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magicwiia Regular user 120 Posts |
I've been working on the David Blaine DL. I like the way it looks. What I'm finding is that after rotating the two cards over my wrist holding the cards is in an awkward, downward position. For me, it makes flipping the cards over a bit difficult as my wrist is canted/angled downward while holding the cards. Here is Blaine doing the DL at 2:40 in the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3mVE9TAnR0 I'll contrast that with Jason England's demonstration of Martin Nash's Knockout DL (paid video download). He rotates the two cards over in a similar manner as Blaine to display them but then slides the two cards up and they are held against the pack by the thumb of the hand holding the deck. That allows the other hand holding the two cards to release them, pick them up and flip them over. It's an extra step compared to Blaine's but it allows the wrist position to be restored from an awkward angle (at least to me) to a more natural angle. The way Jason does it is so remarkably fluid and smooth. I worry that the extra step provides an opportunity for mishandling, particularly for someone inexperienced like me, but I am struggling with Blaine's turnover move given the awkward angle of my wrist. Any thoughts about which direction to proceed? |
Ray J Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1503 Posts |
What David is doing is nothing special, it is just a double turnover but holding the cards off of the pack and bowing them to help keep the cards from separating. Are you trying to duplicate exactly how DB is doing it? If so, I don't understand why you are experiencing difficulty. Just mimic what he does.
As far as technique goes, I really don't care for that DL. Why not just turn the card(s) over and let them fall onto the top of the pack and hold a break? Or flip them over and let them fall but jogged so that you can easily pick them up again? Strive for naturalness.
It's never crowded on the extra mile....
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magicwiia Regular user 120 Posts |
Let's keep in mind that I am new to card mechanics. As I've watched a variety of different DL, and I have spent a lot of time with this, certain people stand out. Jason England's DLs, of 5 different varieties in his video, are all smooth and convincing. The problem....maybe a lifetime (or two) of practice to reach that level convincing.
I've practiced endlessly and can somewhat do the Blaine DL except that the final turnover is a bit more awkward than he presents. I've become a believer in the Knockout DL. I find it convincing, a bit flashy, and something others have likely not seen before. Unfamiliarity by the observer is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. |
Ray J Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1503 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 24, 2019, magicwiia wrote: Keep in mind the premise that you are merely turning over a card. Drawing undue attention to the turnover makes it look like a move, which it is, but why draw suspicion? YMMV.
It's never crowded on the extra mile....
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inigmntoya Inner circle DC area native, now in Atlanta 2350 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 25, 2019, Tortuga wrote: ^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^ |
judeh New user 51 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 24, 2019, magicwiia wrote: Yeah. I want to second the idea that a neat move is different than a convincing DL. The knockout looks kind of cool. It definitely seems like the magician has some card handling skills. But is that what you want your spectator(s) to believe? Personally, I would rather them think I'm barely competent. That way, the payoff seems bigger. Jude |
magicwiia Regular user 120 Posts |
The reason I've been gravitating to the Knockout DL is the bottom card is hidden much better, and more consistently, when I use this technique than when I do the Instantaneous DL.
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kShepher Elite user Washington, DC 470 Posts |
Ask a layman to turn a card over.
He takes the top right corner and turns it over. That is on page 5 of Expert Card Technique. As time goes on people feel the need to "improve things"...where no improvement is needed. |
Rupert Pupkin Inner circle 1452 Posts |
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On Apr 28, 2019, kShepher wrote: Laymen also don't faro shuffle, kick cut, or pressure fan. I'm not a layman, so why should I handle the cards like one? I'm a practiced performer. They're not. Not to mention the fact that no, not all laymen turn the top card over in the same way. Some turn it end over end. Some turn it bookwise, as observed by Charlie Miller and Nate Leipzig. This is common sense. Just make it look natural to you and your performing context. It couldn't be simpler. |
kShepher Elite user Washington, DC 470 Posts |
Okay. I disagree. But I agree with many of your insightful points.
I think magicians get a bit too "arty". Just like musicians. |
kShepher Elite user Washington, DC 470 Posts |
I am going to test this instead of blowing wind. I will ask everybody I see to turn a card over. If DC doesn't commit me I will report back.
K |
WitchDocChris Inner circle York, PA 2614 Posts |
My family and I used to play card games together, as you do. So around 10 or so years old I'd go through spurts of being obsessed with cards. Not games, mind you, the physical objects themselves. I liked to shuffle them, sort them back into NDO, then shuffle more. Played a lot of Solitaire, etc.
When I was doing that, I got into the habit of turning over a single card by pushing it to the side, taking it by a corner, and 'swooping' it around and over. I thought it looked fancy. 'Natural' is different for everyone. I think the best advice I've gotten in that regard is, "Make your singles look like doubles and your doubles look like singles." As in, be consistent. Also, for the push off, there's a great bit of advice on how to get that consistently in Expert Card Technique.
Christopher
Witch Doctor Psycho Seance book: https://tinyurl.com/y873bbr4 Boffo eBook: https://tinyurl.com/387sxkcd |
Ray J Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1503 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 28, 2019, Rupert Pupkin wrote: I think the point some are trying to make relates to "overt" expression of skill. Sure, you are a professional and as such should have mastery over the props, but many believe that to overdo it lessens the mystery. When something magical happens and it appears you did nothing to create it, then it is mysterious. If you show off your skill with the cards, then the audience assumes you did something fancy or sneaky, something they don't quite grasp but know happened. So to them it is more of a puzzle than a mystery. I watched Simon Lovell perform once for a mixed group of magicians and laypersons. He presented his card magic very casually as though he could barely shuffle. In fact, he only did overhand shuffles and frequently would drop cards and such. When the card came out of his mouth, the audience was stunned. Had he done a lot of swishy moves with the pack, the reaction would likely have been lessened. Some magicians WANT the audience to know they have superhuman skills. That is their style. If it works for them, so be it. Martin Nash comes to mind. The audience sees his skills and complete mastery over the cards. At the end it is entertaining. But is is mysterious? I think the spectators are more impressed than fooled. Every performer should THINK about who they are, what they are and how they want to be perceived. How do you create a character or persona that enhances mystery (if that is your goal) or just impresses the heck out of people (a different goal). Getting back to the subject at hand, just turn the card over.
It's never crowded on the extra mile....
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Rupert Pupkin Inner circle 1452 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 30, 2019, Tortuga wrote: And since there's no one way to do that, my point stands. I do it more elegantly than a layman. |
Ray J Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1503 Posts |
Sorry that you seem to think I was trying to get you to change your opinion. Conversations don't always have to be controversial. Although on some sites it seems so.
It's never crowded on the extra mile....
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Rupert Pupkin Inner circle 1452 Posts |
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On Apr 30, 2019, Tortuga wrote: Agreed! |
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