talkmagic.co.uk

I've always approached things with the view, the clumsier (within reason!) you appear with a deck of cards, the stronger the effect on the audience. Just watch Lennart Green - technical mastery, but he doesn't make it look so. With this in mind, the way you handle the cards is nothing more than theory (for example: turning over the top card the same every time) - what's important is that the spectators have no reason to believe you're doing anything tricky at all (you can now get away with anything). I firmly believe that you will fail to connect with an audience on all levels if you're openly advertising your proficiency.

The thought that a magician can or will always spot a DL is rubbish. Often time we might deduce when a DL was used because we know what needs to be (or we think we do) done in order to create the effect. But that is not always the case.

If a DL is done well it is just about impossible to spot. The problem with a DL is that while easy to do, it is hard to do well. Many a magi don't seem to understand this concept and so most can be spotted by other magicians. In fact most can be spotted by most lay people. Even more lay people will know you did something funny because of the actions taken during the lift, but don't know exactly what it is. And for me that equals the same thing as being caught out.

While this sort of lift isnt really for me theres nothing wrong with it at all. It suits Blaines style and doesnt look out of place, im sure there are many others who could use it effectively.

The move actually has a similar psychology to the 'functional fixidness' principle. It aims to imply that the card is single by using an action with the card, that would seem to be impossible if there were more than one - in this case the way the card is pivoted, turned over then ''flexed''.
The drawback to this though is that it calls attention to both the turn over and the dou**e card.

There are no rights or wrongs when it comes to things like this, and what works for one may not work for another. It just boils down to personal preferance and opinion.

jim

Normal people do NOT (generally) pick up cards!!
Most people have never done so, or ever will.
So long as everything is congruent, and you do not suddenly do something differently, and you use redirection etc. so long as it works, and you perform well - just do it.
Bruce

Paul Wilson teaches this variation of the DL on his DL Workshop video

I don't think I ever use double lifts when I work. I will and do use moves that involve two cards being held, but they aren't used in the traditional way of a DL. I find it silly to turn over the top card on the deck to display the value, and then to turn it back over onto the deck before placing it on the table or whatever you're going to do with it. If you were to really put their selection face down on the table, you would pick it strait up and do it, not turn it, then do it. It just doesn't make sense to me. I would rather do something like pick up the single card, or have them take it and then hand it to me, then load a second card behind it while displaying it, then as you bring your hands, you swivle the two cards apart, with their selection going into your palm, and taking the odd back card with your other hand and placing it on the table. All in the same motion, you load the stolen selection on top of the deck as you pick the deck up. It seems like a much fairer way of doing things. Although a little tougher than a to learn than a DL so maybe it's not for some.

I use the above move in my card under the box routine, it works great with it, obviously it's not suited for every effect or situation, I only say this because I'm sure people out there will attempt to knock what I'm saying as down talking a DL to many is like slagging off their god. It works though, and in the real world while working.