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Mocha22 New user 14 Posts |
I was thumbing through Mark Wilson's Course in Magic book and was looking at 2 tricks in particular...the Random Number Selector Mystery which uses a number grid 1 to 25 and also the 2 Card Force which uses a Do**** Ba** card. I thought these two would combine quite nicely to make a small routine. It got me thinking...what other tricks do you think would pair nicely?
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Perhaps thousands?!
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Naaah!
Harry! Think BIG! At least a gezillion!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Mocha22 New user 14 Posts |
Perfect...thanks, wasn't sure if it would only be thousands or would approach the gazillion mark.
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Levi Bennett Inner circle 1778 Posts |
The sky's the limit Mocha22! How can YOU fit tricks together? If you're creative, you can make routines out of just about any 2 or 3 tricks.
But a series of gambling tricks work well together. Several rope tricks "strung" together can be a routine. Etc, etc... Use your imagination and see what you can come up with.
Performing magic unprofessionally since 2008!
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Mocha22 New user 14 Posts |
Thanks Theodore...I just thought it was neat how those two seemingly unrelated tricks could fit nicely into one trick.In the random number selector you end up with a number...we'll say 75 for example. While spectator A is picking numbers in the random number selector you could perform double card force on spectator B and force the 7 and 5 and at the end show how they both came to the number 75. I just never thought of pairing these two tricks together but they seem to work. I realize there may very well be a "gezillion" pairings...what I was really asking is have you combined two seemingly unrelated tricks that seemed to work very well.
And they say there are no stupid questions....huh, apparently there are! |
Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
I use different opening effects, according to my audience. But most often --- I do my HaLo Aces (an instant reveal of the four aces from a shuffled deck). Then I say that anyone can do it, it's just a matter of estimation, and into my Double Take, where the spectator cuts to the four aces. I shuffle them back into the deck, then say, "Oh, I wanted to show you something else with the aces, but I just lost them. Wait; let me try some strong magic." And I produce the aces in a very magical way (similar to Startler in my current book). Anyway, just a quick idea, not of "pairing," really, but of routining. Just a thought.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
Mocha22 New user 14 Posts |
Thanks Harry...that sounds like a very beautiful flow of several tricks grouped together. Harry, I was watching a few videos of you on Youtube and a couple things stood out. You are almost always talking and directing the "action" (audience management?) Even if there is nothing really to say during different parts of a trick you are still saying something...such as "your're doing great". I found that as I watched the video, I didn't want to watch your hands but rather I wanted to watch "you" and listen to your story. It was just a master class of audience management. But the second thing I noticed was that you don't...I'm not sure how to say it...over handle the cards? I think I mean use a lot of card flourishes. I notice the new breed of card magicians produce about a dozen flourishes before they even launch into a trick. To Harry and all...what is your opinion on knowing and using a lot of flourishes?
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Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
Flourishes are flourishes, not magic.
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
Jon Strum Regular user 125 Posts |
You've touched upon one of my pet peeves here. To me, flourishes are often visually distracting to your audience. Spectators aren't listening as well if they are watching card flourishes. And once they are admiring your flourishes, they are also putting unnecessary heat right where you don't want it - on your hands.
Flourishes also tend to make the magician appear less relaxed and at ease if he or she can't hold the deck without constantly dribbling cards, doing swing cuts, etc. And flourishes immediately let the audience know that the performer can do things with a deck of cards that they can't - which may work perfectly for some, depending upon your performance persona. Personally, I would rather that an audience be affected (and even impressed with my ability) by the outcome of a card trick in which they have been involved, rather than just bearing witness to what amounts to showing off with card flourishes. Of course, your mileage may vary. I've watched some of the very best card men - Harry, Derek Dingle, Larry Jennings, and so many others - perform absolutely amazing routines without a single flourish. Those guys just may have the right idea there, huh?
"Do you like card tricks?" he asked.
I said no. He did five. |
Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
And some of the best cardmen were personal friends - John Scarne, Dai Vernon, Bill Simon, Tony Slydini, Francis Carlyle, Derek Dingle, Alex Elmsley, Herb Zarrow, and etc. - none did flourishes when doing close up for a lay audience.
Deck handled neatly, of course, but no flourishes. If someone did an obvious flourish in front of any of these people, while doing a card routine/effect, you'd have been sure to hear - "What the heck are you doing?!?"
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4385 Posts |
Oh, how the times are changing. Next thing you know, these kids won't be listening to Big Band music anymore...
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Harry's wisdom never fails. I used to do all sorts of flourishes, then when working with Dai Vernon he slapped my hands so many times I swear I still have nerve damage in them. Save flourishes for silent card production routines or to impress your poker buddies. For me a card trick has three parts, a story or patter, a mechanical part (what you actually do that the audience isn't told about), and the reveal or finale. I've use three mechanical methods to do hundreds of card tricks, I just use a different patter and a different reveal. I believe Daryl put out a video on hundreds of reveals, but you don't need a video, just imagination.
Combining tricks, well that is as old as magic itself. They say there is nothing new under the sun. That would apply to magic well. Most "new" tricks are just a new presentation of an old trick or a combining of two or more old tricks. Find a copy and read Harry's "The Magic Book" it is probably available from his magic website. If Mark Wilson's CCIM is magic 101, then Harry's "The Magic Book" is magic 102. He gives you a different turn on approach, rather than by trick. He talks about technique, performance, execution, presenatation. All of which are as important or more important than the mechanics of the trick. Then get Tommy Wonder's Books of Wonder for a graduate course. Learn to read magic books not for the mechanics of the trick, but for all the information on magic thinking, presentation, performance, and execution.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
SEE! >>>TWO<<< GEZILLION!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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