kind of thing happens all the time.

taneous wrote:Hmm - some effects are powerful enough to be left alone

I agree absolutely, and actually I think that this guy does just that. His Matrix, though very well handled indeed, is purely and simply that trick. The picking of the aces is just icing on the cake that complicates the Matrix in no way at all.

taneous wrote:I'm all for putting in little subtle 'effects' that enhance what I'm doing - like having a lightbulb explode while concentrating on a bending a spoon or having candles light automatically - without you drawing attention to it - as if that kind of thing happens all the time.

Again, totally agree, but the desired effect is different. Rather than the amused and excited surprise that your Matrix guy might want to create, your, shall we say, 'stray psychic phenomena' are a great way of exploiting your audience's suspense. I can see them, eyes locked on the spoon, becoming quieter and quieter, when all of a sudden - bang! Leaves them even more rattled and full of questions along the lines of, "He's not really a proper psychic ... is he?"