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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts |
Just a few points that are precepts of mine:
1) I agree strongly with practicing sleights with both hands; I have always done so, though I will admit that I am guilty of almost never practicing routines on both sides. (I probably should though). 2) I don’t use hand washes or wipes at all. I never, ever show my hands as empty unless they truly are! I do use some subtleties (Ramsay & Malini) plus Tenkai and back thumb palm at times to allow spectators who happen to look to see my hands might appear empty, but I never try to actively "show" empty hands. It never seems to work, at least IMO; most spectators figure that if you are showing them empty hands but without just holding them out cleanly then you are hiding something. Why run? I wait until all coins have been ditched or otherwise accounted for. Then they can see my hands all they want! 3) A couple of treasures from one of my favorite magicians, Al Schneider: "Never do a move to show nothing happens." And, "The goal is: Do Magic. (IOW, sometimes too much time and effort is spent on other performance aspects; but they come to see the magic part rather than the clever patter!!" 4) Favor "Fake Takes" over "False Transfers". Lawrence O stresses this in his treatise in another thread about the Tourniquet Vanish and I have found it to be true in my experience. Fake takes require less moves and are therefore less distracting and require less misdirection and follow-up. The Retention Vanish can look truly magical due to the POV concept yet it is very much overused IMO and too much emphasis is placed on it instead of using it as one should - a utility move like any other false transfer in order to accomplish something larger - the goal of the routine itself. Anyway, those are a few things I try to always consider and use. Jim |
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Chris W Regular user Have you seen my 176 Posts |
Jim,
I love your quotes you gave. Good stuff for me to think about. I also like your take on Takes over Transfers. Thanks for those. Chris |
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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts |
Chris, the Al Schneider quotes are from an article on Al's website here: http://www.omenquest.com/wmcezine/i004/f3/aaab.htm
Read the article; memorize the article! And the Fake Take info is from a post by another member here at The Café, Lawrence O, about the French Drop or Tourniquet Vanish. Used to be in this very sub-forum but looking for it I just realized that it has been moved to the Secret Sessions sub-forum, and you need 50 posts before you can access that forum. You'll get there soon enough. Thanks! Jim |
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feher Inner circle Michigan 1421 Posts |
I can't really add anything, you have gotten some great advice from great guys here at the Café'.
So the only tip I can give right now is ...don't eat yellow snow....lol Happy Holidays ! Tim
Mean people SUCK!!!!!!!
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Mb217 Inner circle 9520 Posts |
Hey Chris, learn how to mix the paint here and you'll learn a lot. Even the things supposedly "set in stone" aren't really that. As you move through all this, you will see for yourself. It is only set in stone for those that couldn't figure out how to go any further. Good guidelines but don't let them be barriers for you or hurdles you don't dare jump. They are there for you to jump and find a way beyond them.
Also, a lot of this stuff is style and likes/dislikes, can do's/can't do's/won't do's. It has a bit to do with magical principles/philosophies held by some big and small. For instance, Schneider is one of my favorite magicians as well, quite cerebral about this stuff. His point mentioned, "Never do a move to show nothing happens." is a guide post for sure but you will see guys like Mickey Silver (of which Al is a very big fan) put a coin in his left hand and to make sure specs believe it's still there, he will dramatically point to it over and over, he even go's over and show you that the coin is still in the hand by actually opening it and showing it to you, all to show you that nothing has happened. Some like this and some don't but it works brilliantly as when he eventually opens the hand there is no coin there and the amazement is even stronger. In one man's hand a move might be just a move, in another's it might be/could be so much more, and for some it will be. That "some" could be you. Enjoy all the good words here and the journey, loads of good tools in the toolbox for you.
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb |
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Orb New user 90 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-20 22:17, Chris W wrote: Presentation is highly vital, very very important. But the biggest battle when it comes to practicing the sleights I think stands between smoothness vs accuracy. I know Ponta the Smith practices smoothness over accuracy, and he has got some fine results down. Usually though, I think practicing accuracy can inspire more confidence in a person, but smoothness may increase the end results. This is an individual choice in the end, but nowadays I practice smoothness over accuracy as well, because I find the end results get better, and with just some more time spent practicing you can get that confidence down. But hey, don't forget the importance of presentation! and good solid routining! |
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jedoonatmagic Loyal user FL/residing temp. TX 228 Posts |
Lots of great advice here. I only wish I had all the wisdom here much earlier. The things that have been important to me is being comfortable, and have confidence in what you are doing. Take your time, coin magic is more technique over speed. If you have to show your hands empty while holding out, don't over do the hand-washing. And being ambidextrous does help routines run a bit smoother. That's my 2 cents.
One for the money...., 2 for a pass..., 3 for a Fly..., and 4 for matrix!
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mtb New user South Africa 61 Posts |
Thanks for all the advice you guys give out so freely.
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Chris W Regular user Have you seen my 176 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-12-22 13:55, mtb wrote: Completely agreed! |
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