Your first good magic trick.

KingMerv00 · 16th February 2007, 12:52 PM

As I've said in another thread, I'm a novice to magic (I've only been working on it since TAM5).

Two days ago, I discovered the trick behind the "penatrating rubber bands" and practiced until paralysis set in. I tried it out at work and got a few slack jaws. One person even jokingly referred to me as "the devil". I am now officially proud of myself.

What was the first trick you did that you were proud of?

Dinsdale Piranha · 16th February 2007, 02:48 PM

"Do as I Do" from Scarne on Card Tricks. I learned it as a kid from the first card book I ever bought. I quit doing magic for years but I could always remember how to do this trick.

Brown · 16th February 2007, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Dinsdale Piranha

"Do as I Do" from Scarne on Card Tricks. I learned it as a kid from the first card book I ever bought. I quit doing magic for years but I could always remember how to do this trick.

This is a really good trick, but Scarne includes a variation that is even better. It is trick No. 111, "[Martin] Gardner's Sympathetic Cards." This is a great variation to show people who have seen the "You Do As I Do" trick (trick no. 13), because it seems doubly impossible. This trick even fools those who know the "You Do As I Do" principle.

Dinsdale Piranha · 16th February 2007, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Brown

This is a really good trick, but Scarne includes a variation that is even better. It is trick No. 111, "[Martin] Gardner's Sympathetic Cards." This is a great variation to show people who have seen the "You Do As I Do" trick (trick no. 13), because it seems doubly impossible. This trick even fools those who know the "You Do As I Do" principle.

Is that in the Scarne book? My copy vanished several years ago after I let an acquaintance "borrow" it.

aofl · 16th February 2007, 04:43 PM

My first real magic trick was taught to me when I was young by an older cousin. It was "Slap a card through the table". The secret involved palming, but my hands were too small to accomplish that, so I "invented" a sleight to accomplish this: the DL. Yep, I "invented" the DL. Or at least thought I did until I got more experience.

In the same way I "invented" a way to cut a long string in two and put it back together again. I've learned since that again, someone preceeded me.

A

firecoins · 16th February 2007, 06:26 PM

the first trick I did really well was called Chink a Chink. Or the politically correct term, the Chinese Coin Assembly. I put 4 coins in a sqaure and make them appear all in one corner. It is a easy on a matt but I do one involving a classic palm.

Brown · 16th February 2007, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dinsdale Piranha

Is that in the Scarne book? My copy vanished several years ago after I let an acquaintance "borrow" it.

Yes, this is Scarne on Card Tricks, the 1950 paperback edition.

"Gardner's Sympathetic Cards" in many ways resembles "You Do As I Do." The performer and the spectator both follow a set of steps to select cards and place them on the table. When the two selected cards are turned over, they do NOT match (in contrast to "You Do As I Do," where the cards do match).

But the performer says something like, "And yet, we followed exactly the same procedure. If I didn't get your card, I'll bet I came close." The performer turns over the top card of his deck, and it matches the spectator's card.

The performer then says, "And because we followed exactly the same procedure, if you didn't get my card, I'll bet you came close, too!" The spectator turns over the top card of his own deck, and it is the performer's card!

(You can also make mention of the fact that matching a single card is a rare occurrence, happening 1 out of 52 times. But matching two cards is considerably more rare, happening 1 out of 2652 times.)

