The Magic Café Forum Index [ Register ]  [ F.A.Q. ]
[ Magic Café Donations ]
Username:
Password:
 
  
  [ Lost Password ]
  [ Forgot Username ]
 Go to page (Previous)  1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6 ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ 9  (Next)
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Deckless! » » Best packet trick of all time Printer Friendly Version
silent shadow

Loyal user
United Kingdom
228 Posts
Posted: Feb 15, 2011 1:14pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of silent shadow  

Twisted Sisters hits a punch IMHO one of the most simple (just 2 counts) effects to do.

Randy Wakeman's effect is spelt 'Backs To The Future' just incase someone wanted to search for it.

Ja

Magic or just an illusion? it's a free choice .... isn't it?
Kevinr

Inner circle

1795 Posts
Posted: Mar 1, 2011 11:21pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Kevinr  

Brought up already but "Color Monte" Sold millions of copies.... Pro's still use it.... no gaffed cards... Simple and great story!

www.hotauctioneering.com

Benefit Auctioneer Charity Auctioneer
R.E. Byrnes

Special user

929 Posts
Posted: Mar 2, 2011 11:00pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of R.E. Byrnes  

"It's been said before in this thread, but "best" depends on what you like. There isn't one "best" effect for everyone. I think most of us understand that but I'm reiterating it"

For something that probably isn't even true, this maxim certainly gets a lot of repetition.
PaulPacific

Special user
Yes, I used my toes to type all of my
712 Posts
Posted: Mar 3, 2011 2:14am    Reply with quote   View Profile of PaulPacific  

About packet tricks, The Amazing Kreskin once said to me, "Don't anybody show me a card trick-especially if it comes in a little plastic wallet!"

Blessings on thee, little man,
barefoot boy with cheeks of tan...
Outward sunshine; inward joy,
Blessings on thee, barefoot boy! :-D
Cameron Francis

V.I.P.

5897 Posts
Posted: Mar 3, 2011 9:22am    Reply with quote   View Profile of Cameron Francis  

Interesting post in a section dedicated to packet tricks... Was there a point to that?

Anyway, Roy Walton's "Kaleidoscope" has lived in my wallet for a couple of years now. Only four cards, great magic and totally examinable. Now it's been replaced by my own effect "Daley Dose".

I love packet tricks. I think doing loads of magic with just a few cards is one of the most magical things you can do. Even a lay person realizes, with just a small packet of cards, you've got nowhere to hide. You can't switch cards in and out of a deck (Well, you can at the beginning of the effect or maybe even the end but the key is to structure it so they think you can't). Good magic with a small amount of cards can seem more impossible.

"Son Of A Wave & Billination" Two New Mentalism Effects Available Now!

http://cameronfrancismagic.com/Son-Of-A-Wave-Billination.php

"Kapow" Awesome impromptu card magic from Liam Montier & Cameron Francis. Out Now!

http://cameronfrancismagic.com/Kapow-DVD.php
PaulPacific

Special user
Yes, I used my toes to type all of my
712 Posts
Posted: Mar 3, 2011 11:24am    Reply with quote   View Profile of PaulPacific  

I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here but perhaps Kreskin's point was the following:

Doing a packet effect like McDonald's Aces, for example, makes sense in the fact that you can remove the necessary cards from a deck right in front of your bated audience. It looks natural to remove the needed cards from a deck do to a trick which requires them.

On the other hand, if you pull a "little plastic wallet" out of a pocket which conveniently holds a packet of cards for a trick, it looks "odd" and perhaps raises the level of suspicion in an audiences mind. "Why is he using THOSE cards rather than cards from a deck?"

...or maybe Kreskin simply didn't want to see a card trick-period.

Blessings on thee, little man,
barefoot boy with cheeks of tan...
Outward sunshine; inward joy,
Blessings on thee, barefoot boy! :-D
CardMaker

Special user
Ludwigsburg/GERMANY
933 Posts
Posted: Mar 3, 2011 2:16pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of CardMaker  

Quote:

On 2011-03-03 11:24, PaulPacific wrote:
...On the other hand, if you pull a "little plastic wallet" out of a pocket which conveniently holds a packet of cards for a trick, it looks "odd" and perhaps raises the level of suspicion in an audiences mind. "Why is he using THOSE cards rather than cards from a deck?"...



