Good to hear from you Jim.

Here is a treat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIQkRYIi3fs

I've been reading and working on mentalism but it will be a while before it sees the light of day. So much to think about and quite a late start. Having no nerve, aging eyes and being a poor actor may bar me from the craft. LOL

I've seen some absolutely horrible Mental Magic recently (with some very expensive equipment). I guess I really want to cleanse my pallet by learning something about the Art and trying to put together one good routine to start. Because I'm a Magician, some of my instincts are wrong and it is tricky territory.

I have seen some very good Mentalists live at various Video sessions so I do know it can be wonderful. I wish I remembered more. It was nice to feel like a layman and enjoy the show.

I know I have avoided having too many card effects in my strolling set and purposefully chosen to use a variety of object in the Magic so I get thinking that not all Spectators like cards but...

The spectators love cards if you engage them in your magic. I have two very simple bits that are easy to do but go over big. I think I've written them down somewhere. One is "Find your Friend's card" and another is one where the spectator picks a card and it is shuffled in. Then you ask the spectator to choose someone who has changed the course of their life for the better and you spell that name down to find their card.

There are more amazing card tricks but these go over because the Spectator is a real part of it.

Good luck with your practice Jim.

-Mary Mowder

I've been spending almost all my time on business aspects and teaching summer camps. Very little time for me to add new magic right now ... Makes me sad :-(.

Have been reading Maximum Entertainment and it is just great! Wish I had purchased this long ago.

Hope everyone is well.

Hudson

I've added a Rubix Cube element to my show - first time I did it, the whole thing was fantastic and went off without a hitch. Second time I did it, I completely forgot how to solve the cube onstage. I was able to salvage the ending and it seemed like the crowd bought it, but boy was it a rough couple of moments up there. So I'll be continuing to work on that.

Nice hearing what everyone else is up to - even if it's not magic related!

Wish me luck! Looking forward to pushing this into my brain and hoping it will not explode. ;o)

1. P.L.Green

2. Tamariz Stack

3. 30 minutes

4. 5

5. August 31st

Wishing you all the luck in the world, P.L. However, if you are able to keep on this schedule, with 30 minutes you will astound yourself with your progress! Keep us informed!! Jim

Thank, Jim! I have started by creating a paper set of cards using Lybrary's free card designer.
It is a great tool! (http://www.lybrary.com/card_designer/), since I hate "destroying" real ones by drawing numbers on them.

Now I plan to record an mp3 following Tamariz's suggestion, and then...... practicing and memorizing is all that is left.

Currently using the Stack Master app (beta at http://www.neo-hypnose.com/magic/stack-master/) as a supporting tool. The first 10 cards are almost done, but much more work to do. I am sure the mountain will become way more steep soon

To P.L.Green

I sent you a PM

I already have the first 30 cards under control. For some I still need to think, specially finding the card based on the rank number. The other way around works better for me. But I do not miss any of them.

I have already covered the full stack, and have linked each card with its position in the deck. Sometimes it comes quickly, but others it takes a few seconds for my mind to "click" and get the answer, and from time to time I just "freeze" and cannot get the number for a card or the card for a rank number..... I am getting old

PL Green-

I've been working on the Aronson Stack, but haven't selected a routine to make it stick.

I've always found that till I start performing a routine regularly, the techniques required don't stay with me.

What routine are you using?

Hudson

None so far, I am only working on memorizing the stack order (both ways: rank to card and card to rank). Does it really help if you apply this to a specific routine?

PL -

Certainly you must memorize the stack prior to performing, but without a routine in mind, it will be difficult to maintain that memorization (at least for me).

I've also considered tricks where perhaps only part of the stack is required - say "weighing" cards. "Please cut off about half the deck and hand that part to me". "I can tell by the "weight" you've only cut 24 cards - please double check for me'".

This would allow you to focus on sections of the stack to ensure you can instantly recall a position/card.

Hudson

Anybody else gearing up for Halloween magic? Anybody seen any new effects or props that would be good??


Jim

I don't do any Halloween-specific tricks, even though October is one of my busiest months. I am constantly working on adding a new trick to my show - last weekend and this weekend I'm performing card-to-wallet for the forst time in paid shows (strolling shows both weekends)

In my state shows, I'm pretty set with a kids show, picnic show, and corporate show. They don't change too much now. Probably the next I will add to my stage show is newspaper tear.

Jim - haven't heard from you for a while, what's up?

Hudson

Thanks for asking, Hudson. All is going reasonably well for me, although I have not been following my own advice regarding regular practice. There have been an inordinate number of business and family issues that have made it hard to maintain the enthusiasm necessary to consistently work on my skills. The last six or eight months have found the law of averages catching up with years where I did not have to deal with issues of death and disease. I am eagerly awaiting the new year, albeit being on tenterhooks until. I was good to come here for a visit and see that you are keeping things warm. Regards to you and yours... Jim

Jim -

Sorry to hear you had a tough year. Hope 2018 is better for you and yours.

Been crazy here as well - some good, some not. Haven't been practicing as much as I should. Doc Eason once told me that a good routine was first thing every morning to practice 50 DL, 50 top change, 50 palm, and 50 controls. ... That's what should be on my New Year Resolution!

Recently moved from downtown Minneapolis to the country - about 2 hours away. Great setting for grandkids, but have to rebuild business. On the positive, lots of resorts so Summer's should be good. On the downside, no companies, so my corporate work will either drop off, or I'll be driving bit more.

What's next on you list to work on?

Hudson.

Glad to see some action in this thread.

Jim, sorry your hitting a bad patch with the health of Friends and Family. I think we are all of an age where we understand and empathize.

My Ring and Ribbon is finally seeing the light of Day in selected gigs. I have a very strong Ring and Rope so I have to choose which is best for my show.
It is going over well for colleagues and very well for lay people. Clearly I'm nervous in front of other Magicians LOL.

-Mary Mowder

I don't even remember the last time I was on the Café. I've been working on a few projects - I just finished writing an episode of a show for Nickelodeon called Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty (that's a real cartoon, I swear) but I've had a couple of good sets at the Castle in the last couple of weeks so that's been fun. I'm trying to go up a bit more as it's so festive this time of year. I hope everyone is doing well and I'm sure things will turn around for you, Jim! Keeping everyone in our little corner of the Café in my thoughts. Happy holidays!

Andrew- I will be at the Castle on January 18th Taking my sister to dinner. Even though I'm a member, I only get there about once a year - difficult living out is of state (Minneapolis) and wine I get back to visit, it's to see my mother who lives in Riverside. You are lucky to be close enough to get there frequently. If you are around, I'll buy you a drink.
Hudson