A motivational thread

[Senex]

Let's have a thread about a performance you had or saw that went particularly well.

Instead of going first I'll post why I picked this topic. I went camping with my buddies this year and didn't bring anything to perform with me. I've gotten away from magic to the point I didn't even prepare a one off trick this year. (That was a mistake because I've always done at least that). One of my friends told me his son said I'm not as good as I used to be. I'm certain that is true but I didn't like hearing it. I could use some motivation to start practicing close-up (or any) magic again. I'd love to read your success stories.

 

[marplots]

I really enjoyed Lennart Green's TED talk. I found him incredibly original.

https://www.ted.com/talks/lennart_green_does_close_up_card_magic?language=en

 

[Senex]

I really enjoyed Lennart Green's TED talk. I found him incredibly original.

https://www.ted.com/talks/lennart_green_does_close_up_card_magic?language=en

That was original and has got me thinking about how original I am and how much better I could be. However, Green is a professional and I'm a bit clumsy so I'd also like to also read about amateurs successes.

I will go first. When I was in high school I worked as a busboy at Howard Johnson's restaurant. I could do a brilliant scotch and soda routine where the missing Mexican centavos always ended up in the waitresses pockets. Their pockets were oversize, I was great at pinching the coin, and I also focused their attention on their hand at the moment I did the deed. I performed that many times while working.

 

[Garrette]

I don't perform, and never have, in the sense of doing a prepared set at a prepared time. All my demonstrations are one-offs, and even those are rare now.

Without going into detail about the effects, the three greatest successes that come to mind were both totally impromptu when I was completely unprepared and involved by necessity doing some things that were so bold I would never have attempted them had I had time to think about it and prepare.

One involved standing up from my sitting position on the floor and walking across the room in front of my two spectators and very brazenly placing the quarter (which I would vanish later) inside the burnt matchbook that I had already restored one of the matchsticks to.

Another involved lapping a pile (larger than a fistful) of plastic dinosaurs from the middle of the table (which was even a wrought iron table with a glass top. I did this in front of five people burning my every move all so that 20 seconds later I could lift my hand and show them the dinosaurs had vanished.

The third involved figuring out how to gimmick a book belonging to the homeowner and doing that gimmick right in front of several people so I could riffle to my force page a few minutes later, all immediately removing the gimmick so it was clean.

 

[Here_to_learn]

I have a description of my first ever performance in an old thread.

I've since learned a couple of rope tricks, since ropes/knots are used in scouting, and found that I enjoy being able to do them impromtu. I've learned some card trick moves also, but haven't really worked out a good routine to use them.

I like the magic that your can perform as a "challenge" for your audience. Like the (quite simple) tie a knot without letting go. It's not hard to learn, but it can drive people nuts trying to replicate your moves.


A different type of performance that I find very interesting can be seen here (in Swedish):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8rsMzn9WFQ

It's a swedish comedian that uses some rope tricks set to music/song, but they key thing is that he uses the tricks to tell a story. Basically it's a about how resources are controlled and divided in the world. Now, Hans Rosling is probably a better source for the state of the world, but the idea to use magic tricks to reinforce a message resonates with me. (Hans Roslings performance at the end of this talk is of course not a magic trick, but is still use to reinforce the message).

Not that using magic tricks to entertain is bad - on the contrary I very much enjoy being entertained by magic. But using magic to teach if find adds a little extra to it.

So maybe that is what the thread starter needs to get going again - a cause to address with the trick?

 

[Senex]

I don't perform, and never have, in the sense of doing a prepared set at a prepared time. All my demonstrations are one-offs, and even those are rare now.

That's how 99% of my performances are but once in a while, like the time I performed for the pagans, I worked outside of my comfort zone.

Without going into detail about the effects, the three greatest successes that come to mind were both totally impromptu when I was completely unprepared and involved by necessity doing some things that were so bold I would never have attempted them had I had time to think about it and prepare.

What is the most money/time you have ever put into an effect?

I have a description of my first ever performance in an old thread.

