This is another old effect of mine but takes courage to do it live.

https://youtu.be/pANra0x4ePs?si=ery7E4D3CO6UMiEB

Certainly a case of "what happens off camera, stays off camera".

I just wonder what that poor Five of Spades had done in a previous life, to deserve such physical abuse.

MERC MAN HOW ABOUT SOME IDEAS TO MAKE IT BETTER IR POSSIBLE IN STEAD OF SAYING THE POOR FIVE OF SPADES.
THIS IS ONLY A DEMENSTRATION IT IS NOT A PERFORMANCE JUST GIVE FEED BACK

You want feedback - 10 years after putting it on Youtube? Oh well.

OK here's some feedback - in my usual 'no holds barred' British manner.

As a card trick - it's utterly pointless. You lift up the mat to show nothing underneath (whilst holding the pack), then the card appears there shortly thereafter. Seriously, just how dense do you think people truly are?

The Top Change just screamed "he just did something there". It was very poor. Along with the constant flicking and laying down of the card, the majority of your movements looked completely unnatural.

It's impossible to give feedback on your load - because you've filmed the bloody thing completely off camera!

Advice:

- Study Vernon - and learn about the importance of naturalness of movement. The second Chapter of The Dai Vernon Book of Magic is titled 'The Vernon Touch'. The advice contained within should be adopted by EVERY Magician that genuinely wants to improve their performance.

- If you want to perform this type of effect, then read Matt Schulien's Book - and study his 'card under tablecloth' routine. It's a masterclass in Misdirection - and oh so much more powerful than a card appearing under a close-up mat.

- If you want to learn a convincing, NATURAL Top Change, then study the Cy Endfield 'Hofzinser Top Change, as outlined within his book - Entertaining Card Magic.

There you go - honest feedback and recomnendations provided for you.

Vinny, have you ever read Schulien's work (or Eugene Burger's on 'Schulien's fabulous card discoveries')?
In there you'll find a Card Under Tablecloth, which will eliminate most if not all 'weird' things you have to do, as it's mostly a brilliant piece of magical routining rather than a sleight heavy effect (and you'll see how magical it looks!)

In most "Card to X location" effects, the question in the mind of the audience will have to be "WHEN AND HOW DID HE PUT IT THERE?!". In your handling unfortunately that question can be answered by a spectator by just remembering 'what you did'.

My two cents.

EDIT: Sorry MercMan, just saw you suggesting the exact same thing, missed it on the first cursory read of your reply!

I appreciate "very much" Vinny's contributions here. His smacking the 5S to the mat makes sense that by this action at the end the 5S actually penetrates the mat. I enjoyed the routine and thought it was done well. Thanks Vinny

2 MORE HANDLINGS https://youtu.be/B4H5jJNOD-s?si=dzNQwRNSoI6jxIGh
https://youtu.be/f_s12ZIJV-U?si=YSlZguxpfll4CmZ1

I THANK U FOR THE INPUT THIS IS WHAT MAKES MAGIC BETTER.... MY EFFECT ISM ONLY A D EMINJSTRATION , AND REMEMBER A CAMERA IS UNFORGIVING DOING THIS LIVE THERE IS ALL SORTS OF MISDIRECTION.
OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS I HAVE MADE SEERAL DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING THIS EFFECT SORRY FOR THE CAPS MY KEY BOARD IS STUCK LOL.I WILOL OPUT UP,SOME OTHERS I DID I HAVE TO FIND THEM


ONCE AGAIN I THANK ALL FOR THEIRMINPUT VINNY REMEMBER WE ARE PERFORMING FOR LAY PEOPLE NOT MAGICIANS