Hello all. First time poster, long time lurker here.

I have been interested in Magic off and on again over many years now. Since childhood really.
Now, later in life I have been picking it back up again and dusting off some old gems from my collection. Commonly my Skinner's Monte gaff cards or Expanded Shell or perhaps Scotch and Soda. I tend to like to do tricks for folks over drinks in a pretty light hearted social atmosphere.

I've been out of the loop for a while now as to what has come about and proven itself worthwile in the magic community as far as relatively self working (though impacting and meaningful) ammateur level tricks go.

I quite like trick decks, coins and packet effetcs, especially John Bannon ones such as Royal Scam.

Could any of you fine folks perhaps recomend some worthwile, simple to do effetcs that pack a punch? I'm hoping to grow my collection a little and expand upon my already owned materials and props.

Regards

OathSworn

“Three Card Monte” using cards from a St****er Deck is practically automatic.

“Do As I Do” can be played as magic, mental magic, “synchronicity”, or influence.

“Card Warp” is simple and blows minds. Use an old deck to make up a few “refills”.

“Out to Lunch” can leave them with a souvenir. (Your business card, if you’re so inclined.)

I love John Bannon's "Twisted Sisters". I use a modified version of Greg Arce's presentation:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/searc......=5539648

Ed

Ed_Millis I apparently do not have access to the topic you linked.

*Sadface*

I've been scouring various magic retail sites for the last few days now and Twisted Sisters is a KNOCK OUT. I'm starting to really develop a focal appreciation for Bannon.

I've also thought about...

-Paul Harris' Twilight Angels. Pretty neat to do something visualy bizzare with the back of the card for a change.
-Magnetic Flipper Half-Dollar by Tango. Such a mechanically interesting prop. I don't know how I went unaware of this for so long. VERY clever. Kuepper also makes these. Is there a substantial difference in quality?

Peter Duffie's Ghost Flight http://www.wildcolombini.com/cart/produc......ts_id=85

JOKER DILEMMA by Aldo Colombini http://www.wildcolombini.com/cart/produc......s_id=271

Hate David Copperfield Trick by Geoff Williams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDYOQ8FNPUk

In addition to these marketed effects, you sould also check out The CardMagic of Nick Trost and books and DVDs by Aldo Colombini.
Great value for the money.

Sorry - didn't notice the post count. You'll have to have 50 posts before you can enter that forum.
Here's how I described it in another post:

One of my favorite routines is a packet trick called “Twisted Sister”. The basic premise is two packs of four cards, one red backed and the other blue backed, and one card from each pack transfers to the other pack while two different spectators hold them. The instructions that come with it include the Elmsley count and other handlings with a three-phase revelation, all of which make for a nice card trick.

But I use a different handling that doesn’t use the counting, and it turns into a nice mental magic routine. I’ve had people go into near-meltdowns as I hit the second revelation, and have nowhere to run at the third! All because I start them off with a premise that takes them on a journey with me. “Over the centuries, man has wondered about the mind. Can our minds touch one another? Can our minds affect physical objects? Most importantly, can one mind influence, even control, someone else?” If I’ve only got one person, I’ve got a slightly different handling, but the same kind of hook: “How would you feel if someone could know your thoughts? How would you feel if someone could know what you were going to think? How would you feel if someone were controlling what you think -- right now?”

Ed

You can't go wrong with an "Invisible Deck" in your pocket.

Scotch and Soda is an old trick but plays well. It is available from Roy Kueppers as well as other dealers.

Ray

I'm a newb, so take what I say with that in mind. I have very few things, but with a little bit of practice the ID is easy to do but is a great effect. Marked cards are always great. If you want to do mind reading stuff, and want something that requires practice but isn't difficult per se, then a NW is unbeatable.

I also find that there are many really good self working or simple to do tricks out there that don't require any gaffs or gimmicks, many great card tricks, many great memory or pseudo memory routines, and some great mentalism stuff where you need practically nothing.

OathSworn,

Here are a couple more effects you'll like, They are very close to self working and require no sleights:

Big Reaction by Andy Nyman
Timeless by Liam Montier

Both of these will go over well in the setting you identified above when you mentioned "I tend to like to do tricks for folks over drinks in a pretty light hearted social atmosphere."

Mark

Get sharky
hopping halfs
industrial revalation

I always felt that asking for a consensus of "best of " tricks was a lazy and uninspired way to program a set, then I realize that one still has to perform it - wonderfully or poorly.

"Self-Working Miracles" sort of says it all...