talkmagic.co.uk

and asks to see a trick, what would you do?
so it would either need to be a setup that could be done under the spec's nose or from a shuffled deck.

I've found that I resort back to Triumph / ACR / force and 'mind reading' reveal, but would love to have more options.

Dr Daily's last trick
Mark Masons think of a card (with various endings)
A two card transpo
Card in mouth (either on its own as a 2 phase routine or as part of a very simple three phase ACR ending with C2M)
The worlds fastest card trick as performed by Paul Gorden (I'm sure it has other names but this is what I know it as)

Always very simple stuff

"Lucky Number, Lucky Card" - a completely impromptu, fortune-telling themed double prediction. It's a routine that is all about the participant until the predictions are revealed at the denouement. Based on a seed of an idea from Victor Farelli, with many of my own tweaks and touches. Any dog-eared, incomplete, shuffled deck will do.

I'd tell them I don't do card tricks.

Barry

If handed a decent condition deck, a short ACR.
If the deck is old/an odd size then a simple trick where face down cards are named by the spectator (available on Jay Sankey's "anytime anywhere" DVD).

spooneythegoon wrote:If the deck is old/an odd size then a simple trick where face down cards are named by the spectator (available on Jay Sankey's "anytime anywhere" DVD).

Yep, I usually do a couple of card divination followed by this. Really simple, but it works pretty well.

I only really do one proper 'card trick' (i.e. non mentalism), and that's Roy Walton's back into time. Beautiful trick.

Out Of This World

I don't think anyone has passed me a deck of cards six times in my entire life, unless of course they are another magician. This business of a borrowed deck is all very well in theory but not in practice. Who the hell walks around with a deck of cards on them that you can borrow? That is why I always carry my own. Sure it is more effective if you can borrow one but in practice it never happens.

It depends on the situation, but my first choices would probably be Voodini's Hand of Destiny (but using a peek) or Schultz's Methodical.

mark lewis wrote:I don't think anyone has passed me a deck of cards six times in my entire life, unless of course they are another magician. This business of a borrowed deck is all very well in theory but not in practice. Who the hell walks around with a deck of cards on them that you can borrow? That is why I always carry my own. Sure it is more effective if you can borrow one but in practice it never happens.

I certainly can't see it happening much nowadays, unless you're among bridge or poker players,or perhaps someone has just shown a card trick and you get asked to do one too.

Barry

I would count the cards, hem-hem, then go into Gemini Twins and then possibly Out Of This World. But I agree with young Master Lewis. I think I've been handed a deck of cards once so far.

My card set uses a normal deck, with one card added (for Mike Vincents handling of Brainwave). I vary my performance material to suit the particulars of the moment, but I have a loose structure in mind.

Where I have a working surface I enjoy performing the following routines together -

Ace Production. Depending on the circumstances I will either use a version of Sleeve Aces or a handling of the "touch four cards" which turn out to be the aces.

Apex Ace - my own handling. The aces are placed to the side and a card is selected and returned. The aces are placed face up on top of the deck and vanish, the red aces first, then one at a time the black. A snap and the deck is spread to reveal the aces face-up in the centre with one card face down between them - the selection.

Triumph - this one should be obvious. The aces and selection are lost back into the deck, zarrow, display, up the ladder, spread and the cards are all face down exept the selection (from the last effect).

Sometimes I will add Dr Daleys Last Trick or Twisting The Aces.

I also use the following card effects - (not all at once of course).


Kismet - Michael Vincents handling of the one deck Do as I Do.

The Mona Lisa Card Trick - Mike Skinner, the queen of spades (representing the Mona Lisa), placed onto a makeshift easel, transforms into a selection.

Ambitious Card - pretty obvious, ending in the old Pop-Up move.

An effect of my own - the joker, placed out-jogged in the deck at a position chosen by the spectator, transforms into a previously selected card - but a touch on the card by the spectator breaks the spell and it is the joker again.

I ocassionaly use a stand up handling of Rapid Transit (one of the cards chosen by and held by the spectator).

Hocus Pocus Card from Expert Card Technique (I think that is what its called) is a little gem of a trick which rarely gets a mention on forums. The procedure for setting the k*y ca*d isn't great in the description but any procedure you are familiar with can be substituted. It can be done with any dog eared deck and has got me some great reactions. It also has the added bonus of being extremely simple to perform.

I have been working on a sort of parlour set for some time, part of which uses cards. I was going to add these aswell but I'm not at home tonight and my battery is almost dead on this phone (I'm using it to post). I'll post those effects tomorrow.

Jim

A little later than I anticipated, but here are the card effects I'm working on for my parlour type set. The deck is again genuine with one "special" card added for the Rising Cards. The set (including the non-card material) is something you would have expected to see in a victorian parlour - so are mostly classic pieces/plots.

The card material is -

The Rising Cards - this is the only effect which uses a gimmicked card (for two phases) - three cards are selected by three spectators, they are not removed from the deck. A hankerchief is introduced and wrapped around the bottom half of the deck, which is held face to the audience. As the first card is called out a corner of the hanky is slowly lifted up to obscure the deck, then brought back down again. The selection is sticking out the deck apparently having risen from the centre. This first rise isn't actually seen, but rather implied. The card is handed to the spectator. The deck is turned, back towards the spectators. The second card is called and a card is seen to rise from the centre. This rise is seen, but it is unclear if it is the correct one as only the backs are seen. The card is removed and turned over, it is the selection and is handed to the spectator.
The hanky is removed and pocketed. Half the deck is cut to the left hand which holds them verticly, full face to the audience. The right hands half is fanned and "fans" the underside of the left hands portion - the last selection rises.
This last rise is Jack Mcmillens wonderful Witchcraft Card Rise, to which I have added a fan. It is completely impromptu and can be done with any deck.

A version of the General Card based on handlings by Larry Jennings and Michael Vincent - the joker is removed and place on display. Three cards are selected and lost in the deck. The joker transforms into each selection in turn, then back to the joker.

Multiple Selection - Ricky Jay/Michael Vincent - ten cards are selected, each is found in a different manner. The usual ending is to spring the cards into the air and catch the last two at the finger tips, but I have another finale for when this isn't practical or appropriate.



In close-up I will often "jazz" my material and will take advantage of any oppertunities that may arise. If someone flashes their card while showing it around and hasn't noticed, I will use the information in the effect. Some folks shuffles are so sloppy that we can get glimpses of the top or bottom cards - which then gives us an automatic key card in a spectator shuffled deck (think of the possibilities of this). I have even tossed a card under someones bum as they were sitting down and forced a duplicate.



Jim

Hocus Pocus Card from Expert Card Technique is actually the same trick as Now You See It in the Royal Road to Card Magic. I use it all the time although I have altered it slightly. It goes over fantastically well with laymen. Here I am doing it at 1.57:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QktEi37NBaA

Did somebody say Card in Mouth? With a borrowed deck? Gross. Not everybody washes their hands.