talkmagic.co.uk

Some time ago I have watched a video by Aldo Colombini performing and explaining a card trick called Trost and Us. Some of you may be familiar with it, some of you may not.

Anyway, when I have watched the performance and explanation I felt that the trick had some weak points and after making several changes I have come up with a new version that I hope you will like as well.

PS: Please let me know if this card trick was also updated in other publications and if it's better than my version.

Thank You

http://www.docdroid.net/1c0e/trost-and-us.pdf.html

Check out Woody Aragon's version. The best there is, in my humble opinion.

I second Lenoirs post.
Woody Aragon's version is fantastic, i first learnt it from his book, but if you get a chance to watch his dvd set, his performance is incredible, he uses the human scale as his finale, and his presentation takes it from a potentially boring effect about a magician estimating the number of cards in a packet, to a funny miracle strong enough for his encore...
really worth a look.


I don't know the Aldo/ Trost method you are referring to so i can't really compare the two, but your method is very simple, and i agree that you have eliminated the points you consider to be weak points. Simple is good, it would be difficult for you to mess up the effect as all you do is count.

Have you ever asked a spectator to cut a packet of the deck while you are holding a break? Most often they cut right to the break. I wonder what your effect would be like if they cut directly at 26? would it lose its suspense? Also, would that potentially seem suspicious to some spectators? perhaps a way to overcome this is to hold the break below the 24th card, then if they cut to the break you can still continue with the effect.
Also holding a break can seem quite "closed", which could suggest that you are controlling something, what if you could put the deck on the table for the cut, or hold it out in your hand with your fingers outstretched? i suggest a crimp as a method to allow this, you can then get the break at the crimp after the spectator has cut off a packet (instructing them to cut off less than half...)

Also, at one point you indicate that you are going to take exactly 26 cards but then change your mind. This seems like a weak moment in your effect. Since you will have to continue dealing cards off of the deck after you stop until you reach the correct number anyway, why not weigh the spectators packet, then start dealing the cards, count to the break - but do not stop the dealing (you can add pauses for extra weighing to give you time to do any calculations) then just continue the dealing until you get to the correct number of cards.

Does that make sense? let me know if you want me to clarify any of this.


Sam