If you do a card manipulation act in your show, how long is it and at what pace do you work? Jeff McBride has set a standard of very high energy and fast paced manipulation acts, but I'm curious if that is really becoming the standard or not.

Thanks,
Richard

In todays fast paced television and the internet, the old slow presentations are not acceptable any longer. A lot of what you ask depends on your skill and set up for steals etc. If you only want to show some skill, then use one deck and go thru fanning, productions, singles, and climax.

Some performers make an entire act out of card productions. This is more for competition, magic conventions, and the casino or nite spots around the world where a short 20 minute act is used.

I was just watching the Cardini act and was surprised to see how long the card section was - almost 4 minutes. Even though he works at a slower pace, the time just flies by.

Richard

I used to do a card manipulation act that was about 6-7minutes along. However, I realized early on that I had to have transition pahses where the pace slowed down, the music changed and the audience got to seem something different then just cards appearing and vanishing.

This is when I started working on different card ideas where I would produce a wine glass and cover the glass with a cloth and set it on a table. I would produce a card and throw it towards the glass. When the cloth is pulled away, the card is now inside the glass.

I also made up a very large jumbo card which was the ace of diamonds. I would fold it up and tear out the diamond shape. I would then in a flash of fire, restore the card back together.

It was elements like this, that allowed the card act to be different and unique and a change of pace for my audiences.

Kyle

Cardini act was not just cards. His character was present. So there was more then just card productions that kept poping up in his hand.

This is totally different then the continuous production of cards or fanning, with the same move over and over. His character of a drunk and things just happening to him was the difference. He also had his wife assist and interject some variety. Noone would buy this act today. That is why Cardini stopped working. He could not get bookings. In the end, he was very bitter about show business. This is what I have heard, as his time ended before I was born.

He also carried that full stage backdrop and stage furniture with him for this act. He was one of the highest paid magician acts of his time.

Channing Pollack was one of the highest paid magicians of his time. His mixture of cards, silks, and doves created a great act. He was already wealthy before he was in show business. The late Neil Foster helped trained him, I was told by Neil Foster.

Now I am off subject, but if you want to debate the time factor, then these points do enter into the mix. When I seen McBride do his short card act. It was repeatative without any character acting.