I have found in performing magic there are certain phrases that, in my opinion, tend to get overused. The one currently making me nuts is a phrase often uttered during the cups and balls routine---"Solid through solid." Is this just a me thing? (It may really be!) Are there others?

Flimnar

Does "Pick a card, and don't let me see it" count?

Steven

"Self-Working"......

"Watch" Or "LOOK"

"....just an ORDINARY deck of cards"
Yeah right....
Bruce

"actually"

The word is NEVER needed. It is ALWAYS superfluous and self evident.

"Now I'm actually going to cause this coin to..."

Leave out the actually and see how that sentence reads.

Ain't that a fur sight better?

...of course that dress doesn't make you look fat honey...oh you mean magic related...

"What I'm going to do now is..."

"What I'd like for you to do now is ..."

Some magicians can make these phrases into two or three syllable words.

"Would you like to change your mind, or are you happy with the mind you have?"

Hi People,

You guys have mentioned several prhases I dislike. I think that using : "this is an ordinary xxx" makes people very suspicious. Hinting to what it is going to happen detracts from the effect. However, it may be hard to instruct a person to pick a card without asking. Perhaps: "select a card of your choice without disclosing it to me" may be a better phrase though, what do you think?

QH.

My most-hated gag-line:

"Stand right there - just over the trap door."

Ian

I saw Matthew Disero and he said Fantastic about 70-75 times in his 70 min show

Pick a card any card

Within the magic literature:

"Do not run if you are not being chased."

Within the learning curve:

"Does it require any sleights?"

Within the torn and restored genre:

"I think this would make four pieces, if my math serves me."

We must not confuse ourselves. Often used lines do not mean they are bad.
We had a whole thread on this before.

"Do you want to change your mind? So you're happy with the mind you've got?"
I think it's great. Spectators love it. Couples look at each other and laugh and comment. It's funny. They only hear it once.

As long as these oft used lines are not delivered properly they are gems.

I have to remember to add this one:
"Stand right there - just over the trap door."



Now, I also hear this a lot on DVDs.
-Pick a card.
-Perfect
-Write your name on it.
-Perfect
-Show it to your friends.
-Perfect.
-Put it in the middle.
-Perfect.
-Are you left handed or right-handed?
-Perfect.

It is very apparent that folks are putting out DVDs without ever watching themselves on video first or getting feedback about their performances ahead of time. What do you think about that?


Everyone should acquire the book "Maximum Entertainment" as it will
help you in many of these areas.

How about "Just like that"

So you're happy with the mind you've got??

Stand right there - just over the trap door.

These two lines made me chuckle just reading them. I'm adding them both. So there!

I took the would you like to change your mind line and added a tag to it.

Would you like to change your mind?

Oh, you're happy with the mind you have?

Don't lose it!

"Now you have never met me before have you? Then how do you know it's me?"

"Would you be impressed if I..."

Grrr...