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I think that's a brilliant idea for a project. It could be really useful for streamlining your magic and working out what is actually necessary and effective when performing in the real world. At Blackpool a couple of years ago Kostya Kimlat said that he got a reaction just from running through...

I believe that it does accomplish the same thing, but I think you have to have a delicacy and lightness of touch when describing your process to the subject. If you perform cold reading alongside more blatantly "magic" effects, then the subject will be primed to question any direct statement you...

There are a few good things in the UK. I'm planning to go to Paul Gordon's thing in September, the International Magic Convention is in London in November, and then the Session is in January (Ray Kosby's going to be at the next one). And, talking of 2012, Blackpool's going to be hosting FISM in...

In my opinion, Derren Brown is the most powerful performer around today. Therefore, I would recommend getting inside his head by acquiring everything he's written (Pure Effect, Absolute Magic, Tricks of the Mind, Confessions of a Conjuror), plus his Devil's Picturebook DVDs, and the DVDs of all...

What's brilliant about Derren is he's elevated magic and mentalism above the mere display of effects, into something truly personal, intimate, challenging, and dramatic. And, in a lot of cases, he's done this with incredibly basic effects which anyone can learn. I would say that the most...

I agree with all the previous posters who've recommended big moves. However, also spend a lot of time thinking about and practicing your posture, the movement of your whole body, your face, and your overall persona. People don't care about cards, they care about people, so you need to come...

Learn everything out of Erdnase. Then, when you've mastered it all, learn it in your opposite hand.

Haven't got a clue, know nothing about the game, so I'm having to use genuine psychic ability here. Steelers will win 24 - 14.

Yes, I do practice them, but not because I think I'll ever use them, just really because I'm on a personal mission to master everything from the book. And ideally, memorise it!

Just a quick point on studying Erdnase. If you plan on becoming a true "Expert at the Card Table", by which I mean truly mastering everything from the book, don't rush past the overhand shuffle in search of more glamorous moves. I would recommend a good few hours just running the whole deck...

Fair enough Draven and Steve. I was hoping to expand the discussion out into a more general one about the potential of social networking for us as magicians and businesspeople, but I take your point in this specific case!

Just to play devil's advocate a moment, surely social networking sites perform very little function if you're only ever "networking" with people you already know. In my business, I make an overwhelming majority of my contacts through Facebook, and, even though I do go on to meet most of those...

As I understand it, videos recorded from TV for personal use and not for commercial distribution are perfectly legal. Starting from the invention of the VCR, there's plently of precedent for not-for-profit recording, lending, and trading of TV shows. I would email the Magic Cafe, clarifying that...

It does take a fair bit of practice! One good thing is, if you really master one bottom deal technique, learning others is pretty much a formality and will take much less time.

Actually, Erdnase does mention this, saying that "the deck will have a tendency to slip toward the wrist, and must be held, or worked back into position again." Incidentally, this is a piece of evidence for the author who described the bottom deal (I'm starting to come round to the two authors...

I think you've got it!

I'd go for the multiple diagonal palm shift from Erdnase. Quite difficult, but fits the bill perfectly. Cards are pushed into different locations and as, they're apparently squared in, they're controlled to the bottom, or even to the top with a bit of adaptation.

Well, in simple terms, you shuffle it down to the bottom, then back up to the top. 1. Take the whole deck in your right hand ready to shuffle. 2. Run the first card (the top card of the deck) off into your left hand. 3. Shuffle the rest of the cards on top. 4. The card to be controlled is now...

As part of my new year's resolutions, I'm working my way through Erdnase one step at a time until each technique is mastered, which meant going back to the overhand shuffle. If the deck is even slightly sticky it can be extremely difficult to guarantee running cards singly (ie, pulling off just...

Just to help avoid confusion on your quest, this was just a one off special, so don't bother looking for more than a single episode. It was superb though, so I'm hoping they commission a full series.