What magic tricks you learning now?

[AgeGap]

What magic tricks or routines you learning now? I have got my snap change at a level where I can demonstrate it. Shown it to my six year old son who was spestacularly unimpressed.

[Cain]

Memorized deck. I did practice the Aronson stack awhile ago but it faded from memory due to lack of use. Now I've decided to take a deck from new deck order, give it five faros, and cut the nine of diamonds to the bottom. Partially because it stacks the aces and queens at the top, and partially in homage to Aronson and Tamariz. Boom shakalaka. Now I've got a doozy of a built-in trick.

[Bob Klase]

The most recent things I've worked on is Karl Hein's handling of Greg Wilson's Hundy 500 (which is Greg's version of earlier variations of versions, etc, etc). That, and Burger's 21st Century Bill Transposition.

[MelBrooksfan]

I'm still trying to get the pass right. I went on and learned a bunch of other stuff first and then found out I shoulda learned the pass off the bat. It's kinda frustrating really. It doesn't feel like my hands are big enough to cover it.

[Bob Klase]

Originally Posted by MelBrooksfan

I'm still trying to get the pass right. I went on and learned a bunch of other stuff first and then found out I shoulda learned the pass off the bat..

Why? I've been in magic almost 50 years and never learned the pass. I worked on it many times but never got good enough to actually use it. And in all those years there have been just 3-4 tricks I'd have liked to do that required a pass- not really much of a loss considering the hundreds of thousands of other card tricks I can pick from.

I think that the average magician who learns a pass gets very little use from it other than impressing other magicians with the fact that he can do it. Of course there are many, many exceptions to this, but most of them are much better than average magicians. And there are more than a few well known magicians who can't do a pass.

[JonWhite]

I'm currently working on improving my billet switching, having been re-inspired by Elliot Bresler's "Switchcraft" e-book.

I've a couple of Devin Knight's packet effects (Farsight & Blindsight) to finish getting down 100%. Otherwise I'm drumming my fingers waiting for Outlaw's Whitechapel/Homicide/Sinister & Reflections book tests to land through the door.

[Garrette]

Originally Posted by JonWhite

Otherwise I'm drumming my fingers waiting for Outlaw's Whitechapel/Homicide/Sinister & Reflections book tests to land through the door.

I'm considering Sinister, but I only have the reviews on the site itself to go by.

Do you have other info to recommend it?


I am less certain of getting it than I was a few days ago. I just got Sanctum and Kioku and, while I don't really feel I wasted my money, I was underwhelemed and a bit disappointed at the sparse description on the site.

[JPK]

Originally Posted by JonWhite

Otherwise I'm drumming my fingers waiting for Outlaw's Whitechapel/Homicide/Sinister & Reflections book tests to land through the door.

I just received the US versions of these a few days ago. The craftmanship that went into these is stunning. It's going to be a while before I will be able to put the time into performing this but boy does this look good.

As far as tricks I'm working on, I'm starting to make my way through The RRTCM DVD set along with the book. I've only started to play with cards in the past year. Also working on Lady Bug, and Healed and Sealed.
JPK

[JonWhite]

Originally Posted by Garrette

I'm considering Sinister, but I only have the reviews on the site itself to go by.

Do you have other info to recommend it?


I am less certain of getting it than I was a few days ago. I just got Sanctum and Kioku and, while I don't really feel I wasted my money, I was underwhelemed and a bit disappointed at the sparse description on the site.

I've ordered them pretty much on the strength of the glowing reviews on the Cafe and TM and having had a few spare pennies to spend. I'm hoping that they're versatile enough to be used either as "standard" book tests or be strung together and used in a murder/mystery theme after other effects such as "From Hell" & Higley's "Ripper" set.

The Reflections book is I believe a cleverly packaged update of Larry Becker's Super Reflecta-Thot effect which I like and saves making up laminates. It also apparently includes Kioku in the book so I've not seen that yet, but it's not a good sign that you're underwhelmed by it.

