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mikeflex New user 81 Posts |
I am struggling a bit with this one...I love card magic, however many packet tricks involve some form of deck set up before performing.
My wife is a huge sceptic when it comes to magic. I will be showing her a new card effect, and her first question is "Can I shuffle the deck?". How can I answer this question without making it look like the deck is stacked? Thanks, Mike |
DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
Are you trying to fool her or are you using her as you should be, as a critic? Your spouse obviously already knows you are into magic, so fooling her will be the toughest thing you will encounter because she is so skeptical. Magic can be looked at by some people and be completely mystified and others look at magic as a puzzle to be solved. The latter is the toughest audience. Unfortunately a performer will encounter this sooner or later and should always have an "out" ready just for that ocassion. If the deck is stacked and someone asks to shuffle the deck then you can either ignore the request or allow them to shuffle the deck and then proceed with another effect that doesn't require a set up. Or you can learn how to cull the necessary cards after the spec shuffles the deck (a feat that is easier said than done IMHO) Or tell her no politely and proceed to shuffle the deck with various false shuffles and false cuts so that she will be satisfied that the deck is totally mixed up. Wives are hard to fool once they know you are trying to do so. So, with that in mind, talk to her and ask her to watch patiently and to critique your performance and ask her what she thinks about the effect. But always remember that if you show others, there will always be that skeptic that will become a stumbling block that you must deal with. Good luck! I hope this made some sense.
Cardamagically, <<<KRaZy4KaRdZ>>>
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
SMorris Magic New user Manchester, England 51 Posts |
Hi MikeFlex,
As already mentioned, you are attempting to perform magic to a very sceptical person making your job that much harder. When asked if they can shuffle the deck, perhaps you can divert them slightly by utilising several false shuffles/cuts and present it as a fair shuffle. If your wife/spectators remains adamant about shuffling the cards themselves, you are going to have to let them shuffle it and proceed with a different trick. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow rather than fight it - it only raises their suspicions further. However, as you are merely looking for feedback on a particular effect, present it as such. Don't let your wife shuffle the deck (or even mention it), go through the effect and ask for feedback afterwards - the main goal you are after. Regards, Stephen |
Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
Openly false shuffling and cutting prior to the trick and while talking.
They shouldn't ask after that. If they still do ask then use the advice above. |
Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
If it gets really out of hand, buy a six foot guillotine and .... no, that wouldn't be very nice.
Seriously though, the advice you received above is excellent. But, your wife does provide a solid reality check. You always run the risk of a skeptical spectator. You can either stop performing for that person, or you can learn techniques to overcome the challenge. Have you ever heard the expression "Don't run if no one is chasing you"? That was a saying I picked up from one of Tommy Wonder's DVD's. In essence, it's telling you that if the spectator is not suspicious of anything, then don't go to the ends of the earth to hide something she is not looking for. The opposite side of that coin is to eliminate the suspicion from the beginning. You see, once they are "chasing" you, the magic has been destroyed even if you are able to outrun them. At that stage, your magic has been reduced to nothing more than a challenge. It's a puzzle to be figured out. So, part of maintaining the suspension of disbelief involves identifying any suspicious elements in your performance and eliminating them before the arise. This way, there is no need to "chase" you and the effect becomes much more magical in the minds of the spectator. In your case with the cards, your wife has identified the suspicion that you may be using a stacked deck. When she asks you if she can shuffle the deck, the chase is on and all hope of magic is lost. To avoid this, you could effect a series of false cuts and shuffles; but this will only work if you do it casually "before" any such challenge arises. If she's already chasing you, she won't be satisfied until SHE shuffles the deck. Another alternative would be to perform a few non-stacked effects first, letting your wife openly handle and shuffle the deck. Then, when you want to go into the stacked effects, either ring in the necessary cards or perform a deck switch. In either of these two cases, you have "disarmed" her suspicions before they arise. In other words, you never let the chase begin. If this general theory is applied to all of your magic, it can become much stronger. Just my two bits. Kent Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
Noel M Loyal user San Rafael. CA 208 Posts |
I often start with an Invisible deck then either put it away immediately or switch it. If someone asks to see it, I take out a normal deck from the same pocket andlet them look at if for a few seconds, then say, "when you're done looking would you shuffle it for me?" Then do the next trick.
