Sorry. I forgot which forum I was in. Back to the ladies, with my apologies...

Randi, I agree, card tricks put me to sleep to. Don't get me wrong. I totally respect a good sleight of hand magician, because I am not that good...but when I watch manip acts with cards or coins I go to sleep. I've been doing magic since I was 7 and I know enough to get by, but performing them on stage...no way!

Randi, open up a bit. What have cards ever done to you for you to be so abrasive towards them?

Magicnator, I haven't been talking about manipulation with cards, though there's nothing wrong with that if that's what you like to do, I've been talking about real magic with cards, presentations that go beyond the tool; mysterious, intriguing.

Did you know that after more than 800 years of recorded history, the origins of Playing Cards continue to be a mystery to the scholars of antiquity?

While centuries have passed, this mystery is still being bought, sold, and collected by the millions every day, all over the world. Always 52 cards, always the 4 suits, 2 colors, 12 faces of Nobility, and that odd and seemingly useless Joker. To this day, the cards remain pretty much intact!

In spite of their indeterminable beginnings and their unvarying, centuries old design, the 52-Card deck will never find a place in our concept of mystery or wonders of the world, because no matter what language is spoken or what part of the world you are in, playing cards have become as familiar as the moon to the sky.

We take them for granted! And question them not.

But what if there is more to the cards than just mere games of chance?

What if their true purpose was to leave nothing to chance?

What if their simple and well- preserved design was a language of symbols, passed down through the centuries, preserved as the worlds greatest past time?

For those who know how to perform with and read the Little Book and its 52 Pages, the mystery is revealed as a map of the stars and a calendar of earth.

The bell rings but the punches keep flying.

Look... you win... I don't care.

Cards are great. They hold a mystical place in the cosmos.
They make great magic, tell the future, and can be used as toliet paper if you are ever stuck in the jungle.
And don't forget, women LOVE them.
Guys, you want to impress a women, pull out a deck of cards.

Randi

Sarcasm ... but what you say here has actually worked for me. Extremely well! It has also happened while using an Invisible deck, though my presentation is about "Observation/Connection". Strong stuff. Hypnotic too.

How about Docc Hilford with a deck of cards ... foggedaboutit! The guy will take your wife if you're not careful.

Kreskin? Brilliant! Entertaining!

Osterlind? Impressive!

Here, enjoy this ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98kGzHNzk1w

That video was supposed to convince me?
You didn't even show the backs of the other cards.
They could have all said that.

This is just more card guys defending cards when you say you don't like them.

Why can't I not like cards? Huh? Tell me!
What is so wrong with finding cards boring?

You know what, I like Bill Malone... I don't care for the card tricks, but I like the person Bill Malone.
He is entertianing to me. Not his card tricks, but Bill himself.
Bill could be entertaining with thumbs screws!

It's not the cards, it's the people.
Throwing up names do not prove that cards are not boring.
I still find the cards boring, but some of the guys I like.

C'mon people... get over it. I don't like cards.. why do you care? And why are you trying to convince me that I should?

Geez... the bell rang a long time ago.

Randi

The backs of the cards were clearly shown in the beginning of the routine when I was spreading the cards and explaining to my spectator that if I was a magician I would have him "pick a card, any card, don't let me influence you in any way." At least watch before commenting negatively please.

You raise a good question though, why would I care if you like cards or not? I don't.

We're off topic anyway, from what I understand that's not what this thread is about....

Well... now you are pi s sing me off!
Don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do!!

You showed half of the card backs.
You oddly stopped showing them when you came to the ONLY section that you allowed the other person to pick a card from.
You did not lay the cards down and spread the whole deck out.
So don't try to lie and say you clearly showed the backs when you didn't and then try to make me look bad because I called you out.
It's not my fault that you showed me JUST ANOTHER CARD TRICK, and expected me to fall head over heels in love with it.

Sorry!! I'd rather watch that Hawk guy do that stupid Sam the Bellhop routine.
Now that was good!

Randi

Calling another performer "out" in a magic forum? Are you ok? There's no need for that.

You definitely have a chip on your shoulder about people "telling you what to do", you commented about my presentation wrongly saying "they could all have said that" and that's an absolute falsehood so I replied "at least watch before commenting negatively". Take a chill pill (just a suggestion).

Besides, when I showed the spectator the faces of the cards you'll remember I asked him if he saw one he liked, any one. It would seem pretty risky that only a few cards had writing on the backs yet a lot of them were shown in the beginning with normal backs, and all the faces were made available to the spectator. You think about it ... but just so you can ease off a bit, yes, it's an effect, a "trick" as you call it, it's not "real".

Communicating with you here is reminding me too much of my ex wife, so I'll take a bow now. Good luck with the rest of the conversation everyone!