Because I keep ODD cards in that wallet - my favorite cards: Aces and Jokers!
No questions, ever!

CardMaker/Bernd Maucksch
Finest gaffed cards for magicians
-------------------------------------
http://www.magicbycardmaker.com
JanForster

Inner circle
Germany ... two of me is one too much ..
2059 Posts
Posted: Mar 3, 2011 3:18pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of JanForster  

Quote:

On 2011-03-03 11:24, PaulPacific wrote:
I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here but perhaps Kreskin's point was the following:

Doing a packet effect like McDonald's Aces, for example, makes sense in the fact that you can remove the necessary cards from a deck right in front of your bated audience. It looks natural to remove the needed cards from a deck do to a trick which requires them.

On the other hand, if you pull a "little plastic wallet" out of a pocket which conveniently holds a packet of cards for a trick, it looks "odd" and perhaps raises the level of suspicion in an audiences mind. "Why is he using THOSE cards rather than cards from a deck?"


Wonderful quote, total agreement from my side. This is why I dislike most packet tricks. But there are some I do and could do provided I can take out the necessary cards from a deck. Only exception (so far) for me: Duvivier's Printing if you are a funny performer like him. Jan

Jan Forster
www.gedankenmagier.de
sohaib

Elite user
Davis, CA
416 Posts
Posted: Mar 3, 2011 9:34pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of sohaib  

You can do what Brother John Hamman did and set up a bunch of packet tricks as your deck - now all the necessary cards come from the deck.
Merc Man

Inner circle
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
1896 Posts
Posted: Mar 4, 2011 6:40am    Reply with quote   View Profile of Merc Man  

Best packet trick - well the term 'best' is subjective.

However, 'Favourite' packet trick(s) - in no particular order:

Hans Trixer - Wild Man Wild (with the Fred Kaps handling)
Mo Howarth - Chinese Poker (the ONLY packet trick I've ever known that can also be performed on a stage!)
Eddie Victor - E - Y - E
Alex Elmsley - 4 Card Trick
Ken Brooke - The Dutch Looper
Joe Riding - Guinness/Castella
Joe Riding - The Girl Trick

Most ''disliked' packet trick - Jim Temple's 3 Card Monte (plus any that are aimed at an adult audience but have characatures of dragons, rabbits, or blue fluffy clouds etc!).

Barry Allen

Mercedes-Benz W123 Series.........undoubtedly, Stuttgart's finest ever hour.
jeannot57

New user

8 Posts
Posted: Mar 4, 2011 10:12am    Reply with quote   View Profile of jeannot57  

My favourites card tricks are :

- "not blind nor stupid" Tamariz
- "Out of this world" version from Helder Guimaraes !
- "Tempete sous un crâne" (=brainstorm ?) from Duvivier
- the Triumph from Derek Dingle (I don't know the real name of the trick)

A card trick without a good presentation is not a good card trick !
JanForster

Inner circle
Germany ... two of me is one too much ..
2059 Posts
Posted: Mar 4, 2011 10:29am    Reply with quote   View Profile of JanForster  

...which are not packet tricks Jan

Jan Forster
www.gedankenmagier.de
Roger Kelly

Inner circle
Kent, England
3313 Posts
Posted: Mar 4, 2011 12:24pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Roger Kelly  

Quote:

On 2011-03-04 10:29, JanForster wrote:
...which are not packet tricks Jan



Only his/her 6th post Jan. Can be a confusing place the Café.

I've changed my mind now and Twisted Sisters has been removed from my set list. Oddly enough for the very reasons some have made recently. The removal of some cards from a neat looking wallet....

("Why didn't he use the cards from the deck he's been using...")


And, I can't use the excuse here that one set are a different coloured back - as I'm generally running with two decks of similar!

French Twists remains a firm fave as a packet trick from an in-use deck whilst the neat looking wallet now houses five blanks for Dave Campell's Beyond Belief - a lovely piece of visual magic and a good reason to bring out said wallet late on.

But, my most used packet effect is Eight Card Brainwave which is permanently in my normal wallet (Pimpernel) for that moment's notice kinda thing, and where, maybe, there's no deck of cards in sight!

Wenger MUST go!
edh

Inner circle

4702 Posts
Posted: Mar 4, 2011 10:07pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of edh  

I enjoy QOOC.