I'll let you know what I think of them when they arrive. It's been a couple of weeks so should hopefully be sometime soon...

Just noticed that Becker describes his version of Russian Roulette in "Stunners", so gonna read up on that and compare to DB's version that Skippy so enjoyed.


ETA: looks like a big thumbs up for the Outlaw books from JPK!

[MelBrooksfan]

Originally Posted by Bob Klase

Why? I've been in magic almost 50 years and never learned the pass. I worked on it many times but never got good enough to actually use it. And in all those years there have been just 3-4 tricks I'd have liked to do that required a pass- not really much of a loss considering the hundreds of thousands of other card tricks I can pick from.

I think that the average magician who learns a pass gets very little use from it other than impressing other magicians with the fact that he can do it. Of course there are many, many exceptions to this, but most of them are much better than average magicians. And there are more than a few well known magicians who can't do a pass.

Good to know. I've been working from Sachs' Sleight of Hand and, if I recall correctly, he goes on for about a page and a half about how important the pass is. And, to be honest, I've been getting by using much easier false-shuffles and such to get pass-like effects.

[Garrette]

Originally Posted by JonWhite

I'll let you know what I think of them when they arrive. It's been a couple of weeks so should hopefully be sometime soon...

Thanks. I'll appreciate it.

Originally Posted by JonWhite

Just noticed that Becker describes his version of Russian Roulette in "Stunners", so gonna read up on that and compare to DB's version that Skippy so enjoyed.

Becker's version is the one I know that I mentioned in skipjack's thread. Got the DVD.

Originally Posted by JonWhite

ETA: looks like a big thumbs up for the Outlaw books from JPK!

Great. Like I need reasons to spend more money...

[Garrette]

Originally Posted by JPK

I just received the US versions of these a few days ago. The craftmanship that went into these is stunning. It's going to be a while before I will be able to put the time into performing this but boy does this look good.

You are responsible for this urge I have to buy Sinister. Nice guy that I am, I will only hold you to half the cost, though.

I accept Paypal.

[Brown]

I'm shopping for props for a couple of tricks I really, really want to learn and perform. Shopping in Canada is a pain to begin with, because selection is usually rotten. (I got pretty spoiled living in the states.) And I can't find the damn props that I need. So far, I've been to half a dozen area stores, with no luck. Not only did the stores not have the items, they had no idea who might have them.

And yet, these are fairly "common" items! They are not "magic" props available from a magic dealer.

I can't find them on the Internet, either, except for purchases in bulk. But I don't need a thousand of the damned things, only half a dozen. Maybe a dozen. The Internet companies supply these props to various retailers, but none of the retailers is in Canada.

Worst case scenario, I get out my snips, my clamp and my gorilla glue and make my own props; but they will look like they were made by an amateur (because that is exactly what they would be) and they will be immediately suspected as gaffed, even though I could let the spectator inspect them to his heart's content.

[Azrael 5]

Im learning-although mostly learned-Cyril's Back in time card trick.
Serarch it on YouTube.
It rocks.

[DJM]

Hahahahahaha.

[Azrael 5]

Originally Posted by DJM

Hahahahahaha.

Enlighten the forum with the trick you're learning DJM!

[DJM]

I'm learning Criss Angel's camera tricks.

[Garrette]

Originally Posted by Azrael 5

Im learning-although mostly learned-Cyril's Back in time card trick.
Serarch it on YouTube.
It rocks.

I searched "Cyril Back in Time" (minus the quotation marks) and watched the first video up which was in Korean but using a translator. I don't know if that was Cyril or not, but I think it was.

In any case, it was awesome. The majority of the moves I can figure out, though I would never have the guts to try them in that fashion.

Most impressive to me was his crowd control. They were all around him so his angles were always in danger, and at one point he had to protect a DL when the spectator tried to flip the card for him. At that point I was panicking on his behalf, but he stayed cool and seemed friendly the whole while.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

A few things I've been working on:

"Red Rover" from Mike Powers book Power Plays. It's a thought of cards across trick where the spectators mental selection jumps from one packet of cards to another.

