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Magiconcio Regular user Working on my vanish of 147 Posts |
Hey guys!
It's been a few weeks since I've started doing magic. I'm learning very slowly, but I am learning! I'm guilty of spending more time watching performances and reading about magic than actually practicing something userful! I've been told recently by a respected member of this forum that I should slow down: and I really should! But I'm fine: I'm having lots of fun and it's being great. I'm really glad I picked magic to be my hobby a while back, when I had no clue how much I would start loving it! Right now I want to build a small act and start showing people! It's been fun: there are a lots of stuff to put together, I barely have a clue where to start. I just know there are a lot of effects I want to perform! I've been looking through my "sources" for a while now thinking about what should I use. Andrew Musgrave offers some very interesting insights about this in his Annotated Royal Road to Card Magic. Anyway, I'm writing this because I've run in a "little problem": I couldn't find a opener. That's not the problem itself, I just had to search a little. I decided to search the Café to see if anyone had a recomendation I could use and to learn one thing or two about routining. Turns out most people had the same opinion: don't start with cards and don't overdo cards. Now, that's kinda problematic: I am only studying cards! Here's where I come ask you more knowledgeable of this subject: Is it possible to build an act only with card magic? I've heard that even Dai Vernon would open with a Cups & Balls routine! Don't take me wrong: I have nothing against other forms of close up: I actually have the desire of learning other stuff (I particularly wish I could do Cups & Balls and Sponge Balls). I even would like to do some non-magic stuff like juggling. It's just that... right now I want cards. I've tried coins but it's not the same thing. And most other forms of close up take "special" props. So even if I do diversify my interests I'm not in a position to get lots of props, books and all. So here lies the question: is it possible for a beginner who can't do much yet to present an act with only cards that won't become a bore? |
Andy Young Special user Jersey Shore, PA 813 Posts |
How many people are you performing for?
How long is your act? And yes cards can be done. It's all about entertainment. Keep them entertained and they don't care what you are using whether or be all cards, all coins, or a different thing. |
Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
Magiconcio I have written extensively in the past about routining an act and how to do it, you can find my thoughts on the below link:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=41 Magically Aus |
Ollie New user 87 Posts |
Poker test 2.0 is a nice opener.
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Magiconcio Regular user Working on my vanish of 147 Posts |
@Andy
I'm not sure. I just want to have something ready and perform when the opportunity arises. @Aus I've already had read this, but reading it again was helpful. Thank you! @Ollie Loved that effect! And the shipping is free from penguin! However it's too expensive for now and maybe it would be too strong for a beginner magician's performance! |
Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
Could you tell us what sort of theme your act is, is it a gambling demonstration etc. One of the important aspects of an opener in my opinion is setting the tone of the show and establishing your credentials as the magician, and that can be done equally with what trick you do to what is said during that trick. Giving us the general direction that you hope your act to follow and it will help us give our recommendations a better focus.
Also what tricks/books do you have access to? Magically Aus |
donny Loyal user Colorado 263 Posts |
"Build it and they will come.", Magiconcio. "Build it and they will come."
It's not their senses that mislead, it's their assumptions.
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Magiconcio Regular user Working on my vanish of 147 Posts |
I don't have much dexterity so it kinda restricts me a bit about the effects I can perform. Now, that doesn't mean I'm going to present something I'm not ready for! I understand practice and rehearsal are the most important things to be ready and I won't skip any of those.
