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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Hi folks,
Can anyone recommend a clear book or video that has roughly 20 zillion ways to glimpse a card? I hope I'm using the right terminology: By "glimpse" I mean "secretly read the suit and value of a card without the spectators noticing." I'm not sure if that's synonymous with "peek." There are methods scattered around, for instance, in Card College, Royal Road, and ECT, but I run into two problems: either I have trouble following the descriptions (RR & ECT), or the methods look unnatural or unjustified, at least to my untutored eye. So a collection of lots of options to choose from would be useful. Thanks for your help, everybody. Bob |
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Bobby Forbes Inner circle virginia beach, VA. 1569 Posts |
Daryl’s “encyclopedia of card sleights” vol 3 and 5 have over a dozen peeks taught in detail. Daryl did a great job with this series.
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Thanks, Bobby. I'll take a look. I made the mistake of ordering Daryl's encyclopedia as a download when it was on sale -- better to have gotten the DVD with its menus! But I'm sure I can find the glimpses, especially since you gave me to volume numbers.
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Stew New user 29 Posts |
You might try Fechter by Jerry Mentzer. It has some good stuff on peeks.
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
See if you can find my Super Peek in one of my books.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Stew and Harry,
Thanks, I'll look into these. |
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magicthree Special user 619 Posts |
Bob, just an amateur here, but on my you tube channel, I did 2 peeks, one Harry's super peek and one another one. I'll post it in a second.
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magicthree Special user 619 Posts |
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Rupert Pupkin Inner circle 1452 Posts |
A couple things.
First, Royal Road and Expert Card Technique are both pretty foundational and widely read texts. Which means that if you’re having trouble following those descriptions, you might just call out the places about which you’re confused and most anyone around here could clear things up. It would also help to know what you’re trying to accomplish. What trick or tricks using a glimpse are you wanting to do? That helps us make recommendations. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all technique, and the utility of each glimpse is dictated by its greater context. |
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Nice to hear from you, Rupert. Let me give you a partial answer now. More to come when reread the other effect that I need a glimpse for.
The trick for which I need a top glimpse (at least I think that's what I need) is Walter Gibson's "Double Reverse" on p. 96 of Anneman's Card Magic (e-version). Gibson has the magician and spectator turn back-to-back and each chooses a card from her half of the deck -- supposedly. In reality the magician glimpses the bottom card of her half and then reverses it to face the pack. Then follows the usual stuff where the two chosen cards end up being the only reversed cards in the deck. I'm trying to avoid the back-to-back business; I really don't like tricks where the magician turns her back. I've made partial progress: with the help of Claudio and Steven Keyl on the Café I was able to adapt a sleight in ECT in which you reverse the bottom card of the deck under cover of starting an overhand shuffle. The deck is held nearly face-up in the right hand, and the left hand moves toward the right hand and slides the back card around the deck. In the process the original *top* card becomes the reversed bottom card. (I hope you could follow that. Writing clearly about sleights must be a real art. The sleight adapted from pp. 110-11 of ECT. I may try to make a video next week. ) My performance of the sleight isn't quite as consistent as I'd like it to be, but that will come with more practice. But here's where I think I need a glimpse. In Gibson's version, the magician needs to note the bottom card of her half-deck and then reverse that card while keeping it on the bottom. If I'm going to adapt the trick using the secret reverse that I just described, I need to glimpse the top card before I move it to the bottom while reversing it. Okay, actually writing all that made me think of an idea. One problem I've been having with the overhand shuffle reverse from ECT is that the top card flashes as it rotates around the pack and becomes the new, reversed, bottom card. So if I could arrange to hold my hands toward myself while doing the reverse, then I could glimpse the card as it slides -- hopefully without the audience glimpsing it too! Clearly I need to do some mirror work and try this. Bob |
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camron Regular user 160 Posts |
Bob,
Before the trick, why not glimpse the bottom card, reverse it, shuffle the deck yourself keeping it on the bottom and then go into the trick.... that is a simple way. if you hold the cards in overhand shuffle position with the cards pointing toward your right palm you could glimpse the bottom card and then use a half pass or other moves to reverse the bottom card and then go into the routine.... I looked up the trick in the annemann book... as long as the cards are shuffled as in the 1st method I recommended, the trick will still work. I used to do the trick years ago and have a few ways of getting into it... from setting up before the trick and during... Hope that helps Justin |
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Thanks, Justin. I especially appreciate your taking the time to remind yourself of the trick.
