talkmagic.co.uk

Hey guys,

I've been playing with an idea for switching out card that's been sandwiched. Here's the the finished result:

http://www.magiciansnotebook.tumblr.com

What do you guys think of it? All constructive criticism will be taken on board. Please, as always no exposure.

Cheers,

Lloyd

Interesting idea, but the execution needs quite a bit of work. First you are telegraphing the move the minute your hand drops.

Second the actual move is awkward for lack of a better word. The audience may not know exactly what happened, but they are going to know something happened which is just as bad.

Think about slowing the move down. Watch the video again. at first you are talking, you are all relaxed, nothing funny going on. Then just as you are going to show them the card has switched you move at lightning speed. Kind of like you are moving fast to cover something that isn't quite kosher, which is exactly what you are doing.

Thought number two. Because of the nature of the move, I'm not sure you can really slow down, you do have the option of speeding everything else up. But I can tell you now, that will never work.

There is another option. Take the video off line and create an actual routine. Not just "look your card is sandwiched in between these cards, and now it's not" That is not a routine.

Try something along the lines of having a spectator choose a card, sign the card, have the card lost in the deck and boom suddenly it is on top. Make the conditions impossible by placing the chosen card between two other cards away from the deck. Boom with the flick of the wrist the chosen card is no longer between the two cards, but alas it is on the top of the deck which is in your other hand.

Timing is going to be everything. You have to create the routine so that when your hands do come together the audience thinks nothing of it. You have to create space between the point when your hands come together and the reveal.

Remember a sleight is a means to an end. A sleight on its own is useless and boring, (except perhaps to another magician).

Once you have a routine and the sleight has perspective then show us the video again. Then the real tale can be told.

All in all you are re-inventing the wheel, but thats not a bad thing as it gets your creative juices flowing. Your doing great, keep it going!

bmat wrote:Interesting idea, but the execution needs quite a bit of work. First you are telegraphing the move the minute your hand drops.

Second the actual move is awkward for lack of a better word. The audience may not know exactly what happened, but they are going to know something happened which is just as bad.

Think about slowing the move down. Watch the video again. at first you are talking, you are all relaxed, nothing funny going on. Then just as you are going to show them the card has switched you move at lightning speed. Kind of like you are moving fast to cover something that isn't quite kosher, which is exactly what you are doing.

Thought number two. Because of the nature of the move, I'm not sure you can really slow down, you do have the option of speeding everything else up. But I can tell you now, that will never work.

There is another option. Take the video off line and create an actual routine. Not just "look your card is sandwiched in between these cards, and now it's not" That is not a routine.

Try something along the lines of having a spectator choose a card, sign the card, have the card lost in the deck and boom suddenly it is on top. Make the conditions impossible by placing the chosen card between two other cards away from the deck. Boom with the flick of the wrist the chosen card is no longer between the two cards, but alas it is on the top of the deck which is in your other hand.

Timing is going to be everything. You have to create the routine so that when your hands do come together the audience thinks nothing of it. You have to create space between the point when your hands come together and the reveal.

Remember a sleight is a means to an end. A sleight on its own is useless and boring, (except perhaps to another magician).

Once you have a routine and the sleight has perspective then show us the video again. Then the real tale can be told.

All in all you are re-inventing the wheel, but thats not a bad thing as it gets your creative juices flowing. Your doing great, keep it going!

Cheers for the excellent reply.

I have a number of routines to use with this, but for the time being I only wanted critiquing on the actual move itself.

As for you points, your looking at this with a fresh pair of eyes and thats exactly what I needed. You're right about the timing and my overall change in voice.

The move can deffinatly be slowed down but, I kept it quick for camera because the camera can be re-wound.

I've taken your points on board, they are much appreciated! Now, to work on these issues. I'll update with a new video at a later date.

Cheers,

Lloyd

I like the idea of this.
Being honest I don't think it's performed well in the video; there's a lot of telegraphing and flashes. But I do like the idea.
I perform a lot of sandwich effects so I'll have a play about with this and see where I get with it.

Lloyd Barnes wrote:

bmat wrote:Interesting idea, but the execution needs quite a bit of work. First you are telegraphing the move the minute your hand drops.

Second the actual move is awkward for lack of a better word. The audience may not know exactly what happened, but they are going to know something happened which is just as bad.

Think about slowing the move down. Watch the video again. at first you are talking, you are all relaxed, nothing funny going on. Then just as you are going to show them the card has switched you move at lightning speed. Kind of like you are moving fast to cover something that isn't quite kosher, which is exactly what you are doing.

Thought number two. Because of the nature of the move, I'm not sure you can really slow down, you do have the option of speeding everything else up. But I can tell you now, that will never work.

There is another option. Take the video off line and create an actual routine. Not just "look your card is sandwiched in between these cards, and now it's not" That is not a routine.

Try something along the lines of having a spectator choose a card, sign the card, have the card lost in the deck and boom suddenly it is on top. Make the conditions impossible by placing the chosen card between two other cards away from the deck. Boom with the flick of the wrist the chosen card is no longer between the two cards, but alas it is on the top of the deck which is in your other hand.

Timing is going to be everything. You have to create the routine so that when your hands do come together the audience thinks nothing of it. You have to create space between the point when your hands come together and the reveal.

Remember a sleight is a means to an end. A sleight on its own is useless and boring, (except perhaps to another magician).

Once you have a routine and the sleight has perspective then show us the video again. Then the real tale can be told.

All in all you are re-inventing the wheel, but thats not a bad thing as it gets your creative juices flowing. Your doing great, keep it going!

Cheers for the excellent reply.

I have a number of routines to use with this, but for the time being I only wanted critiquing on the actual move itself.

As for you points, your looking at this with a fresh pair of eyes and thats exactly what I needed. You're right about the timing and my overall change in voice.

The move can deffinatly be slowed down but, I kept it quick for camera because the camera can be re-wound.

I've taken your points on board, they are much appreciated! Now, to work on these issues. I'll update with a new video at a later date.

Cheers,

Lloyd

I understand wanting a critique on the move itself. But that never really helps if you want to use the move in performance. Really the true test is when the move is imbedded in the routine as that in itself creates misdirection, timing and all the rest.

Nice idea!