I just got a copy of his 52 assistants. Saw it once before, but what in the world is he talking about during his queens performance? I hear him but wow, his patter is his misdirection in itself.
Is it just me or does anyone feel the same.
What say you?

If you want to read it, "The Exclusive Coterie" from "Artifice, Ruse and Subterfuge at the Card Table" (The Expert at the Card Table) by Erdnase.

Cheers!

HUH that wholw patter is there? Is that what your saying?
Also I just read my own post and want to add that I do not mean his patter is bad I find it incredibly great I just think to my self the practice he must do to remember such a hard patter. Unless of course he just changes it and says what ever comes to mind.

The Exclusive Coterie

"Ladies and gentleman, I shall endeavor to illustrate, with the aid of this ordinary deck of cards, how futile are the efforts of plebeians to break into that select circle of society known as the Beau-monde, and especially how such entree is prevented by the polite but frigid exclusiveness of its gentler members."

(From S.W. Erdnase's classic The Expert at the Card Table)

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A Few Vocabulary Words

coterie - a small, often select group of persons who associate with one another frequently

plebeian - a coarse member of the common class of people

beau-monde - the world of fashionable society

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In other words, when the Queens are separated and mixed with the common people, they find this situation to be so vulgar that they are able to find a way to congregate together again to escape this terrible fate.

Ricky's turn-of-the-century patter, lifted from Erdnase, delivered tongue-in-cheek and combined with a more modern methodology for this effect creates a unique work of art.

The whole effect starts on Page 172. Ricky's was an adaptation of the same effect. Erdnase is using this effect as a demonstration of the value of patter.

Cheers!

I'm guessing you mean that it sounds like double-speak, or fast talk, or carny, or some other less-than-normal speech pattern. Well, it IS an older version of our anglo-saxon base language, that's true. An lot of the words are not in common use these days, but they should be recognizable, at least. If you listen carefully you should be able to follow the tongue-in-cheek meaning of the flowery patter he's using. And, as noted above, if you are having trouble following it on the tape you can always read it (more or less, since he doesn't do it verbatim from Erdnase, but close enough for most of us....).

It's great fun when Ricky Jay does it, but not so much when others try. I've seen copyists, and they just can't deliver the lines right. The material doesn't suit them. It takes a lot of work, and you have to love it to start with, not love it because you saw someone else do it. Ricky found something, actually a lot of things, that suit him, and he rehearsed them to perfection. Do the same thing and your show may approach the professional level his reaches. Or not. But at least it will be yours...

Best, PSC

P.S. I am using the collective "you" in the above, not assuming anyone wants to copy Ricky Jay. Just clarifying before anyone takes offense...

LOL to be honest I don't know how I meant it when I first saw this I was about 17 or so so I didn't really understand nor pay attention to it. I am 26 today and it really catches my attention I did not know that it was in text in At the card table. So in the book is it there as the suggested patter to do with the effect or should I just get the book to truely understand it?

Cheers!

Where did you find a copy of 52 assistants? Is it for sale somewhere???

This turns up on ebay from time to time.The script is great,SO THEATRICAL
Thank's Mr Chosse for a thoughtful post.I use a photo of my late father in my card
to wallet routine.He got me interested in magic so it means a lot to me.

When Ricky segues into his discussion of center deals he quickly rattles off a number of sleights that could be used to counteract the effect of cutting the deck and return desired cards to the top (or bottom) of the deck. Some of the words he uses could be construed as gibberish.

I don't know why but ive been watching this DVD all day I think his patter during his Triumph is unreal as well as his handling.

If you know the lines, Ricky has injected a slight tribute to Ken Brooke in his recitation.

What does he say referring to Ken, Pete?