talkmagic.co.uk

something called Chain Reaction, it's all about "choices"...

multiple envelopes, an add-a-number, 3 people involved, the numbers "they chose" set them on a course of more choices until they arrive at a final envelope, on display from the start - it's opened, it contains all the previous numbers/cards they saw/actions they took, as well as an esp symbol freely selected during it all...

it's my own "thing" - and it's self working after the initial bit of business...lasts about 7-10 minutes...

If i payed what ever the going rate is for a magician now days and got card trick after card trick I think i wouldnt be a happy coustomer.

Add a number? You do surprise me Abraxus old chap. I am not one for mathmatical effects.

I am in agreement with Peter here. Although us magicians love card magic, as it presents challenges and in the main requires skill, spectators like a bit of variety. Something that's samey, no matter how good it is, will all blur into one mass by the end of it all.
I like to vary effects and the handy thing about breaking up card effects by having something else inbetween makes for the easiest deck switching. I usually have the first card effect one that allows the spec to handle the cards, then when I bring out the Blue or Red Bikes again, it just assumed to be the very same deck they had in their hands.

Diversity is what the specs want. As for convulted addition routines, unless you are doing a purely mentalist routine, most specs don't want to have do any hard work themselves and prefer to watch or be involved in a way that doesn't require them to think too much. Something like this would be better near the middle of the act.

If it's magic rather than mentalism, a good chop cup routine is a nice one to finish on as it has a 'kicker' ending and if you invest in the World's Greatest Magic DVD on the chop cup you will see variations with double kickers. An ending effect which has a double kicker leaves their minds reeling, rather than trying to work it out. Chop cup is also fun and visual and always seems to get a round of applause.

I always end both my children's, and adults (friends and family) shows with Rocky Raccoon. The kids love to pat him, and the adults love him too. I'll be finishing adult shows with my Scorpion for the time being though

I agree, diversity is good and constant card tricks get tiresome. However, I disagree (or, don't quite follow) Peter's opening statement:

Peter Marucci wrote:Almost everyone here seems to end their performances with a card trick.
That would suggest that the whole act is cards. That worries me!!!!

Er, no! What if your opener was professor's nightmare, you then went on to do a coin routine and finished with ambitious card, with the closer being card to wallet/impossible location? There are no grounds on which to assume that because your closer is cards, your whole act is cards.

Edit: I went on a rant about Somerset Maugham and people who don't like magic there, but I think it was a bit misplaced!

Farlsborough wrote:I There are no grounds on which to assume that because your closer is cards, your whole act is cards.

Quite right, and if I didn't usually open with Blindsight, I'd close with it

And Mr Marucci I apologise if you found me acerbic, I was aiming for wit, however, I slightly objected to your comments about card users.

I agree with you that variety is the spice of life, and would tire of 30 minutes of constant card tricks, but then there are people whom I imagine would love it.

Farslborough,
You're right; I should't have assumed that, because an act ended with cards, it was all cards. I figure that the strongest trick would come at the end; an ACR with a card-tp-impossible-location finish is a solid closer.

BTW, Maugham didn't dislike magic; only card trick, that were forced on him (and who could blame him!)

And PartyPaul, I wouldn't want to meet people who could like 30 minutes of card tricks! Sorry I missed the wit; I guess that makes me "witless"!