I've since learned a couple of rope tricks, since ropes/knots are used in scouting, and found that I enjoy being able to do them impromtu. I've learned some card trick moves also, but haven't really worked out a good routine to use them.

I like the magic that your can perform as a "challenge" for your audience. Like the (quite simple) tie a knot without letting go. It's not hard to learn, but it can drive people nuts trying to replicate your moves.

I recommend "linking ropes" for you. Get a 4th rope if possible to exchange with the gaffed one. It's brilliant under the right conditions.

A different type of performance that I find very interesting can be seen here (in Swedish):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8rsMzn9WFQ

It's a swedish comedian that uses some rope tricks set to music/song, but they key thing is that he uses the tricks to tell a story. Basically it's a about how resources are controlled and divided in the world. Now, Hans Rosling is probably a better source for the state of the world, but the idea to use magic tricks to reinforce a message resonates with me. (Hans Roslings performance at the end of this talk is of course not a magic trick, but is still use to reinforce the message).

Not that using magic tricks to entertain is bad - on the contrary I very much enjoy being entertained by magic. But using magic to teach if find adds a little extra to it.

What's he teaching? Macroeconomics or communism? Ropes can teach us many different things.

So maybe that is what the thread starter needs to get going again - a cause to address with the trick?

I don't need a cause I need a new audience or new material. New material costs resources. Money and time.

 

[Senex]

Oops, double post

 

[Garrette]

What is the most money/time you have ever put into an effect?

The money part is relatively easy to answer: a couple of hundred dollars (Outlaw stuff). If you add books, $800 (Mind & Magic of David Berglas, long ago).

For time, it's a bit more difficult to answer one way. The straightforward answer is Two Color Monte. When I got that I stayed up all night for two nights straight running through that to make it look good.

The less straightforward answer is that all of them require constant touch up and practice, so adding all the later times, who knows. (And remember, you're asking about an effect, not a move).

The still less straightforward answer is that it is incalculable. I do a killer Zombie routine for kids that began as just a sort of joke thing for my own kids when they were little, but I put immense amounts of time into the presentation over the years. Not the method, mind you; I'll admit that the technical aspect of that doesn't match the pros at all, but it's good enough for my purposes, and the inadequacies are covered with the structure of the act.

Similarly for some mentalism stuff, especially the Outlaw stuff referenced above. I happen to live less than an hour from Waverly Sanatorium, reputedly one of the world's most haunted places. Check out Outlaw's stuff on that. I haven't actually performed it yet, but I'm about ready to after a few years of groundwork. Now I need the opportunity for it to seem impromptu, e.g., my college age daughter's Halloween party where the subject just happens to come up...

I also have some of the detective stuff from Outlaw, and have done a very minimal set with that, plus a few of their special items things (scorpion, crusader, etc.)

 

[Senex]

The money part is relatively easy to answer: a couple of hundred dollars (Outlaw stuff). If you add books, $800 (Mind & Magic of David Berglas, long ago).

For time, it's a bit more difficult to answer one way. The straightforward answer is Two Color Monte. When I got that I stayed up all night for two nights straight running through that to make it look good.

The less straightforward answer is that all of them require constant touch up and practice, so adding all the later times, who knows. (And remember, you're asking about an effect, not a move).

The still less straightforward answer is that it is incalculable. I do a killer Zombie routine for kids that began as just a sort of joke thing for my own kids when they were little, but I put immense amounts of time into the presentation over the years. Not the method, mind you; I'll admit that the technical aspect of that doesn't match the pros at all, but it's good enough for my purposes, and the inadequacies are covered with the structure of the act.

Similarly for some mentalism stuff, especially the Outlaw stuff referenced above. I happen to live less than an hour from Waverly Sanatorium, reputedly one of the world's most haunted places. Check out Outlaw's stuff on that. I haven't actually performed it yet, but I'm about ready to after a few years of groundwork. Now I need the opportunity for it to seem impromptu, e.g., my college age daughter's Halloween party where the subject just happens to come up...

I also have some of the detective stuff from Outlaw, and have done a very minimal set with that, plus a few of their special items things (scorpion, crusader, etc.)

