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MissouriTiger New user 10 Posts |
Hello friends,
I am returning to magic after an absence of 30 years. I am now 50 years old and am getting re-acquainted with a deck of cards. As a child & teenager I only performed a few card tricks as part of my limited magic act, but I was an avid card player in those days (poker, black jack, spades, etc), so I was no stranger to a deck of cards. But in adulthood, I lost interest in such things. Now I have picked up a new deck of Bicycle Rider Backs for the first time in 30 years, and I find them soooo slippery. I have been playing around with them for a few days, and I am having difficulty even doing a nice ruffle shuffle. Is this normal? I don't remember ever feeling so clumsy with a deck of cards in my hands. Not even when I was a kid. I'm working on doing a one-hand cut (Hot Shot Cut?) and the slippery cards make it frustrating. Are there any recommended decks that I might find easier to handle as a beginner? Or is the problem me? Is this just a matter of giving myself the time to become acquainted with the medium? I welcome any advice/suggestions any of you might have to offer. Thanks in advance, Greg |
Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
Greg -- I don't think it's just you. Those new decks are slippery! That's why you'll find plenty of discussion threads in the Magic Café about best practices for breaking in a new deck. Here are links to a few of them:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&forum=2 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&forum=2 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&forum=2 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=355 I like to use a bit of Lee Papercreme on my fingertips, since my hands are fairly dry and that only makes the slipperiness problem worse. I would imagine that a bit of this winds up being transferred to the cards when I'm handling them, and that probably helps as well. Others recommend Corn Huskers lotion, and there are plenty of discussions on this topic as well. Here's a link to one such topic: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=10
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
danaruns Special user The City of Angels 808 Posts |
Welcome, Greg.
You know, I think you said it right when you wondered if maybe you just need to get used to the new medium. When I first started I felt the way you do, but now I prefer them new and "slippery." I'll bet that if you just keep working with new cards for a few weeks, you'll get used to the feel. It really only takes a few minutes -- or up to a day, depending on taste -- to break in a new deck. So why don't you take a couple weeks and just work with the "slippery" cards a bit, and I'll bet you get used to them. It may be like riding a bicycle in that you don't forget, but it's also about re-training all the very tiny muscles in your hands to do some delicate work they are not used to. Just give it a little time, and you'll be fine.
"Dana Douglas is the greatest magician alive. Plus, I'm drunk." -- Foster Brooks
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Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
Riding a bicycle. I see what you did there.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
RitalDino New user 59 Posts |
Haha, nice one there!
I personnaly pressure fan one or two times with faces up and down, and that's enough for me. |
macc Loyal user 203 Posts |
Breaking them in and using them for a day or two should get rid of the slipperyness.
Otherwise, just throw em in a paperbag with a bit of fanningpowder...shake vigorously, riffle shuffle, spring and dribble the cards a few times and they should be fine. I do magic and cardistry.. So at first I stick to moves and flourishes that are easy to do with a fresh deck. |
CalebRose New user 83 Posts |
Completely agree with danaruns, I tend to prefer new decks and their slipperyness. The flourishes are cleaner and the cards are just easier for me to manipulate. But after time and maybe forgetting to wash my hands a couple times the deck isn't so slippery anymore and it makes other sleights like a DL much easier. Id say just keep handling them and soon you'll find the benefits of a slippery deck.
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Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
If you decide to go with fanning powder, it might be helpful to know that it is generally just zinc stearate, and it's often available at drug stores. This bit of wisdom comes from the "Howie Diddits" stick thread at the top of the "Secret Sessions" discussion forum. That thread is packed with do-it-yourself tips, and well worth a look.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Hi Greg
If you have access to GREATER MAGIC (J.N. Hilliard) there's an interesting section on the subterfuge of using "slick aces" in a regular (non-slick) deck. Perhaps you can blend your new deck with an old deck and come up with some pretty good new(?) magic. Julie |
Driften New user 12 Posts |
Cool thread. I am in the same boat and the decks I just bought (1 Bicycle and 2 Phoenix decks) were so slippery. I just though my really old decks were not made as well or something. Its good to know they will break in and to expect a brand new deck to be this way.
Thanks! |
Mrg1974 New user 23 Posts |
This:
Quote:
On Aug 23, 2016, danaruns wrote: |
MissouriTiger New user 10 Posts |
I posted a reply here on 8/23 thanking Doug and Dana for their replies, but my reply is not here. Is there something internally wrong with the forum software, or did I do something wrong?
Anyway, thanks to all who have replied. I really appreciate all your help. -Greg |
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