Hello, everyone!

I would like to ask your opinions about the jumbo three card monte trick called Three Card Prince by Harry Anderson.

Do you know any other moves than Harry Anderson's moves that are explained in the instructions? And do you think that it repeats itself because you place a card aside in every phase?

Regards Mouke

I have both versions, and the instructions are the same.

A couple of the moves are given a slightly different handling in Mike Caveney's book, "Harry Anderson Wise Guy." I've changed the opening shuffle moves, and modified the script a bit to suit my character, but that's about it. The routine is exceptionally well-thought and tight--you don't mess with (near) perfection.

And yes, the it is a repeating effect, with a surprise ending. That's the point.

Ok, thanks. I have never performed it but I'm practising it

But I found the second phase a little stupid. Heh. First of all the revelation of the ace when you do "The Butterfly Spread", it looks so suspicious.

And when you reveal the Queen, you can't show it cleanly because of the face, so you have to place it behind the two cards to show that it's the Queen. You understand? I think that the audience starts to think that there must be something suspicious on that Queen card.. But maybe I just think about that because I have never performed it.

Using three card monarch instead of three card prince is a big advantage. The cards are so big that nobody thinks it to be suspicious when you handle them a littlt bit strange!

Good point abrell.

You know, that's what I thought, too. But it flies by every time. If you can find a copy of Harry's Showtime TV special "Hello Sucker", check out his performance of the Monarch in front of a rowdy comedy club crowd. When the ace is revealed via the butterfly spread, there are cheers and applause. And even more applause when the queen is tipped up behind the ace a few moments later.

I don't disagree, but I was able to score a set of Monarch cards in excellent condition a few months ago and I gotta tell you that those big cards are VERY difficult to handle gracefully. And one is much more prone to flashing. For those reasons I'm still using the Prince cards most of the time. The only time I use the Monarch cards is if it's a stand-alone piece or if it's the closer to my act--but not always even then.

It's my understanding that even Harry himself went back to using cards the size of 3CP.

You're right. Harry does use the Prince cards these days due to the size. Not that he can't handle 'em, heck, he's 6'6", but when wearing a lapel mic, they can cause a little problem occasionally. At least that's how he explained it to me. I also own both, and depending upon the situation/venue, might use one or the other.

On the "Hello, Sucker" video, you'll notice that the smaller set Harry uses is actually handmade and not the Sun Magic version that was later marketed.

Steve

No it doesn't - just do it.

With the "Butterfly Spread", there is nothing the audience/spectators notice. To a magician, we think they would, but they don't.

Steve

When watching the video "Hello sucker" you will see that the original routine is fantastic. The only real problem is to find a staging that fits your own personality - and when I saw Harry Anderson I am afraid I will never be as good as he was and is...

I concur. Unfortunately, most of the presentations by others that I've seen that utilize a different premise for the routine have been less than wonderful.

Since I don't perform as an affable con artist, the trick (no pun intended) for me was to keep Harry's premise intact while modifying the script to fit my character. It was literally years before inspiration struck; indeed, it wasn't until I created "The Macgician" that I found a way in.

Has anybody seen a decent set of instructions for it? Just got it last week, and though I'm happy to watch the video, it would be nice to have something that was both better illustrated and better explained than what I bought.

It's not as though "performer's view," "stage right," and "stage left" are radical innovations in writing instructions. (the illustration below is me getting sucked into the nonsensical instructions)

I second this need. I have been letting this trick gather dust... Because I cannot find the instructions for this... It is one of my very favorite tricks and learned years ago. I know it would come back to me but trying to reverse engineer the moves by watching it is getting frustrating. Anyone help a bro out? Any suggestions? I am new to this community. Thanks.

It may help to make a set of cards in a regular playing card size or even a "normal" jumbo size, just to work out the moves without struggling with over-sized cards at the same time. Here's an alternate version you can try as well: https://vimeo.com/141615445

The large cards are available at party stores for casino night parties, as well as the super giant cards, just some craft work and it is easy to make sets of each. Also check Amazon, they have all kinds of party jumbo, giant, mega giant cards. Oddly, with each set you get the cards you need for the trick. You will have to buy 2 or 3 sets to make the special cards. A roller cutter, straight edge, and some good paste, and you are set to go. Then if you did such a nice job that you want to keep them nice, just go to a laminating business or teachers supply store and get them laminated. Not as good as specially printed cards, but works just fine.

That was a problem that was published some years ago, the super giant plastic cards index pips were printed to close to the edge of the cards. So careful handling was needed.

As for stage terms, stages were made slanted, so the audience could see the entire stage floor. Therefore, downstage is toward the audience, and upstage is back against the rear wall. Left stage is the audience's left, and right stage is the audiences right as they set in their seats and view the stage. So left is right and right is left from the performers view, standing and facing the audience.

Hope I got that right!

Late to the party here, but Blll's description of stage directions is just a bit off.

Upstage is indeed to the performer's back.

Downstage is toward the audience.

However, stage left and stage right are from the performer's perspective.

I got Prince when it first came out and have yet to decipher the instructions,even using a mirror, or a camera.
I need to see it done to get it. Is there a video instructional DVD anywhere?

Harry Anderson's "Hello Sucker".