I think this girl should hook up with David.

http://www.youtube.com/user/BaByCatXD

watch her "soulmates" (tamariz)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QL_ImyYV......nel_page

best AG

This girl is taking over street magic in NYC, that's David Blaine's hood !

look out db !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2DFXIb0_......nel_page

Give me a break!!!
You are only mad because your little video didn't make me go "OOH!!!, I didn't know you could be that awesome with cards!", and I wasn't the dumb boob that you thought I was.
Quit trying to defend your little trick and make up false excuses why I am not right, which I am.
And yes... I do have a chip on my shoulder and it's because of people just like you.
And if you have had this problem with your ex-wife, maybe it's you?

But to answer the first question, before all the card guys went nuts and treated me like I was trying to convince everyone to believe a conspiracy theory...
I use, when I do use, regular bicycle cards.
Not interested in anything else.
I do have a couple of tarot decks though.

Randi

Nice videos AG. Thanks.

Randi, thanks for answering the original question.

Its not just you.

Although, I do like the Malini Card Stab. There something about repeatedly stabbing at a table full of cards with a large knife that just gets my heart fluttering and puts a smile on my face. But that could just be me.

Tony

Tony I agree, The card stab is a beautiful thing.

I hate violence,knives etc... but the energy that comes from this effect has always moved me when done effectivly.

Did you see db version he did on his show years ago, it is in my opinion, the best card stab ever..... ah the good old days !

I just caught myself smiling thinking about how profound that show was for magic.

When everyone was trying to do the next bigger, better stunt or illusion... db was stabbing cards, biting coins and guessing 37 !
That show changed the game.

Ironic now db is all about the next biggest better stunt...I know what he wants to get across with his endurance stunts though... sadly not convinced the public completely "gets it"
Thank God he still has a passion for cards though.


Carnival cards look interesting, someone just gave me a deck and they work perfect for "X"


good night,
AG

I am with Randi.
Completely.
If you like cards...great. Have fun. Don't expect me to sit around and watch endless manipulations. If you have a great card trick, great presentation, awesome. Show it to me.
But don't follow it up with "Want to see another card trick?"
No. No I don't.
If it is all about the performer and the presentation, not about the cards, then why in the heck are you all defending them so vehemently? It's just a prop, so why does it matter that some of us performers don't like them?
The argument is always "Well you haven't seen The Great Buffoonini do his routine!!"
You are right.
You know why?
Because I don't like card tricks!! I don't enjoy the medium! Its all to formulaic for me-
Varient 1
Step 1: Spec pics card, thinks of card or otherwise.
Step 2: Card is placed in deck or deck is shuffled in some way.
Step 3: Chosen/selected/thought of card is produced in an "Impossible" way. It comes to the top of the deck, appears in someones shoe or on the other side of a pane of glass etc...
Varient 2
Card changes from one card to another before my eyes. Woot.

Where is the surprise?
It isn't there.
Of course, someone will be able to name a routine where something else happens. Great...I might enjoy that one. That still does not negate the 99.999% of tricks that go this exact route.
I have no interest in seeing another varient of the same trick.
I also think that sponge bunnies are terrible. I know "There are some great routines out there! You can't not like sponge bunnies!! They kill!!"
Don't care. I don't like them.
Why is there such a prevelant attitude that if you don't do cards, you aren't a real magician? Who makes these rules?
It's like saying to a chef "If you dan't make a cheese sandwich, you aren't a real chef. Everyone likes cheese sandwhiches."
Consider me lactose intolerant.

I do exactly one card trick with a Svengali deck. One.
I don't own a sponge anything.
For those of you thinking "Randi just doesn't know magic like I do...Otherwise she would see that cards are perfect..."
You have no idea who you are dealing with.
Randi is a freakin brilliant performer and a creator of effects. She knows magic far better than most and she doesn't need cards.
So...Do cards, love cards, be the best you can with cards...
Don't expect everyone in the world to do the same. It is a trick, not a religion. Personally, I'll pass.

A juggler dies and goes to hell.
As Satan is giving him the full tour before being assigned to his room (A horrible place fiulled with pitchforks and fire), he walks past a room with a magician doing card trick after card trick for four beautiful women.
He stops Satan to say "This is hardly fair! I get a room filled with pitchforks and fire, but he gets to perform for beautiful women for all eternity!"
Satan snarls back...
"How dare you tell me how to punish those women?"

Gwyd

Thanks Gwyd.

I think you hit the nail on the head.

Randi

Randi
You have my sympathy as well. I quit going to the Hollywood Magic Castle years ago because I grew
very tired of watching guys with bad hair pieces try and entertain each other at the bar. Then the food
got really bad in the dining room.
WK

I find myself in weird place because I agree with Randi AND Daniel Greenwolf. What to do?

Oh boy! Another popcorn thread!

(By the way I'm on Randi's side!)