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Learn Magic Tricks |
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Card Sitter
by A. Altinsel
07.25.02
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| The Great Cardfindini strikes again. |
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The Effect
An audience member is called up on stage. With the magician's help she performs a card trick. In a hilarious climax, the spectator is revealed to be sitting on the very card she is attempting to reveal.
The Secret
This wonderful effect is achieved by simple means.
Most of the performance value is in your ability to interact with the spectator in an entertaining way, heightening the two main games--the "I just called you up here and now I'm just standing here waiting for you to start performing" game and the "repeat after me" game.
Here's how the magic works: When you're helping your spectator sit in the chair on stage, slip one card onto the chair she sits down (it should look to your audience like you're adjusting the chair for her). Now, just remember what card she's sitting on so that when THE GREAT CARDFINDINI instructs you to pick a card from the deck you can pretend to have picked the card you know she is sitting on (this works perfectly because you don't show the card to anyone!).
Now everything is set up for the routine to work perfectly. Have some fun with this effect. Customize the patter for your unique performance style.
If you like this effect, you'll want to check out some of the awesome card magic tricks in the shop section of our site.
Sample Routine
As the applause from your last effect dies down... you announce to your audience that you need a volunteer... Hundreds of hands instantly shoot up into the air. You select a young (or old) lady (or man) and instruct her to come up on stage...
Just as she's two or three steps from the stage and about to appear you say in the best circus announcer's voice you can muster, "Ladies and Gentlemen... Boys and Girls... Penguin Magic (or any other confidence inspiring two words) proudly presents... THE GREAT CARDFINDINI..." (you energetically encourage the audience to provide an excited round of applause as you seat your assistant.)
Now, adopting the voice of a television reporter, you lean in toward your spectator and say jokingly, "now, is Cardfindini your real name, or do you use it purely in your stage shows?" Your spectator says, "No, my name's Alyssa." You repeat her name and say with a completely straight face, "Alyssa, first of all I want to thank you for agreeing to perform for us today on such short notice." You let this moment hang for a beat (in all of it's beautiful laugh-producing awkwardness) before continuing, "It's not everyday that one gets to see THE GREAT CARDFINDINI perform the card trick that won her international fame... the double-tap." At this point you encourage the audience to provide another round of applause as you turn your attention toward THE GREAT CARDFINDINI. (Your body language gives the impression that you expect THE GREAT CARDFINDINI to just start performing any moment).
The applause dies down and the tension starts to build...
THE GREAT CARDFINDINI looks to you to say something. You look right back at her (as if to say, "say something"). The audience is quite amused by this little game. Nobody speaks until she says with a smile, "What do you want me to do?"
You immediately apologize, "I'm sorry, I forgot my lines... (big laugh)
You hand CARDFINDINI a deck of cards and continue, "OK, CARDFINDINI, repeat after me, "Pick a card, any card..."
CARDFINDINI repeats the line; you pick a card and look at it.
You say and CARDFINDINI repeats: "Don't show anyone!" "Now put your card back into the middle of the deck." "Now I'm going to wave my hand magically over the deck (you encourage CARDFINDINI to actually wave)" "...and tap the deck" (you encourage CARDFINDINI to actually tap) "and your card will magically penetrate through the other cards" "coming to a rest on the bottom of the deck".
You continue (stopping at each break so CARDFINDINI can repeat, "Tell THE GREAT CARDFINDINI" "and this wonderful audience" "which card you picked".
You say in answer to CARDFINDINI's question, "The Ace of Spades."
Now you use use gestures to get CARDFINDINI to look at the card at the bottom of the deck. It's the wrong card. The trick has failed. Your spectators know this because of the absolute look of panick on your face.
Trying to regain your composure... you resume the repeat-after-me game: "Maybe I tapped too hard" "and it fell into my lap." (the card is clearly not in CARDFINDINI's lap) "maybe I'm sitting on the card".
The audience laughs. CARDFINDINI gives you a funny look. You look back (as if to say, "we'll, what are you waiting for... get up and reveal the card.")
CARDFINDINI gets up and sure enough (to great audience response) she is sitting on your card.
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