talkmagic.co.uk

I thought this might be a good idea for practicing the Classic Force (not that mine is reliable at all...).

At the beginning of a routine where the spectator needs to choose a card (e.g. AC) locate and try to classic force the Ace of Spades. As you do, mumble something like, "...any card, doesn't matter, just don't choose something obvious like the ace of spades..." and try to time it so that the words, "ace of spaces" coincide with the spectator turning over their chosen card.

If you fail in the force it doesn't matter as that's a perfectly normal thing to say, so just go on into the routine as normal. If you succeed you will usually get a laugh from the spectator and they will show you the card, at which point you can into a force sequence where you keep forcing the AS a few times, which leads naturally into Cards to Pocket - and voila, you have a nice opener!

Kati

I love it

I did something similar on my girlfriend where I said "Right. Now you can have any card apart from the ace of spades" whilst classic forcing it on her. Then I said "trust you" when she showed it to me, top changed, put it on the table and backslip forced it on her again.

Just a bit of fun and nowhere near as good an idea as yours, but good for a laugh/a little humourous byplay

It's always a good idea to practice classic force, when you don't really need it.

This brings me into something else, - who uses classic force? I don't....

I don't normally bother... because I know a lot of easier ones.

But sometimes it's good to give people a spread rather than a riffle or a cut. Makes it seem a bit more... with the grain

Nice idea

rcarlsen wrote:This brings me into something else, - who uses classic force? I don't....

I use the classic force and riffle force quite a bit. The other force I use is the slip cut force.

The trouble with forcing the same card over and over again and revealing it out loud is that it tends to give the game away that you are forcing cards. Hugard pointed this out and I tend to agree with him. Having said that I don't practice what I preach regarding this and I do break this rule. However I know I am breaking it and that makes all the difference.

The classic force is probably the best method of forcing in existence and you can't really call yourself a card magician until you master it.

One tip. If you miss the force card then use it as a key card by having the selected card placed under it.

The key to successful execution is a knowledge of people. You are halfway there if you choose the right person to force the card on. Women are generally better than men. People that laugh readily are better than those that don't. Don't use hecklers or people that are very serious.

It is very important not to be arrogant when you perform otherwise this will set up a challenge attitude in your audience and nobody will take the right card.

And have a relaxed attitude. You cannot force a card if you are tense. If you consider the choice of the card unimportant then so will the spectator who has to choose one.

I do not believe that you should cut the deck noting the force card and then go straight into it. Even worse is to use the pass to set the card. It is far better to use the method described in the Royal Road to Card Magic where you shuffle the cards overhand style first and set the card in the middle. That way it looks like you have no idea of the position of any card.

Force in this way even if you don't need to for the purpose of the trick. Good practice this way. And don't look too delighted when they take the right card. Your excitement could be a giveaway.

Any effort put into learning the classic force is well spent. I highly recommend learning it. You will have a tool for life.

I use the classic force a lot. But even when I don't need to force a card, I just classic force one anyway. It's great practice

This was something similar to what my friend did to me. Although he didn't do it at the start. He did it in between.

He forced the Queen of Hearts on me and I put it back into the deck. I pick a new card and it was the QH again. I did it again and everytime, he'd say (in different ways), "Don't pick the same card again. It get's boring if you get the same card over and over."

But I like how you have it at the beginning also. I guess you could put both together.

That is certainly the best way to practice - try and classic force all the time when you don't need it. It's hard to practice because you need a spectator.

I agree that doing it too much is bad...I was thinking just a few times then on to stuff like have a card selected by another spectator, ask the first to try to find it, he finds the Ace which you leave on the table and ask him to have another go, he finds it again and the ace on the table is the second selection, which defuses the 'challenge' aspect a bit as he did really find it the first time!

Thanks for the feedback guys...

Kati