It seems like an Elmsley Count and/or Gaffed Cards are a necessity for packet tricks, is this always the case?

It's not a necessity and not always the case.
There are quite few excellent packet tricks that are done with regular cards and different sleights.

Seek and you will find.

Thanks jaz. time to go seek...

Learn to do a good smooth Elmsley Count. With a good Elmsley Count and a good double, you can perform countless wonderful effects. Practice.

Best regards,
Glenn Godsey

I learned Elmsley Count from the packet effect "Queens Out of Control." It teaches almost everything you need to get it down smoothly.

There are a great number of packet effects that do not require an Elmsley nor a gaff.

Is there a reason you're looking to avoid these two aspects or am I reading your post wrong?

Just wondering...

I think a lot of the aversion to the Elmsley count is that most versions of it require holding the packt of cards in a strange manner, i.e. by the edges. Jon Racherbaumer showed me a version once that is the most natural count I have ever seen.

I tried to learn the Elmsley count 10 years ago and quickly gave up.
I tried again last November. I got it down pretty darn quick that time.
I would like to encourage anyone who wants to learn this move to do so, but not wait 10 years like I did.

I learned it from Oz Pearlman and Michael Ammar. Thanks to both!
And thanks to the late Mr. Elmsley.

Later
PW

The main thing to remember, IMO, is to hold the packet like anyone else would when performing the count...

I learned the Elmsley by watching Colombini videos. He shows the the best I have seen.

Regards,

Joe

I re-learned it in a different way after purchasing Queens Out of Control. I used to use the fingertip control, but now do it the much more natural way.

HIs method can be found in the excellent compendium COuntesaurus (also by Racherbaumer. That source is for those who like to learn from books. The original method (which I learned from Jerry Mentzer's excellent book Counts Cuts Moves and Subtlety)worked fine, but has been updated with a more natural handling.

I learned the Elmsley Count using the fingertips on the long edges. After reading The complete works of Alex Elmsley Vol. 1, learned the actual way Elmsley did it. Sooooo much easier and more convincing. Elmsley also mentioned that the reason for the fingertips description of the sleight came from its use in a JUMBO card routine by an american magician. The JUMBO cards made it impossible to hold the cards in the more relaxed (original) fashion.

Most references attribute the fingertip count to Vernon, implying that he developed it for the completely natural handling of "Twisting the Aces" after the "twist".

Does Elmsley mention who the American Magician was?

In some instances a hammond count can be used instead of an Emsley.
The card to be hidden will be on the bottom.

The secret is an easy grip and no hesitation. When learning I would practice while watching a movie in the dark. After a while it becomes automatic which is what you want.

Robert

I consider the Elmsley count as a valuable sleight when it comes to a lot of packet tricks.
My best advice is: the hand that holds the packet to start with keeeps still all the time, it is only the other hand that moves in a steady rythm.

I also think that a bit of a forward motion, as opposed to a side to side, makes it appear more natural.

I don't think anyone performs the Elmsley slower than Mike Skinner, and it looks great....

I'd love to hear more about that natural version.
Sounds great!