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bouche Regular user 146 Posts |
I attended a convention a few years ago on my honeymoon (Magic on the Beach, Miami) and participated in a workshop with you but foolishly forgot to ask about your clever routine for the card to forehead that you demonstrated in your lecture.
Do you have any more tips besides those that appear in Carneycopia, for misdirecting the audience during the 'moment of truth'? Have you ever done the trick without the aid of a table? How can I draw focus away from me (in a stand up situation) besides using a reversed card? |
John Carney V.I.P. Los Angeles, CA 87 Posts |
Bouche,
It would be tough to do without a table, as the idea is to get their eyes of your hands occasionally. If you never set them down, its hard to make them look away. I don't know what was left out of Carneycopia, I'm pretty happy with the way Mr. Minch wrote it. As far as the moment of truth, you have to adjust your timing to each spectator and when they turn over the card. You have a framework, but each spectator will change the timing a bit. Wet your forehead when they turn over the first card, in a gesture like scratching your forehead after you indicate they are to turn over the first card. Bring your clean hand into view and "mix" the remaining two around to focus attention on the table and away from your hands. Not too much, or the other hand at your side will look dead. Ask them to turn over another, gesture forward toward the cards and retreat at chin level (as if in deep thought) and WATCH THE SPECTATOR. If he hesitates....wait.....as soon as he has started to turn over the card, he is committed, and all eyes will be on the face of the card as it is exposed. You have a very small window here.......stick the card on your forehead and IMMEDIATELY get BOTH your hands down to the table as you pick up the last card.......you don't want attention to shift off the table yet. Show the last card as not being the selection, then slowly pick up the others and fan, again, keeping attention on the cards in hand, as if it is important.......then slowly bring the fan up to chest level, when they will finally realize the selection is on your forehead. The gestures and the wetting of the forehead and such, should look casual. Not forced. This is a very commercial trick and has been my bread and butter for many years. Even the hard core magi-bashers have to admit "that was pretty good". The routine is an exercise in pure misdirection. Don't expect to get it right away. Refine it. The more you do it, the better the timing will become. Remember, misdirection is nothing without timing. have fun, carney |
bouche Regular user 146 Posts |
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I thought that perhaps using a spectators hands to substitute for the table might work.... A possibility that may require more courage than I can muster.
Your idea of touching your chin as if in deep thought is brilliant. I don't know if I missed that in Carneycopia, but that may make it actually work for me. I appreciate your honest answer to such a specific and technical question. Sincerely, Matt |
John Carney V.I.P. Los Angeles, CA 87 Posts |
Matt,
well, I don't know if I would classify it as "brilliant", but it is a natural gesture, and only for a moment....when attention is elsewhere.....you don't have to come up so far to stick it on your forehead (The Minimum Movement Principle). Simplify. Eliminate steps and moves. Eliminate procedure. Eliminate superfluous beats. No short cuts.......just straight lines. best of luck, carney |
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