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Mirokai New user 56 Posts |
I know this have been discussed a lot but I just don't find a good solution for my particular problem.
Let me explain myself. The other day I was doing a routine with a stacked deck, Si Stebbins method. Well in one part of the routine, you know, when you ask a spectator to take a group of cards form the deck and you proceed to reveal all of his cards, I was lost, completely lost.. I start well but at some point, all go wrong... I need to reveal at least 5 more cards and well I couldn't. I don't know why was lost, this isn't the problem really. My question is how do you get out of this problem? What do you say? In that occasion I just say that I scoured it up... but it wasn't funny
"Tout ce qui nous arrive de bien et de mal ici-bas était écrit là -haut" Diderot
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Laughing Otter Loyal user Behind you! 205 Posts |
Things like this happen to everyone. What would your performance character say or do?
My "gypsy" might make a comment about how the deck must have done something that caused it to fall out of favor with the spirits, gather them all up, put them away, and ask the audience to applaud very loudly, as this chases away any prankster spirits that may be near. Then pull out a fresh deck and carry on. My "mundane" performer (who can be a somewhat daring flirt) might get annoyed, demand to have those cards back immediately, chide the deck and threaten it with "a spanking that you will *not* enjoy when we get home". Again with the fresh deck and moving on. Hanging around the Café, you will hear this hundreds of times from hundreds of people, and here it is once more: Find and develop a performance character. Once you have brought that character to life, responses to unexpected situations like the one you describe will not be a major issue. |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
I don't think there's much you can do.
I saw one well known mage mess up and never really fully recovered. He was a bit embarrassed but did make a few humorous remarks and got a few laughs. He tried to set things right but the effect was weakened. I think it's best to admit that you are lost, hide under a table for a minute (maybe find your bearings here), and move on to the next effect. Maybe say something like, "Did you guys ever see 'Land of the Lost' or 'Lost in Space'. No? Well I'm the now and I have no idea where the rest of those cards are!" When you say,"need to reveal at least 5 more cards and well I couldn't.", it sounds like the trick was a bit complicated and maybe just too much. While I know that full deck stacks can produce some amazing effects, I tend to avoid them because I will find a way to mess up. Good Luck and Happy New Year |
junkdz New user 67 Posts |
An invisible deck provides a way out most of the time. I don't use it unless its for the last card trick I have planned. That way I can bail out of a mistake by showing my prediction in the other deck.
Montgomeryville Magician http://www.dzmagic.com Philadelphia Magician
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Cameron Fisk Regular user Vancouver, BC 194 Posts |
Practice. Not only practice the routine but what you would do if somthing goes wrong like this. Don't practice until you don't make mistakes, perform until you can't make mistakes. Hope this help you as it has me.
Cheers, Cameron Fisk |
Pinto2 New user 76 Posts |
Invisible deck is the best back up you can have for cards tricks, just say somthing like, "Well it doesn't really matter that your cards not hear, because as you'll see, somthing else has happened that's much more ammazing, pull out invisable deck and show them, better yet if you plan on doing the invisible deck anyway, hand it to somone before you get started. One hint, make sure you don't hand it to a young kid because they have a habit of opening and looking through it.
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Jailhouse Jonny New user 81 Posts |
I usually have an out deck (Invisible, Brainwave or Phil) when I'm doing gigs. Swami gimmick or center tear can also get you out of trouble. For fun when I screw up I can offer the line "Well it's a good thing we weren't doing the guillotine trick!"
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
It's always good to have an "out" like the invisibile deck. But, if you don't have an appropriate "out" for the trick, there is no shame is simply saying "Oh well, that didn't work out exactly as I planned, but let me show you this one instead. It's much better anyways."
The only time when a line like this should not be used is when it is your last trick in the act. The audience tends to remember the last things first - and you don't want to leave them on a downer. So, at all costs, you must ensure that you nail your climax. Hope that helps. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
Reis O'Brien Inner circle Seattle, WA 2467 Posts |
This is exactly why stacked deck effects scare me. I just don't have the memory for them! I've had such a hard time learning them, much less performing them. You're all braver men than me for even going for it.
By the way, Jailhouse, that's a great line! |
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