"Bob King on the Erdnase...Overhand Shuffle" from The Annotated Erdnase.

Also going through Joel Givens new book Session.

[Azrael 5]

Originally Posted by Garrette

I searched "Cyril Back in Time" (minus the quotation marks) and watched the first video up which was in Korean but using a translator. I don't know if that was Cyril or not, but I think it was.

In any case, it was awesome. The majority of the moves I can figure out, though I would never have the guts to try them in that fashion.

Most impressive to me was his crowd control. They were all around him so his angles were always in danger, and at one point he had to protect a DL when the spectator tried to flip the card for him. At that point I was panicking on his behalf, but he stayed cool and seemed friendly the whole while.

Indeed that was Cyril! The end took some time to figure out(the card in sealed deck)but I cracked it eventually.Hurt my brain for weeks tryin got figure it.
For anyone interested: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=a2y5AiKkScs

[DJM]

Did someone send you a free DVD with the secrets?

[Azrael 5]

Originally Posted by DJM

Did someone send you a free DVD with the secrets?

What so I can tell you them everytime you see a magic vid on YouTube.

[DJM]

No, I just read the replies there.. at least they know what they are talking about.

[Azrael 5]

Originally Posted by DJM

No, I just read the replies there.. at least they know what they are talking about.

So long as it's fake grass or mirrors!

[Garrette]

Originally Posted by JonWhite

I'll let you know what I think of them when they arrive. It's been a couple of weeks so should hopefully be sometime soon...

Have you gotten them yet?

That was the other thing about Outlaw when I got Sanctum/Kioku. No email acknowledging my order though payment was immediate (through Paypal). Two weeks after ordering I finally emailed them asking for the status.

To their credit they emailed back almost immediately saying "It's in the mail now!" but without an explanation for the two weeks.

Maybe my order got lost until I prompted them to find it.

To be fair, once they said it was in the mail, I got it in two days.

[JonWhite]

Originally Posted by Garrette

Have you gotten them yet?

Spooky sychronicity!!

I've just PM'ed you with a review.

(It's a little too exposing to openly post but I'll happily cut it down for general consumption if anyone else is interested. I too have an issue with Outlaw, but await a reply from them...)

[Garrette]

PM'd back.

And you only think it's synchronous. I planned it that way all along.

Ninja mind powers and stuff...

[JonWhite]

Without ever having gone into my issue mentioned above with Outlaw, I just want to add that I've now had a couple of email messages with Rick and am a happy Outlaw bunny. No problems.

[aofl]

I'm working on some of Paul Cummins effects on the recently released Talk About Tricks DVD set. There's a lot of good stuff in this set, some of it pretty easy to do (Not Paul's stuff, though). Paul only explains one of his tricks on the set, so I had to scramble through my back issues of MAGIC magazine to find the secrets. It turns out there's a lot of good stuff in those back issues. Who knew?

A

[Brown]

I'm pleased to report that, with some luck and perseverance, I found my props. One of them happened to be sitting in a bin in an Ikea store (about fifty miles from my home). (And it was reasonably priced, too! If I'd purchased the prop over the Internet, it would have cost over five times as much.)

Another prop I found in a toy store.

A third was found in a garage.

I've already started work on one of the tricks. So far, I'm having a lot of fun with it! There is one basic "move," but there are so many variations!

I'm planning to bring this trick to TAM6.

[firecoins]

I recommend the dice effect in this dvd.
http://mymagic.com/stone.htm

I am working on it right now.

[TheDon]

I'm learning to palm, from RRTCM. It's gosh-darn hard.

[Brown]

Originally Posted by TheDon

I'm learning to palm, from RRTCM. It's gosh-darn hard.

When learning to palm (e.g., coins, cards) start with tricks that reduce the "heat" on your hands with misdirection. There are times you can palm a second chosen card, for example, after revealing a first chosen card. Have one spectator take his card and ask "Is that your card? Is that your signature?" While this card is being examined, you can "get away with murder," easily palming a second specator's card.

