I like Airtight as a card effect ... I don't care for cards too much, either, as far as the run of the mill card tricks go, at least. After a while, all the "pick a card" tricks look the same. I like the ones where something unexpected happens; the cards ending up inside a balloon, for example, or the Sherlock/Red Card of Mystery type of thing.

Or Pyro Perception.

I do know some card tricks and I am working on my card sleights, as they need improvement. But I greatly prefer coins and IT. And more "unusual" stuff, like some of Zach Allen's stuff.

I don't think I saw it mentioned, but a great resource is Lewis Ganson's two volumes "The Art of Close Up Magic." 401 and 286 pages of close up magic without a card trick. There is plenty there to reassure yourself that great magic can be done without cards.

K I LOVE cards but I also love close up in general. I am mainly a coin guy but I do everything so I work lol. If you don't like cards...don't do them! SPend your time learning something you're interested in. Mentalism is a GREAT field if you seriously study it and treat it with respect. Coins are fantastic as well if you choose the right audience participation effects.

If they ask to see a card trick, do something with your buisness cards! The pothole trick immediately comes to mind. This way you've done an impossible feat with cardboard and have given away a valuable souveneir...your business card.

If you are going to learn card tricks learn ones that are visual and easy with Huge Impact, such as color changing deck, McDonald's Aces, Card on the Ceiling, Invisible Deck, Red Hot Momma/Chicago opener, Card-toon, etc. There are tons of card tricks out there that are very easy and have high impact for guys who don't do cards!

What ever magic you perform should be an extension of you. A simple statement and very difficult to accomplish.

Sometimes you just have to pick something up and start to run through it. The hardest part that few DO is start something. Make a choice of something in the video or book your watching and try it out.

I feel that creating a relationship with a trick starts with the practice. I leave the new potential piece, or several, out and when I walk by I'll see it, pick it up and go through it and I trance out and then I notice that 3 hours have gone by.

I try to work out the premise, patter and handling during this time.

Unless it is a stage piece or needs a table top, I then carry it around and do it for strangers. Paul Green once caught me in the Metro doing the three ball trick. If someone looks interested I ask them," do you like magic"? If they affirm that then I'll practice on them. It's usually the quick and dirty version because that's all we have time for.

Few people ever see a real magician perform. We think there are a lot of us around. If after you do any part of the above and don't like it whether it's a card trick or not you won't be doing it anyway. I LOVE it all. bob.

Bob Sheets said, "I LOVE it all."

That sums it up. The choice of material is a personal decision. Eventually, your repertoire will be a reflection of who you are as a performer AND as a person. If there are any conflicts, you will find yourself gravitating towards the things you like to perform AND culling out the items that you do not prefer. This is not a bad thing.

Love what you do and love (respect) your audience--You will be rewarded with positive things.

Regards,

Paul Green

Honestly, I don't like card work either.

I do know a few effects to satisfy the card-liking audience, but I prefer coins and other "devices."

One of my most successful shows didn't use one card trick. You don't need cards to be a success.

Don't think of it as a deck of cards , think of it more like performing magic with 52 diferant items.


Gareth.

I like cards but seems to be bored already.

So, I learned some Rope and ring and rope routines.

I added some mentalism effects too not involving cards.