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Josh New user KC MO 9 Posts |
I have small hands. I'm not able to conceal a card completely when palming it. The width of my four fingers is too narrow. Will this prevent me from being able to learn some good card magic? I'm not interested in gimmicks and rigged decks. I'm only interested in learning the basic card slights and things in which I can build on long term. Thanks.
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Just4Fun New user Dallas 49 Posts |
Have you tried using Bridge cards, instead of poker? They are narrower, and you can get bicycle bridge decks.
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r4bid Veteran user 386 Posts |
No, small hands will not keep you from being a great card magician.
There are two things you can do to help yourself out while learning 1. Think about using a bridge size deck instead of poker, they are smaller and you should be able to palm them 2. Just learn tricks that don't require palms, there are thousands out there. |
John Clarkson Special user Santa Barbara, CA 749 Posts |
Josh,
This is a common complaint of people new to card magic and has been discussed quite extensively in this very forum. Look at this thread: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......;forum=2 I've been goofing with cards for, oh, about 35 years and will try to summarize the consensus of seasoned card magicians: 1) Your hands are NOT too small. Some of the greatest card magicians have had hands so small that cards peeked out from one side. It doesn't matter. The spectators should not be looking at your hands. Misdirection, rather than hand size, is probably the real problem. The good news is that, whereas you hands will probably stay the same size, your misdirection can constantly improve. 2) Stick with Poker-sized cards. If you can learn to handle them, you can handle bridge cards, but if you get used to bridge-sized cards, you will not be comfortable with Poker-sized cards. 3) Try learning some palms that take the card into the LEFT hand. You will then have the cover of the deck, and spectators tend to suspect the RIGHT hand and never think about the left hand. (The above assumes you are right handed and hold the deck in your left hand.) So, to answer your question, the size of your hands will not prevent you from doing remarkable card magic. And, you've got the right idea about concentrating on skill rather than gimmicks. Good luck, Josh. Card magic is a wonderful pastime, and, for a few, a fairly good career!
John D. Clarkson, S.O.B. (Sacred Omphaloskeptic Brotherhood)
Cozener "There is nothing more important to a magician than keeping secrets. Probably because so many of them are Gay." —Peggy, from King of the Hill (Sleight of Hank) |
Margarette Special user Memphis area 956 Posts |
I, too, have small hands, and thought at one time that I couldn't do card magic, or if I did try to learn card stuff, I'd use bridge size cards. Well, come to find out, that with more and more practice, and forcing myself to work with poker size decks, it wasn't an obstacle anymore! Just don't expect to do the fancy stuff right away with the larger cards. It's like martial arts...you don't start out breaking boards. You work up to it. But, be prepared to get lots of practice in with the infamous "52 Pick-Up!"
Margarette
The only stupid question is the one not asked.
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dchung Special user Montreal 616 Posts |
I've also got the same problem as you. The width of my fingers are too small, and I've got windows between them. As a result, I just did not do a standard palm, that is until I started doing Fechter's "Be Honest What is it?" And of all the times I've performed that effect, I've yet to be caught red-handed so to speak. I say you should find an effect that you really like and coupled with some good misdirection, you'll be fine.
John's given you some great advice. And remember the number one problem with palming is anxiety whether the magician's hands are too small or not. A good tip is just to hold a card in palm position during the day until you get used to it, comfortable with it. Then the anxiety should go away. Cheers, D. Chung |
Magique Hands Loyal user Lincoln, NE. 247 Posts |
You have all written wonderful advise when it comes to having small sized hands! I to suffer (or thought I did) from this blessing!
Having smaller hands, has actually helped me be a better sleight-of-hand magician. I've learned to 'keep the heat' off my hands when I'm palming cards and the like. It's really helped make my 'dirty work' more natural, which truly develops confidence when it comes to palming stuff. Keep Practicing! - - Troy
"If you go around sprinkling Woofle Dust on everything... people will think 'My... What an odd character." www.magicmafia.com
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BenSchwartz Elite user Southern California 499 Posts |
I had the same "problem" as Troy. Smaller hands has also made me do the same thing as Troy AND work on my MISDIRECTION... OOO I love that word
"The experience of astonishment is the experience of a clear, primal state of mind that they associate with a child's state of mind." ---- Paul Harris
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David Fletcher Loyal user 238 Posts |
Malini had very small hands.
Eddie Tullock does not, but uses bridge width. I have small hands - I use poker width. No more excuses. Practice, never tell, practice.
You have to give it away to keep it.
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