Have you guys noticed on some of the sleight of hand DVDs available, the artist shows you some great moves but in a real world performance situation are very challenging, if next to impossible to get into and out of? Two examples stand out in my mind; on the Eddy Ray Sleight of Hand with Cards and his CD Manipulation DVDs.

First, he shows a card to silk where he comes out with a card in the right hand and then vanishes the card and a finger clipped silk appears. This would be a good opener because of the set up but the challenge I have is how to steal a rolled silk, finger clip it in the front of the hand and then put a card in front of the rolled silk so that you can show the card, vanish and then produce the silk. Conversely, Jeff McBride has a great card to silk on his Manipulation Without Tears DVD using a gimmicked card and on his Art of Card Manipulation DVDs he does go into body loads, steals, aquitments and so forth.

Second, on his CD Manipulation DVD, he shows all these great vanished and production but it is all done straight on without and mentioning of body loads, steals, etc.

I have also noticed this on several coin sleight of hand DVDs. Is is just me? I am not trying to be critical of an another magician's work, it's just something I've noticed.

Personally, I would like to know more about getting in and out of a sequence so that the magic is seamless.

Any thoughts?

You can acquire items secretly when putting other props away from the last trick.

after a card trick, bring out a ball. put the deck away and steal a second ball.
Now you're one ahead.

You're right that a lot of things on video don't work well in a lot of real environments. the snap change comes to mind.

solving this take a lot of planning and scripting. they require body turns, moving your hands in and out of frame, glances here and there, gesturing, questioning your audience...

making it all seem completely natural and not suspicious takes time and thought.

.. and if all else fails just make a bunch of YouTube videos and pretend you're a "kool street magician". the angles are great.

Althought the production value is horrible, check out Nowlin Craver (sp) videos. He has a lot of stuff I've never seen before relating to loads. Also Carl Cloutier introduces tons of items in many of his videos.
Joe

In the old book bi Geoffry Buckingham called "It's Easier Then You Think", he covers an entire chapeter devoted to the art of body loads and steals and how to acquire items duruing a magical presentation. It is a great read and very informative. You may want to check that out.

Also, you may want to check out the chapter on misdirection found in Tommy Wonder's "Books of Wonder. Great stuff there that can be directly applied to body loads, sequencing and obtaining or getting into certain moves.

Another thing that is important is a term I call "logical Misdirection". I may save going into full detail on this for another thread etc., but basically it means directing the audience based upon misdirection that is logical to the audience. The logic in most cases isfrom doing a move or turn of the body etc. in a logical manner. Because it is logical to the audience, the audience never suspects anything at all because it simply makes sense.

Kyle

Frank is right. It takes a lot of thought in sequencing the technical moves logically and seamlessly. Kyle's mention of "logical misdirction" is also useful in helping you set-up the technical moves.

There are tons of technical moves that are available today. Personally I feel that it is important to select those that you are comfortable with first. Secondly, work out the moves to see whether they are applicable to the real world environment. Thirdly, we need to take a look at the practicality of whether the moves require body loads and steals that are actionable and practical to your performance character.

Besides the technical moves we must also not forget the "REAL" effect you want the audience to see. I would prefer to work backwards. Know what you want to create first, then work out the moves that are more practical, logical and useable in the real world environment. There's always more than one way to create the same effect.

Sequencing the technical moves is also another factor we can play with. We can always list down the chain of 'micro-effects' we want to perform first. Then work them out physically and see if they can be executed smoothly. If not, we can always rearrange the sequence again. If there are still further hic-ups, then we may need to replace certain moves. This way we can work out the execution of misdirection and technical moves for the various steals and loads we need to create the effects.

Hope this helps.

James Tong

Couldn't agree more - think of the effect you want to produce, then find the method. It is all in the routining.
Why should people give us us their ideas then take us by the hand and show us how to use them in 'all world' situations? Come on, we do need to think for ourselves as well!

Dave

That is the path of the creative thinker. Well said. =)

Kyle

Guys, thank you for your input. Kyle, good call on the Geoffry Buckingham book. I also have his DVD and it is quite good. He has over 30 steals in his routine.

