|
|
Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3~4~5 [Next] | ||||||||||
porcupine Regular user Toronto 196 Posts |
Uhmmmm,....
Personally, the ambitious card is one plot that has always intrigued me. It seemed like the 'perfect' effect to do for people, it's easy to understand, works with all age groups, and is all around a very versatile effect. But the more I performed it, the more I found it lacking. It's a show and tell trick. It tells the audience that I can outsmart you, outwit you, and stay one step ahead of you without having a real premise or meaning to the effect. The real problem I had with it was why the audience should give a d***? Why should they invest emotion on mere exposition? I think Paul Chosse is right, the ambitious card is a plot with no ending. The fact that it gets progressively more 'impossible' does nothing to create an end to the effect. It is simply you you making it harder to do what the spectator already know you will succeed in doing. Personally, I find that most presentations are illogical, irrelevant, or just plain lame. Saying that the ambitious card is a trained little puppy or a magical automobile seems downright stupid to me; it undermines the audience's intelligence. On the other hand, I wholehearted disagree with presenting it without any form of presentation, because it becomes show and tell. I'd rather my audience have an experience as opposed to just being a witness. Paul Chosse writes that: "I'm purposely not exposing this solution to the quest for an ending to the ambitious card, because I have set up the scenario several times on the Café and I keep waiting for someone to take the bait, to try to fix this trick." I took the bait, and spent an incredible amount of hours and time and thought into the ambitious card. And the solution I came up with specifically address the problems I had with the ambitious card (or so I hope...). If you would have told me a month ago that I would be posting this on a public forum, I would have thought you insane. But anyways, here it is, for all it's worth. And thanks, Mr. Chosse, for the inspiration. Premise What if..? What if I had to do a stupid trick that didn¡¦t work? Structure of Routine Setting - Magician takes out a pack of cards somewhat apologetically and tells the audience that the 'magic union' requires him, from now on, to do the following trick in every show or he would be dropped from the members roll. - The magician apologizes and mumbles something about the 'magic union' and 'satan' and informs the audience that this is his first time attempting this effect and he hopes that nothing goes wrong. - The magician takes out a folded piece of paper and unfolds it, unveiling instructions to do the required trick. He hands the instructions to a spectator and asks her to help him as the effect goes on. - Magician follows the instructions as read out loud by the spectator, looking unsure of himself and tries to figure the trick out. He is semi-apologetic as he tells the audience that he'll just have to get this part over with so they could move on to better magic effects. Conflict - Following the instructions, the magician has a card selected, and returned. The instructions say that the magician should show that the selected card is not on the top or bottom of the deck. - In turning the top card over, the magician discovers that the selected card is the top card. - Confused, the magician takes the top card and puts it back in the middle saying something about starting again from the beginning. He shows the top and bottom card, the top of which is still the selection. A little frustrated, he puts it back into the deck. - The 'ambitious card' theme is repeated, but each time with a different emotional reaction on the part of the magician, until appropriate to the rest of the presentation. - Finally frustrated, the magician informs the audience that he can¡¦t continue the performance until he finishes this trick, so with the audience¡¦s consent, he will cheat. - The magician is mildly apologetic as he tells the audience that he will just run through the motions and all they would have to do is to gasp and applause at the correct moments and pretend the trick worked. Climax - The magician decides to start from the top. The selection is replaced, and the top and bottom cards are shown. - The top card, as expected, turns out to be the selection. The magician whispers to the audience to ignore it, stressing that the top and bottom cards are not theirs. - Following the instructions, the magician asks the spectator to cut off about half the deck. The magician takes the bottom half and shows the top and bottom cards to be not the selection. He then asks another spectator to deal cards into his hand to her heart¡¦s content. When she stops, the magician takes a peek at the stopped-at card. A hint of confusion crosses the magician¡¦s face, he then smiles and turns the card over to show the selected card, which has apparently disappeared from the top of the top packet on the table! Resolution - The magician mutters something about the ¡¥magic union¡¦ and reluctantly admits the instructions were right, he just neglected to follow through. Giving the audience the selection as a souvenir, the magician bids the audience a farewell and steals away into the night. (I should mention that part of the opening premise with the magic union and having to do an unwanted effect is Paul Chosse's idea. It was his solution to the coins across premise. So credit goes to him.) Cheers Ted
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” - Albert Einstein
|
|||||||||
Scott Cram Inner circle 2678 Posts |
Excellent, Ted!
