talkmagic.co.uk

Hi everyone! I was a part time magician for roughly 7 years--restaurants, banquets, private parties. The rest of my time was spent teaching literature...hence the Gatsby screen name. I've been away from the magic scene for 3 years, a combination of burnout and and a master's degree in lit. But now I'm back, and sooo much has changed. Still teaching full time, but beginning my side career again. The online community is astounding, first of all. This forum allows me to spend my money wisely; a big thank you to all. A restaurant worker doesn't want bulky props, drawn out effects, or awkward resets, and often it's hard to tell what you're getting when you order something. Anyway, I'm glad to be online, and I look forward to sharing ideas with both beginners and professionals alike! If there's any protocol I've missed, please let me know.

Pleased to see you here - welcome to TM!

woah 7 years...good stuff gatsby..i think some of the younger more inexperieinced magi like myself will appreciate your presence here, and you can even give us some advice then...not like theres anything wrong with mandrakes advice ...

Thanks for the welcome. Yeah, 7 years is a long time. I have plenty of dos and don'ts for anyone looking for restaurant and private party work. The hardest part of transforming a hobby into a job is burning out, though. But you'll ALWAYS come back. I just discovered that. I'm 31, living in Chicago, and my enthusiasm is rekindling like I'm 8 again

so what kind of tricks you own gatsby...and have any tips for close up magic

Well, when I started, I bought all the little gadgets and trinkets, props that didn't last long or effects that turned out to be tired after awhile. My favorite effects are cards, or course, but I tend to gravitate towards the knucklebusters. I feel really accomplished when I master sleights. Makes me feel "worthy," I suppose. Most of the card sleights I learned years a go I still use today--Zarrow shuffle, second deal, one handed top palm. Still can't do a pass very well, though. But most of my little gadgets are gone. My close up routine consisted of the chop cup, then a few card routines, mostly ambitious card and "gambling demonstrations." Then I'd end with either a sponge ball routine or a watch steal. I'd throw in the Scotch and Soda and color changing knives occasionally. I saw Carl Cloutier perform and lecture once. Boy, was I hooked then! Had the topit and sleeving videos and everything. That passed, too, though. How about you? What are your favorite type of effects?

im okay with the impromptu cards and stuff like sleights...working on snap change right now...but other than that the stuff that really blows me away is non card stuff...personally i feel that the layman would rather see a coin vanish or something of that sort like see the magician produce their watch when they thought it was on their hands rather than card stuff...but forget my rants...i have scotch and soda, a stripper deck and a gaffed deck named mental photography, a pair of d'lites, healed and sealed, and perfect PENetration...if your into the resaturant magic then defenitely pick up healed and sealed...it is very impressive stuff...and dont pass up on a penetration effect...get the stealth pen or something of that sort

Oh, yeah. And as far as tips, go,...learn sleights!!! Only have a few packet tricks in your repertoire. The less gadgets and the more effects with borrowed (or at least normal looking) objects, the better. A few packet tricks are good, though. Especially something like Twisted Sisters. Also, don't use patter that challenges or taunts the spectator. For example, for any monte routine, make yourself the sucker, not the spectator.

So those PENetrations are effective? It seems obvious to me that the magician's hand is hiding the gimmick. Maybe I'm just being too critical. You're right about the vanishes and transformations, though. I found kids go crazy for that stuff, while adults (even women) like to see a few "gambling" routines. Just call any card routine a gambling routine and adults are immediately intrigued.

the pen stuff is good though...thats what i used to think too but go ahead and give it a shot and just watch the look on their faces...and if you love card tricks then go ahead and pick up a stripper deck...its the best decision you'll ever make...the possiblilites are endless...and forget about pink breaks and card controls...with a stripper deck you will ALWAYS know where the card is...can be done with any card and even multiple cards....a stripper deck is amazing...get one and see for yourself

Gatsby,

Welcome to the forum feller

Zigzag,

Folk must be more forgiving where you are Everyone round my way knows what a stripper deck is, I wouldn't dream of using one. Must be the abundance of joke and magic shops (and market stalls )

I've also had people thrust a new and wrapped deck at me challenging me to do magic with it so I prefer to use a straight deck Hell, if you can get away with it, go for it and use the stripper

hehe sounds like youve been put in a harder position tenko...around here a stripper deck is very unrated and almost even unheard of..but also as you say that people trust a new deck...well theres always ways to get around it...how bout a deck in a completely sealed box but inside is a stripper deck..well all you have to do is purchase a stripper deck and then reseal the box with "seals"..now the deck appears compltetly new when infact the magi knows exactly whats inside...sure you can call it cheating but if theyre falling for it then its working isnt it ...as for the penetration effect...if your worried about gimmicks gatsby check out dough from penguin magic...tis a very good effect and can be done compltetly impromptu..im just learnin it now and am very impressed but then again im still young and anything can impress me ..but oddly enuff no one has caught on yet to the perfect PENetration gimmick...and all my magic is done with adults and not teens...and some of the most critical adults too but theyre never able to figure it out...they completely drop their notions about magnets and things like that when i give them the pen