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owen.daniel Inner circle England 1048 Posts |
Hi,
I am sure that many of you will have read teenmagician14's post, where he asked us what the ultimate card trick was. His response seems to have been pretty un-helpful. This does not surprise me...Because as I have said in that post, The Ultimate will be different for each performer, and their audiences. So here goes at a question that will hopefully be a bit more specific, and help Teenmagician14 and others to see what is important to think about when creating or learning effects. WHAT MAKES A GOOD CARD TRICK...OR EVEN THE ULTIMATE? I think that one of the most important things of course is the entertainment value. Sure you can do a twenty-minute location of the whole deck, in order; each card arriving in your pocket (previously having been signed by a member of the audience)...But how interesting is this? Another example of such an effect is one by Stephen Ford. In one of his effects he laid every single card on the table. This took considerable time... he then turned each over to show 52 coins, one under each card! Great effect, but what justification do you have to lie out all of the cards? If this was performed along side an interesting patter presentation (although I don't seem to be able to think of one), then maybe the effect may just be The Ultimate Effect! A second thing that I think is necessary for an Ultimate Card Effect, is the simplicity...Not the simplicity of performance...But how easy it is for them to understand. If an effect is over complicated then the audience may get lost, and therefore lose half the effect. Visual impact is also very important (although not essential), for an effective trick. For this reason such effects as Card Warp and Forgery (a trick where two signed cards become fused together), are so successful. Versions of both of these effects can be found In Wesley James' book "Enchantments". In my opinion Wesley's version of Card Warp named "Hyper-Warp" is the best...Why? Because of the give away at the end. This is another good way of making the trick an ultimate. You have left something for the audience to remember you by, and if you perform "Hyper Warp" with your business card (which I often do), then you have left them a perfect present. A card in an impossible condition, with your Name, Address, Number etc. on it! I am sure that there are many other features you feel that should be taken into consideration, and that is why I have opened this topic to see what others feel would make an effect stand out. I am not expecting replies with effects, which you think, fit this category; this is not what we should be looking for at all. Instead we can compose a checklist that we can possibly write to check the routines we perform against, and see how they compare to that elusive "Ultimate"! Owen |
prospero Special user Elsewhere 572 Posts |
I forgot what the 4 basic themes are. PM me if you find out.
A card trick that comprises as many themes as possible would conceivably be the ultimate card trick. |
Samuel Special user Norway 831 Posts |
A trick that - after the execution of it - makes the spec feel that you really are a true magician.
People today are to narrow minded - they need to be reminded that somethings just "can't" be explained.
Samuel
Magic is everywhere |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
In my imagination...
Magician puts deck in box, and some 'powder'. Volunteer names a card Magician gives case to spec, and they find ... more poweder... and just one card... the named one... with some strange marks the same color as the powder. Just my imagination.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Randy Sager Elite user 409 Posts |
Jonathan good idea but in certain places can't that get you arrested?
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
Every element of the Frog Prince by Mike Close.
Humor Good plot Good Story Not Boring No parts where things are downhill Cards changing Great ending |
korttihai_82 Inner circle Finland 1880 Posts |
I agree Ranalli. Frog Prince is the best and most charming card trick ever invented.
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erniep33 New user Marysville, WA 72 Posts |
I have to agree Frog Prince is a great effect. I don't know if that's the ultimate, but still a good one.
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owen.daniel Inner circle England 1048 Posts |
Just thought I would add a link to a site that FingerJack has written. He linked it to Teenmagician14's original post, but thought that it would suit this topic too.
http://www.geocities.com/fingerjack/perfecttrick.html owen |
Wesley James V.I.P. Hazlet, New Jersey 372 Posts |
Owen,
While I appreciate your kind comments about both my Hyper-Warp and Forgery, and both offer strong visual reinforcement of the magic that has been created, the feature that makes them powerful is that they are both visual and celebral, appealing to both the eye and the mind. While it isn't always possible, when one can achieve both in one effect it will almost always produce an extremely effective result. It is an important consideration to keep in mind in when developing or selecting the effects one performs. While it probably isn't wise to require all ones effects to meet that criteria, it is beneficial to include at least one such effect in a set. Wesley James |
owen.daniel Inner circle England 1048 Posts |
Wesley,
I agree interely upon the point that you made at the end of your post. I have often heard a magician say that you cannot perform a routine which is composed enitirely on strong effects. You mention this in your own book when talking about routining. I think one of the strongest things put across throughout your book is the way that each effect is appealing to the audiences mind (as you say), or intelectualy stimulating. You have created interesting patter presentations, which add to the over all effects which you create. I feel that this is a very important thing that must be considered when making changing an effect which is good, to be exceptional. Effects may seem poor in one persons hands, but when that extra "panache" is added, it really makes a visible difference. This is why some routines are obviously things that you cannot recreate. There is no way that some people are going to be able to pull off doing such acts as Lennart Green, as part of the amazement factor is, if you like, imbedded in his soul! Thanks again Wesley for your wise words! Owen |
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