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mikeflex New user 81 Posts |
Thanks for the great advice!! I have been trying to work on false shuffle/false cuts as I thought this may stop the question of shuffling. Any help with either of these would also be much appreciated...
Mike |
DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
Card College series of books by Roberto Giobbi should fit the bill. Even RRTCM by Hugard/Braue has good useful info on both of those sleights. As Giobbi says, every card control should be followed by a false shuffle and or false cut. Every aspiring cardician should be adept at those two sleights, I can remember (many years ago) practicing the false overhand shuffle lessons from RRTCM for months before I tackled more advanced technique. Heck, I still practice it today but I drop less cards today than those early days! Seriously, practice the false shuffles, cuts, controls, before going on to more demanding sleights. You have to have a solid foundation on the basics.
Cardamagically, <<<KRaZy4KaRdZ>>>
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Wives and friends will give you the WORST possible performing situation. Find work arounds to family and friends and you will NEVER find something in professional work that comes close...generally.
You have to look at the wife situation as something that you work on. For instance....For a while do ONLY tricks that it is ok if she shuffles the deck. BUT....before she does, YOU do. And, when you do false shuffle to max whether you need to or not. False shuffle, cut, etc. Get it set in her head that the deck can be mixed by her by you....eh, it doen't matter. Start handing here the deck and MAKING her shuffle over and over until it is onerous for her to do so. Start pulling back. Watch for the time when you start a trick and she DOES NOT ask to shuffle the deck. The next trick be set up, etc. YOU false shuffle, etc. and then go on. The problem with family is that they are always there. They get bored and want to try something different, many times not so much to screw you up, but just to do something to make another magic trick a little more interesting. Best,
Brad Burt
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
I'm in the same situation with my wife, and false shuffles work. But that's just the first hurdle. Get ready for her wanting to select the fourth from bottom card, wanting to switch after a random selection, and asking to see the content of your hands after placing objects into them.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
gbradburn New user Raleigh, NC 75 Posts |
I love this thread.
I'm a computer programmer and I enjoy trying some of my closeup tricks on my co-workers. Of course they are all engineering types so most every trick ends up with them speculating on how it "works". When they say something like "you have two queen of spades in that deck don't you?" I just smile and say "maybe". BTW, this is one reason I really like tricks that can be examined by the spectator after you've done the trick.
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
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DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
Hey Josh, don't let your wife see this forum or you're had! I love magic!
Cardamagically, <<<KRaZy4KaRdZ>>>
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
Gbradburn,
My oldest brother is a scientist (over 22 patents). The only time I fooled him was when he correctly figured out an effect, and I told him he was wrong. Now when he says he has figured out everything I've shown him, I remind him of that one. It's tough to fool people who rule out magic as a possibility. He could have written "The Trick Brain".
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
sunnydolan Veteran user Opelika, Alabama 342 Posts |
Somebody at my workplace is like that. They don't believe in magic, and no matter how many times I trick him, the explination is "quick hands". So, the other day, I busted out the stripper deck, let him pick, and sign four cards, let him shuffle the deck, and pulled his four cards out in a rater stunning flourish. Needless to say, he believes in magic now.
An amatuer practices untill he gets it right, a professinal practices untill he can't get it wrong.
Don't wait for oppurtunity to knock, throw open the door, grab it by the throat and drag it inside kicking and screaming. Magically yours |
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-26 05:12, KRZ4kardz wrote: Bet she says, "I think you shouldda let me shuffle the deck." |
magicalaurie Inner circle Ontario, Canada 2962 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-26 10:21, magicman845 wrote: :nod: |
Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
I thought of a gag just for her. Put a set-up deck in your pocket. Approach her with another deck which is also set-up, and start the trick. If she asks, let her shuffle. When she's done, set the deck aside and pull out the other deck. If she asks to shuffle that one, tell her "OK, when I'm done." and go right into the trick. It's basically the same as refusing, but she may get some interfering out of her system.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
mikeflex New user 81 Posts |
Josh, that is great! I'm doing that tonight!
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-27 18:54, Josh the Superfluous wrote: No, no, no! It's illegal to gag your wife. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
Hushai Elite user St. Louis, Missouri, USA 459 Posts |
Even aside from all the good marital advice ( I particularly like "Wives are hard to fool once they know you are trying to do so.", from KRZ4Kardz ) this has been a VERY good thread -- magicians helping magicians, indeed! Lots of good, basic guidance here. Thank you all.
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