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I've recently been booked to do a short performance based around the topic of past, present and future. This is to be a relatively short piece, not too long and is essentialy a close-up performance, a handful of people and me sitting around a table.

I've decided that the performance will consist of three effects, one for each section moulded into a short routine. I've got present and future covered however I'm still undecided on an effect for the subject of the past. Has anyone got any ideas for me to consider?

Again, a short tabled piece of close-up magic so something that will fit these criteria. My middle effect requires no set up in the sense that the first needs a method that will lock into the second so this isn't an issue.

the past..... from my point of view this screams out for an okitio box routine with old coins that each get replaced with even older chinese coins.

Isn't there an Out of this World type effect based around the story of The Titanic? The proper name of the effect escapes me.

VoodooMick wrote:Isn't there an Out of this World type effect based around the story of The Titanic? The proper name of the effect escapes me.

It's called "WhiteStar" I like it. With a couple of old props as markers, it can be quite eerie!

There's a Jack The Ripper version too that gets excellent reviews on here called (I think) From Hell.

If you're going down that road, I think Outlaw effects do an elite style effect set in an old London hotel...

Cairo cards by Docc Hilford covers all 3 in one

Talking of White Start, have you seen Jim's new one? The Fallen, looks very nice.

And from hell is very good and available from Lebanon circle.

There's quite a bit you could do, a coin routine with old coins, something using old photos (White Star is a nice routine but might not fit in with the rest of the effects you've got planned. Quite a few standard card tricks can easily be altered to work with old photos. Perhaps base something around a historical story...

I do a pseudo-NLP false memory thing with past, present and future.

The card they saw (and think they are holding in ther hand) should have he word 'present' on it; but it ends up as a blank card.

That is because the present does not exist. As soon as we try to define the present it becomes the past. so in theory there is no such thing as the present.

Peter Kane's 'Gypsy Curse' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYT8SIUHc5c uses large old fashioned style cards, some of the older versions came wrapped in an old yellowed envelope or parchment, I'm not sure if they still do.

The idea of 3 different effects, one for each, doesn't sit well with me... I think one (at least to the specs) effect which encompasses all three concepts would flow much nicer. "For my first trick.. the past" "And my next trick... the future" etc. (I'm sure you wouldn't say those actual words of course) seems formulaic. Admittedly, that may well suit your performance style, in which case, great.

A false memory idea is a nice one, as suggested by Discombobulator. A card is chosen at random... it's then forgotten (as the past moves into the present, memories fade), the card is then lost in the deck etc etc (any element from your ACR etc. or even a whole ACR), finally a prediction reveal (knowing the future) of the cards randomly selected.

Or something.

Vanderbelt wrote:The idea of 3 different effects, one for each, doesn't sit well with me...

I think it was Eugene Burger that said this, or something similar but it goes something like this:

"The Spectator only sees the show, not individual effects. Because of this, a strong ending cannot make up for a boring start and middle..."

Or something of that nature. Don't worry about the way in which I am going to be presenting my magic, I've had plenty of time to learn this, a task no magician is truly ever finished with.

Thank you for your ideas though, I have my short routine set now though to a point at which I am please with the way it flows.

Reverend Tristan wrote:Cairo cards by Docc Hilford covers all 3 in one

Talking of White Start, have you seen Jim's new one? The Fallen, looks very nice.

And from hell is very good and available from Lebanon circle.

Cairo Cards is not Docc Hilford but Loren Tindall...

Why not do a cool reading-based effect on past, present, and future?

DrTodd wrote:

Reverend Tristan wrote:Cairo cards by Docc Hilford covers all 3 in one

Talking of White Start, have you seen Jim's new one? The Fallen, looks very nice.

And from hell is very good and available from Lebanon circle.

Cairo Cards is not Docc Hilford but Loren Tindall...

Why not do a cool reading-based effect on past, present, and future?

Yeah my mistake there Todd, Cairo card is Loren's. I meant Cards of Cairo by Hilford

And that was the wrong trick anyway, I was thinking of Rasputin's Secret by Hilford which covers the past, present and future