talkmagic.co.uk

As you know, every November 24th 2009 is Bill Malone Appreciation Day. On this day we gather around the warm glow of the computer monitor and watch YouTube clips of the genius is action.

Three Card Monte:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qju5s9IEKow

Scarne's Aces:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC8vDC7DWrc

End of Story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaKMizC3fV4

And of course...

Sam the Bellhop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GErpOl3KG_w

BILL-MUH-LONE! BILL-MUH-LONE!

That's it - I've got to learn a story trick like Sam the Bellhop. Anyone know any good ones? My card skills are fairly limited but it would be pretty easy to restore the deck after a mortal cuts the deck (as long as they behave themselves), and I can do a decent enough fake overhand shuffle. Which, technically speaking, is all you need?

I guess you could just kind of make a story up and put the deck in order... but if anyone can recommend a specific book or whatever...

But what really makes it is Bill's awesome patter and comic timing. I can't claim to have that.

I think a story kind of trick like this would be perfect for table hopping at a social event where everyone is in a great mood and having fun.

There are a few knocking about, but the best way to go is to just adapt your own Ambitious Card and put a story to it, maybe chuck in an elmsley count which, if you don't know how to do it, would take you about half an hour's solid practice to learn it.

I don't like overhand controls for anything like that though, just my opinion, they seem a bit drawn out after you have done two or three of them. False cuts, riffle controls and culling are quicker.

Back on topic though, Bill Malone is a genius. When I saw his performance of the Invisible Palm technique on one of his youtube videos, I just had to go out and learn that trick, but I can't even nip his bootheels when it comes to presentation. The man is a master of patter and interacting with the audience.

Wayne Dobson did his version, Englishman in New York (nothing to do with Quentin Crisp) and that's in his WD40 book as well as one or two others. D'Trix is the name to Google for....

I'll check it out. Thanks, Mandrake.

The Devil's Tailor wrote:That's it - I've got to learn a story trick like Sam the Bellhop. Anyone know any good ones?

Mr Daniel Garcia did his own version, fairly NSFW, and greatly, he hands the deck out to be shuffled before he does it.
More a demonstration of sheer improvisational skills than trick, though.

It can be found on the usual video streaming service of choice if you wish to view it. (I decline from posting it, lest some impressionable child may view it and be corrupted by Mr Garcia)

Danny's version is certainly very funny. Not sure that it's all entirely magical... But some bits of it must surely involve real magic.