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Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
Just picking everybody's brain as to how many packet tricks is too much in say a half hour close up perfomance. There are so many out there you could do a whole half hour or more of just packet tricks but I feel if you just work in a packet trick once in a while maybe 2 - 3 total for the half hour and the next time use 2 - 3 different ones. To me (and I know I am a magician and not a layman) I think sometimes packet tricks scream "trick cards" so I try to use at least 1 that leaves you clean so it can be examined. Anyone else have any pros or cons to the number you perform?
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
Dai Hard Regular user 138 Posts |
30 minutes? My max would be two, maybe only one if its not an all-cards set. And I think it would be an excellent idea to make one of them either ungaffed or to apparently remove it from an ungaffed deck.
Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma
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FatHatter Regular user I'm here you're there and that's that. 137 Posts |
My thoughts?
The question "How many is too much?" is the wrong question. The question is "How much can you get out of the packet tricks that you perform?" After that is answered then the, "Am I gonna get busted?" & "How bored are people?" can be addressed. Of the packet 3 tricks I use 1 is gaffed. Soon that will be replaced, not for the busted factor as no one has even gotten a whiff of guile but for the ability to lengthen the bit. Those 3 bits are easily 20 minutes now and could be 30 after the gaff cards switch. Probably been said a bajillion times here but it's not about the trick or how many, packet or not, it's what you do with them. |
MagicJuggler Inner circle Anchorage, AK 1161 Posts |
I think if you're pulling the card from the deck, you can do a fair amount without problems (assuming your routines are entertaining) It's when you have to keep going to the pocket to pull out little plastic wallets full of cards that things start to become suspicious.
Matthew Olsen
I heard from a friend that anecdotal evidence is actually quite reliable. |
Atom3339 Inner circle Spokane, WA 3242 Posts |
It's too much when:
-The tricks start looking alike -Every trick seems to use 4 Aces -The audience is no longer participating; not even a shuffle or a cut -The audience is yawning or their eyes are glazed over or they keep looking at their watch -YOU are bored with what you're doing!
TH
Occupy Your Dream |
motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Another question would be where are the packet tricks coming from. Are they ordinary cards used from a deck such as Twisting the Aces or do they use very special cards like Dirty Deal that need to be kept separate. If it's the former, I don't think your audience sees anything more than a card trick.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
Atom3339 Inner circle Spokane, WA 3242 Posts |
^ Yes. Agree.
TH
Occupy Your Dream |
Tamariz New user 45 Posts |
One packet type trick is enough for me.
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Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
It seems I have accumulated so many packet tricks that caught my eye through the years that I could do a 3 hour show of just packets. This served me well when I was a table hopper years ago and would take 1 new packet trick each week to have something new for my repeat cutomers. I appreciate the input, just something to throw out there for discussion.
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
Atom3339 Inner circle Spokane, WA 3242 Posts |
Poof-Daddy, I love packet tricks! Kinda fun to try to keep track of them, isn't it?
TH
Occupy Your Dream |
Poof-Daddy Inner circle Considering Stopping At Exactly 5313 Posts |
And luckily, many use about the same moves
Cancer Sux - It is time to find a Cure
Don't spend so much time trying not to die that you forget how to live - H's wife to H on CSI Miami (paraphrased). |
murrari Veteran user 308 Posts |
In a half hour show I would suggest that one is enough. There's so much magic out there to show/share, why do more than one packet card trick?
Andrew Murray
M.I.M.C. Gold Star AndrewMurrayMagic DON'T WAIT FOR INSPIRATION is my brand new e-book with 10 new routines. APTITUDE is my first PLATINUM e-book with 10 new routines + 'SIGNS' bonus. PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP is available here. DNA |
David Eichler Grammar Host Durham, ME 1780 Posts |
As I think about the question, what comes to mind is not how many to do, but how many can you routine into a 30-minute set so that each of the packet tricks seem like natural extensions of what it is you are doing. It may well be you can conceal some of the necessary gaffs (for example for MacDonald's Aces) within an otherwise 'normal' shuffled deck, and then access them when necessary. If, however, you have to pull out 'special cards' (as noted above) during or in between your effects, it will quickly reduce what you are doing to mere tricks.
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MAGIC325 Regular user 157 Posts |
One . Two or more is too "proppy".
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thatmatt New user 51 Posts |
Assuming you have very entertaining routines, I think you could squeeze two or three packet tricks in 30 minutes without getting the audience bored. I managed to do four during one of my shows, but it wasn't one of my best days, so during the forth one (I'm ashamed to admit it) people began to look at their watches. I learned my lesson about how important it is to keep the performance varied.
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I've been known to perform a couple in a 35 minute show. But, I had a good reason to perform each one. If the material is strong, and there's plenty of variety in the show, why not?
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magicman491 Veteran user 326 Posts |
I would generally stick with one (possibly 2), and If your into card cheating demos and stuff... you could incorporate the ROYAL SCAM into your show
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