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hi there i know like alloooot of tricks and routines... and do mostly walkaround without tables.... but i recently get stuck when someone asks for more tricks...

because of the tricks i like the most usually need a table..... and maybe its because i start with a pretty neat transposition in their hands... that i think whhhhhah compared TO the other trick i did this is lamee... and thats mwahhh not really that good etc

how do i fix this ?

what are your 5 favorite CARD ROUTINES no big setup/gimmicks please
and what are your 5 favorite ROutines coins bills etc... no gimmicks

One of the most important questions you can ask yourself when deciding which effects to learn is - "Does that fit my usual performing environment?".

When I started out in magic I spent a lot of time practising and developing tricks that involved being sat at a table. On becoming professional I realised that I never performed in that situation - I was always standing up, often mostly surrounded and rarely had anything to put my cards down on. So, I developed new material.

I now have two sets, one designed to be done standing in a group, one designed to be done stood next to a table. They grow and they change, and I do occasionally work on tricks to be done sat at a table, but I always keep my performing environment in mind.

Miniolo wrote:but i recently get stuck when someone asks for more tricks...

"No" is a perfectly acceptable answer to that

There's such a thing as doing too much for someone

kolm wrote:

Miniolo wrote:but i recently get stuck when someone asks for more tricks...

"No" is a perfectly acceptable answer to that

There's such a thing as doing too much for someone

Always leave 'em wanting more!

No is indeed an answer;)n hahhaa

ehmm yeah i practice my new routines in the pub but when i get hired sometimes its walkaround without tables something with tables and sometimes im seated

indeed more sets:D will doo thanks

Only magicians care about what goes on under the hood. A simple bottom-of-deck-glanced keycard can leave your audience weeping if you present it well. Don't worry about how you do the trick, worry about what the audience sees.

One effect I like to do is to have them pick a card, then I cut so the keycard's on top (oh how boring!), then I say something like 'so we know your card is somewhere in the middle, but I don't know exactly where, what I'd like you to do is take the deck, find your card and hand me back your card with a few of the other cards either side, don't make it the middle card, just maybe three cards from one side and 6 from the other or something'. I like to keep the instructions precise enough that they do what I want, but vague enough that it seems like I'm making it up as I go along ("just, I don't know, a couple of cards from one side, couple of card from the other, and I'll see if I can pick your card out among them").

I keep a close eye to make sure they don't mess the order up (if they do, just do another trick with the cards they selected, you can explain that they picked a card, cut the deck and that chose which cards we'll use for this trick). Then I lay the packet of cards out face up (you can lay them out in any order so long as you pay attention to the keycard and remember which is theirs), take their hand, gaze mystically into their eyes and hover their hand over each of the cards.

Of course by this point you know which card is theirs, but it's the theatre of it all that makes it magical. If they seem to be enjoying it, stretch it out further - eliminate one card at a time with appropriate patter ("You relaxed a little as I moved this way, so I don't think you card is here, let's pass over these end three one more time. Yes I think I can safely get rid of this one") until theirs is the only card left.

Or if you just want a short trick, as them to extend their hand palm down, take their hand by the wrist, concentrate and then pass their hand over the cards once, and on the way back over the cards slam it (gently) down onto their chosen card.

It's nothing revolutionary, but it can have a powerful effect on spectators if you play it right - remember that they don't know how ridiculously simple the trick is. You can even use the same method twice in the same performance, with a completely different reveal, so long as you put effort into the performance, they'll never know it's the same trick. In fact it can even work in your favour; it's often said that your sleights should look exactly the same as your normal moves. So if all your pick-a-cards start the same way (free choice then cut) then there's nothing unusual about them, and so they're less suspicious - perfect!

Of course, performing for magicians would be entirely different.

user24's exactly right - when spectators are staring at your hands, when you're trying to control a card or two or you're simply trying to remember the routine's steps because you know it's going to be 'killer' if you get it right, there's a lot to be said for keeping it simple.

Spectator's don't see you glimpse a card. They just don't. When you do it, you're probably not even 'doing the trick' yet. If that's the only 'sleight' you need to use, and it's over before you've even started, then the rest of the routine will be a relaxing and enjoyable one for you and your spectators.

@user 24

i know i have the same with a friend i perform with ... he thinks to hard.. but the magic happends in the mind of the spectator not in the mind of the magician ... so u can do all fancy moves and hard sleights... but if u can achieve the same effect (IN THEIR EYES) why not do it the easy way....


BTW i use almost the same trick ....

i start with a classic force works 9/10 times (if it doesnt work i get the card with a peak of keycard)

then i spreak the deck face up on table... and use FAKE MUSCLE reading with hovering there hand over the cards...

i tell them there are 3 ways to know which card they have...

1 : PULSE

when she gets close to here card here pulse will automaticly go a beat faster

(with this i eliminate half of the deck)

2 : EYES

i pick up the cards and i divide them in 2 fans.. i notice what she does if she stares at the packet with her card in it i say (aha look ure eyes follow ure card) if she looks at the other one first i say (ahhh u are trying to fool me) just make some s*** up and they will believe it

(with this i come to an estimate of 3 cards)

3: SPEAK

I have 2 endings

1: i let them name out al the 3 cards and tell them i can hear a difference

2: i ask them questions and they can lie if they want... then i ask them is this your card (show carD) do this with al the cards and eliminate them until THE FINAL CARD

@zack

yes indeed when the sleights are over you can focus on the best part of the trick The presentation

I have a my card routine and then 1 or 2 improv magic tricks if they do ask for more.

Maybe carry an ID?