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Eddini_81976 Inner circle 2183 Posts |
Yes Mr. Benatar I have both of your "Elegant Card Magic" Tapes. You sir are truly a Master of the double lift. Well this is the very FIRST time, I have posted to a guest of honor. I will at least my favorites from your first tape. I haven't watched the second tape in a while. I'll have to do a separate post for that tape. I have a few questions as well. Anyway off your first tape my favorites are........
1. Hot Transposition 2. Photomat (This is very clever). 3. Relative Interchange 4. Devilishly Invisible (This is the BEST One IMHO). While I think the best sleight I do is the double lift, I keep it simple. I do the Vernon DL as taught in "Easy To Master Card Miracles" (Ammar). I let the double fall sleightly injogged, and then it's easy to do a thumb to pinky break. The only other one I use, is the Snap DL (which is very rare) like in the Paul LePaul Book. I just like to keep the Double on the deck. I hate handling doubles for very long, such as in the Bertram Change...ect. I've been doing Magic ("Street Magic", Cards, Mentalism, & Escapes mostly) for about 13 years. I very rarely do Coin Stuff, unless it's the French Drop for kids, or gimmicked tricks such as Scotch & Soda, Lethal Tender...ect. I see on your tapes a lot of the stuff requires doubles off of the deck. Do you have any advice on how to get over the nervousness. I do practice. The only trick I really done that requires a double off of the deck is Paul Harris's Reset. I'm a great fan of Ace Assemblies. I do the Classic D.F. MacDonald's Aces. I've also played with Jazz Aces, Hitchcock Aces, (Ortiz, who is one of my FAVORITE card workers), Bottom's Up Aces (A David Regal Trick, with a ending they DON'T expect), and a Ace Assembly by Alan Ackerman, called Reassembly Finale. I forgot most of them except for the Regal Trick. I learn new tricks, and forget other ones, and have to "refresh" myself on them. I'm sure that happens to a lot of Magicians. I like the MacDonald's Ace Assembly best. I was wonder Mr. Benatar, which Ace Assemblies do you do, and which one is your absolute favorite? I was curious if you do any Mentalism at all, and what is your favorite Mentalism "Feat"? I was curious, and I hope I'm not being too bold, and please do not disclose anything you don't feel comfortable with, but do you like gimmicked decks, and if so which ones? I admit I'm a sucker for gimmicked decks, although 75% of my Card Work is Sleight-Of-Hand. My theory is, is that it doesn't matter how the trick is accomplished, as long as your means give you the maximum results. What is your theory on that? I see you know Juan Tamariz. I've only seen two of his tricks. I saw the buggy one on World's Greatest Magic, which is a riot, and a Poker trick of a A-1 Secret Sessions, the two and a half hour one in which he does a Poker Routine. My question is, is he always that loud, and zany? I mean that in a GOOD way...lol. Also I'm not familiar with Damico, or Ascanio. I don't even know what they look like. Shame on me. I like the Ascanio Spread though..lol. I'm sorry for "jumping" all over the place. Answer what you feel comfortable with, and I'd be most appreciative. Oh yes, welcome to the Café. Ed, (Eddini).
"Treat Others As You'd Want To Be Treated" - Jesus Christ
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MField2000 Special user Hastings, East Sussex, England 590 Posts |
These videos are highly recommended.
Matt Field |
Rafael Benatar V.I.P. Spain 165 Posts |
Thank you for your comments guys. Eddini, I'm out of town on a gig and don't have time now but I'll answer your questions tomorrow. If you have the time to ask the questions I'll find the time, and be pleased, to answer.
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ASW Inner circle 1879 Posts |
These are some of my favourite tapes in my collection. Rafael's cups & balls tape is also excellent.
I've been a big fan of Rafael's elegant card magic and charming performing style ever since seeing him at the A1 convention he recorded these tapes at. Rafael shows (like Skinner) that you can be tremendously entertaining (and funny to boot) without being in your face like some used car salesman. Rafael: GREAT job on Mnemonica! cheers Andrew
Whenever I find myself gripping anything too tightly I just ask myself "How would Guy Hollingworth hold this?"
A magician on the Genii Forum "I would respect VIPs if they respect history." Hideo Kato |
Rafael Benatar V.I.P. Spain 165 Posts |
Hello guys, I'm back home. So Eddini, to answer your questions...
