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Sjiwi New user Belgium 57 Posts |
Imagine the following situation: I'm in the living room, practicing some very basic card handling (I'm an absolute beginner) when my girlfriend walks in. She takes the deck, takes a card out, looks at it, puts it back in the deck, starts shuffling, and finally hands me back the deck saying "find my card".
When noticing my somewhat baffled reaction, she kindly adds "Well, any magician can do THAT...". So my question is : Is there any way to deal with this or should I start looking out for a new girlfriend ? No, seriously, what do you do with people that have unrealistically high expectations ? cheers, Sjiwi |
Steve Friedberg Inner circle 1402 Posts |
Firstly,you could do the old "your card is red..." and narrow it down that way. Secondly, you could beg her to tell you and as she does, control the card to the top of the deck under her nose.
Thirdly, as a performer, it's your job to manage expectations. That's the most important point of all. Your girlfriend was teasing you, obviously...don't lose her; she's got a great sense of keeping you humble!...but her lesson is spot-on.
Cheers,
Steve "A trick does not fool the eyes, but fools the brain." -- John Mulholland |
Zeitoun New user Rennes, France 16 Posts |
On the first volume of the Daryl encyclopedia of card sleights, you have a trick in the "One way backs" section that is close to the situation you describe.
The only difference is you have to make her select a card, then give her the deck. But with just a little bit of comedy, it should be okay. Olivier. |
Magix Elite user 432 Posts |
Quote:
When noticing my somewhat baffled reaction, she kindly adds "Well, any magician can do THAT...". To which you reply, "You're right, so why would you want to see that old trick? Wouldn't you rather see something like this?" Then show her something you already know. Just an idea. |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Steve writes: ". . . as a performer, it's your job to manage expectations. That's the most important point of all."
Couldn't have said it better myself! The most important thing you can learn in magic (and, yes, it can be learned) is the ability to think on your feet. A lay person may make what he or she thinks is a very simple request (it may not be all that simple to the performer!); it's the performer's job to handle that expectation one way or another (that doesn't mean necessarily doing what was asked; it can also mean dodging it in a skillful way.) |
r4bid Veteran user 386 Posts |
I think Peter, et al, have summed up the general rule for this type of thing so I will offer you some specific advice.
1. Lean over to kiss her (only use this on your girlfriend) and "by accident" knock the deck over onto the floor. Pick it up quickly while laughing and go right into something else. 2. Tell her that you find cards based on heat and that she didn't touch the card she picked for long enough. Have her pull out a card, and while holding it sight the top or bottom card and do a locator card. This will let her cut the deck all she wants and you can still find her card. |
Sjiwi New user Belgium 57 Posts |
Thanks for the replies !
I had already been thinking about ways to introduce tricks to create "appropriate" expectations, but this completely took me off guard. But, as Steve and Peter suggest, "Expectation Management" (including learning several 'escape routes' to skillfully dodge requests) probably comes with experience. So, moral of the story : "Practice, perform and always be prepared" ? (BTW, r4bid: the "accident" is a nice suggestion, but somehow I suspect she wouldn't let me off the hook that easily ! ) cheers |
Geoff Weber Inner circle Washington DC 1384 Posts |
Fail to find it, then pull out the invisible deck.
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
If your gilfriend likes to get attention like that she might make a good assistant of yours. Ask her if she wants to help with it.
The first two tricks to try on her is "saw-in-half" and "disappearing assistant." |
NoahJLevine Regular user 142 Posts |
Mastering moves like the top change and spread cull will help you get out of almost any situation. Also, in Card College 2 Roberto Giobbi discusses outs.
Noah Levine |
ReaL2ReeL New user Jackson, Ms 22 Posts |
Isn't it a pretty standard gag to produce a blank faced playing card with the words "your card" written on it?
I seem to remember reading that somewhere, but I could be wrong. Would that work? Or tell her the card will appear in the next cake she bakes....
Where words fail, music speaks.
"Honey, where's the AmEx?" |
Shawn D Elite user Hughson,Ca 465 Posts |
Ask her if she really put it back in the deck. When she says yes say well what was it because I cant find it. When she tells you act like you are still looking for it and bring it to the top.Palm it off and say see if you can find it.When she fails to find it grab the card case with the card in your hand and say is this it. The one in the case.grab card and act like you are pulling it out of the case.
i think she will give you a special treat after that trick |
rvigon Loyal user uk 266 Posts |
also u have got to rember shes your gilfrend she thinks shes aloud to take advantage of you i think ull find with the right handaling of situations MOST strangers wouldent der be so rude [ u hope ]
"No brilliance is required in magic, just determination and relatively clean fingernails."
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Sjiwi New user Belgium 57 Posts |
thanks (again) for the replies...
I really like ShawnD's idea, probably because it's one that I could actually pull off. (I didn't have the Invisible deck with me, so...) btw, I was kind of hoping to get a reply like yours, rvigon. I haven't had the pleasure of performing for strangers (still waaaaay too early), but I always assumed strangers would somehow be more "easy-going" than friends... (They are probably also more likely to think you are doing *real* magic.) Or is this simply wishful thinking on my part ? |
rvigon Loyal user uk 266 Posts |
sjiwi ifg u belive you are doing the magic so will they this may seam strange because of course you know its not reall but they do not know that some magicians practise and practice new trickes and methods until they know the lot but this does not make them a good magician to be a good magician you need more than tricks u need meaning and felling and purpose by this i mean if i walk up to you and take a hanky push it in my hand and go wow its gone yea most people will go wow but willl they rember you tomorow i doubt it but is you do the same trick with felling build up tension then it will be a while before youi are forgotten rember there are no bad tricks just bad performinces i hope this helps
"No brilliance is required in magic, just determination and relatively clean fingernails."
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