My thoughts:
If you want to make performance videos, rock on. Maybe it's a nit-picky thing of mine, but I don't like it when people call 3 or 4 performance videos a "Season". It's not a season, it's a couple of 3 minute videos you put on youtube. Now that is totally cool to post performance videos, but it isn't at all a "Season"
Lets talk about the video: The editing was very awkward and unnecessary. At the beginning I wasn't sure if that was an intro, or it was specific to that video. That was a little unclear for me, I did like your previous intro though, as I knew right away that it was the intro, not just a few spliced up clips. I'm not sure what editing program you used, but I would lose the flying text. If you need text, it is best to have it STILL or moving very slowly on the screen. Half the time I didn't have a chance to read before it disappeared or "flew" away.
The trick it self was also extremely awkward. Sometimes you need to ask your self, "what is the effect here?". It was totally unclear what you wanted the spectator to remember. Will they remember that one card miraculously shot out of the deck? Or will they remember he cut the deck a bunch and took out a card? Will they remember that you changed 2 aces? Or will they remember you had some cards, and then he covered them behind this wall, and they were different. These can all be specified with fluidity and specific wording of your actions.
You also seemed out of place. You were in what looked to be an apartment complex, and you were wearing a suit-coat. ??? You seemed very out of place.
Also one last thing, I don't know if you are exporting your video wrong, but you aren't exporting or compressing it as HD. Go on some camera forums, and ask what settings to compress/export your video to HD youtube streaming, and tell them your camera type. They will direct you along your way to nicer quality.
Overall, I just felt it was a bit messy and awkward, but I give you props for going out and performing.
~Zach
Thank you man, for the honest feedback.
To point number one, the season thing is just for my benefit and litterally JUST so I have an excuse to make cool intros
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Yeah, the flying text WAS a bad idea. I didn't like it much either. It was just kinda... There... Haha. Will fix that next time.
The effect WASN'T THAT ackward, I don't think. I mean, the whole cutting and flying out is the, "By faith alone!" joke. It always gets a laugh and isn't the cause of the effect for the specator.
The change of the aces, yeah. It wasn't REALLY theatrically tied together as well as I would have liked, but it DID get a good reaction. It was kinda a work in progress, and I wanted to try it on an audience. It worked well enough for me, so... But it does need work. Kinda a visual version or follow up to Doc Daley's Last Trick.
Haha, the suit. That is just my jacket. As odd as it sounds, it IS my only jacket haha, and it was kinda cold that day. So, I just kinda had it on. It wasn't an apartment complex, it was a city square haha.
I did compress AND export it in HD. I export them all as AVHCD in 720p at 30fps. It works on MY computer, but youtube has a REAL problem with my HD videos, always. It always takes multiple tries. I mean, it was still HD on there, just not AS high quality as when it was originally done.
So... Yeah. Sorry if I seem defensive, haha. The trick DOES need work, yes, but I think as far as it went as a performance and the reaction I got, based on circumstances and all, it went pretty well. I am working on it though, and thank you VERY much for the feedback! Keep it coming!