First, thanks for etting me know your picks of vol. 1. It's always interesting to know. Your comments about your DL experience make a lot of sense. Regarding nervousness, the first thing is to track the source of your nerves. when do you get nervous? Then go thru that situation as often as you can. If you get nervous in front of an audience, do just that. George Harrison, when asked about songwriting, said: "The more you do it, the more you know how to do it." Actually doing it is a stae of the practice process. Antonio Lauro, my guitar teacher, said: "It's like doing push-ups. You don't just practice it till you can do it well. Once you can do it well is when you begin to practice it. Regarding assemblies, I like Vernon's Slow Motion Aces from Stars of Magic and also the version from the Chronicles. The one I do the most is my "Countdown" routine, which is somehow inspired by Darwin's routine you mention. It belongs in the O'Henry category (i.e. unexpected ending). When I showed it to Mike Skinner, he said it was the best one of that type he'd seen. Yes, I do some mentalism and I want to do more. I often do a trick with "a message from beyond" that caused an"ethical" controversy in Genii Forum. You can look it up there, in the Mentalism section. The name of the thread is "Screwing with their heads to much?" I don't use gimmicked decks but have no prejudice against them, so I may start any day. All the rough and smooth types produce great results. Tamariz is always that loud and zany (even if I'm not sure what "zany" means) when performing for a large audience and is playing that character. He gets a bit more quiet when working for a small group. I haven't seen D'Amico's face either. Just a couple of his famous moves. There's a lot more to ascanio than the spread. You'll probably see a picture in the December issue of MAGIC. |
Rafael Benatar V.I.P. Spain 165 Posts |
Thank you Andrew. A great pleasure to finally meet you in Madrid. Thanks for showing me some of your awesome stuff.
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Eddini_81976 Inner circle 2183 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-11-14 12:53, Rafael Benatar wrote: Thank you very much Mr. Benatar. I've heard Vernon'a Ace Assembly is very good. I forgot to mention, I have Jack Carpenter's tape, and he has a awesome assembly with the O'Henry plot. As far as the word zany, it just means, wild, wacky, silly, and fun. But all in a GOOD way...HaHaHa. Do you do Red Hot Mama? This is a trick I'm very well known for, that and my A.C. Routine, ending with the Card To Mullica Wallet. To me the strongest Magic for a spectator, is when it happens in their hands. Such as showing them the wrong card (DL), then putting it trapped between their hands. As easy as that is for us Magicians to do, it can literally scare some spectators. I've gotten $20.00 tips just for changing cards while people hold them....it's wild. Do you do a Card to Wallet as well? By the way I really enjoyed your music in the background as well on both of your tapes. Thanks again, Ed, (Eddini).
"Treat Others As You'd Want To Be Treated" - Jesus Christ
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Eddini_81976 Inner circle 2183 Posts |
Oh yes...Great Advice too. Thanks, Ed, (Eddini).
"Treat Others As You'd Want To Be Treated" - Jesus Christ
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Rafael Benatar V.I.P. Spain 165 Posts |
As to Red-Hot Mama, I've done it but I'm not using it regularly. I think that's the Chicago Opener, which I first learned from one of Frank Garcia's books. Whit Haydn showed me a great version that he published in a book devoted to that plot. Also Camilo and Tamariz do awesome versions of it.
Yes, magic in their hands is a powerful thing. The Changing Card, as it appeared in Royal Road has been in my repertoire since I started. I now do my version, which I call "Hallucination" or maybe "Do you want to Hallucinate?" Card to Wallet is not in my current repertoire but should eventually be. I often do Gary Kurtz's business card to wallet with a borrowed credit card. |
Triumph1 New user Kansas City 3 Posts |
Mr. Benatar: I have your cups and balls video and think it is one of the best routines I have seen. I have incorporated this into my act and the cups and balls are the finale of my close-up performance. I really appreciated the real-world advise on this classic of magic (it's obvious you actually perform this routine for a real audience) and how you took the cups and balls to a new level and made this a real work of art. I would like to know how to get your card videos? Are they still available, and are you considering putting them on DVD? You are a true inspiration for all of us!!!
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Rafael Benatar V.I.P. Spain 165 Posts |
Hi Triumph,
Thanks for the compliments and glad to hear my video was of use. As to the card videos, you may order them directly from me (write me at <rbenatar@teleline.es>). I can have them shipped to you directly from the US. Meir Yedid bought the rights from A-1 and he wants to put them into DVD, eventually, but I haven't heard of immediate plans to do so. |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The November 2004 entrée: Rafael Benatar » » Awesome Tapes Mr. Benatar. I really like.......................... » » TOPIC IS LOCKED (0 Likes) |
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