Arg9 · 17th February 2007, 12:57 AM

When I was about 13 yo I managed to pull off the coin matrix trick for my fellow magician group. I saw it in a book and learned it and modified it not thinking about how difficult it actually was supposed to be (ignorance is bliss). I just DID IT and got oos and aahs from the adults even. That was my first to be proud of. Now my best trick is rapidly making beer disappear from a bottle and cheez-its from a box (at the same time).

webfusion · 17th February 2007, 07:58 AM

Disappearing ball

http://www.magicbob2000.com/resource...and%20Vase.jpg

Rufo · 17th February 2007, 07:42 PM

My first trick that I was really satisfied with was a mindreading trick I used to do with my sister. It was extremely simple, but managed to impress a lot of people, which was more than you could say about most tricks I did at that age. I suspect it may have been a major factor which influenced me to start learning about mentalism.

cweaver · 19th February 2007, 04:14 AM

I’m really new to magic but I have successfully done several card tricks on friends. I get nervous about convincing them I can suddenly ‘do magic’ (rather than the truth: I have learned effects), and I know my delivery/performance is a long way from ideal. However, my best so far was the Non-Poker Voice from RRTCM – so convincing was I that my friend actually thinks I know all his ‘tells’ and won’t play poker with me anymore!

…

Ah. Maybe I went too far!

NeilC · 19th February 2007, 07:11 AM

My first ever card trick is one I still do if I have to do one with a really mashed up deck and I'm too drunk to do sleights.

I dunno what it is called. In fact, if anyone knows I'd be interested in finding out.

I shuffle the pack and messily spread it about over the table. Spec points to any card I name it then pick it up. Another spec points to another card, I do the same. I pick the final card and name it. I then lay out the cards in order and they match my predictions. Utterly facile I know but it still completely baffles.

My first ever decent non-card trick was the one with 3 ropes that appear to stretch all to the same length. Came in some box about the size of a thick paperback. There were a series of them around at the time - almost all of them decent.

firecoins · 19th February 2007, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Splossy

My first ever decent non-card trick was the one with 3 ropes that appear to stretch all to the same length. Came in some box about the size of a thick paperback. There were a series of them around at the time - almost all of them decent.

That is a very basic rope trick. Its an excellent trick though. You do not need to buy it from a box. You just need to get magicians rope.

Garrette · 19th February 2007, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by firecoins

That is a very basic rope trick. Its an excellent trick though. You do not need to buy it from a box. You just need to get magicians rope.

Damned hard to find, though. It keeps vanishing from the shelf and re-appearing in different drawers.

Bob Klase · 20th February 2007, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by firecoins

That is a very basic rope trick. Its an excellent trick though.

While it's very basic, I've seen dozens of magicians fooled by variations like Eric Lewis' handling where the ends are never brought together, or Magic Ian's- where the 3 equal ropes are immediately tossed out to the audience without changing back.

And it's called Professor's Nightmare.

firecoins · 20th February 2007, 02:26 PM

Yep, professor's nightmere. Its a good trick. Fooling fellow magi doesn't interest me. The basic version will do just fine for me.

Peter S. · 21st February 2007, 03:23 PM

One of the first tricks my dad got for me was a pen that would rise between my fingers. For the finish the pen would vanish using a very simple device pinned in my coat. I still use that device to vanish cigarettes.

Hey, KingMerv, since I'm on a video posting kick today, check this out - it will give you something to work on.

http://www.petersosna.com/rb.mpg

Diamond · 21st February 2007, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Peter S.

One of the first tricks my dad got for me was a pen that would rise between my fingers. For the finish the pen would vanish using a very simple device pinned in my coat. I still use that device to vanish cigarettes.

Hey, KingMerv, since I'm on a video posting kick today, check this out - it will give you something to work on.

http://www.petersosna.com/rb.mpg

I hate you.

fsol · 21st February 2007, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Peter S.

One of the first tricks my dad got for me was a pen that would rise between my fingers. For the finish the pen would vanish using a very simple device pinned in my coat. I still use that device to vanish cigarettes.

Hey, KingMerv, since I'm on a video posting kick today, check this out - it will give you something to work on.

http://www.petersosna.com/rb.mpg

That's ace.

My first trick that I was proud of was the back and front palm from Walter B Gibsons Complete book of card magic. My dad used to do it, simply because he taught himself it when he was laid up with knee cartilige trouble and couldn't do anything else. Once I worked out it was a trick I wanted to be able to do it myself.

