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I recently learnt two new tricks to perform. They are, from the new More I-Candy DVD, Gary Jones's Two Card Transpo, and, from the back of my magic box, I-Contact by Chris Congreave. (Why do things have to have an I in front of them now?)

The Two Card Transpo is a lovely piece of magic, multi-phased, a few sleights (one of which was new to me) and so is just challenging enough to make it interesting to perform and practice, and very clean! The way the two cards jump around is amazing! I was stunned when I saw the performance on the DVD. I really, really like this!

I-Contact is one I bought cheaply in a sale a few months ago, and then as I was busy doing other stuff, watched the DVD, didn't bother to set up the cards, and stuck it away in the back of the drawer and forgot about. Over Christmas I was working night shifts, and I wanted to amaze my workmates with some magic. I wanted something that was new to me, simple to do so I wouldn't have to spend ages learning it, and a bit different, so spent half an hour with this... Basically, two cards are selected, one chosen, one merely spoken, the first one is found and the second cards name is revealed written on the back of the first.

So, I-Contact hardly practiced, and the Two Card Transpo practiced a fair bit, moderately slick with it (but I'm a bit of a card klutz, so not that slick) and I take them out to the big wide world. The reactions rather surprised me!

What I was getting was "Yeah, that was ok," about the Transpo trick... but I-Contact is really hitting home! It's getting amazing responses! It's now one of my first tricks that I think about when doing magic! I truly didn't expect that!

Which brings me to the point of this post... About performing what magic works! I guess it's a bit of a personal thing, and that what works for one magician won't necessarily work for another, but you really have to get out there and try things out to see what is strong magic! And ultimately, it's about finding magic that the audience loves and that I am comfortable doing. Just because a trick won't fool a magician, certainly doesn't mean it should be overlooked as a quality piece of magic!

Which leads me to ask... What else have people found that, on first glance appeared to be a bit ordinary, but turned out to be unexpectedly good?

Sponge rabbits! Gets them all every time.

The 37/68 force gets ridiculous reactions if played right. I thought it was over-exposed and too obvious until I rewatched a Blaine special. Have been doing it ever since.

Johnny Wizz wrote:Sponge rabbits! Gets them all every time.

I'm so with you on that! Sponge bunnies have got to be my favourite thing to perform, they're just such great fun.

Lady of Mystery wrote:

Johnny Wizz wrote:Sponge rabbits! Gets them all every time.

I'm so with you on that! Sponge bunnies have got to be my favourite thing to perform, they're just such great fun.

Another vote for the sponge bunnies, I get such great reactions from them.

Anything you put the time and effort into making it good. Otherwise it is all going to be just, not great.

This to me raises the challenge:
How could you change the presentation of the effect you enjoy more (transpo) so that it gets the reaction you think it deserves.

Taking oil and water as an example - look at how juan tamariz presents it as an absolute miracle. But without that presentation it could come across as quite boring to an audience.

What could you change in the transpo to make it really hit home to the audience?