Hi,

For all who do a card manipulation segment in a regular home, say in a birthday party (there was a thread about this once), what do you do at the end with all of the cards on the floor? It's not so 'aesthetic' to continue you show with dozens of cards on the floor?

In most routines, you can't just produce it to a hat\box since you're moving around and everything.

Also - in homes where you are tight in space or have angle problems (that you can't solve by just saying - you, you and you go in front etc.) - would you drop that part?

Thanks,

Simcha

I usually don't do card manipulations in a home or birthday party show (the angles are terrible). I normally do it for my stage show only. Afterwards I just pick up the loose cards myself. I made the mess.

Yes!!!

I agree. And if you have to do manip. maybe do 90 sec. at the most and put them in a box or hat.

Check out McBrides manip without tears for some good suggestions.

Best
Brandon

I open every stand up show that I do (whether it is an adult show or a family show) with manipulations. However, I found that if I do not drop every single card in a receptacle when there are kids in the building (stage shows excluded), it could start a riot. If one tosses cards to the floor, some may come running up and actually fight over them. If I just miss the receptacle with a single card, invevitably one child will point and say, "You dropped one" for the rest of the act and that is very distracting.

Just two quick warnings. Take them for what they're worth.

I've never understood why some people drop the cards on the floor. It makes a mess and looks like a mess.

Besides, when it comes time to pick them up, you have to stoop down and pick them up manually, which I think destroys the whole illusion. Why wouldn't a magician (wearing a tux yet) be able to just snap his fingers and pick up all the cards at once? Or better yet, make them disappear back to wherever they appeared from?

When I was doing the card fans many years ago, they all went into a top hat, and then the hat went into the table to keep the show looking tidy. Then, about twenty years ago, when I was playing with an updated routine, I found a glass top hat (I think it was sold as an ice bucket) and used that. This time everything went into it: cards, billiard balls, silks, and whatnot.

I always felt that keeping it tidy also avoided visual distractions: there was nothing competing with me for the audience's attention.

I believe not all effects are ideal for all environment. If it does not suit the place and have angle problems, why perform it in the first place?

I don't pick up anything off the floor, that's what the help if for...

Peter's remarks are right on the money. Heed them!.

The old vaudeville guys used to advertise "Coming East with New Drop cloths". They would spread a cloth on the floor and then the cloth could be pick up after their act. This little tidbit came from Jay Marshall.

Richard

I also do manipulations in a lot of my shows whether stage show for adults or even a kid's show as part of my musical opener. I think the idea (as Peter stated nicely) is that you must rework your routine a bit so that you are discarding the cards into a receptacle of some sort. This can be a hat or table of some sort. Another method is to work off the deck. I do this when I am performing outside at certain festivals.

You just do not want to drop your cards on the floor. I always just found that to be bad taste. I want it to be magical but not have to worry about mess or fellow performers having to deal with my mess. I also do not want kids going nuts trying to grab at cards that have fallen.

I adapt to the situation.

Kyle

I used to have a large piece of fabric I would set down on the floor and perform on. When I did card manipulations I would leave the cards on the floor and continue my show. I actually tossed a lot of things on the floor so at the end of the show there were tons of things everywhere, I liked that mental picture of all these silks I had produced, all these cards I had produced, and everything else all over the floor at the end. Afterwards when I was packing up the show I would simply roll up the piece of fabric and toss it in my case. No biggie.

Eddie

Good idea Eddie! THANKS!

Kenny

I must say I have never had a problem with kids grabbing the cards. I do a card production that leads into al bakers shrinking cards. I find that maybe one kid would reach for a card but I signal to wait and they do.

its all about audience management. prior to the show I have given directions to the kids and adults. problem solved.

at the end of the show I perform my original snowstorm and then mention that the kids can keep the cards and collect as much snow as they want. they go to town collectiing the cards and snow and I am paying attention as there is always one kid who trys to get and keep everything to which I usually ask him to share the cards with others and he does.

(yes I do snowstorm in a house) NO I do not clean it up. its in my contract that I do not clean it up as well as I ask permission at the time of booking the show.

again I really think it is all about audience mamagement. although I agree with others here that using a top hat or other form of receptical is also a way to go. it certainately means you save a bit of money not having to replace your cards as often.

just my thoughts

sam

I have used a top hat for years to drop cards into but I have recently found something that's much better.

There are collapsable cubes that are sold as drawers for modular storage. They can be found in places like the Container Store, WalMart, etc.

The boxes fold flat for travel, but open to a rigid cube when you lay the bottom square in place.

The cubes are about 14", come in a variety of colors and work great.

http://www.target.com/Whitmor-Set-Collap......00LRFKD4

I have black leatherette that work extremely well and looks very classy. I think that I found them at WalMart.

Lou

Hi lou,
yes I have been using them for quite some time for several different things.

go to a Dollar Tree they have them in all sorts of cool colors and best of all they are only a dollar!

sam

I'll need to try the Dollar Tree. Who knew!

Lou

It is one of my favorite stores.I find some of the best stuff for my acts and manip acts at places like that.

Kyle