talkmagic.co.uk

does any one know of a book/dvd for impromtu card effects. (no setups e.g. ACR)

There are many, Royal Road to Card Magic, Expert at the Card Table and Expert Card Technique, also before anyone else mentions it, Mark Wilsons Complete Course in Magic is a must have.

Expert Card Technique has ACR and all four books mentioned are available via Amazon for very little.

Chris Tennant

I second Chris Tennant's recommendations and add that if you want to go the self-working route then anything by Karl Fulves and Scarne Card Tricks by John Scarne are the way to go.

Karl Fulves books are certainly worth a look

Lady of Mystery wrote:Karl Fulves books are certainly worth a look

Indeed. More Self-Working Card Tricks by Karl Fulves. First trick. Gemini Twins. Great trick. Worth the price of the book, if you'll pardon the expression.

There's a series of 6 DVDs with Aldo Colombini that feature all impromptu card effects. I believe they're called (appropriately enough) "Impromptu Card Magic." These feature effects from other performers besides Aldo, including Karl Fulves, Peter Duffie, Paul Gordon, and bunch of others.

There's also a book by Paul Gordon called "The Unplanned Card Book." Most of what's in here is a bit skill-intensive so I'm still working with the contents before I will perform or comment on them.

what I should have asked is what are your favourite impromptu card effects?

I had the RRTCM as my first book and there isn't too much that iv taken from it I find it almost tacky. there are a couple of effects in it, Great book to set the wheel going an that. I have access to ECT and EATCT(not my own) so if there's something that stands out in either of these I would be pleased to know what you think. I'm not a big fan of self working tricks as, well there's nothing to do. just sit back and watch the reactions. I'm looking for things like dyslexia by J Armstrong which I love as a card effect as there's nothing added of taken away. just pure magic, or if any one knows another stage for this where you can show all five cards? even though your sorting cards at the beginning in this one your going to show them what's in your hands openly and honestly.

Marting wrote:I'm not a big fan of self working tricks as, well there's nothing to do. just sit back and watch the reactions.

Have you ever heard of the idea that the effect is important, not the method? The reactions are, for many performers, what it's all about. Only you know the method (ideally!), so it doesn't matter of the effect is self-working, uses gaffed cards or stooges* - as long as you entertain the audience. The aim is not to entertain yourself with clever sleights etc.

* Contentious one, I know, but if some of the greats past and present (Houdini, Derren Brown) use(d) confederates then I see no reason to disagree.

after 10 years I'm still waiting for some bu**er to offer me their pack of cards to use

I'm not a big fan of self working tricks as, well there's nothing to do. just sit back and watch the reactions.

eh?

This is only the case, if your a lazy performer.


but.. ok, lets take a look at some of the more well known self working tricks out there ..

Out of this world.( and the hundreds of variations there of)

Miraskill

the circus trick

Geminii twins

Many versions of oil and water.

Mcdonalds aces

the 21 card trick..

That'l do for starters.All of the clasic card effects listed above, can be considered self working, because they dont rely on comlicated sleight of hand, or secret moves.
Yet, all of the above, have at some time or another found themselves in the hands of some of the great cardmen of the last 150+ years.. why? Because the simple mechanics behind these effects allow the performer to perform. to present the effect in such a way, as to be pleasing to the eye, and entertaining to his audience.

never po-po the self working effect, based on technical skill.. because the real technical skill is in selling the effect to your audience.

I agree with Ted, but I would never start out with a "trick" deck.
I would start with a normal deck and switch in a gaff like sankey or do a deck switch.
There are many great effects you can do with a normal deck that pack a big punch.

Marting wrote:what I should have asked is what are your favourite impromptu card effects?

I had the RRTCM as my first book and there isn't too much that iv taken from it I find it almost tacky. there are a couple of effects in it, Great book to set the wheel going an that. I have access to ECT and EATCT(not my own) so if there's something that stands out in either of these I would be pleased to know what you think. I'm not a big fan of self working tricks as, well there's nothing to do. just sit back and watch the reactions. I'm looking for things like dyslexia by J Armstrong which I love as a card effect as there's nothing added of taken away. just pure magic, or if any one knows another stage for this where you can show all five cards? even though your sorting cards at the beginning in this one your going to show them what's in your hands openly and honestly.

I appreciate RRTCM may seem dated to you, but there is some seriously good stuff in there you could change and make your own. Take ' An Instinct For Cards ' for example. You get someone to stop at a card, look at it, then replace it in the deck which you riffle shuffle....twice......then with one ribbon spread you can know what their card is. It's up to you where you go from there, your imagination is your only stumbling block. With ' Ultra Card Divination ' you have an impromptu mental effect, that could be a stunner (to the layman, before the mentalists go up in arms) if presented properly.

As for self workers, sure there's nothing to do which leaves you with a lot more time to focus on presentation. I love it when the sleights are done and all that's left is the reveal. It means the work is over, but the magic is only just beginning.

I think you should go a little slower through RRTCM, and certainly books like Expert Card Technique should take you years to get through if you're planning on learning the whole thing properly. The tricks in ECT are secondary to the techniques, and i feel the same could be said of Erdnase. They provide the tools for your own effects, rather than spelling everything out.

If RRTCM was dated, why would dealers spend a fortune shooting the thing onto dvds?

daleshrimpton wrote:If RRTCM was dated, why would dealers spend a fortune shooting the thing onto dvds?

Precisely. RRTCM was the first magic book i bought, and it kept me going for a loooooong time.

Grimshaw wrote:

daleshrimpton wrote:If RRTCM was dated, why would dealers spend a fortune shooting the thing onto dvds?

Precisely. RRTCM was the first magic book i bought, and it kept me going for a loooooong time.

I think that Grimshaw means that the style of writing is dated. I know a few people who have been put off by the overly formal style. I guess DVDs help bring the information into the C20-C21st. I've owned the book for a long time but the DVD set by Wilson has been very helpful.