Magic is a vanishing art.
Cameron Francis

V.I.P.

5897 Posts
Posted: Mar 5, 2011 12:22am    Reply with quote   View Profile of Cameron Francis  

I never understand the problem magicians have with pulling certain cards out of a wallet or envelope.

You can easily justify removing cards from a wallet if the cards are special in some way. For example, if you remove four Jokers from a wallet, well, it makes sense. Most decks don't come with four Jokers in them.

If you are working from a red deck and pull four Kings from a wallet. Makes sense. You don't have a blue deck.

If you pull blank cards out of a wallet. Makes sense. No blank cards in a deck.

Many was to justify pulling out cards from a different place. Most of the packet tricks I've created have built-in justification for pulling the cards out of a wallet.

Re: Twisted Sisters, the trick uses four red cards and four blue cards. You can certainly imply that it's just easier to carry the cards separately rather than carrying two full decks at all times.

"Son Of A Wave & Billination" Two New Mentalism Effects Available Now!

http://cameronfrancismagic.com/Son-Of-A-Wave-Billination.php

"Kapow" Awesome impromptu card magic from Liam Montier & Cameron Francis. Out Now!

http://cameronfrancismagic.com/Kapow-DVD.php
Roger Kelly

Inner circle
Kent, England
3313 Posts
Posted: Mar 8, 2011 4:43am    Reply with quote   View Profile of Roger Kelly  

Quote:

On 2011-03-05 00:22, Cameron Francis wrote:
I never understand the problem magicians have with pulling certain cards out of a wallet or envelope.

You can easily justify removing cards from a wallet if the cards are special in some way. For example, if you remove four Jokers from a wallet, well, it makes sense. Most decks don't come with four Jokers in them.

If you are working from a red deck and pull four Kings from a wallet. Makes sense. You don't have a blue deck.

If you pull blank cards out of a wallet. Makes sense. No blank cards in a deck.

Many was to justify pulling out cards from a different place. Most of the packet tricks I've created have built-in justification for pulling the cards out of a wallet.

Re: Twisted Sisters, the trick uses four red cards and four blue cards. You can certainly imply that it's just easier to carry the cards separately rather than carrying two full decks at all times.



I'm with you Cameron. It's a difficult one to explain but I'll have a go.

I'm in complete agreement that removing cards from a wallet, makes perfect sense for cards which wouldn't normally be contained in a deck. (I sometimes use a mini-Himber for Dave Campbell's Beyond Belief but more often than not, a mere pay-envelope.) As an example, Queens Out of Control fits perfectly here as a "Collection of my favourite cards" or whatever.

However, for something like Ultimate Three Card Monte, or, off the top of my head, Double Back, I just think it begs a question to be asked if you take three or four cards from a wallet WHEN there is, or has been, or about to be, a reg deck in use - where these particular cards could have logically come from - (from a spectator's perspective of course.)

The point I was trying to make about me dropping Twisted Sisters from my card routine is:

A) I use two, none-gaffed, red and blue backed decks - as my (sometimes) opener needs two decks. I then flit between the two, so both decks have been seen and accepted for a while. So, to me, it just seems a bit odd to, then, remove four cards each from another source - of those very same coloured backs - after, before, or whilst, those very decks were/are in use. Especially, if you are announcing that, "I've taken these queens from two decks of cards...." (or whatever words to similar effect - I'm sure you get my point.)

B) Another (none-normal card) walleted/enveloped effect has, or is about to be deployed! (Beyond Belief.)

However, if no deck of cards is part of a routine (heaven forbid!) then I guess ANY walleted packet trick will make sense. (I use 8 Card Brainwave in such circumstances and they're in my normal, everyday, regular, non-plastic, non-magic wallet. )

Aaaaah - I need a lie down now. (Don't get me started on Colour Monte, which I detest (and yet it seems to be the most popular!) and utilises THAT move which, to me tells the World, "Look everybody, I'm up to something...")

The great packet trick debate lives on. They're great and they're here to stay. I just wish folk would think about their routines and use them appropriately and sparingly.