You need the motivation more than me. GO FOR IT! Having the experience of performing is worth it. I do a zombie as well but I'm certain yours is better than mine but I do some things pretty well myself.

 

[Garrette]

You need the motivation more than me. GO FOR IT! Having the experience of performing is worth it. I do a zombie as well but I'm certain yours is better than mine but I do some things pretty well myself.

No thanks. I'm past that point in my life.

 

[Senex]

No thanks. I'm past that point in my life.

Well, who posted this then?

I haven't actually performed it yet, but I'm about ready to after a few years of groundwork. Now I need the opportunity for it to seem impromptu, e.g., my college age daughter's Halloween party where the subject just happens to come up...

I also have some of the detective stuff from Outlaw, and have done a very minimal set with that, plus a few of their special items things (scorpion, crusader, etc.)

 

[Garrette]

Ah. We're talking different things. When I said "almost ready to perform" I meant as another one-off (or two) for a small and chosen audience, not as a regular thing. I took your advice to get out there to mean something broader than that.

 

[Senex]

Ah. We're talking different things. When I said "almost ready to perform" I meant as another one-off (or two) for a small and chosen audience, not as a regular thing. I took your advice to get out there to mean something broader than that.

No, performing for your daughter's college party is just what I meant.

I have another story of a success I had (and this one is less than thirty years old). I was going to my college outing club reunion. When I was in my college outing club I was at the peak of my magical powers. I really wanted to perform something special. I reconnoitered the room we were partying in at the club and I climbed up the side of the building to plant a card on the outside of a window I would later throw a deck at and have the chosen card discovered through the window. I consider this a creative move. It was very well received.

 

[Garrette]

Still not communicating well, I think. My daughter's party is not a large function, and my performance is not to be planned. I'm talking her having friends over and the conversation turning to spooky stuff and me quietly steering things so that they ask to see "that stuff from Waverly).

 

[Senex]

Still not communicating well, I think. My daughter's party is not a large function, and my performance is not to be planned. I'm talking her having friends over and the conversation turning to spooky stuff and me quietly steering things so that they ask to see "that stuff from Waverly).

I completely understand. Your performance is not to be planned. If they happen to ask about Waverly you might perform if it feels right at the time. That's a legitimate way to perform. You are just hoping for ideal circumstances to perform under.

That happens, but not often.

 

[Garrette]

I completely understand. Your performance is not to be planned. If they happen to ask about Waverly you might perform if it feels right at the time. That's a legitimate way to perform. You are just hoping for ideal circumstances to perform under.

That happens, but not often.

Ayup.

 

[Azrael 5]

The money part is relatively easy to answer: a couple of hundred dollars (Outlaw stuff). If you add books, $800 (Mind & Magic of David Berglas, long ago).

For time, it's a bit more difficult to answer one way. The straightforward answer is Two Color Monte. When I got that I stayed up all night for two nights straight running through that to make it look good.

The less straightforward answer is that all of them require constant touch up and practice, so adding all the later times, who knows. (And remember, you're asking about an effect, not a move).

The still less straightforward answer is that it is incalculable. I do a killer Zombie routine for kids that began as just a sort of joke thing for my own kids when they were little, but I put immense amounts of time into the presentation over the years. Not the method, mind you; I'll admit that the technical aspect of that doesn't match the pros at all, but it's good enough for my purposes, and the inadequacies are covered with the structure of the act.

Similarly for some mentalism stuff, especially the Outlaw stuff referenced above. I happen to live less than an hour from Waverly Sanatorium, reputedly one of the world's most haunted places. Check out Outlaw's stuff on that. I haven't actually performed it yet, but I'm about ready to after a few years of groundwork. Now I need the opportunity for it to seem impromptu, e.g., my college age daughter's Halloween party where the subject just happens to come up...

I also have some of the detective stuff from Outlaw, and have done a very minimal set with that, plus a few of their special items things (scorpion, crusader, etc.)

