talkmagic.co.uk

[Edited by mog as it reveals a major part of the working of this effect]

It could be that your cards need further attention - obviously can't say too much in the open forum but will PM you.

Sounds like a poor deck to me.

I had the EXACT same problem with mine. And the problem was...

ME!!!!!

I could not for the life of me get the deck to 'work' as such, and even sent an email to emagictricks to tell them I had a duff pack

They never replied, so I just put them down and left them for a while. When I finally came round to picking them up again, I think about three months later, I re-read the instructions and the deck just seems to fall from one hand to the other without revealing the secret.

I had been far too rough with them, and holding so tight that each card would show itself, if you know what I mean.

The only tip I can really give is to apply the pressure through the whole pack - and not on the individual cards as they move. Only when you've done it right will that really make any sense. Which is no help at all, really.

At least I tried...

Have you tried using slight pressure on the cards whilst spreading? Maybe this will help without revealing more.

It's a nack. But not a very difficult one to aquire.

Just vary the amount of pressure you use - remember this job is all about practise.

If you can't sit for an hour and work out how to handle a prop like this, maybe you have the wrong hobby.

BTW - don't buy an ID, make your own.

The *[edited by mods]* is 3M Spray mount.

Always make your own props when possible - it opens up all sorts of creative possiblities.

Maybe your deck could be symbols which you have printed on a chart, the spectator picks one and what do you know - all of the symbols in the deck are printed in black except the one the spectator chose, which is in red.
Combine this with your favourite billet peek so the spectator doesn't even name his design until after you have revealed it useing the deck and et viola! - you have a miracle! (just off the top of my head).

Play with stuff - it's fun!

Doug

Doug...

I don't think you meant '3M spraymount' did you?

I sincerely hope not... that stuff sticks like the proverbial 'poo to a blanket'...

I'd agree that *experienced* magi who know how this is done can build their own—I don't think I've bought a 'prepared deck of this type' in ages.

However—new magicians unfamiliar are advised to go buy one and figure it out. Agreed—a home-made deck is far superior, so long as you remember the old adage 'less is more'.

Quite right I didn't - I mean "Photo fixative" - I used to work in advertising where it is erronously refered to as "spray mount" 'cos that's what it's used for.

I still think that the sooner new magicians can make to leap from "buy trick - perform trick" to "buy trick - learn principle - think - produce own (and often better) effect - perform effect" the better.

Doug

Yeah, I remember those old days before we all turned to DTP... Cowgum, waxers, letraset

But spraymount's always been spraymount It's basically like airbourne glue, which is as tacky as an orange tan on an air stewardess.

You've raised an interesting point as to how much of my 'artworky/graphic' equipment comes in handy for magic:

• SwannMorton scalpels - the dog's wotnots
• Cutting mat - oak table saver
• Spray-on potions - matt, gloss, de-gloss (very relevant )
• Glues of all descriptions - mounts, tacks, re-positionals
• Pens/markers/colours
• Labels, envelopes
• Pro-level design software
• Decent, fast printers
• Punches, cutters and guillotines
• ^ Oh, and the skill to use the above

I take all this for granted, cos I've been using all that stuff for about 20 or more years. But I imagine that without all this around me, I'd find myself being far less creative?!?!?!

So—does having the right tools and know how make you a more creative person? What I mean is, because of our individual skills and knowledge, are we better at different areas of magic?

Do our jobs and our backgrounds assist in our creativity?

Hmmmmm............

I remember those old days before we all turned to DTP... Cowgum

I still have most of a huge tube of Cowgum which gets used probably every 2 years when we do our trade shows - wouldn't be without it!

Seige wrote:because of our individual skills and knowledge, are we better at different areas of magic?

You might have an interesting point worth discussion there.

As I have said many times before, I find it very hard to come up with a new idea for an effect, but once I have the idea putting the mechanics of it together I find quite easy. Is this because my background as a scientist means that I predominantly use my brain for analysis and problem solving based on a set of data rather than imaginatively?

nickj wrote:As I have said many times before, I find it very hard to come up with a new idea for an effect, but once I have the idea putting the mechanics of it together I find quite easy. Is this because my background as a scientist means that I predominantly use my brain for analysis and problem solving based on a set of data rather than imaginatively?

Funny, I experience the exact opposite; I find it relatively easy to formulate a good effect but once I've got that it takes me a little while to find a workable method, usually through hours of trial and error. My "background" so to speak is far more arts based because I studied alot of history, music and social sciences as opposed to the hardcore sciences.

Incidentally it's interesting to note that when I do get an idea for an effect I always get a feeling as to whether it will be possible or not and that feeling usually turns out to be right. I try to trust that feeling but I always seem to be tempted to ignore it when I feel it won't work and try anyway. I don't think I've ever created a workable effect when I've had that "negative" feeling. I don't know if its just a self fulfilling prophecy or sub-conscious awareness but its a bit weird. Does any body else get this?

seige wrote:You've raised an interesting point as to how much of my 'artworky/graphic' equipment comes in handy for magic:

I genuinely have spent more money for my act in Rymans than in any magic shop over the last three years.

Doug

Do our jobs and our backgrounds assist in our creativity?

Id say not... i would say creativity something you either have or havent got BUT an analytical mind can dissect an effect or offer alternative methods WITHOUT being creative enough to come up with the original idea..... for example.... Seige is by far one of the most creative people i know (simple fact.. no brownnosing) BUT id guess he was always that way before he started his career right? where as i could NEVER come up with as many original ideas BUT i can (mostly) work out certain methods or alternative ways to do things but this ISNT influenced by my career.. in my work i very rarely have to "work things out" i just do what the drawing/worklist tells me to do

or for another example... our very own YankeeTom..(whos AWESOME creativity can be seen on his website HERE, now id guess he was also a very creative youngster

i would then go as far as to say we choose our career on the strengths of our character

I gotta agree with Mog on this one.