Suit for Suit is another trick from the same book that I like, because it is simple to work and you can put a "drunken master" spiel to it which is good for messing about down the pub.

firecoins · 22nd February 2007, 01:15 PM

The very first trick I remember learning was professor's nightmere. I didn't do it for laypeople.

I did David Roth's chink a chink but never for laypeople because it requires me to sit and have a soft surface. I than learned David Williamson's version of chink a chink and it killed laypeople. I thought the method was obvious but it fooled the hell out of people.

rustypouch · 27th February 2007, 01:20 PM

I just adore all the different things that are possible with a TT.

Other than that, using a Raven is a lot of fun, and I know a few cool card tricks.

16th February 2007, 12:52 PM	#1
KingMerv00 Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA...USA Posts: 8,798	Your first good magic trick. As I've said in another thread, I'm a novice to magic (I've only been working on it since TAM5). Two days ago, I discovered the trick behind the "penatrating rubber bands" and practiced until paralysis set in. I tried it out at work and got a few slack jaws. One person even jokingly referred to me as "the devil". I am now officially proud of myself. What was the first trick you did that you were proud of?
	__________________ TEEK on Merv: He really is cute. Not in a tickle-me-Elmo way, either. Cicero: [Ann Coulter] doesn't require defending. Her education, college appearances, and book sales speak for themselves

16th February 2007, 02:48 PM	#2
Dinsdale Piranha A cruel man, but fair. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In the conversation pit. Posts: 842	"Do as I Do" from Scarne on Card Tricks. I learned it as a kid from the first card book I ever bought. I quit doing magic for years but I could always remember how to do this trick.
	__________________ "Don't hit me with them negative waves this early in the morning." Oddball from Kelly's Heroes. "I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met." Steven Wright

16th February 2007, 03:37 PM	#3
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,118	Originally Posted by Dinsdale Piranha "Do as I Do" from Scarne on Card Tricks. I learned it as a kid from the first card book I ever bought. I quit doing magic for years but I could always remember how to do this trick. This is a really good trick, but Scarne includes a variation that is even better. It is trick No. 111, "[Martin] Gardner's Sympathetic Cards." This is a great variation to show people who have seen the "You Do As I Do" trick (trick no. 13), because it seems doubly impossible. This trick even fools those who know the "You Do As I Do" principle.
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

16th February 2007, 03:59 PM	#4
Dinsdale Piranha A cruel man, but fair. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In the conversation pit. Posts: 842	Originally Posted by Brown This is a really good trick, but Scarne includes a variation that is even better. It is trick No. 111, "[Martin] Gardner's Sympathetic Cards." This is a great variation to show people who have seen the "You Do As I Do" trick (trick no. 13), because it seems doubly impossible. This trick even fools those who know the "You Do As I Do" principle. Is that in the Scarne book? My copy vanished several years ago after I let an acquaintance "borrow" it.
	__________________ "Don't hit me with them negative waves this early in the morning." Oddball from Kelly's Heroes. "I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met." Steven Wright

16th February 2007, 04:43 PM	#5
aofl Critical Thinker Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 306	My first real magic trick was taught to me when I was young by an older cousin. It was "Slap a card through the table". The secret involved palming, but my hands were too small to accomplish that, so I "invented" a sleight to accomplish this: the DL. Yep, I "invented" the DL. Or at least thought I did until I got more experience. In the same way I "invented" a way to cut a long string in two and put it back together again. I've learned since that again, someone preceeded me. A
aofl Critical Thinker Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 306	__________________ Have you ever considered the cesspool of your minds? The best thing is not to be born. But who is as lucky as that? To whom does it happen??!! An evil mind is my only consolation! - Theodore When you're out of slits, you're out of pier. - Crow