Several good instructional videos identify tricks that are good for beginning card palmers.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Originally Posted by TheDon

I'm learning to palm, from RRTCM. It's gosh-darn hard.

For learning the palm, I highly recommend these two ebook downloads from Michael Close. They include embedded video instruction.

Top palm:
http://www.forworkersonly.com/produc...roducts_id=192

Bottom palm:
http://www.forworkersonly.com/produc...roducts_id=191

[firecoins]

Originally Posted by Dinsdale Piranha

For learning the palm, I highly recommend these two ebook downloads from Michael Close. They include embedded video instruction.

Top palm:
http://www.forworkersonly.com/produc...roducts_id=192

Bottom palm:
http://www.forworkersonly.com/produc...roducts_id=191

anything by Close is good of not great.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Originally Posted by firecoins

I recommend the dice effect in this dvd.
http://mymagic.com/stone.htm

I am working on it right now.

How are you progressing with this? I'm seriously considering buying this at some point.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Dinsdale Piranha

For learning the palm, I highly recommend these two ebook downloads from Michael Close. They include embedded video instruction.

Top palm:
http://www.forworkersonly.com/produc...roducts_id=192

Bottom palm:
http://www.forworkersonly.com/produc...roducts_id=191

Thanks, they look pretty good (and thanks for the advice Brown). I also found a good video on magictricks(dot)co(dot)uk - pretty brief, but it showed the one hand palm, which for some reason I find easier and more natural than the normal palm.

[firecoins]

Originally Posted by Dinsdale Piranha

How are you progressing with this? I'm seriously considering buying this at some point.

I am actually soing pretty well. I should have down perfectly this weekend when I have some time off.

[bugjack]

Hi everyone,

Just joined this forum (although I have been aware of Mr. Randi's work for 20 years) after coming across it while Googling for some reviews of Outlaw Effects products. (Yes, Google does track keywords in these forum replies.)

To answer the question, I've also been going through the Josh Jay book and have mostly been working on a great trick in it called "More Memory Man." It's pseudo-memorized deck demonstration with several great phases.

And I'd be interested in anything anyone had to say about Outlaw's new "Sanctum 2," which I've been debating picking up. I have to admit that I'm always swayed by the hype at the Cafe and the clever marketing, but I'm also ambivalent about whether the effects are truly for me or not. I picked up "Reflections" previously which I was mixed on. I liked the idea of the effect, wish the book looked better and was better made, and found the cornerstone of the method too obvious (or, at least, my specs found it too obvious). I have an idea of what "Sanctum 2" involves but would be curious if anyone here has used it.

[JonWhite]

Originally Posted by bugjack

And I'd be interested in anything anyone had to say about Outlaw's new "Sanctum 2," which I've been debating picking up. I have to admit that I'm always swayed by the hype at the Cafe and the clever marketing, but I'm also ambivalent about whether the effects are truly for me or not. I picked up "Reflections" previously which I was mixed on. I liked the idea of the effect, wish the book looked better and was better made, and found the cornerstone of the method too obvious (or, at least, my specs found it too obvious). I have an idea of what "Sanctum 2" involves but would be curious if anyone here has used it.

Hi Bugjack.

You don't like "Reflections"? I got the full package deal (Sinister, etc) a while ago and personally find Reflections to currently be my favorite of the bunch. I haven't had the MO figured out at all as yet - what method are you using to generate the initial number? If I can ever figure out a good way of ensuring absolutely that each spec looks at the same place in the book, I was even thinking about getting a couple more copies to use one spec per element of the effect (emotion/sign/memory).

As for Sanctum 2 I'm probably going to order it sometime this week. With the exchange rate it's a pretty good deal along with the Kioku cards (I'm too lazy to copy the Reflections version and laminate my own) and am looking for a couple of things to add to the Stealth Assassin arsenal. I'll post an opinion when I get it if you like.

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.