Hi Gang.

I'm interested on what kind of card holders you guys 'n gals use in your acts.

I'm thinking of getting a Murry/Nielsen card dropper for the act. I'm currently using a belt-type holding system.

Jonas Karlsson
Vibono Magic
Sweden

I just use my hands when I do it. I've never been able to find (let alone afford) any holders.

I am using various card holders: some belt type things, Nielsen card dropper and just clothes pegs which are painted to black. I think that you can easily make your own holders. So they don`t have to be purchased. Just use your imagination and I am sure that you come up with your own method of holding cards secretly in place.

Jarzza

Jeff McBride has a card holding system. It is very nice and he explains what you can do with it on one of the card dvds(tapes).

I use a Nielsen dropper and never had a problem with it so I recommend this dropper.

Large paper clips

I love stage manipulation and have done cards for years. Through all the different clips and loads, I have found that making my own work the best by far.

This is the same type of clip that McBride uses and teaches on his card videos. If you do not have them yet, go and get them as they are so valuable to anyone serious about manipulation.

The basic idea is to use what is called a butterfly clip. You can get these at any office supply store. You then take this clip and spray paint it flat black. It is important that it is flat black as any other gloss paint will leave too much of a shine under stage lights etc.

Then you simply add on a safety pin using some black masking tape and roll that around the flat edge.

Some people glue the clip on, but I like taping it as it allows the saefty pin to pivot more in the jacket.

That is all there is to it. Then simply place this into your jacket etc. and you're set to go.

This clip works great as it even allows you to store minimal amounts of cards in the clip without ever worrying about it dropping out during performance.

I can be reached directly at magic4u02@aol.com for any comments or help. I would be happy to discuss more about manipulative magic with anyone.

I don't like body loads in card routines at all. I work off the pack, just like Bobby Baxter, Jeff Sheridan, Jeff McBride and Fred Kaps. Working off the pack is much more practical, and there are no disappearing arm steals.

Zombie boy,

I can understand your reluctance to use body loads. I also must correct you a bit. Jeff McBride does indeed use body loads and uses them a lot in his own commando card routine.

I can understand how nice it looks when you do not have to perform a body load steal. It is cleaner and easier to manage.

However, if a body load and steal are performed correctly and with the proper use of misdirection, it should be and IS invisible to anyone watching it. There should not be any dissapearing arms or elbows popping out.

A proper steal can give you great results and add a lot more fire power to your card routines. It also gives you more control and variation in what you can do.

Give it a try and I think you may see what I mean. I would recommend you checking out an old book by Geoffry Buckingham called "It's Easier Then You Think". He goes into detail on card holders, clips and the proper way to do a steal from a body load and do it in a way that addresses your concerns.

I hope this helps you and gives you some insightful information. I look forward to your comments and can be reached directly at magic4u02@aol.com

I am quite familiar with the works of Geoffrey Buckingham, and find him and Salvano the only two manipulators who can steal correctly. Also, McBride uses no body loads, as he taught me how to work of the pack when I trained with him this summer.

Zombieboy,

Thanks again for your post and helpful information. It must be great to have had a chance to work with McBride on card manipulations.

What I was referring to was Jeff's first act that he used to do a few years back. I have known him for quite a while and in the early days of the act he did use to use body loads and clips. This is where he developed the idea of the butterfly clip that he shows on his videos.

He has since gone away from this as he finds it easier to work right from the pack. That is fine and is certainly easier to do and less of a risk of exposing anything or making an awkward steal.

I just personally would not shy away from the use of a body load or steal if it can work well for you and if it opens you up for greater possibilities in the act your doing.

A proper body load or steal should appear invisible if done correctly and with proper misdirection.

The problem is that a lot of people do not understand this and do not take the time and effort to do it the correct way.

The Buckingahm book and the work of Salvano are great stuff. I like to collect books and manuscripts on manipulations.

Well, thanks again for your thoughts as they are always welcomes. Do you do a manipulation act currently? Working on an act? Fill me in with your style and character.

I look forward to your response.

I do a manipulation act that is very different. It has a chinese theme, as I am chinese, and works with mirrors, cards, and oriental fans. I do a lot of Marca Tendo roll downs in it, which is decidedly different.

Thanks for your reply and post. Different is always a good thing. Too many magicians tend to do the same old thing without putting forth the effort to be creative and think creatively.

A chinese themed manipulation act sounds really cool. I have seen Tendos stuff live as well on some tapes I have of his work, in my video collection.

He does some great moves and that roll down is very impressive. I suppose you took a while to learn that yourself.

Have you had chance to perform or compete with this new act?

I perform the act in my stage show, but have yet to compete with it. I am trying to find some footage of Tendo, as I have only learned his sleights through the magic arts journal.

I may be able to help you out. Let me see if any of his contact information is on the video that I currently have in my collection.

I found some information although I could not find an e-mail address.

On his tape it says:
Mahka Tendo
103 Royal Villa
927 00zone
Tsukuba - city
Ibaraki - pref.
Japan

81-298-64-64-68

I hope this may help you some in your quest to get some more information. Or to order the same video I have. This video is his entire stage manipulation act.

Thanks, I'll try the address.

Zombieboy:
You're most welcome. Please let me know how you make out with that. I will also check my other tapes and lecture notes to see if I may have anything that may benefit you. Let me know the types of things you are looking for and I will go from there. Hope the mailing address works for you.

I'm very interested in the subject body loads. So I wonder if anybody knows where to get the named books.

What exactly is working off the pack? I'm trying to reduce (or eliminate) body loads as well. Can someone describe this in more detail?

Thanks,
Kipling

I don't like working of the pack. I am trying to learn to manipulate with 40 cards so I don't have to do any steals for my card manipulation sequence. Working of the pack is (I don't know if this is exactly right) producing cards and placing them on the pack which is in one of your hands. In some manipulation routines the performer will just drop the cards but working of the pack means you keep them all there I guess. Am I right guys?