talkmagic.co.uk

Guys

I have a table hopping this weekend

i am starting in tetanhall for an hour for some starters which means about 4 mins each table, then rushing to penkridge for 2 hours then rushing back tettenhall for 2 hours for the main course-lol around a 8 mins per table

the customers at the tetenhall will be the same as this is only one sitting

What would you guys do for the starter (first bit) and the main course (2nd bit) at the tettenhall

i have a few plans that i have been working on for 2 weeks just wanted a mix of last minute ideas


Jags

Chicago Opener
Personal favourite is always a Chicago Opener style effect.

Very direct, visual, and is a great way to break the ice. Everhard's original is embelished in Sankey's 'Not This Card' variation, from his Front Row Sankey DVD. A perfect icebreaker.

Not only is it an effect which involves spectators, but it's quite unexplainable.

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Coins Across
Any routine which needs you to be 'loaded' at the start of the effect should be used as an opener. I sometimes do a coins-across routine first, because I need to have a coin in palm to start.

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Bill switch
Again, this routine needs to start with a 'prep'. Sure, you can 'load the prep' to your body during an effect, but logically, it makes more sense to do it as an opener


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LOGIC
I think it is Tarbel who describes the logical ordering of a 'set'. You should group effects in order, as you would expect scenes in a play. i.e. keep your coin work together, card work together, etc.

But his line "Group effects for harmony, be careful not to group them for monotony" sticks in my mind the most... Variety is the spice of life!

ah cheers

what im trying to do is stick to the routine that i've planned, cause if i start using new things i'll have to start over

i want to keep the start simple but strong

i'll be doing crazy mans handcuffs
NFW
some sleights with sponge balls
strangers gallerey
several sleights with cards
hot rod
coin unique
card trick mixed with flash paper and glass
dynamic coins

ah just though of another one, i can do the start with a levitating small ball which can come from my breast pocket appear it to be levitating and the let it go back into my pocket.. cause im only there for an hour im sure i'll be able to perform this for an hours without the ITR breaking, if it is does break i could always go into the rest room


Jags

Jags,
Sorry but I have to ask...
You perform "Dynamic Coins" !?!?! as part of your act?

I knew that question would rise, ha ha ha

I only use it if i know it will work.. its all about knowing your audience ....

what made you ask....is it the fact that this item was publicly available from everywhere and everyone knows how it works?


Jags

Sorry but I have to ask...
You perform "Dynamic Coins" !?!?! as part of your act?

I don't see any reason why DC shouldn't be considered for table hopping. With a good presentation this can look like a wonderful piece of magic to a layperson and on the occasions when I've used it I'm always surprised that the significant majority haven't seen it before.

I think that it's a misconception that everyone knows this and even if they have seen a poor presentation before, if yours is up to scratch then I think that the specs won't associate what you're showing them with what they've already seen.

I also think that too many magicians dismiss the 'easy' and self working tricks such as DC's because they thinkl they are too simple. Another one in this category is the Svengali deck yet there were a number of recent posts on how impressed members were with Zennon's handling in his Xmas special.

The skill is in the performance and presentation. I'd say that you should give it a go and then let us have your feedback on how the DC's were received by your specs.

I think that you'll be surprised at the result.

They think they know how it is done, but you can hand it out for examination to prove them wrong, as long as you do not give them a cap and a ring at the same time

jagsmagic wrote:I knew that question would rise, ha ha ha

I only use it if i know it will work.. its all about knowing your audience ....

what made you ask....is it the fact that this item was publicly available from everywhere and everyone knows how it works?


Jags

The reason that I asked was that even though I was impressed with this effect enough to buy it a few years back (and I dont really do anything except cards!) I have seen it for sale in everywhere from gift shops to toy shops since. I thought that it was very widely known in the public eye.

I have seen some very good performances of DC, and some not so good But I really thought that many laypeople knew how it was done.

Good point though that its all about knowing your audience. I wish you all the best with your gig Jags.

dat8962 wrote:

Sorry but I have to ask...
You perform "Dynamic Coins" !?!?! as part of your act?

I don't see any reason why DC shouldn't be considered for table hopping. With a good presentation this can look like a wonderful piece of magic to a layperson and on the occasions when I've used it I'm always surprised that the significant majority haven't seen it before.

I think that it's a misconception that everyone knows this and even if they have seen a poor presentation before, if yours is up to scratch then I think that the specs won't associate what you're showing them with what they've already seen.

I also think that too many magicians dismiss the 'easy' and self working tricks such as DC's because they thinkl they are too simple. Another one in this category is the Svengali deck yet there were a number of recent posts on how impressed members were with Zennon's handling in his Xmas special.

The skill is in the performance and presentation. I'd say that you should give it a go and then let us have your feedback on how the DC's were received by your specs.

I think that you'll be surprised at the result.

Good point about the svengali, although I personally see this as an accessory that can be used with other card effects. I quite often use a svengali deckand let a spec force a card on themselves! I am not sure what any other uses for DC could be? But not being a coin magician, I ask that more as a question more than dismissing DC.

That's also a good point made MagicAl.

With the DC's it is a one trick pony so to speak but it can be accompanied by a variety of different stories if you have the imagination for it,whilst the Svengali does have a number of uses as a utility deck but again, I think that how these uses are presented is down to the knowledge and the experience of the magician.

Even with our knowledge of such things, we can still get caught with the "is it or isn't it" question when confronted by a great and previously unseen handling. In these instances the gimmicking will be unrecognisable to the lay person.

I also wonder that when these things can be bought in a joke shop etc. How many people actually buy them and don't then understand the power potential of what they are holding? I suspect that most end up in a drawer somewhere or in the bin.

I don't know if this would work for you, but I've been trying to build my routining to spread beyond card work. Many different "props" can be introduced in a completely innocent way, which can be used to bridge completely different areas of magic together.

Seige mentioned the logic of Tarbell, and it's so true. I used to do some card tricks, then pull out something else, then something else. It just seemed (to me) like a long running joke of people finding out what I'll pull out of my pockets next.

As a result, I've been building (and slowly audience-testing) a routine that runs me across different branches of magic, but instead of just some tricks, it's a routine that builds. I love my cards, but I've been dying to play with all the other "toys" I've collected. In playing around, I've found that effects I wouldn't normally do, when pulled in, work as perfect bridges.

Here's what I've come up with, so far:

Card routine

Transition - Card through handkerchief, followed by Card Penetration and Change. This is done with either one or two handkerchiefs (silks - I use two if I feel people suspect my silk has a hole in it)

Two silks are out - hey, let's try a Slydini Silk routine!

Once they're amazed by the knot being broken into two pieces, playing around with the silks, I show them that they were indeed correct - my silks were tricky.

I pull a red silk from inside one of my white silks, going into a vanishing/reappearing silk routine.

One last time, the silk is tucked into the hand. A spectator blows on the hand and out pops a spongeball. Jump into a spongeball routine.

If children are present - the spongeballs transition perfectly into a d'lite routine (I always carry those little buggers!)

I don't know if this helps you out - but I just wanted to give you some insight into WHY I agree with Seige's comments about routining and harmony. I think my performances are stronger as a result.

thats a good one as well........ silk to sponge ball


Jags