Wenger MUST go!
alibaba

Loyal user
Hawaii
280 Posts
Posted: Mar 9, 2011 12:26am    Reply with quote   View Profile of alibaba  

Has no one mentioned Ultimate Carte Folles by JP Vallarino? I've been working on this incredibly beautiful routine for a month now and it's a joy, a wonderful routine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BjK_n7UHwE

I'm as real as you think I am
Count Zapik

Regular user
UK
180 Posts
Posted: Mar 9, 2011 4:39am    Reply with quote   View Profile of Count Zapik  

For my sins I have done full deck tricks and then ridiculously and blatantly followed them with a packet trick. I don't think it ideal and don't make a virtue out of doing it. Its a bit tacky I suspect, I avoid it usually- however sometimes, in a restaurant for example, you adapt on the hoof to meet the demands of the moment and you try stuff out too.
In my experience the spectator doesn't care where the next effect comes from so long as its good, captures their imagination & they feel entertained.
If a spectator were to say 'Hey Buddy, hang on..wait a minute are those cards special!!!' I would respond with great warmth 'Yea of course they are, they're MINE, that's enough to make them special to me!'. Anyway what are we worried about, what can the spectator deduce incontrovertibly? Not all packet trick cards are 'special'. I carry the four regular aces in my wallet, just so I am never completely without a strong effect to share. I don't mind if the spectator thinks they are special. The mystery is only deepened, the entertainment made to resonate for longer- they can't know for sure. What great fun we are allowed to have.

I feel as if I have been whisked here from another life....it may even have been my own!
jpleddington

Loyal user
Lake Tahoe/Reno, NV
213 Posts
Posted: Mar 9, 2011 8:42am    Reply with quote   View Profile of jpleddington  

Quote:

On 2011-03-09 00:26, alibaba wrote:
Has no one mentioned Ultimate Carte Folles by JP Vallarino? I've been working on this incredibly beautiful routine for a month now and it's a joy, a wonderful routine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BjK_n7UHwE



Thanks for sharing that. It's amazing. I'm tempted to drop the $25 and brush up on my French to learn it.

Jason

Intelligent Magic and Mentalism
jasonleddington.com
alibaba

Loyal user
Hawaii
280 Posts
Posted: Mar 9, 2011 4:28pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of alibaba  

There's supposed to be an English version out soon, but I picked up the essence of the routine by watching the video (sort of like learning from a Ponta dvd). Nothing that an intermediate card guy couldn't do.

Quote:


Thanks for sharing that. It's amazing. I'm tempted to drop the $25 and brush up on my French to learn it.

Jason

On 2011-03-09 08:42, jpleddington wrote:
Quote:

On 2011-03-09 00:26, alibaba wrote:
Has no one mentioned Ultimate Carte Folles by JP Vallarino? I've been working on this incredibly beautiful routine for a month now and it's a joy, a wonderful routine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BjK_n7UHwE






I'm as real as you think I am
Llynus

New user

56 Posts
Posted: Mar 10, 2011 4:44am    Reply with quote   View Profile of Llynus  

Open Travellers.
howie3

New user

95 Posts
Posted: Mar 14, 2011 7:55am    Reply with quote   View Profile of howie3  

Twisted Sisters has my vote.
silent shadow

Loyal user
United Kingdom
228 Posts
Posted: Mar 14, 2011 1:48pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of silent shadow  

I agree with Roger on Colour Monte I've never bothered with it. Though with Twisted sisters your asking the spectator to use their imagination anyway, there is only one fair looking count, so it still plays out well from a packet.

Ja

Magic or just an illusion? it's a free choice .... isn't it?
Lawrence O

Inner circle
Paris France
6269 Posts
Posted: Mar 15, 2011 10:08pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Lawrence O  

Three Card Monte
Twisting the aces
Jazz aces
Open travellers
Wild cards
The Homing Card
Ten card poker deal
Six card repeat
Derek Dingle's Too Many Cards

Now with due respect to Cameron Francis who I deeply respect, I find a definitive need to justify in a casual and very convincing way that taking a packet out is normal. For example, I could not get by with Tommy Wonder's Tamed Cards buzzer system and, as a result I had to redesign the trick for the back of the cards to change from various Casino photographs to standard Bycicle backs explaining that we have formed a club of magicians able to steal a given card from any casino run by the mafia (at the risk of having a hand chopped off): the membership to this very select group justifies the same faces on cards with different casino backs. The spectator is then forced the same face but naturally the back is not satisfactory and I propose them to make them a honorary member of the club. It doesn't work and all the cards change to Bicycle backs as per Tommy's routine.

