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I recently attended a meeting of my local SAM assembly (first time), and I was both delighted and dismayed to see that a majority of the members were well into old age. It’s a wonderful opportunity to glean knowledge from people with a lot of experience. On the other hand, I wonder if these...

We spent Thanksgiving with my in-laws this year, and I knew they would have a few friends over as well, and since they've enjoyed my magic in years past, I decided to put together a few effects to show if the opportunity arose. I went back to material I've performed successfully in the...

Thanks for everyone's advice! I've been busy with work, and haven't had a chance to dig into it, but I'm hoping some of these recommendations help. If not, I'll probably PM a few of you. You're saying that the entire back end of the deck (end closest to my body) should be "broken" as it were...

That strike double is so knacky. Glad to hear all the repetition pays off. I was beginning to wonder if there's just something wrong with me :)

If he's a real friend, then he won't mind you having a private conversation with him about it, and he will stop because he will see that it's important to you.

Thanks so much for your input @Al e Cat Dabra ! This is exactly some of the advice I'm looking for!

I'm trying to brush up on my sleights and some effects I used to be ok with, and I'm resurrecting a long-standing struggle with the pinky break. I'm finding that even after the deck has been squared, even with my hand fairly relaxed and the break uncomfortably small, I get a distinct line...

I too hate how quickly social media now allows us to destroy people's lives without any sort of fair trial. On the other hand, especially when it comes to sexual misconduct, there's often not any/enough evidence to make a case, and often victims don't feel able to speak out until years and years...

Dude, I am SO bummed to hear about the accusations against David. He's honestly someone I've really looked up to just because of his no-quitting attitude. It's such a tricky issue separating artists from their art. Especially when they're performers.

Another fun fact is that 80% of the time, if you ask someone to pick a number between 1 and 10, they will pick 7. The next most likely is 4. One of my proudest memories is when I was first dating my wife, I asked her to pick a number between 1 and 10. I told her it was 7, and she was blown...

Thanks for you insight @Lord Magic ! This definitely spoke to me. Maybe the problem is I treat it too casually. They say where you lack discipline, establish structure. Structure is what I need! And thanks also for your tips on learning. YouTube is a big rabbit's hole for me. I can get really...

@RealityOne Hey David, as always I'm happy to hear your perspective. And thanks for your encouragement! It's good to keep perspective "Sets" are exactly what I'm talking about! I think you're right on the money that your character is the glue that ties it all together. Maybe my problem is I...

David Blaine has a very detailed list for men and women in his autobiography (which is a fun read by the way). I believe the top three for each were as follows: Men: Ace, King, and Jack of Spades, with 7 of Spades or Clubs as a runner up. Women: Queen of Hearts, Queen of Diamonds, 7 of Hearts.

I think a good book is what you're after. They generally provide way more value for the money than any single effect. But if I had to pick one, affordable trick, Invisible Deck (I'm sure you already have it). In my book it's still the king of all effects.

PS. This is probably a lot to ask, but if anyone feels inclined, I wouldn't turn down having a private conversation about the actual materials I have and routines I can put together from those materials. Sometimes it's good to get an extra set of eyes on the possibilities I can't see.

I've been in and out of magic several times over the last 10 years. I'll go through 6 month spurts of practice and dedication, followed by a year of not picking up a deck of cards. This is partly because I'm a freelance filmmaker with a wife and two kids, which means that life can get hectic...

Thanks for all the responses guys!

I found a few spare materials in my closet, and I'm wondering if it would be appropriate to post them for sale anywhere in these forums or if I should just go straight to eBay? I'm not sure what the rules are on that here...

The Gecko. I imagine some people could use it to great effect, but I couldn't fathom how to make any of it believable at all.

People typically misunderstand good criticism. It's not about what's good or bad; it's about why something is good or bad.