BIB- I wish I could buy all Outlaws book tests they are works of art even just to own and not perform. Then again I wish had the chutzpahs to perform magic.

Garette which products have you bought,I only have reflections,did buy LUna but it was bad quality and had to return ithttp://www.internationalskeptics.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[Garrette]

BIB- I wish I could buy all Outlaws book tests they are works of art even just to own and not perform. Then again I wish had the chutzpahs to perform magic.

Garette which products have you bought,I only have reflections,did buy LUna but it was bad quality and had to return ithttp://www.internationalskeptics.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

PM'd you.

 

[Senex]

BIB- I wish I could buy all Outlaws book tests they are works of art even just to own and not perform. Then again I wish had the chutzpahs to perform magic.

Garette which products have you bought,I only have reflections,did buy LUna but it was bad quality and had to return ithttp://www.internationalskeptics.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

I looked up these Outlaw book tests and I want to get "The Witches' Almanac." I enjoy performing for pagans (they are gullible). The price can be seen as high, but if the book passes inspection as real it would be very worthwhile for even the one time I might use it. I understand Garrette more than he thinks.

 

[Garrette]

I looked up these Outlaw book tests and I want to get "The Witches' Almanac." I enjoy performing for pagans (they are gullible). The price can be seen as high, but if the book passes inspection as real it would be very worthwhile for even the one time I might use it. I understand Garrette more than he thinks.

You won't regret it. It is expensive, as most of their items are, but they are almost always high quality. And I have never run across a bad review of WA.

Just be prepared for slow service. Not bad service, just very slow. They are a small shop and appear to do everything manually.

 

[Senex]

Have you ever been to a party where they hand out large opague plastic cups? Every party they do is a chance to do cups and balls using napkins as balls and the cups as cups. You can fit raquetballs, toys or many other small items as your final load. It's worth learning to do because you it looks crazy impromptu (and it is). I've had a lot of success with this and have even used water glasses covered with newspaper (this is why I keep my subscription) as a cup.

It's a classic for a reason.

 

[Senex]

My motivational thread hasn't been as popular as I hoped but how about if we rename it inexpensive tricks you get a lot of mileage out of.

I have had a trick for 30 years where a spectator chooses a card and a different spectator looks into a small crystal ball and sees the chosen card. It's brilliant -- trust me. It's inexpensive.

 

[Garrette]

In that case, I have two that are the ones I get the most mileage from. The first one I will not name the trick as I don't want it Googled. The second one, I have no idea what the name is, if there is one.

Trick one: Fold two business cards, one along the long axis and the other along the short axis. Place the long folded inside the short folded and push the long one from side to side showing that it has inverted each time.

Trick two: Place seven quarters one at a time in the spectator's palm, slowly, with the spectator closing his hand immediately upon placement of the seventh. Reveal that he has only six and the seventh is in your own hand (or pocket or across the room or where ever).

I like the both because they both cost nothing, neither requires set up (most people claim the first one does, but I usually do the secret stuff on the fly under their noses), and each can be tailored to the mood, i.e., presented as magic, mentalism, spooky quantum physics, a test of speed and agility, or whatever you can think of.

 

[Senex]

In that case, I have two that are the ones I get the most mileage from. The first one I will not name the trick as I don't want it Googled. The second one, I have no idea what the name is, if there is one.

Trick one: Fold two business cards, one along the long axis and the other along the short axis. Place the long folded inside the short folded and push the long one from side to side showing that it has inverted each time.

Trick two: Place seven quarters one at a time in the spectator's palm, slowly, with the spectator closing his hand immediately upon placement of the seventh. Reveal that he has only six and the seventh is in your own hand (or pocket or across the room or where ever).

I like the both because they both cost nothing, neither requires set up (most people claim the first one does, but I usually do the secret stuff on the fly under their noses), and each can be tailored to the mood, i.e., presented as magic, mentalism, spooky quantum physics, a test of speed and agility, or whatever you can think of.

The trick involving business cards has caught my attention. I enjoy putting a pen through a business card and salvaging the card at the end. I never saw your effect. It could be part of a nice business card routine.