thanks for the criticism guys...i do think your being kinda negative but its neccessary i guess. and i just never performed the biddle well enough for anyone to freak out after showing them it...maybe its cuz im not that talented, maybe some other reason...i dont know. all im asking is for some good, hard-hitting effects...thats it...whatever you guys think is good, i would like to know
thanks
max
Like stated previously, it's all about presentation.
I hate to use examples as points of argument, but:
The biddle trick has absolutely everything you're asking for.
Card-related, impromptu, hard-hitting, easy (technique-wise), astonishing. Plus, I think it's good.
I've made reputations with the biddle trick. I've had people come back to me weeks after a performance of the biddle trick and asking me about it. It's one of my favourite effects and it pains me to see statements like yours, so I'm going to show you why it is everything you are asking for.
Let's break it down when we get to the build to the climax.
-The Revelation of the Card
"How could the magician possibly know what card I am thinking of?"
The card was a free choice. A free choice. The spectator had it completely hidden. The magician had his back turned. There is no way to know what card was.
The revelation of a card by itself has been used many times by countless magicians as an astonishing reputation maker that have had people talking.
-The vanish of the Card
"How could the card possibly disappear?"
The audience knows you were holding 5 cards. Suddenly, there are 4. Another spectator has the cards handed to him, the magicians sleeves are checked. Nothing. A clean vanish. A perfectly clean vanish. Do you know how hard a perfectly clean vanish is to acheive? Do you know what kind of psychological impact this has? Ask any coin magician. It KILLS.
The vanish of an object by itself has been used many times by countless magicians as an astonishing reputation maker that have had people talking.
-The Relocation
"How could the card possibly end up in the deck that I have been holding for the last minute? He hasn't even been near me since then and I have been keeping a tight hold on this."
The spectator was given the deck by the magician who was left with the 5 cards. The spectator was holding the deck the entire time. You don't go near them. There is literally no way you could have gotten the card there while they were holding the deck.
This kind of placement is similar to, and potentially stronger than "Chosen card to spectators pocket", which by itself has been used many times by countless magicians as an astonishing reputation maker that have had people talking.
There you have it. 3 astonishing effects in one. If you can't make this a "mind-blowing" trick, then you'll have a damn hard time making any easy, impromtu, card related trick a "mind-blowing" trick.
I'll finish with a quote from Juan Tamariz that every single performing artist in any performing art should apply to any presentation of any kind:
"A TIP
My advice at this point would be to read no further, to throw this book away and to start practicing, thinking and working out your patter, subtleties and presentation for this miraculous routine.
A LAMENT
I realize that, as I feared, you haven't paid any attention and are still reading.
A WARNING
It's up to you."
(Tamariz, Juan. Mnemonica. 2003. pg. 81)
Peace.