I don't carry around anything besides maybe a Dollar bill that is made for a tipless bill switch. Other than that, If I am at somebodies house. Then I'll borrow a deck. Other than that I'd probably just do palm reading and not have to carry anything on me at all.
I don't like the idea of having to carry around a crap ton of gimmicks or effects on me. You are not a magician if you do that, you're Inspector Gadget and you end up looking like a complete tool and a dork. besides WHO walks around with a deck of cards in their pocket all day long? I can understand if you are at a strolling or restaurant gig. But in every day life? Come on man. Think like a normal person and not like a magician.
I agree. I limit my props as much as possible. I currently carry around with me a set of props that include 12 index cards, 8 coin envelopes, and a pen, and I can perform for more than an hour with these if need be. I can also borrow other things like more paper, cards, etc.
Since I primarily prefer to perform in intimate and spontaneous situations, I am extremely picky with my material. Not only the quality but specifically the circumstances in which I can perform it; what I require, and how it suits my performing preferences. However good something is, if it doesn't fit that, I don't perform it. I hate having too many things in my pockets. If I find it a chore to carry something around (eg a certain prop, or a gimmick) every time I go out, "just in case", I won't, and I won't perform it.
I love the first trick I ever learned that looked magical. --> Jumping Gemini. Anyone else use t'his. It's usually my opener and it's a classic. I let people know it's the trick that made me want to perform magic.....
Yep, I used to perform this. It's a great trick.
I find that a variety of tricks gives you a more interesting set.
MalibuARMY,
A thought, if I may offer it. This is not intended in any way as offensive, etc.
What do your audiences find interesting - your tricks, or you?
I've noted that you have a wide range of coin, card, rubber band, etc., tricks.
Whilst there is certainly something to be said for using a range of items - in some circumstances more than others - the implication of what you said is that variety of props, and your tricks, are what is interesting. Looking at guys who focus primarily on cards, guys like Lennart Green come to mind - it is the performer that is interesting, not the material... Of course, you can't perform similar pick a card tricks all night. Nonetheless, it's worth asking the reason behind what you wrote.
Tricks and props are not inherently interesting - people are.
I do::
Biddle Trick
Stigmata
.44
Oil & Water
Timeline 2.0
Identity
Sandwich Effects
Two Card Monte
Triumph
Card To Mouth
Pressure(I usually start with this)
BeLIEve
GPS
and many more I can't think of right now
Aaron:
Not to pick on you - just that I admittedly haven't read through this entire thread, what people perform doesn't terribly interest me.
But, if you can't think of the "many more", I suggest you never perform them again. If you can't think of them on the spot, then you obviously don't care much for them. If you don't care, neither will your audiences. It will show. And if you did care, if they were your best or favourite tricks, then you would remember them. I would also suggest that they are almost certainly out of practice - this is another reason why you can't name them. Sleights, once learned, are not forever ingrained. The story of the young magician with 100 tricks, and the profession with 3 or 4, comes to mind. I went through a culling process of my material some months ago simply by eliminating those tricks that I could not name off the top of my head, or else going to practice them heavily.