16th February 2007, 06:26 PM	#6
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	the first trick I did really well was called Chink a Chink. Or the politically correct term, the Chinese Coin Assembly. I put 4 coins in a sqaure and make them appear all in one corner. It is a easy on a matt but I do one involving a classic palm.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

16th February 2007, 06:31 PM	#7
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,118	Originally Posted by Dinsdale Piranha Is that in the Scarne book? My copy vanished several years ago after I let an acquaintance "borrow" it. Yes, this is Scarne on Card Tricks, the 1950 paperback edition. "Gardner's Sympathetic Cards" in many ways resembles "You Do As I Do." The performer and the spectator both follow a set of steps to select cards and place them on the table. When the two selected cards are turned over, they do NOT match (in contrast to "You Do As I Do," where the cards do match). But the performer says something like, "And yet, we followed exactly the same procedure. If I didn't get your card, I'll bet I came close." The performer turns over the top card of his deck, and it matches the spectator's card. The performer then says, "And because we followed exactly the same procedure, if you didn't get my card, I'll bet you came close, too!" The spectator turns over the top card of his own deck, and it is the performer's card! (You can also make mention of the fact that matching a single card is a rare occurrence, happening 1 out of 52 times. But matching two cards is considerably more rare, happening 1 out of 2652 times.)
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

17th February 2007, 12:57 AM	#8
Arg9 Muse Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mt Rainier, Puget Sound, salmon runs, and absurd liquor laws. Posts: 639	When I was about 13 yo I managed to pull off the coin matrix trick for my fellow magician group. I saw it in a book and learned it and modified it not thinking about how difficult it actually was supposed to be (ignorance is bliss). I just DID IT and got oos and aahs from the adults even. That was my first to be proud of. Now my best trick is rapidly making beer disappear from a bottle and cheez-its from a box (at the same time).
	__________________ The only thing that surprises me is when I get surprised.

17th February 2007, 07:58 AM	#9
webfusion Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Near I-95 Posts: 6,179	Disappearing ball http://www.magicbob2000.com/resource...and%20Vase.jpg

17th February 2007, 07:42 PM	#10
Rufo Muse Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 885	My first trick that I was really satisfied with was a mindreading trick I used to do with my sister. It was extremely simple, but managed to impress a lot of people, which was more than you could say about most tricks I did at that age. I suspect it may have been a major factor which influenced me to start learning about mentalism.
Rufo Muse Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 885	__________________ Love is patient, love is kind, says he [Paul] - so is humour too, for it is not offended by that which is ugly and offensive, it seeks out the lost and miserable and shows that they are worth interest - love is not angered, it does not judge - neither does humour - love forgives all - so does humour - love is humble - such is humour too, for humour makes men not consider themselves better than others. - Gustaf Fröding

19th February 2007, 04:14 AM	#11
cweaver New Blood Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 2	I’m really new to magic but I have successfully done several card tricks on friends. I get nervous about convincing them I can suddenly ‘do magic’ (rather than the truth: I have learned effects), and I know my delivery/performance is a long way from ideal. However, my best so far was the Non-Poker Voice from RRTCM – so convincing was I that my friend actually thinks I know all his ‘tells’ and won’t play poker with me anymore! … Ah. Maybe I went too far!

19th February 2007, 07:11 AM	#12
NeilC Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,085	My first ever card trick is one I still do if I have to do one with a really mashed up deck and I'm too drunk to do sleights. I dunno what it is called. In fact, if anyone knows I'd be interested in finding out. I shuffle the pack and messily spread it about over the table. Spec points to any card I name it then pick it up. Another spec points to another card, I do the same. I pick the final card and name it. I then lay out the cards in order and they match my predictions. Utterly facile I know but it still completely baffles. My first ever decent non-card trick was the one with 3 ropes that appear to stretch all to the same length. Came in some box about the size of a thick paperback. There were a series of them around at the time - almost all of them decent.