When I still did my particular ambitious card routine, I called it my "junk" routine. First, I'd have the card selected, but not signed. I'd bring it to the top. I'd mention that this could obviously be a duplicate, but that I was pretty sure I didn't have any duplicates in the deck. Just to be sure, I'd have the card signed. It was put in the center, and would come back to the top. Remarking that the signature only identifies the face, I'd put a paper clip on the card, lose it in the center, and the paperclipped card would still rise to the top (Tomo Maeda's "Ambitious Clip" from 5 times 5 Japan). After this sequence, I'd attach a piece of yarn, so the card could be followed (Daryl & Ray Kosby's "That Old Yarn"), and the card and yarn would jump visibly to the top. As a finish, I'd use Daryl's Ultimate Ambition. The fact that I kept piling more and more junk on the card, increased both the impressiveness of the conditions and the humor, so it worked well. |
|||||||||
NiallTL Veteran user 308 Posts |
Hi,
just PM me, and I will send you an explanation of a palm-free card to pocket in which the card is signed, and believe me, people freak when they see me reach into my pocket and produce their card. Hope this helps, F.D. |
|||||||||
Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Interesting that nobody mentioned the Ambitious Card Routine out of the Close-Up Card Magic section of LORAYNE: THE CLASSIC COLLECTION. Don't know whether to be happy or sad about that! HARRY LORAYNE.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
|||||||||
steve_sargent New user Steve Sargent 89 Posts |
...a section or sections that physically involves the spectator again (they turn over the top card or insert it into the deck etc.)
"Easy to do and completely angle proof"
|
|||||||||
MagicRocks New user 91 Posts |
I guess the point of AC is that the audience witness/see the selected card go into the middle of the deck and without any moves, the card rises to the top. Hence, I think that shuffle and cuts should be omitted from AC as it significantly reduces the amazement of AC effect.
|
|||||||||
rkosby New user 20 Posts |
Scott,
Do you use the yarn from That O'l Yarn for the Ultimate Ambition? If so that's a neat idea. Also, Daryl markets That O'l Yarn, but he wasn't involved with the creative side of it. David Williamson's ideas with cards and string were the starting point. Ray |
|||||||||
Jeff Corn Inner circle Las Vegas 1190 Posts |
You guys both jumped into a topic that's about 3 years old. These guys may not be here to answer you questions.
Yes, that is my real name. Yes, I am a real person. No, you probably won't agree with me.
|
|||||||||
hdragonetta New user 76 Posts |
This may be an old post resurrected but there are some noteworthy comments in it. To me Daryl's routine and David Regal's have the best raison d' etre.
|
|||||||||
Jeff Corn Inner circle Las Vegas 1190 Posts |
Totally agree, I was just making sure the guys that brought it back realized that a few of these guys aren't here anymore.
Yes, that is my real name. Yes, I am a real person. No, you probably won't agree with me.
|
|||||||||
Dark Knight Loyal user My troops are stationed at 272 Posts |
I apologize for not reading through the entire thread, but I would answer the question this way: a card selected and SIGNED by the Spec. After that, you're on your own!
This may sound sacrilegious, but my current favorite version of this classic effect doesn't employ any DLs at all. DK |
|||||||||
WazMeister Loyal user 233 Posts |
I do the Bill Malone routine - I don't have a pocket.
Think it's one best ACR I have came across. I cut the part out of its in my pocket, and I don't even have a pocket though. |
|||||||||
JMAC Regular user 165 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-17 08:49, steve_sargent wrote: This is very important... Jmac |
|||||||||
Dark Knight Loyal user My troops are stationed at 272 Posts |
...a performer who has studied and understood the routining and presentation in Tommy Wonder's "Ambitious Card Plus Ring Box."
DK |
|||||||||
Adam1975 Special user UK 900 Posts |
The ambitious card must include......
At least one phase where you fail to get the double,picking up a single or a triple by accident,forcing you to resquare and try again
Ive upped my standards.Now,up yours!
|
|||||||||
evikshin Special user 893 Posts |
Do whatever it takes to convince the spectator that the card is really in the center, and then comes to the top. There is no set format. However, I will say that in my experience, and in the experience of many others, a routine consisting of ONLY DL's will start to lose steam, and you run the risk of being called on it.
|
|||||||||
Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-22 05:06, Adam1975 wrote: A fan of my work I see. Ben
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
|||||||||
Adam1975 Special user UK 900 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-23 03:39, Ben Train wrote: Maybe I am,Ben,but Im not allowed to post for a week....I think my cunning punning tipped you over the edge
Ive upped my standards.Now,up yours!
|
|||||||||
gharf New user 5 Posts |
I am still a beginner at cards but the braue pop out move works very well.
also if I have some wax I ll end with Ammar's card on ceiling, pretending to have lost the card and throw the deck in the air. |
|||||||||
AsL Special user 680 Posts |
I always try to make sure I involve the spectator as much as possible during the ACR. I constantly have them participate. Whether it's calling "stop", signing the card, shuffling the cards, putting the ACR back in the middle of the deck, or something else.
Spectator involvement which has motivation behind every action with the ACR should create strong magic. All the Best, Andrew |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The workers » » The Ambitious Card must include...? (6 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3~4~5 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |