I've been exploring a new presentation for Vernon's Twisting the Aces lately. I've just shared the details on my blog. I understand the "puppy pasteboard" theme won't be to everyone's liking, but I'm getting much better reactions to TTA using this approach. Does anyone else use a similar theme for TTA?

Marty

Nice idea Marty. I'd suggest giving blank cards out & having them draw the dog as well as name it. Of course, this is similiar to a David Regal idea where he uses a drawn dog for his ACR.

With a bit of thought I imagine there are quite a few effects like this that could benefit from the cards being more personal rather than just a signed playing card.

Great idea. You are correct about the theme issues. That is why John Cornelius' "Marked for Life" is so engaging.

Playing cards with a different dog on the face of each card.

http://www.bicyclecards.com/products/pla......ng-cards

Thanks Russell, the blank card idea is good. The reason I don't get people to draw a dog is because this can make a person very uncomfortable if they find drawing difficult.

jcroop, that deck would be perfect for this presentation! I knew Top Trumps made a dog deck, but I didn't know there was a playing card version (I think these decks may even use the same artwork).

I've also considered printing some dog cards myself with a space to add the name. However, calling the Fours the "dog" or "puppy" cards seems to make people giggle because they have to use their imagination. Also, this allows me to use a regular deck. But I think I will try some of these ideas to see what a difference it makes.

Thanks,

Marty

I think I might not invoke the term "Doggy Style"....

Yes, I admit that the association perhaps is a little inappropriate, but I couldn't resist. I certainly wouldn't use this term in performance.

Marty

P.S. I think I hear Vernon's cigar box rolling over.

Sounds good Marty. The best presentation I've come across is our own Barry Fernelius' Pavlov Aces - it's brilliant!
Justin

I would never outright disagree with you sir, but it would depend on the crowd at the time. Great title in a bar or comedy situation, but maybe more of a "puppy power" theme for a younger or perhaps feminine crowd. Personally, I love the title, but I used to do a lot of totally "adult" shows in bars and comedy clubs. I would probably go with the puppy power while table hopping at a family restruant though

Has Barry published this anywhere? Barry, I'd like to learn more about this.



Yeah, if I was performing this for a bunch of rowdy adults at a bar I might use this phrase as a hook. E.g. "I'm now going to perform a classic of magic doggy style!", the joke being that the trick sounds rude, but isn't. I've never done this though, I simply refer to the cards as "pasteboard puppies".



This is why I have the names of four dogs written on the cards. It makes the effect very clear cut, and the presentation more personal to the individuals involved.

Marty

Saw this and gave me an interesting idea...

Lets say you use 4 pictures of dogs, looking forward, and as opposed to the pictures turning face down, you would get the dogs to actually turn around in the image. So they are now you would see there backs sitting down. You can do it vice versa as well, mentioning how dogs never like to be photographed, and then have them look front ward.

You cant use the standard twisting the ces handling, but at least your left with cute puppy images, or funny puppy images, that you can give away, and have your business card info printed on the back, or the dogs could have your card in your mouth.

Small idea, I wouldnt use it personally, but maybe some one will have a use for it.


Thanks!

Interesting idea Six. It could be done fairly easily if all your dog cards looked alike. The idea is definitely worth exploring further.

However, I'm getting good reaction when using the Fours, so I think I'm going to stick with this approach (at least for a while). The fact that you're forcing your audience to use their imagination seems to add to the magic.

(Background: the Aces have just been produced. Sometimes, this is via Le Paul's Gymnastic Aces. Other times, I use the second part of Fechter's Aces. In either case, I'm displaying the Aces to the spectators.)

These are not just any Aces; these are Pavlov's Aces. (Pause a beat.) Does the name ring a bell? (If all I receive is blank stares, I give a brief and humorous recap of Pavlov's experimental work with dogs.) Before Dr. Pavlov did his famous experiments with dogs, he worked with Aces. And these are, in fact, Pavlov's Aces.

Which Ace do you think is the most psychologically disturbed? (React to the answers.) The Ace of Spades! Probably the result of being called the Death Card as a child. It's also the hardest one to train. Push the button on the back of this Ace, and make a peculiar sound. (Spectator does so. If she hesitates, I smile and remind her that no one is going to judge her based on the sound that she makes.) Fortunately, Aces cannot salivate. But something strange has happened. One Ace, the Ace of Diamonds, has turned face up.

---

You can probably fill in the rest of the presentation for yourself. When different sounds are made, different Aces turn up. Near the end, I have a spectator push the button without making a sound. Of course, nothing happens. For the finale, one spectator holds the cards between her first and second fingers, as though she has closed a pair of scissors on them. Everyone leans in, everyone pushes the button at the same time, and everyone makes a loud sound. (People in the immediate vicinity wonder what the heck is happening!) The spectator spreads the cards herself, and the Ace of Spades has turned face up.

The presentation was designed for playful interaction with the spectators. It encourages them to outdo each other with their sounds, and the ending always gets a big reaction. (If this trick has a weakness, it's that every phase is very similar to the others. This presentation helps me to build to a big finish.) It also leaves the cards in the spectator's hands, something that I think is important for this particular effect. Vernon's Twisting the Aces is one of my favorite effects, particularly in situations in which I'm performing standing up and surrounded. I never get tired of performing this old classic.

Great presentation Barry, thanks for sharing. I particularly like the way it actively engages your audience, and turns Twisting the Aces from "watch me magic" into a memorable magical experience. I'd be tempted to actually use small hand bells with this presentation, although this does diminish the creative aspect of generating a unique sound. Here's a set of bells that would be perfect:

Percussion Plus Combi Bells (Set of 8)

Nearly 20 years ago a CD called 'doggystyle' was a massive hit, throughout a culture already assailing anything with a bit of edge as being "inappropriate" or "offensive." while it's not necessarily the optimal title for this routine, magic could use a lot less of the priggishness that reflexively advises against "invoking" what is by this point a pretty tame phrase. a far better reason not to use it would be that it's derivative and played out.

What the heck is a CD?

I have no idea Barry. I think they're like cassette tapes.



When I was younger I used to babysit for our neighbours. I quite vividly remember their son singing and dancing to "The Bad Touch" by the Blood Hound Gang. He was nine at the time, so this was kinda inappropriate, but I don't think it did him any harm. He really did love that song.

Incidentally, in my notes I've called the routine "Pasteboard Puppies". I admit I gave this thread a salacious title to encourage people to read it.

Marty

Here's a more detailed blog post on "Pasteboard Puppies". It also includes a link to a full write-up of my handling of "Twisting the Aces". It only took me 13 years!

Read Pasteboard Puppies (Marty's Bag of Tricks)

I hope you have fun with this one. Feel free to modify the script to suit your own performing persona.

Marty

I call my version "The Four Faces of Fortune." I use 7s instead of Aces (since the number seven is historically associated with luck).

Each of the suits represents a type of fortune, fate, or luck.
- The Diamonds represent material gain and wealth.
- The Clubs represent life and health.
- The Hearts represent love and relationships.
- The Spades represent ambition, success, and fame.

I play off of common idioms like "reversal of fortune," "hoping our luck will turn," "a twist of fate," etc., all of which tie the changes in fortune with the turning of the cards.

The two times I've performed this, I did it with king-sized cards (10.25" x 14.5") and an easel as an extra hand.

(So far I've been doing a variation where each card turn until they are all face-up, but I've considered going with original one=at-a-time approach.)

I love your approach, Brad. "Reversal of luck", "hoping luck will turn", "twist of fate" are all great lines.

You probably know that Gerry Griffin likes performing routines with the four "lucky Sevens". I think his DVDs are still available.

Marty

Yes, I have those videos. I've mentioned ad nauseum that Queens Out of Control was the trick that got me back into magic, and I've had the pleasure of corresponding with Gerry, who has been very supportive.