Dear ALL,

A lot of my friends, have started to realise that I use a Double Lift, how can I combat this. Should I change the way I do it, where can I learn new techniques??

Has anybody else had this problem??

regards

james

Get Gregory Wilson's Double Take. He not only teaches several DL variations, he shows convincing ways of turning the card over so that the spectator never suspects there is more than one card. He also teaches techniques for ostensibly showing "card singularity," that is, ways of handling the double that make it look and sound like you're handling a single.

On top of all this, he teaches several routines and effects that make excellent use of the techniques demonstrated in the video. Included are Wilson's variations of Paul Harris's "Bizarre Twist," Darwin Ortiz's "Jumping Gemini," Doc Daley's "Daley's Last Trick," and others. I use all of these and get wonderful reactions. So not only do you get thorough demonstration of techniques, subleties, and the nuances of the sleight, you also get some great tricks.

Finally, don't listen to those who say it's a long boring video of one DL after another. I've heard people say, "Sheesh, how many DLs do you need?" It gives me the impression that they haven't watched the tape. It is NOT just one DL after another. Paying attention to his comments, the details, the convincers, the foolers, etc. all work together to help you to make the best use of this sleight and to vary it according to your situation and your audience. In particular, he teaches a Juan Tamariz DL turnover that will fool anyone who is convinced you're using a DL (It fooled Gregory Wilson when he first saw it -- it's that good).

The tape is thorough, and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Heck, there are even bloopers at the end while the credits are scrolling by. Do a search on "Double Take" and you'll see many posts on this video. My only complaint is that it isn't available on DVD.

Cheers,
Jim

Well said Jim! Another option is to learn some tricks that dont use double lifts lol.

A top change could be substituted. You could also use a double-backer to add to the deception. But I would just probably do non-DL effects for them or at least avoid overusing it.

Cheers Jim thats brillinat you have cost me more money....

Regards

james

I should like to mention other moves I learned from Gregory Wilson's Double Take:

• Elmsley count
  
• Buckle count
  
• Pinky count
  
• Card flinging/shooting with doubles (both splitting and non-splitting)
  
• Gambler's cop
  
• Squeeze production
  
• Flushtration count

It's an amazing resource, especially if you're a beginner.

In addition to some of the excellent advice above, I would suggest picking up some routines in which the DL is not the primary move behind the effect. For example, while Paul Harris's "Reset" requires a DL or two, the building astonishment comes from a rhythm of the seeming impossible changes that occur overall, not in any single move or revelation.

Good luck,
Jim

Any ideas in where it would be possible to learn the strike double lift?

A Double lift is a Double Lift. What I mean is: you are getting caught because you are over-using it.

Charles Spector

When I was just getting seriously interested in magic, a DL was pretty much all that I could do. It is very tempting (at least for me) to use the move over and over and over and over.

If you do the move enough, even if its pretty good, people will start to figure out what you are doing. I have seen Greg Wilson's Double Take and highly recommend it, but I also agree that its sometimes better to find other sleights to accomplish what you are trying to accomplish.

-JMagi

Gregory Wilson's Double Take video.

Harry Lorayne's Ultra Move, probably the best, most imperceptible and comercial switch of a card that's possible, it WILL take hours to perfect though.
It's in his book Afterthoughts, on his EVER videos (set of 10) and on Lorayne Magical Classics video and also on a three hour lecture video he made in London available from http://www.internationalmagic.com.
If your serious about card magic learn this change, it's the perfect switch of a card when neatly executed.

John.

I agree on the Ultra move (one handed top change). It is incredible. Fools everyone if placed in at the right moments. I use it often. Took awhile to get it smooth and consistant. Now I can't screw it up. Keep working at it once you learn it... you'll be glad when you get it.

I use double lifts and top changes interchangeably, so I'm not caught overusing one or the other!

Ben

I agree. If you can´t use double lift, just use top change. Or do tricks without the double lift. There´s a lot of them, and such great or more than the ones which use double lift.

All the best magic,

Pablo Tejero

If you do a routine that consists of 10 or 12 effects and you use the double lift more than 3 times, you are overusing it!

Jim Molinari

I would agree that overuse is a bad thing in anything especially if you do an ambiguous card routine. Speaking of which, a good one has many substitutes for a double lift

It is so easy to overdo double lifts (especially in the beginning) to the point that it can get crippling and almost obvious -- I myself still use them fairly often (maybe even a slight bit TOO often) but I am always working on other sleights that can simulate (or at least divert attention away from) the dl...

Hi... My name is Charles, and I am a double-liftaholic...
:crazydude:

I would also suggest checking out your double lift "get ready". One of the easiest get ready is the thumb break, but it's also the easiest for an audience in front of you to spot.

Daryls encylcopedia of card sleights vol 5 covers double lifts, the get ready, and the cleanup very well. (I've been pitching this dvd set so much now that I am begining to sound like a commercial.)

But if the friends you are performing for have wised up, you'll need to change out the double lift for another move as suggested in some of the prior posts.

Michael Catalani

I was also overusing the double lift, and came upon the glide. It's a neat sleight for a card on the bottom of the deck and it fairly easy. It's the basis for the trick "Design for Laughter" in Royal Road to Card Magic and is now a trick I do regularly so people don't associate "tricky things" with this special move I do flipping a card on the top of the deck.

Designed for Laughter is an excellent trick and is among the best for a relaxed setting. Give it a try, especially if your friends are catching on to your DL.

Mike

One caution about using the "convincers" to prove that you have only one card: they're pointless if you only use them when you have a double. ("I'm going to prove to you that I have only one card by doing something that I never do when I really have only one card.") If you snap the corner of a double or spin it in the air or whatever, be sure that you do the same thing--with the same frequency--with a single.

Also, compare your technique when turning over a double with your technique when turning over a single; they should be identical. I've had many people ask me what the best double lift technique is and there is only one answer: the technique that looks exactly like your single lift. Your friends may have caught on because you're holding up a bright, flashing, neon, double-lift sign.