What are the odds of making a coin dissapear and reapear in an instant?What are the odds of shuffling a card into the deck and finding it? I think that I prefer the ladder. I mean, there are only 52 cards in a deck, all different. With cards you can lay the odds out in front of the spectator, 52 to 1, every time. I never get tired of the reactions I get from people with cards, beter than just about anything else.

I often show tricks at the local convenience store (they still call me mr. shoelace after i showed them the STS), but when I buy a fresh deck of cards, open them and do something like Triumph, or a 3 card prediction, or an ACR, everyone just loves it. I'll get stuck for 20 minutes at a time showing card tricks with the deck I just opened.

To some, that is a close to real magic as it can get. No gimmicks, no preparation, all magic. Although I never say that I use magic or slight of hand. I try to stay 'on the offbeat' (to quote oz). I prefer an aproach like saying, 'hey do you want to try something with me?' or 'tell me if this seems odd to you?' This seems to not only get people to intrigued, but also keeps them off their toes on what they're about to witness. I give no hints to what is about to happen, I'm just trying something interesting. But most of all, this nonchalant approach keeps the attention off of my hands.

Just walking up to someone and asking if they want to see some magic usualy doesn't work for me as well, unless the person was walking around looking to see some magic. I feel that this makes spectators more intent to see the magic happen. That means watching your hands, alot. I find myself trying, blatently, to make eye contact, big gestures, and alot of misdirection. It always feels like I'm being watched harder if I ask if someone wants to see some magic. They may not know what is about to happen, but they know that something is.

I'm geting sidetracked though., and I dont want anyone to think I'm saying coins and gafts aren't magical. I love coins, and I do at least 5 card tricks a day using gafts. But I just love spreading out the deck on the counter, table, cardboard box after I've finished a successful routine and announcing, 'there are 52 choices in the deck. and you picked one. what are the odds?'

I would read it, if it was typed much better. Right now its a mess and a pain to read.

I read through it. I found it pretty intriguing. You touch base on a very debatable subject and I would definitely have to take your side with this argument. I've always found it better to have a person truly attentive for the entire duration of the trick, as opposed to: "Great, here's someone who's going to be showing me some magic, I wonder if they'll be any good. . ."

Keep up the good work and shoot me a PM with some of your contact information. I'm from Philadelphia as well.

Hehe, they call you Mr. Shoelace!? That's sweet! I broke a match in half and "restored" it using the Black Widow (great device). Now everyone that works at that store calls me Mr. Match-ic...


Not bad for your first essay, keep it up!

Best wishes,

-Trix

cool man, dont worry about cryptic he never has anything to say about ANYTHING.

Actually, David was one of the most helpful members here. And, like I've already told you, he definitely doesn't sugar coat his posts.

*side splitingly ironic tone* AH!

~blizt

Picking a card: 52 to 1

Making a coin disappear and reappear: impossible

I prefer the laTTer. Though if I'm going to be working on my roof I prefer the laDDer.

I have a few things to say:
1.
...nuff said.

2.
Isn't that against the rules?

3.
...<slow clap>


Revelation77