So I've not yet attempted Street Magic, but I am so excited about the prospect of the venue and can hardly wait to get started.

I am currently beginning my efforts of routining and was wondering how cards play on the streets.

Everyone says that any trick can play on the streets, but it seems to me that with the majority of card tricks, you're going to have people huddled around a table instead of out in a big circle.

I can imagine cards across playing well, and tossed out deck obviously would play well. What other thoughts do you guys have regarding how cards play in the street venue?

By the way, before everyone reminds me of how DB did the Invisible Deck on the street, I'm not talking about Blaining here....I'm talking about performing for a crowd on the street.

TIA

try to avoid table card tricks
do things that work in their hands or yours
tricks like the two card monte and ambitious card routines work well

51 cards to pocket is great.

jumbo card in balloon (hen fetsch)

A great dvd on this is the ninja series. its has great advice on how to do a trick without a table and with many people. some stuff may be a little beginner for a more expeirianced magician, but it has some good stuff.[/url]

BULL ONEY! Get Gazzo's DVDs on busking, he does some great card tricks with a crowd. Remember the whole thing when busking is to ENTERTAIN, if you make the cards entertaining then use them.

The one Peter1 (Paddy! I hardly recognized you!) is talking about is the School for Scoundrels video "Uncensored" not the new Penguin DVD. He doesn't "teach" the card tricks as they're really secondary to the PERSON, but you can see the kind of reactions he gets with them.

He does about 10 minutes with a single signed card before moving on to the "big stuff." Hold your hands up high, walk around, let them see what's happening, and a simple "in your hands" card trick can play to a 100 people.

You can adapt a packet trick to the street by learning to do an Elmsley Count up at face level instead of looking down at it. Lots of possibilities are out there if you work hard enough.

For busking I use Fireworks by Aldo Colombini.
Its a 12 (or less) card revelation. It gets you a crowd and gets tons of people in on a single card trick. Wonderful routine.

I have to agree with Peter. Watch the Gazzo DVD. Don't copy his routine, but by just watching him, you will learn some great points.

I would say stay away from Ninja from E. E is focused on Blaining. Sure, some of the effects they teach may work for busking, but I would say stay away from them.

Also, I think it's better to not have too many card tricks.

I use card tricks to build the crowd, get people in then go into my show.

i think they are the best street magic tools to use. it always packs a crowd when i use card tricks. i always use them for varius street magic tricks. there are so many tricks for them

BMX He's not talking about Street Magic ala David Blaine.
For close up tricks either in walk around or on the street Cards are of course the way to go. So many tricks with gaffed and ungaffed cards/decks.
But for busking or street performing cards are hard to play off to 60 people.

Start out with your routine with something quick and visual. Then progress on and at the end you can do a little longer trick with a little more patter with it.