talkmagic.co.uk

Let me show you how I combine the two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6LVuIY947I

For me, it wasn't all that magical. I think the concept might have some potential, but it's way too drawn out. While it has some bearing on the actual revelation, the youtube segment takes too long. Also - you go from divining the color to immediately knowing the identity of the card. There's a disconnect here, and one that ruins the flow you're trying to create.

From a technical standpoint, your actions don't sync up with the computer. Your hand gestures aren't timed correctly, and it doesn't look like you're controlling the computer, but rather making motions too quickly, acting ahead of a pre-recorded sequence.

There may be something to this, but I would venture beyond a simple card divination for this kind of effect. Given the premise, this particular effect would struggle to maintain the level of interest from your spectators. Ditching the computer and just running this as a straight card divination with some presentational dressing would be a far superior demonstration. I say keep tinkering with this idea, but make the effect something more.

The Camera I just bought didnt record any sound. It kind of ruined my presentation. I narrated over the video. The sound was off. If I was able to record sound you would have been able to hear typing and the music from the video which enhances the illusion.

This illusion is not limited to a card revelation everything is up to my imagination.

Tube by Jason Messina also plays perfect with this method. You can also draw out predictions with MS Paint.

My performance isnt what I wanted to put on film because I had to be holding a camera.

Here is the original Idea I worked on in 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGDkgSGUv3g

Ive been desperate to capture it on film without a screen capture device.

Im happy enough to even capture the idea on film.

Hope yall like it

I don't understand what the point is. Is the idea using a computer to reveal a card, or is the idea pretending to be able to control computers with your mind?

Excuse me for being blunt, but what you're essentially doing is showing someone an animation/recording/macro of a computer doing something, and pretending you're in control, and I'm afraid that's exactly what it looks like.

I'm sorry to say I fail to see any magic in this...

Long before the PC idea caught on, we had FAX and Telex machines, over which systems I'd managed to project a card or word, etc. I used this many times on clients during a conversation in which, for an example, a card reveal when seemingly wrong only for them to get an URGENT FAX revealing exactly the card in question, sent to them via my Spirit Guide or whatever.

In experimenting and actually using such elements off and on over the years I've found them to be "neat" and/or "cool" in the mind of magic buffs but not so much the average layperson. Every time I've presented this sort of demonstration the comment is "Cute Trick" or something similar. It might get a chuckle and it could get you a job, but it is not anything ground breaking.

Currently there are a myriad of effects being developed specifically for use of an iPod, Cell Phone, etc. and yet material introduced just two or three years ago is already obsolete and quite literally, dead in that it cannot be adapted to the newer technologies. This is a continual threat when it comes to technologically dependent magic such as your card trick. It is something we must always bear in mind when we invest long hours playing around with such a concept and whether or not you will see a pay-off just a couple of years down the road or if you will hear snickers from the audience because you are using out-dated equipment?

As with all magic, you have to figure out what your goal is and what you want to audience to experience or associate with.

I hate to break it to you, but few of us are able to pull off our own best made plans without help; we always need feedback and we MUST take most of it to heart. That's how we learn and eventually begin creating magic that has quality to it.

Think about it all, you'll figure it out.

Thanks for the insight. How would you all perform this trick and make it more interesting.

I wouldn't use this effect to be honest. But an idea would be to (still using animation and recordings) somehow at the snap of a finger, there card to appear on screen. Then from the screen, you create the illusion of pulling the card out of the screen and be left with the card in your hand and nothing on the screen.

But I do agree that it looks like exactly what you are doing.

That's pretty much the best way I could think of using a computer for a magic trick. Basically, stuff appears and disappears on computer screens all the time- it's not all that incredible to see. I wouldn't waste your time on an effect that is *less* magical than it's non-computer based equivalent.