I agree that it makes sense to glimpse the bottom card and reverse it -- that might be simpler than what I'm trying to do, assuming it isn't too hard to learn the half-pass. I'm trying to visualize the glimpse. I just tried transferring the deck from my left hand to right-hand overhand shuffle position, and in the process I rotated the deck just a little past overhand shuffle position for a moment so that I could see the bottom card. It seems plausible that that would go unnoticed. Does that seem reasonable? So now I need to learn the half-pass so I can reverse the card. Since you mentioned you have some ways to do the trick, I'd be interested in hearing what you do (did), assuming you care to share them. Thanks again for your ideas and time, Bob |
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GlennLawrence Veteran user Randolph NJ 319 Posts |
Another resource I might call your attention to is Henry Hay's "Amateur Magician's Handbook." The first Sleight he teaches with cards is the glimpse and it is the one I have used with great success. In the effect he uses it with (which he also teaches) it is perfect. This one might be so old it's new!
I know I'm dating myself recommending an actual book, I mean who reads books anymore but this is a gem. If you don't know it I have to say I've always thought the title to be a bit of a misnomer. If you mastered even half of what's in there you'd be better than most pros! Glenn |
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Thanks, Glenn. I've heard good things about this book and haven't quite gotten to the point of buying it. You may have tipped me over the line! I'd say that I'm not a beginner, but I'm not at the intermediate level yet. To give you an idea, someone on the Café has kindly been helping me learn some Nick Trost effects. I can do a pretty good strike double lift and an overhand lift shuffle. Do you think that a significant part of Hay's book would be accessible to me? I hate to buy a whole book just to learn one sleight.
For what it's worth, here's my opinion about dating oneself: I read actual books all the time, but then, I'm 62. So there, I dated myself! I know that our society puts a premium on youth (though perhaps that's changing a bit now that the baby boomers are getting old), but I think that those of us who have been around for a while should take pride in our accomplishments and the storms we've weathered. Okay, I've kicked out the soapbox from under myself. No more sermons. Interestingly, at the college where I teach, many students prefer real books to ebooks. Thanks again, Glenn. Bob |
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GlennLawrence Veteran user Randolph NJ 319 Posts |
Bob, to answer your question yes I think the book would be worth your while for a couple of reasons. First off do not worry about buying it for just one sleight. There's so much in there that if you did not find at least 3 or 4 things you will actually use I'd be shocked. There is something for everyone in there whether you're into cards, coins, mentalism, platform magic or whatever. Items are of all different skill levels so magicians of any ability will find plenty. Also the book is not a big dollar investment as it's in paperback so not much of a financial commitment there. Lastly I'll say that Hay's insights into presentation alone are worth more than the price of the book, and he devotes considerable space to it.
So I hope you get the book and I believe you'll be glad you did! Glenn |
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
1. To Glenn: I ordered the book -- actually found an inexpensive used hardback. I appreciate your opinions about the book and am looking forward to reading it. Presentation is something I think about a lot and need to get better at. I really enjoy making up stories to get with tricks, but I have to work on using my voice, pacing, and gestures to make the stories absorbing and dramatic.
2. To MagicThree: Belated thanks for the youtube video. I was impressed with how you were able to view the cards without any evidence that I, at least, could notice, that you had looked at *anything*! Both techniques that you performed use a fan, one of the many, many thing I want to learn. For now I hope to get comfortable with a handful of glimpses that don't use anything I don't already know -- can't learn everything at once! But clearly Harry's Super Peek is awaiting me sometime in my future. |
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carlyle Regular user 166 Posts |
I like the glimpse in Hay's book - the one used in a spelling trick. One of the first magic books I ever bought and it's one of the sleights that has stuck with me. Not sure it'd be the most useful peek given the trick being described, but a fun book and I must have read it a hundred times. Granted, not a lot of detail if you're into cards, but there's lots of other things in it.
You could also just peek the bottom card, shuffle it to the top and reverse it to bottom (like in ECT) - two quick overhand shuffles. Or start with a known card face-up second from bottom and loose the bottom card. |
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Hi Carylyle,
Nice to hear from you. I look forward to reading the glimpse in the spelling trick. And I have plenty of card books, so I'll be happy to have a good book that talks about other branches of magic. I like your idea of peeking the bottom card and shuffling it to the top, then reverse. I guess there's still the question of finding a bottom peek that I'm comfortable with. I'm not quite visualizing your last sentence. I'm thinking the idea is that I do a set-up before the trick, with a card that I already know FU second from bottom -- thus obviating the need for a glimpse? But then how do I lose the bottom card? Thanks for all your ideas. Bob |
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camron Regular user 160 Posts |
To add: The first few chapters on Mr. Hay's philosophy of magic are required reading, and to use an old cliche, worth the price of the book.
Bob, you made a great choice in buying Hay's Magic Handbook... I'd honestly stick it with it by itself and your level will have no choice but to go up! |
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
I'll give that a try, camron. Right now someone on the Café is helping me get a few card tricks (by Trost) ready for performance; once I'm done with that, I'll turn my attention to Hay. I'm very good at sticking to something I want to learn, but not good at sticking to one book. We'll see how it goes... I'm excited to receive the book.
Bob |
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