19th February 2007, 12:50 PM	#13
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by Splossy My first ever decent non-card trick was the one with 3 ropes that appear to stretch all to the same length. Came in some box about the size of a thick paperback. There were a series of them around at the time - almost all of them decent. That is a very basic rope trick. Its an excellent trick though. You do not need to buy it from a box. You just need to get magicians rope.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

19th February 2007, 12:55 PM	#14
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by firecoins That is a very basic rope trick. Its an excellent trick though. You do not need to buy it from a box. You just need to get magicians rope. Damned hard to find, though. It keeps vanishing from the shelf and re-appearing in different drawers.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

20th February 2007, 04:51 AM	#15
Bob Klase Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,445	Originally Posted by firecoins That is a very basic rope trick. Its an excellent trick though. While it's very basic, I've seen dozens of magicians fooled by variations like Eric Lewis' handling where the ends are never brought together, or Magic Ian's- where the 3 equal ropes are immediately tossed out to the audience without changing back. And it's called Professor's Nightmare.

20th February 2007, 02:26 PM	#16
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Yep, professor's nightmere. Its a good trick. Fooling fellow magi doesn't interest me. The basic version will do just fine for me.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it. Last edited by firecoins; 20th February 2007 at 02:28 PM.

21st February 2007, 03:23 PM	#17
Peter S. Magician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arlington, MA Posts: 847	One of the first tricks my dad got for me was a pen that would rise between my fingers. For the finish the pen would vanish using a very simple device pinned in my coat. I still use that device to vanish cigarettes. Hey, KingMerv, since I'm on a video posting kick today, check this out - it will give you something to work on. http://www.petersosna.com/rb.mpg
	__________________ Wil In Space Wil in the Haunted forest Please vote for Wil In Space HERE

21st February 2007, 04:49 PM	#18
Diamond SkepticWiki Founder Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 'Stralia Posts: 4,748	Originally Posted by Peter S. One of the first tricks my dad got for me was a pen that would rise between my fingers. For the finish the pen would vanish using a very simple device pinned in my coat. I still use that device to vanish cigarettes. Hey, KingMerv, since I'm on a video posting kick today, check this out - it will give you something to work on. http://www.petersosna.com/rb.mpg I hate you.
	__________________ "The good thing about the Internet is that no matter how many repressed cretins with outmoded morals and religious fundamentalist idiots hate what you have to say, they cannot burn a website." -www.rinderpest.com

21st February 2007, 05:29 PM	#19
fsol tinCAN Kiajaroovah Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,031	Originally Posted by Peter S. One of the first tricks my dad got for me was a pen that would rise between my fingers. For the finish the pen would vanish using a very simple device pinned in my coat. I still use that device to vanish cigarettes. Hey, KingMerv, since I'm on a video posting kick today, check this out - it will give you something to work on. http://www.petersosna.com/rb.mpg That's ace. My first trick that I was proud of was the back and front palm from Walter B Gibsons Complete book of card magic. My dad used to do it, simply because he taught himself it when he was laid up with knee cartilige trouble and couldn't do anything else. Once I worked out it was a trick I wanted to be able to do it myself. Suit for Suit is another trick from the same book that I like, because it is simple to work and you can put a "drunken master" spiel to it which is good for messing about down the pub.
fsol tinCAN Kiajaroovah Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,031	__________________ I make things that sound like this. "Those who claim to forecast the future are all lying, even if, by chance, they are later proved right."

22nd February 2007, 01:15 PM	#20
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	The very first trick I remember learning was professor's nightmere. I didn't do it for laypeople. I did David Roth's chink a chink but never for laypeople because it requires me to sit and have a soft surface. I than learned David Williamson's version of chink a chink and it killed laypeople. I thought the method was obvious but it fooled the hell out of people.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

27th February 2007, 01:20 PM	#21
rustypouch Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Belfort Posts: 2,666	I just adore all the different things that are possible with a TT. Other than that, using a Raven is a lot of fun, and I know a few cool card tricks.