Well the problem with gimmicked tricks is well... they're gimmicked. They can't be inspected and (in most cases) you can only use each thing for 1 effect. Just imagine yourself loaded with like 10 different gimmick tricks in your pockets to achieve 10 tricks. And after every trick you have to pull out a new deck or cards or coins or whatever, people will start to get suspicious. When you can carry 1 deck of cards you and do a edited of a lot more. I'm not saying that gimmicks are bad, that’s just normally why people don’t like them. You never want to carry too many gimmicks; some is good but not too many.

Just my 2 cents

nfw and twisted sisters are ok to get, but really sleights is the way to go. Too many people waste too much ttime and money in self working gimmicked tricks.

Time? Not really. The gimmicks are pretty simple. I bet it takes longer to learn those sleights (although probably well worth it).
Money? Most definitely. You're touching home there.

After reading this thread & forum, it blatantly apparent what a novice I am. Most of the terms discussed are Greek to me. But like I said I am willing to learn. I will order Royal Road soon & maybe ask for Card College as a gift, instead of some of the gimmick tricks I mentioned. Do both of these cover shuffles, spreads & deals also to make the presentation more dramatic?



Also- just as an aside, what percentage of David Blaine's televised tricks would you estimate are gimmicks, and how many are sleights, etc.?