talkmagic.co.uk

Guys,
I need a little help / advice with something I am going to try in the next couple of weeks.
About 8-10 of us meet once a year get drunk and play darts,most of us can't play but we just meet up for the crack.
I thought it would be kind of cool to do something magical on the theme of darts. i have had an idea using a dartboard and an Invisible D***.
I am sure it has probally been done before but I was after a few tips to ensure i get maximum impact from it.

I intend to have mini bikes attached to the dartboard a dart thrown and guess what, here's my predication.

The issuses I have are based on how the effect will look from a prop point of view, and tips on its presentation.

1) should I try to attach the cards direct to the board, or maybe print them onto a sheet of paper the size and shape of the dartboard. I intended to use a sheet for ease of setup but worried it may look a little naff.

2) Do you think the cards on the board should be face up or down. what would be more amazing choice or chance.

3)who should throw the dart,there is a couple of people who acually play darts, should I let the best player ,worst player, maybe even left handed or blindfolded.

4) I dont yet know exactly how many card I can get on the whole board, but it probally will be around 40-50. I was thinking of limiting to 26(think of the ID)and when the selected is found face down and reveled it also has got a small whole right through it. This is a more expensive opition but do you guys think it would be worth it,maybe it would add nothing at all to the effect. If I used only 26 cards I could probally get away with full size cards pinned to the board

5) Ideally I would like to get as many people involved as possible, any ideas?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, my performing experience is currently very limited at present hence the questions. The meet only comes around once a year and I though that it would be fun to try it this time around rather than wait for another year.

I have started meeting weekly with some other magicians in a pub, there is also a dart board there so maybe it will be something I can perform again if all works out.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers
Chris

Well, check out the logistics:

ID = 52 possible revelations
Dartboard: 20 'easy' targets, plus the bullseye. (21 selections possible)

Personally, I'd tuck the cards behind the wire numbers (I've done this before) in a fan around the board, one card per number.

But to add credibility, give the mini deck to a spectator. Ask them to shuffle and check there are genuinely 52 cards.

Also hand them a jiffy bag (ID inside) marked PREDICTION, and get them to keep a hold of it. (Actually, a Brainwave may be a better idea for the visual)

Now, ask the speccy to select 21 cards totally at random, leaving one face-down and placing the other 20 face-up behind each wire number.

The face down card is the 'bonus' bullseye card. This is sneaky... in the caffuffle, I'd personally switch this card for a 'known' card, and put a large duplicate of this somewhere as an extra special revelation should anyone hit the bullseye.

Anyway, back to the plot...

Choose a speccy to then throw three darts. At ANYwhere on the dartboard—not necessarily aiming.

Now, ask another speccy to remove 2 darts.

There will be a final prediction. Ask for all the remaining cards to be removed.

At fingertips, take the jiffy bag, and do the reveal whilst standing with the dartboard and the final selection visible over your shoulder.

Re-cap slightly as to exactly how random this was (i.e. the choices of 3 spectators!).

Reveal the 'turned over' card from the deck.

I've performed this effect with regular sized cards, but I like the unusual aspect of the mini's

Thanks Seige for your comments and ideas.
I have a very Large 10 of hearts I may look into putting this on the ceiling or the back of the dart board as my bulls eye shot.
I did have some thoughts about how to get other involved but I do like the idea about getting the specs to select 21 cards.
I first thought about putting more cards out than 21 and actually letting them hit a card, maybe pining them to the dart board.
Would it be stronger with more, I suppose the fact that they had the choice from the 52 would rule out that argument.

Thank again for your comments.
Chris

I'd keep it clean

21 cards works well, and is visual

Plus the various narrowing down/selections involves more speccys, ergo, is seemingly more random.

The fact that you're always one step ahead with the ID makes whatever you do just showmanship!