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I was just wondering how many people invent their own sleights, that they think nobody else uses? How do you know that someone else hasn't gotten there first? I wanted to get an opinion as it seems like almost every way of manipulating cards must have been covered at some point.
I am terribly naive about what is possible, but I am practicing a sleight at the moment that I haven't learnt from anyone else and I really hope it is unique. Well to be fair I have two variations of simple sleight that I think make it more impressive, particularly to other magicians. I think the odds are tiny, but I still feel a bit smug that it came from my own head even if it was in somebody else's first.

Thanks

J

I certainly know I invented a number of moves for the stripper deck, but that deck is still obscure enough to not have all its possibilities explored.

The best thing you can do is to get in touch with people who are experienced with cards, show them your sleight and ask if they've seen it anywhere before.

Lady of Mystery wrote:The best thing you can do is to get in touch with people who are experienced with cards, show them your sleight and ask if they've seen it anywhere before.

I hope that is what I am doing on here, but I will need to practice a bit more (so I don't hurt my pride) and maybe send a video to a like minded chap(ess) on this forum. Give me a few days to a week to muster the courage and it shall be so.

If it's any encourgement, Jerry Andrus didn't study the available knowledge on card magic in his days, and ended up inventing a wide range of moves that floored laymen and magicians alike.

It doesn't really matter if someone invented it before you. If you came up with it, then it still feels personal to you, and it fits your handling. I have sleights which probably have been invented, but I do them slightly differently to suit me.

sleightlycrazy wrote:If it's any encourgement, Jerry Andrus didn't study the available knowledge on card magic in his days, and ended up inventing a wide range of moves that floored laymen and magicians alike.

Jerry Andrus is my hero. I am glad I was able to meet him several times. I love his line about the pass. "why would I move 26 cards, or 52 cards when all I have to move is one"

Almost every move was original, at the very least they were original to him because like you pointed out. He never learned moves from others. Of course the man was a a genius in every sense.

I've invented tricks and sleights that I believed to be original, only to discover someone got there first. In some cases over 40 years ago. Its kind of gutting, but its also kind of cool, especially if the originator is someone you admire. Just think of it as you being on the same level as them.

Grimshaw wrote:I've invented tricks and sleights that I believed to be original, only to discover someone got there first. In some cases over 40 years ago. Its kind of gutting, but its also kind of cool, especially if the originator is someone you admire. Just think of it as you being on the same level as them.

That is how I will try and think about it too. I will see what I can come up with, as so far I have just adapted other sleights to my own liking but hopefully something trully original will surface in good time.

sleightlycrazy wrote:If it's any encourgement, Jerry Andrus didn't study the available knowledge on card magic in his days, and ended up inventing a wide range of moves that floored laymen and magicians alike.

I hadn't heard of him! I really don't know why, I started watching his routine yesterday and he is great, a very likeable and clever chap indeed. I will try and watch the rest of it today, here is the link for what I was watching if anyone is interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_xpO3vzVIY which is a 50 min clip from the magical castle. Amazing how it barely has over 600 views, why is he so little-known?

Weasel wrote:Amazing how it barely has over 600 views, why is he so little-known?

I wouldn't judge someone's fame by the views of a YouTube video

Ive come up with a few of my own moves, and many variations on published sleights. I didnt set out to do this to come up with something new though. When working on an effect I visualise in my head the way i want it to look. I then try to duplicate this with as little compromise as i can. If a secret move is required i will research as much as possible the sleights and/or subtleties that will accomplish this move. Sometimes there will be nothing that accomplishes it as i require it (according to the visual exersise) so i will have to invent something myself, or sometimes alter a known sleight.


Weasel, if you would like someone to look at your ideas and give you feedback id be happy to help. I am familiar with a fair amount of published sleights.


JIm

Weasel wrote:

sleightlycrazy wrote:If it's any encourgement, Jerry Andrus didn't study the available knowledge on card magic in his days, and ended up inventing a wide range of moves that floored laymen and magicians alike.

I hadn't heard of him! I really don't know why, I started watching his routine yesterday and he is great, a very likeable and clever chap indeed. I will try and watch the rest of it today, here is the link for what I was watching if anyone is interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_xpO3vzVIY" target="_blank which is a 50 min clip from the magical castle. Amazing how it barely has over 600 views, why is he so little-known?

He was a well known magician, and a better known scientist. Also I wouldn't worry about creating slights just for creating slights, unless you just like to do that sort of thing. But you will go alot further if you come up with 'original routines' and original ways to get them accomplished. Do that and you are well on your way. Who the heck really needs yet another way to accomlish a DL? Especially when most can't even get the most basic one correct.

bmat wrote:

Weasel wrote:

sleightlycrazy wrote:If it's any encourgement, Jerry Andrus didn't study the available knowledge on card magic in his days, and ended up inventing a wide range of moves that floored laymen and magicians alike.

I hadn't heard of him! I really don't know why, I started watching his routine yesterday and he is great, a very likeable and clever chap indeed. I will try and watch the rest of it today, here is the link for what I was watching if anyone is interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_xpO3vzVIY" target="_blank" target="_blank which is a 50 min clip from the magical castle. Amazing how it barely has over 600 views, why is he so little-known?

He was a well known magician, and a better known scientist. Also I wouldn't worry about creating slights just for creating slights, unless you just like to do that sort of thing. But you will go alot further if you come up with 'original routines' and original ways to get them accomplished. Do that and you are well on your way. Who the heck really needs yet another way to accomlish a DL? Especially when most can't even get the most basic one correct.

It turns out the sleight is just a modification of a well-known one, but I use it in both the original and slightly different way to get a different effect. But oh well, I am still happy. But yes you are absolutely right, I haven't been trying to copy anyone's routine or patter and I hope the end result will put me on the right tracks to a 'theme'...I just need to find a way of upping the suspense on the reveal without asking rubbish questions.