For Twisting the Aces, Open Travellers or Jazz Aces, I do the trick after letting the spectator cut to the aces without him knowing what he is about to cut the cards to.

For the three card monte, I take two similar jokers out (as if they were sold like this with the deck which naturally is not the case) and, as a second thought, I ask them if they have ever seen street guys doing the three card monte... and I pull out an ace of hearts.

For the ten card poker deal, I do a Truffle shuffle then a Zarrow shuffle on the table and then a flase cut from Roberto Giobbi's Card College, and then I deal the ten cards. Naturally then I keep the 10 cards but for the finale, I take the deck back and false shuffle again and cut to the bridge to get to my set up for a Hold'em Poker with as many hand as the spectators choose.

For the Homing card, after two Truffle shuffles keeping the deck's set up, I start with Derek Dingle's Fabulous Jumping Card Trick where the spectator is requested to count ten cards in my hand (unknowingly all red including the one to five of hearts except for a black king). After four phases of Braue's Homing card and the reverse (a Carlyle's Homing Card to the Pocket variant where I secretely collect the five of spades), I move into the very entertaining Senator Crandall's six card repeat variant, keeping only the 1 to 5 of hearts and the additional 5 of spades at the end and finish with Dereck Dingle's Too Many Cards
... and so on.

I just hate to arouse suspicion at the initial step and want to put my audience in a relaxed frame of mind so that, somehow, everything is happening in their heads and by magic rather than skill. Now there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Magic is not a performing art where people don't know how situations are reached, it's the art of showing parallel dimensions that can't be reached
Lawrence O

Inner circle
Paris France
6269 Posts
Posted: Mar 15, 2011 11:59pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Lawrence O  

I knew I was forgetting Oil and Water and Follow the leader (who by the way blend well if one starts with O&W and finishes for the last cards with the follow the leader plot)

Magic is not a performing art where people don't know how situations are reached, it's the art of showing parallel dimensions that can't be reached
dtextreme

New user

79 Posts
Posted: Mar 22, 2011 11:28am    Reply with quote   View Profile of dtextreme  

I would argue Skinner's Ultimate Three Card Monte. Bill Malone has a great routine with it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qju5s9IEKow

It is a long routine, given only three cards and a simple premise. It is easy to understand as everyone has seen/played/heard of the Three Shells game. In addition, there are no fancy or suspicious moves--creating an effect that seems to be pure magic. Even with the audience members burning their eyes on your hands and cards, the visual routine can be done openly and with little touching of the cards. Moreover, it is interactive.

One point I would like to make is that I usually allow the spectator to win for the practice part of the routine in the beginning. This will establish further that it's possible to win at the game and that there are no gaffs. Once the spectator(s) establish that mindset, I carry on with a routine very similar to Bill Malone's.
PHER

New user

76 Posts
Posted: Mar 22, 2011 11:48am    Reply with quote   View Profile of PHER  

I don't know if it has been mentioned already, but John Bannon's Royal Scam has worked greatly for me...
Brittain Bass

New user

35 Posts
Posted: Apr 1, 2011 9:25am    Reply with quote   View Profile of Brittain Bass  

-NFW
-It's Done With Mirrors
-The Color Monte
magicfish

Inner circle

2834 Posts
Posted: Apr 1, 2011 10:22am    Reply with quote   View Profile of magicfish  

Back Flip- Sam Schwartz
Did You Get The Odd One? - Randy Wakeman
Psychic Twins- Max Maven
joseph

Eternal Order
Please ignore my
14391 Posts
Posted: Apr 2, 2011 6:20am    Reply with quote   View Profile of joseph  

Quote:

On 2011-03-09 00:26, alibaba wrote:
Has no one mentioned Ultimate Carte Folles by JP Vallarino? I've been working on this incredibly beautiful routine for a month now and it's a joy, a wonderful routine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BjK_n7UHwE



Is that the same as his Wild Card routine? ...

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." (Einstein)...
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Deckless! » » Best packet trick of all time
<<< Previous Topic   Next Topic >>>
 Go to page (Previous)  1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6 ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ 9  (Next)

[ Top of Page ]

All content & postings Copyright © 2001- 2013 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved.
This page was created in 0.329124 seconds, requiring 9 database queries.

The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café
are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic.