Which effects from Paul Harris's master piece "The Art of Astonishment" do you think are best for table hoppers?

Thank you in advance,

Saxon,

I don't have AofA but I have a number of the original Paul Harris books. I understand that his AofA series combines most of the effects that were in his early books and adds additional material.

One of the effects that I have always liked is a routine called "Peeler". It is in his original "Close-up Entertainer" book. It is quick and easy to do and has a lot of comedy and astonishment attached to it.

EFFECT:

The performer announces that he is going to mark your card with his fingernail so that he'll be able to find it no matter where in the deck it is placed. He then proceeds to take his fingernail and apparently rips about a 1" strip off the back of the card so that the ripped piece is seen to actually curl up off the back of the card as it is shown to the audience members. Claiming (words to the effect): "OOPS!, I scratched too hard. Let me see if I can make this less noticeable", the magician then "repairs" the card under the noses of the audience and then passes out the card for examination, claiming: "There! That's much better and harder to notice the mark". He then spins the card to the table (or just hands it out for examination). Of course, the card is completely restored.

Great magic--and easy to do.

This routine is a "stand alone". However, you can easily incorporate it into another routine. For example: You can do this effect at the beginning of your routine (such as an ambitious card routine--as you explain how you will always be able to "find their card") or at the end of the routine (explaining that you were always able to find their card because you marked it prior to "finding their card", and, at that point you merely take out any card from the deck and go into the routine.

"Peeler" is quick, can be done in the hands, uses one card only and is very magical and allows great by-play with the audience. And, since it is Paul Harris, it is "Weird Otis" all the way. OH! And did I mention that it is easy to do?

Hope this helps.

Turk

Although I don't perform the effect myself, 'Re-Set' would be suitable for table to table magic.

I also like the vanishing deck in volume 1, it blew me away the first time I saw it performed.

A switch would need to be done, but it wouldn't be difficult. Just place the deck in your pocket, do a coin routine then as an afterthought say 'Oh I have one more for you' then bring out the gimmicked card.

Just a suggestion...
-Kevin-

Peeler, by the way, is in volume 2.

I heard someone mention, in another forum, that flapjacks could be used for table-hopping:
Something on the lines of "Did you know that I am also a chef at this restaurant? My specialty is flapjacks." Then you can go into the routine and end up with the four "flapjacks"

I like the idea. Too bad I don't do alot of restaurant work.

Lake

Yeah, I saw that too, it looked like it had potential, the only thing that worried me was the amount of time it would take to set-up the cards but it could be worked around!

I use Reset, Sidewinder, Bizzare Twist and a bent Penny trick.

Solid Deception is a great way to end your card set.

-Mark

Is Cros Twist the same as Bizarre Twist?

Ivan

PS: What are flapjacks??

What do you guys think about the classic eleven card trick? I love it!

I just got my three volumes about a week ago. Man, they are "jam-packed"with stuff! But for table-hopping. I would have to say: "Reset",which I love,"Galaxy","Un-shuffeling Rebecca",and "Backlash", which I do all the time!.

All the best
Dade,

Bizzare twist is Cros Twist performed one handed. I wish I could use this handling, but I cant ever get the cards to end up at right angles to each other during the waving motion. To me the Cross twist revelation looks "suspicious" when I do it, and not at all natural. Too much movement I think.....

I actually never performed the 11 card trick from the AOA books. What are the reactions?

Pavlo, Its good to get the audience laughing, probably a good opener to make everyone feel relaxed and comfortable.

What is the 11 card trick in AoA?

It's in Book 1, called the classic eleven card trick.

I should have seen that coming!

I like hefty penetration. A card penetrates a clear plastic bag. Also, like all of the above, cross twist gets incredible reactions.

Hey, I love Flapjacks. It is one of my all-time favorite PH tricks. I've got a great presentation for it, but I don't think I would do it in a restaurant environment again. This is a case of "working horizontal" as Simon Lovell calls it - that is, working on the table top.
I think a lot of the other tricks mentioned above, though I've used many of them in the past, suffer from this same problem and I am working to get up off the table when working in a restaurant (or most anywhere else, for that matter)...

I have to agree for a simple trick....Cross Twist packs a great punch.....The color change at the end really creates a stir..and you end totally clean.