|
|
DavidC New user 2 Posts |
Hello, a long time magic viewer, a first time magic practitioner here. I am wanting to learn Cardistry with 2 or 3 magic tricks rhrown in. I am using plastic playing cards as I tend to accidentally bend and crease regular playing cards very easily. Also, I don’t seem to be dropping or losing control of the plastic playing cards any more or less then I do a deck of regular playing cards. Please don’t get me wrong, I do drop and lose control of the cards, as I am still a very, very new beginner. I have a few questions to ask you all if you don’t mind, and they are as follows:
Q #1. I understand a regular deck is 52 cards, I use a 55 card deck which is the 52 plus 2 jokers plus 1 advertisement card, which is a total of 55. My question is this, will using a total of 55 cards instead of 52 hurt or hinder me in anyway at learning? Q #2. Is using plastic playing cards, good or bad? If so, why? Q #3. Do you use or do you know of anyone who uses plastic playing cards in Magic and / or Cardistry? Q #4. Whether you’re a Magician or Cardist, or both, if you don’t mind, please, can you basically tell me how long it took you to learn EACH basic grip, basic cut, force, and flourish , and to learn it somewhat decently? Just a rough guesss please. ex. 1 week. ex. 1 month & 2 weeks Q #5. How hard or easy do you find it to use plastic playing cards in Magic and or Cardistry? What do you like the most about them? What do you like the least about them? Or do you not use them at all, but you have tried them? Or you have never use them? Q #6. Is it best to practice only one thing at a time until you get absolutely good at it or is it best to practice a few things at a time? Because with me if I do one thing too much until I get it right, I start to lose interest in it, but if I do several different things such as practicing a cut and a shuffle and / or other things I seem to keep my interest, so which is best? Q #7. Any advice for someone such as myself that has someone smaller hands on manipulating cards and controlling them, any tips and tricks, suggestions or ideas? Thank you very much for your help! |
JonHackl Regular user Western Australia 198 Posts |
1. Having the extra cards is sometimes a ploy used in tricks, so that you can accomplish something sneaky under the pretence of removing them. So having them can actually be useful. I just use the 52 myself, but I don't think having the extras will hurt. You can always just take them out for a specific trick if you need to.
2. I have a deck of Bicycle Prestige, and they're interesting. They're very durable (mine have lasted a LONG time already), they're waterproof, etc. But they do handle differently. 3. I don't know anyone who uses them regularly. Mine don't spread as neatly as a normal deck. I don't do cardistry, but I suspect they wouldn't be as good for it. There may be better brands of plastic cards, I don't know. 4. This is very hard to answer. There are some sleights I picked up in minutes (or less), and others took me months, and still others everywhere between those extremes. 5. I can only speak about the one plastic deck I have. I prefer normal cards for magic. Aside from the fact that they don't spread as well, they definitely feel different and I think a participant in a trick would notice that they're unusual. But if your main interest is cardistry and you find they're working well for you, then I don't see a problem! 6. For me, I'll usually have one or a few main things I'm working on, and they get most of my focus in practice time. But I practice lots of things, rather than just one at a time. This is what works for me, though. Others might learn better with a singular focus. Figure out what you enjoy and what works well for you. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. 7. I can't be much help on this one.
"Magic is the only kind of entertainment where 90% of the audience is trying to ruin it for themselves." - Pete Holmes
https://www.lybrary.com/ivy-p-925586.html |
thegreatscungilli Regular user 166 Posts |
It obviously depends on what you want to do.
I agree with Jon, to me they handle a lot differently. If they are harder to spread then it seems they would harder to do cardistry like card fans etc. Here are a few things to consider: Anything that you use for your illusions that is unusual will draw attention and suspicion to the item as being "special". I sometimes use different decks but they have a reason. For example, I do a Casino Royal variation as one of my routines so I use an old casino deck that has some special characteristics. The use of the casino deck fits into the routine and so it draws less attention. Some illusions would be harder to do with plastic cards, for example any kind of illusion where you want to "destroy" the card (a torn card or a burned card routine). A "Moving Hole" routine will likely be harder to do using one of the standard methods. For any routine where you destroy a card, sign a card or give it away as a souvenir (Pop Haydn's six card repeat comes to mind) plastic cards will be harder to replace without using up two decks. With standard cards you can have a couple of Pinochle decks (which have groups of cards that include 9,10, face cards and ace) and by using one of these values for your illusion you can just take one from your Pinochle deck and have a new deck ready to go without having to use cards from another "fresh" deck. If you need to add some gaffed cards to your repertoire it would probably be hard to find any gaffes for plastic cards. If you are ever put on the spot to do an "impromptu" illusion, chances are it will be with a regular card deck, not one you "just happen to have in your pocket". If you agree that plastic cards handle differently then this might make any impromptu work harder to do. There may be some folks out there that use plastic cards on a regular basis but I think I would be safe in saying that the majority use regular cards. |
critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Re #2,
I practice with Bicycle Prestige plastic cards much of the time. Some things, like a faro shuffle or cr***s don't work with them but they're durable for riffles & basic stuff. I also make sure to spend some time each day with normal cards. Honestly, I think one should practiced a little with every kind of card they can get their hands on. Especially if you want to do borrowed deck work. Harry Lorayne can perform with any random deck, that should be goals- IMO
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
markmagic New user KY 51 Posts |
The phoenix seem to be very nic
|
critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
Well today I faro'd some of those Hoyle plastic cards so I guess I stand corrected there.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
brandon90 Special user Iowa 711 Posts |
Any particular reason you're using an advertisement card? Having more than 52 wouldn't hinder you if anything it will help as you may have a stacked deck for a particular effect.
Q #2. Is using plastic playing cards, good or bad? If so, why? Personal preference, really. I'm not a fan. Q #4. A basic swing cut and force I was able to learn in about 10 minutes my first flourish took about a week or so to perfect... this was before the "trainer" cards so I split my deck into groups with scotch tape that's something you can try. Q #6. This is honestly personal preference - same as you I would get bored with just one effect - I don't see any problem with practicing multiple effects at the same time. |
critter Inner circle Spokane, WA 2653 Posts |
To sum up:
Any cards that work for you are good. The primary advantage of plastic cards is durability and ease of cleaning. The primary disadvantage is they don't lend themselves to some of the most common ways of locating cards. These are only my opinions and I'm no one important.
"The fool is one who doesn't know what you have just found out."
~Will Rogers |
DavidC New user 2 Posts |
@thegreatscungilli: Not doing illusions, just cardistry. Maybe. Just may 2 or 3 card tricks as well.
@brandon90: The advertisement card was included in the deck, so I just use it To Everyone: Thank you all for your answers and suggestions |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Card Questions, A Few! (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 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 < |