talkmagic.co.uk

Raven1s wrote:mandrake do you think that I am worrying too much

No, you're right to want to make sure you give the best performance you can but it's more a matter of being confident and putting in the practise so the moves come easily to you. If you look elsewhere or provide a bigger distraction then the specs won't see the sleights, they'll be focussed elsewhere and you can do the tricky stuff almost in plain sight!

I also thought that because my hands are small I would never be able to palm, but that just isn't the case.

Firstly, as is the case in so much magic, the spectator does not know what you are going to do so isn't looking for it.

Secondly it doesn't matter if your hand does not conceal the card totally, if you do it with confidence nobody will notice.

Thirdly, distraction. Never palm the card away from the top. Always palm the card by moving the deck away, their eyes always follow the deck, even if only for a moment it is long enough.

Fourthly (is there such a word?) be confident in what you are doing. Even if somebody looks as though they suspect that you have done something dodgy just carry on with the trick and they will convince themselves they were wrong or forget what they thought they saw.

Practice of course but the only way you will get the confidence is to go out there and do it. I quite happily palm three cards at a time in my small hand for one trick I do.

Learn better misdirection.

eg. STAMP, scream cockroach, and point with left hand, palm with right.

I always recommend the extractor gimmick for anyone nervous about palming cards. Best 50 notes you'll ever spend!! I use mine all the time and I've never been caught!

K

Ok, seeing as I still don't know what palm you're trying to learn, I'll just mention palming in general.

First, place a card on your palm-up right hand (assuming you are right handed). The outer left corner should be near the pinkie tip, the diagonally opposite corner should be somewhere on the fleshy part at the base of the thumb. Now press your left first finger on the middle of the card, holding it in position, and turn your hand over. Can you see any part of the card ? If not then your hands are not too small for classic palming cards. If you can see any of the card try slightly different positions. If your hands really are too small there are other types of card palms which rely more on angles and hand position, rather than hand size.

I'm not an advocate of the over-use of misdirection, nor of gimmicks to make things easier.

Misdirection (in this context were talking about the type to distract from a move) should be used when necessary. What I mean is there are certain sleights that without misdirection would be impossible - in these cases the misdirection is necessary. Misdirection should not be used as an excuse to cover sloppy technique - something which seems to have come into fashion.
To those of you who are lucky enough to remember the Paul Daniels Magic Show and the Doug Henning and David Copperfield specials, I ask you to cast your mind back. Remember the close-up segments ? Remember how close the camera was to the hands while sleight of hand was going on ? Yet we saw nothing. All these guys were doing palms, switches, reversals, and all sorts of "moves" with little or no misdirection while the audience at home were burning their hands close-up on a tv screen.
Compare this to the format of the modern tv magic show (and even many demos of effects). Almost every time a move is done the camera cuts away - simply because if it didn't the move would in most cases, clearly be seen. The modern magician relys to heavily on misdirection, proper technique taking somewhat of a "back seat".
I'm not saying misdirection shouldn't be used whilst palming, I'm saying that if it is used it should be to compliment the move, not to cover bad technique.

As for the use of gimmicks - in my opinion, and something I stick to, a gimmicks primary function is to enhance an effect. If it enhances an effect without getting in the way or causing unnecessary clutter I will use it. If, in turn, it makes the effect easier that is a bonus, but making something easier it not my primary concern - easier doesn't necessarily mean better.


Jim

thanks for that jim have been looking thorgh anothe one of my books and am going to learn some more tricks in there that I like.

thank you all for your help
will try out all the tips you have said

Andy

Great news, Andy!

Please do let us know how you get on with it, as we do have quite a few newer members, who post similar concerns from time-to-time, and you experiences will be fantastic support for them in the future!

I have a copy of the Kaye book - mine has the title "The Complete Magician". The top palm technique Andy is learning, which is the one I'd use if I did card tricks, can also be found in Henry Hay's "Amateur Magician's Handbook" and Walter Gibson's "Complete Illustrated Book of Card Magic" (the "End Palm"). I can't immediately see it in the standard Hugard books or Tarbell.

What other books do you have, Andy?

Barry

magicofthemind wrote:I have a copy of the Kaye book - mine has the title "The Complete Magician". The top palm technique Andy is learning, which is the one I'd use if I did card tricks, can also be found in Henry Hay's "Amateur Magician's Handbook" and Walter Gibson's "Complete Illustrated Book of Card Magic" (the "End Palm"). I can't immediately see it in the standard Hugard books or Tarbell.

What other books do you have, Andy?

Barry

I only have 2 at the mo but am still looking for books,

I got by Marvin Kaye "The Creative Magicians Handbook"

and by Nicholas Einhorn
"200 Magical Illusions" (Both I got from a charity shop)

and borrowed from the local Library that I just took back "Street magic: great tricks and close-up secrets" by paul zenon

There's another excellent one by Nicholas Einhorn which goes by various titles; have a look on Amazon for "The Art of Magic and Sleight of Hand" (but just check the photos shown to make sure it's not the one you already have!). Also look out for Mark Wilson's "Complete Course in Magic".

Barry

magicofthemind wrote:There's another excellent one by Nicholas Einhorn which goes by various titles; have a look on Amazon for "The Art of Magic and Sleight of Hand". Also look out for Mark Wilson's "Complete Course in Magic".

Barry

ok thank you

magicofthemind wrote:I have a copy of the Kaye book - mine has the title "The Complete Magician". The top palm technique Andy is learning, which is the one I'd use if I did card tricks, can also be found in Henry Hay's "Amateur Magician's Handbook" and Walter Gibson's "Complete Illustrated Book of Card Magic" (the "End Palm"). I can't immediately see it in the standard Hugard books or Tarbell.

Thanks for the clarification Barry. Is this similar to the Gamblers Squaring Palm in Expert Card Technique ?


Jim

I didn't read all the posts. Sorry, and I'm sure this has already been said. But the first thing you need to do in order to learn is to stop making excuses. Rene Levand. A true master of the craft, only has one hand and it is not very big. The key is practice and patience. That is all. Have fun and good luck.

bmat wrote:I didn't read all the posts. Sorry, and I'm sure this has already been said. But the first thing you need to do in order to learn is to stop making excuses. Rene Levand. A true master of the craft, only has one hand and it is not very big. The key is practice and patience. That is all. Have fun and good luck.

I was not making excuses was asking a question sorry if it came across that way.

I'm sure bmat meant that in an encouraging way, along the lines of stop worrying, just get in there and give it a go. His final sentence says it all, 'Have fun and good luck'.