Dave, with all due respect, its comments like that that make me not want to ask a question, or post a comment. The purpose of the Magic Café is magicians helping magicians. While I have developed steals and techniques on my own, it always helps to talk with other magicians so that we may not reinvent the wheel every time.

My intentions was to express an opinion on an observation I have and ask for others observation and direction for my own research. If the magicians of the past had the "I know it and it is your job to find out" attitude, very few of us would be the magicians we are today.

Respectfully Submitted,
David W.

Where can I Buy the Book " Easier than You think" ?

I got my copies from Denny Haney from Denny and Lee magic. Get all three volumns. They are very inexpensive.

His website is http://www.dennymagic.com

Denny is a wealth of information and is alway willing to help and share his knowledge.

He is the special guest on the Magic Café this month.

David W.

But check second hand dealers first, if you can find the first edition, or a copy that's hardbacked, then it is much better, because of the photos. But still buy vol.3 of the soft back. If we knew what country you were in it would help too...

I've been thinking for a while now that a DVD is due teaching the art of loads, steals and the related misdirection. I'd love to do it, but I don't think I can on my own.

And yes David, it does annoy me when they put silly moves in like that, if they could explain the way in and out it would make a whole lot more sense.

I agree that a DVD on the art of loads, steals, body loads, table steals etc. would be a very valuable DVD worth of information for the manipulator. It certainly is not anything that has been handled a lot in publication of dvd that I am aware of. I know people talk and discuss it in parts, but never quite a compilation. Paul: I think that is a wonderful idea for a project for someone to take on.

Kyle

Thank you Paul, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who sees that problem.

If you do a DVD on steals, put me down for one of the first. The only one that comes close to what you are suggesting is Duane Laflin's Sequences and Steals DVD.

I agree with Kyle, there is precious little info on the subject.

David

David, apologies if I upset you; it was not meant in that way. The typed 'thought' never comes out the same way as the spoken word, when an immediate discussion can ensue.

I do understand what you were saying and agree with your point (I think there are several instances in some dvd's/vids where it would be almost imossible to do the 'get ready' without it being used an opener) - I just tried to say that we should be left with something to do that would make it personal to 'us' and fit in with the character we are trying to portray on stage.

For what it's worth, what I have done, in the past and at present, has been to watch other magicians (and other entertainers such as dancers, comedians etc.) to see how they work and what they use to cover the 'naughty' bits; from other types of entertainers you can pick up on timing or a certain gesture/look (with the eyes, that is, not their dress sense!).

I have recently been putting a manip act together - I used to do one years ago - and came up against exactly this problem. I watched dvd's until they were coming out of my ears to see what was 'going on' in today's manip world, spent hours deciding what I would like to do then spent (and am still spending) time on where to load and where/how to cover the steals.

At present I am really enjoying the time I'm spending trying out, throwing out, getting totally exasperated and occasionally being surprised that something works.

What I would suggest is buying, say, the Fred Kaps DVD and watching it until you cannot stand it anymore - I found it a revelation in all apsects of peforming. Including covering those 'naughty bits'. In fact I think that watching some of today's top performers is also a revelation in how they handle mis-direction.

Again, David, my apologies and I will try to expand on my thoughts next time to ensure I don't give the wrong impression.

Best of,

Dave

Dave,

Excepted, let's all move forward.

David W.

Thanks, David - means a lot to me.

Best,

Dave

Geoffery Buckingham's video is now on DVD from http://www.llpub.com check it out.

Aww thanks for mentioning that. I did not realize that it was out on DVD. It will certainly be added to my magic "wish" list.

Kyle

Boy, Kyle it is a great DVD. What I am impressed with is not only the amount of steals he does (over 30) but his resourcefulness in body loading.

It is well worth the investment and I would have loved to have known Mr. Buckingham. He seems to have been a fine gentleman and was a very good magician well past when most of us would want to retire.

David

I am old enough to have seen Geoffrey Buckingham do his lecture in person. The setting and the act - it was mind blowing. And yes, he was a gentleman through and through.

Thanks for the info re the dvd. I think I will'go for it' and re-live my youth!

Best of,

Dave