@Aus I have Royal Road to Card Magic, Expert Card Technique, Expert at the Card Table and Encyclopedia of Card Tricks. I'm working through Royal Road and now and them I look for pieces of info in both "Experts" and look for effects in Encyclopedia. I've found some good effects but I'm guilty of not annotating anything down. I'm not sure if I have a "solid theme" in mind, but I'm slowly developing a few ideas. Currently I'm thinking about using "Topsy Turvy" as my opener. The idea here is that I want to show them my "power over the cards". I've worked a bit in this one and I'm liking what it's becoming so if I don't use this as my opener I think I'm gonna put it as a "quick" follow up to the opener. I don't think "power over cards" thing could be transformed in a theme but the idea is to "estabilish my skill". I like gambling demonstrations myself, but poker isn't such a thing here. @donny Sorry, I don't quite get that saying. Care to explain? |
Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
Ok Magiconcio, if we pull on that thread of "power over the cards" and expound on it for a bit there are many directions that theme can go. To my personal taste and style I would develop it into a philosophical themed act that explores the world we live in through unfamiliar concepts demonstrated through each trick in the act.
To illustrate if we take Topsy Turvey from Royal Road and open by saying that The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes and being a magician isn't about being smarter then everyone else, but instead pursuing an understanding of the laws that govern our natural world so we can manipulate them. Take chaos theory for example, which is a delicious contradiction - a science of predicting the behaviour of inherently unpredictable things, and finding a selected card in a mixture of face-up and face down cards is just one of those unpredictable things. However in Chinese philosophy of yin and yang it describes how opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. Once you can understand these relationships things start to be less chaotic and easily reversed engineered. (Spread the deck revealing the righted deck and the reversed selection). Now there is your opener, which if you follow my theme as an example sets the tone of the act, but is repeatable with any theme with a little thought. Once you have a theme for your act you can project that theme on all the rest of the tricks in your act by exploring other avenues with in that theme. You could develop further with a trick that shows that a person can not only solve situations by a physical understanding but also with attunement with the situation as it unfolds. This could lead to a trick that could lend itself to dynamic presentations where choices and decisions are made during the trick and like a human lie detector trained with the naked eye to see guilt, nerves and hidden emotions you are able to predict the outcome. Just look at the tricks you have and see how they could fit together in a progressive manner to a theme and you will find that tricks will suggest themselves to you over time. Magically Aus |
Magiconcio Regular user Working on my vanish of 147 Posts |
Thanks very much, Aus!
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sophiamartin New user 21 Posts |
From my experience, my audiences seem quite receptive to card tricks, even as openers. So long as the majority of your effects don't start with the phrase 'pick a card', you'll be fine.
Often I start a card set by stating that most magicians will have a card selected (spectator picks and signs a card) then found in some magical way, but I find that boring (I rip up the card) I then say that actually the deck has sentimental value to me, and I may have been a bit rash in ripping up the card. I restore it, then proceed to use their card for a different effect. So, maybe start with an effect that uses cards, but doesn't centre around the value or suit of the cards. Hope this helps Sophia |
Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
So ... you have powers over the cards.
What does that mean to your audience?? The basic premise of a "magic show" is that it's a SHOW: it's entertaining. Think of what you've seen that really glued you to your seat or stand up and cheer for the performer - that's entertainment. Magic tricks by themselves are NOT inherently entertaining. Why should someone spend their valuable time watching you play with your cards? I like Aus's Chaos Theory opener. It gives the audience a reason to watch and see what's happening. Not that every routine must be infused with deep metaphysical meanings. But let's face it - watching someone basically showing off what they can do that I can't is not very interesting, not unless they are displaying some amazing skills that defy normal human ability. That's why most magicians can't create an entire act out of nothing but cards: everything quickly looks the same from the audience's perspective. You may be showing off different skills (that really should be all but invisible), but to them they're just watching cards jump through hoops. (Skill itself is not always entertaining either - most of my show requires little to no skill beyond giving them a reason to watch.) If you can engage the audience, though, and make them "care" what happens to that card, then you have them hooked. A signed card now has some personal meaning (though signing alone may not be enough to keep them). What about, as Aus mentioned, relating what happens in their life to what's happening with the cards? Or showing how what you can do with the cards is only a display of the mastery you are gaining over life itself? Or even two people finding the same card in different decks under impossible circumstances? Is this a challenge of you against them, and they have something to gain if they win? Answer the question: why should they want to stop and watch me? You will have your "show". Ed |
