Greetings!

I am looking for opinions re: the performer signing the "red" card on it's face ahead of time as an item to leave behind with the spectator post illusion. While it will be a reminder of your visit to their table, do you feel it will diminish the presented effect by personalizing the card?

Thanks for your opinions in advance!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM... Beer!

I do Red Hot Mama very often.
IMHO I think that having it signed is
'too impossible'!
Then effect is amazing without a signature.
Why not sign it after the card is revealed?

I think it might appear a bit presumptious to sign a "Red Hot Mama" card ahead of time. Might be better, after the effect, to ask the person's name and then write something complimentary on the card like:

Thanks for helping, Raquel.
or
To Raquel, a great assistant.
Dano, the Magician.

Come on, signed cards are great for creating the "impossible" which is what magic is suppoesed to be. Do you want an audience to merely say "it's just a trick" or witness the ipossible. I do a version of Red Hot Momma and it KILLS! - as strong as any card magic out there. Now notice I said card magic. If I wanted it to be a card trick I might not have them sign the card. I've had people come up to me on the streets and say: "Hey you're the magic guy" and open their wallet to show the signed card.

koz

Chris Carter has a MAGNIFICENT take on this, I think it was published in the Linking Ring in 1993 under the name Lucky Card(?). This routine does end up with card on the table being signed. The whole parade in the Linking Ring is excellent and well worth checking out.

Well I did this yesterday at my mother-in-law's birthday (dont like here that much) . I had the red card signed with congratulations and she noticed the suit saying "Oh my god it's also the 10 of spades". Very cool reactions.

Niels

You might be interested in my take on this effect, where the red card, permanently altered, is given to the spectator to keep, and the first, signed card is found in your pocket. It's called "Red Hot Mama's Lips" and it appears in my 2001 lecture notes, my book, "Great Scott! It's Card Magic!" and on my upcoming DVD, "great Scott! It's Magic!"

Scott, when's the DVD going to be ready and what might it include?

Best,
Jim

It should be ready within the next few weeks. Contents:

1. Idaho Travelers
2. A Visit to Boise (My version of "The Visitor")
3. Red Hot Mama's Lips
4. Peanut, Butter & Jelly (my sponge routine)
5. Magic Western Union (My presentation of "Flying Eagles" with a double-kicker. Larry jennings said this was the best version of this effect)
6. What the...? (Simplified, streamlined handling of Marlo's "Devlish Miracle")
7. Universal Appeal (Super clean version of Fulves' "Universal Card")
8. Treasure Valley Twist (super strong, very easy version of Dingle's "We'll Twist if You Insist")
9. Simply Stop (Simple, effective handling for "Stop trick" for parlor/platform)
10. Magic Jumprope (Showpiece rope routine for kids/family audiences in parlor/platform)
11. Great Scott's Ring & Rope Routine

After doing more research, I've also found another version of this routine in my library which you may find useful. It's by Dan Fleshman, it's the standard routine, again with a signed card, which eventually finds it's way into your wallet.

Scott,
Glad to see your famous sponge ball routine in there as well as the rope and ring and rope routines! How will we know when it's ready? Check your website I assume.
Jim

Scott,
As a new Café member, I second Jim's anticipation to the release of your DVD.

Anyone with even limited experience in magic can read the effects list to be included on your DVD and get excited over this reputation-making material. (especially your PB&J and R&R rountines!)

Thanks for making an all-points announcement when the "launch" takes place.

Ron

Since purchasing Great Scott's lecture notes, I've performed Scott's "Red Hot Mama's Lips" hundreds of times -- IT KILLS!

In this routine, everything makes sense.

If you do RHM and think it's strong -- try RHM's Lips, you won't believe how much stronger the reactions will be.

-Frank

The Fleshman idea (Dan is a good friend of mine) is what led me to the finish of my routine. We each now use the other's ides in our routines. When I showed Dan my version, he said, "You've taken it to the next level!"