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Somewhere on the Magic Cafe, which I can't use due to email problems, the Berglas Effect was brought up (recently, as it turns out). Someone mentioned something about it being sold by some other man to a great many people, but the man died before it was released. Apparently Steve Martin bought it.

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view ... =2&start=0

This struck me as shocking, as I had wondered a few nights ago if Steve Martin knew this, as he is a card magician, and is probably richer than most.

Anyhow, is this story true?

Does The Mind and Magic of David Berglas explain the effect?
Does it explain it completely?

Also, Kaufman was said to be putting out a books this year on Berglas card magic. Will it go over the topic?




I know this is something few of you may have knowledge of, but any info would be great!

I put this in the off topic because I'm not really looking for much help in performing, and didn't want to clog up that section of the forum any more.


Everyone's at the MC.



Thank you,


-Ben

Are you talking about Steve Martin the comedian/actor or some other Steve Martin.

JakeThePerformer wrote:
Does The Mind and Magic of David Berglas explain the effect?
Does it explain it completely?

-Ben

Well, I've was lucky enough to read a copy of The Mind and Magic of David Berglas a few years ago (it wasn't mine, mind!) and can remember that there was around 15 or 16 pages dedicated to the Berglas Effect.

It's probably fair to say that it does explain it completely. However, without giving anything away, there are numerous different methods at work everytime it's done - and that's not counting the times when the spec does something unexpected and Berglas needed to improvise his way, in order to arrive at the desired conclusion. I think Britland refers to it as 'playing jazz with the cards'.

It's a phenomenal effect and I'm not surprised that it's secret has remained intact for so long... it isn't just one secret. It's a whole series of secrets, some of which may not even need to be used for every performance!

Actually, thinking back - I feel I'd prefer to think of it as real magic


Sean

Klangster wrote: Do you want to cut down on beer or the kid's new gear?

It's a big decision in a...

I was talking about this with Richard on the weekend. In the new book he's written 17,000 words on the Berglas effect. I think it's safe to say that this will be the final work on the effect.

The book should be out by the end of the year.

Take care, Ian

I am delighted that it is going to be the final word on the effect. 17,000 wasted words. I really don't know what the big deal is. It is just a bloody card trick like any other card trick. I figured out years ago that it worked on the same principle as "The trick that cannot be explained". In other words you make it up as you go along. A recipe for a miracle if the wind is with you and the recipe for boring the hell out of people if it isn't.

I remember DAvid Berglas showing it to me and I just shrugged my shoulders. He was taken aback by this. However, the truth is that although it may be a good card trick there are thousands of good card trick. I don't know what is supposed to be so special about this one.

Again it is the magic for magicians mentality. Instead of fussing about a bloody card trick it might be a good idea for magicians to fuss about how to present the tricks they do know properly. It is very uncommon that I see anyone do this.

mark lewis wrote:I am delighted that it is going to be the final word on the effect. 17,000 wasted words. I really don't know what the big deal is. It is just a bloody card trick like any other card trick. I figured out years ago that it worked on the same principle as "The trick that cannot be explained". In other words you make it up as you go along. A recipe for a miracle if the wind is with you and the recipe for boring the hell out of people if it isn't.

I remember DAvid Berglas showing it to me and I just shrugged my shoulders. He was taken aback by this. However, the truth is that although it may be a good card trick there are thousands of good card trick. I don't know what is supposed to be so special about this one.

Again it is the magic for magicians mentality. Instead of fussing about a bloody card trick it might be a good idea for magicians to fuss about how to present the tricks they do know properly. It is very uncommon that I see anyone do this.

I do understand where Mark is comming from .


but before you jump down my throat....

I can say , as somebody who has seen it in action, that the magic isnt the trick, but the way in which David takes every situation, and turns them to his advantage.It's a thing of beauty, as was the vernon trick that cant be explained.
Indeed i have been known to just make it up on the spot, many times myself.. and i can vouch for this method, because 100% of the time, you get really strong responses.

I think i know why too..
It's because the performer is almost as surprised at the result , as the viewer.


and there by hangs the reason why this has become legend...
Chinese whispers.... It gets better and better every time the story is retold.
Where as, one a.c.r routine, is the same as every other . the card jumps to the top.

I agree 100% with Mark (and Dale) - I don't think there will ever be a 'definitive' explanation of the method because there can't be! It would need to take the form of a complicated flow diagram (If the spec does this, then you do this... if the spec does that, then you do this, etc).

It is just a card trick but the performance is what makes it so very special. For that reason, there's absolutely no point in learning the method(s) involved purely for just wanting to know them. Firstly, you're likely to be very put off by them(!!) and secondly, unless you're going to invest considerable time and effort into really making the effect work for you, it will just be a waste of time.

I'm not a card worker at all (I probably know 8-10 routines well enough to perform in public!), so maybe I'm biased. But I approach it the same way as I approach ACR - after seeing Tommy Wonder perform it, I never wanted to perform it again (and I haven't!). It's just something that is so perfect that it would be pointless for me to try and replicate it because I wouldn't be able to.

It's called The Berglas Effect for a reason!


Sean

Randy wrote:Are you talking about Steve Martin the comedian/actor or some other Steve Martin.

Steve Martin the comedian/actor is a card magician.

Klangster1971 wrote:
It's probably fair to say that it does explain it completely. However, without giving anything away, there are numerous different methods at work everytime it's done - and that's not counting the times when the spec does something unexpected and Berglas needed to improvise his way, in order to arrive at the desired conclusion.
It's a phenomenal effect and I'm not surprised that it's secret has remained intact for so long... it isn't just one secret. It's a whole series of secrets, some of which may not even need to be used for every performance!



Sean

Yes, I have come to understand he uses many different methods. In the interview I posted on here, he discusses this quite a bit.

I suspected he had backups for if something went wrong.

Mark and Dale, I understand what you're saying. It definitely relies on all of the thinking into it and getting confused. Berglas also talks about the role that all the hype analyzing has in effects such as this.

I've often considered purchasing the book whenever I see it from a trustworthy seller on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Mind-and-Magic- ... _549wt_681

It is quite an investment, but it would be interesting to see his history and all of the insights he has on performing.

-Ben

I used to do the "trick that cannot be explained" for many years but in the end I got completely fed up with the uncertainty of it. I worked out a procedure which never deviates and it gets twice the response of the original. All this making things up as you go along is an extremely daft idea which works some of the time and becomes an exercise in tedium the rest of the time.

If I cared that much I would also improve this Berglas thing so that you do the same thing every time. But I don't so I won't.

Take a wild guess who posted this at Genii a few months ago...

I can actually do David's cigarette trick. In my opinion it is his greatest trick. Far better than that silly card and number thing that magicians rave about for some unknown reason. It is just another card trick after all.

Now Mark, I understand what you're saying. To the average laymen, you're probably thinking this seems the same as any other card trick. But everyone must see the difference in how impossible it seems. Besides, I fear laymen know far too much these days.

As for its presentation, I think this is what makes the effect even better.
The routine is great because it allows for a great suspense while counting to the card, and the climax could not disappoint.

IanKendall wrote:I was talking about this with Richard on the weekend. In the new book he's written 17,000 words on the Berglas effect. I think it's safe to say that this will be the final work on the effect.

The book should be out by the end of the year.

I had seen it was to be coming out this year. It sounds like he will be going into it in depth. I will be watching carefully for the release of the book. I have no doubt it will be very limited.

If Richard lets you know anymore, please tell.


Thank you,


-Ben

It explains the effect to an extent in the book, but you have to read between the lines.

It's one of the least important things in the book though.