Magiconcio Regular user Working on my vanish of 147 Posts |
@Sophia
Great idea, actually! I want to do that now, but I don't know any Torn and Restored effect yet. I'm pretty positive I'm going to open with Topsy-Turvy cards now and my patter starts exactly like yours! I think I'm going to have only 5 different effects and at most two of them are going to be from the "pick a card and I find it" variety. Thank you very much! @Ed Hey, Ed! Thanks very much for helping! I know the most important goal is to entertain, not to show off: and that's what I'm aiming at! The "connection" with the deck patter I was thinking about using isn't meant to "show off" or anything, it's more along the lines of "I used to play cards so much that I developed a connection..." and so on. I don't have anything written or ready as of yet, so I guess I can't tell you how it would sound. The idea is to "explain" two things: what I'm about to do (show then some magic) and give some sort of rationale of how I do it. The patter I'm going for is basically saying: "Hey people, I have magic powers so watch me doing it" and saying "It's not sleight of hand, it's a magical connection with the deck". That connection idea could be turned in my theme with effects like "Do as I do" and the more I build myself as a magician that is somehow linked with the deck and with the spectators then the more strong I'm setting up the surprise for Design for Laughter. Of course I'm saying it kinda explicit explaining here, but I want to give the idea in a more subtle manner, without repeating the "connection" all the time just sort of "implying" it. I want to come across as friendly, light-hearted and somewhat casual. What do you think about this? Any criticism is appreciated and welcome! Thanks very much, Magiconcio. |
carlyle Regular user 166 Posts |
I think "Topsy Turvy" is fine as an opener - and if you do "Do as I Do" and "Design for Laughter" among your other tricks as you mention, then the people you're doing the tricks for will enjoy it. A bit of logic to combine the tricks - as convoluted as the logic might be - is probably a plus. Perhaps not necessary for just showing some card tricks - if you're "friendly, light-hearted and somewhat casual" then that's already a plus. It's not a puzzle, it's magic with cards for some fun.
Good luck with the act. I don't know if the expression "eye poppers" is still in use, but doing a few tricks and getting "eye popping" reactions is a lot of fun. Let us know how it goes. |
Magiconcio Regular user Working on my vanish of 147 Posts |
Thank you very much, Carlyle!
At first I thought "Topsy Turvy" wasn't so great, but two things changed my view: first I saw a guy performing it and, instead of balancing the cards in the hand like Royal Road suggests he "mixed" then more or less like he was faroing the deck. That makes the effect stronger IMO and I really liked the idea (the downside is it takes away from the openess and simplicity of Topsy Turvy). Also I didn't like the "open reverse" at the end, so after giving a little thought I came up with three ideas: the reversed card is a selected card (I don't like to use I'd be better using sloppy shuffle instead), the four aces are reversed or a gag card written "Except this one!" is reversed. I'll probably be using the four aces, but I think it would be nice to include a four-ace follow up if I do. Maybe "Simplicity Four Ace Trick" from Encyclopedia (a self-working aces transposition), but I've presented it before and found out it may be a bit confusing. I'll have to work more in that one: probably it's time for me to learn palming so I can include "Gathering of the Clan": I've heard this is a good one! And the reactions: I'm looking forward to them! They are sorta addictive! Thanks, Magiconcio. |
RDeNatale New user 74 Posts |
I love the fact that Topsy Turvy cards is the first effect in Royal Road; comes right after the exposition of the overhand shuffle and controls; and uses NONE of the sleights.
I used it for my first perfect at my local I.B.M. Ring with patter about seeing if the deck could be trained to do tricks. |
Magiconcio Regular user Working on my vanish of 147 Posts |
Hey RDeNatale!
I actually like the original patter, but it sounded a little silly at first. I'll try to rescript it and see what I can do. Thanks very much! |
javlin5 New user 42 Posts |
It's not the tools(cards in the case), its alway the performer. Have fun with it!
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