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Me: I want you to take any card from the deck [Kid #1 Takes Card] Kid#2: I know this one. Me: [Looking dejected] You do? Kid #2: I do. Me: OK, Can I have the card back. [Reinserts card in deck, looking totally defeated]. Me: Let's try a different trick Me: [After thinking for a moment to...

@Loper, you sound like you have a good start. However, I’m guessing that you will need to put in a lot more work to make your show professional quality. That includes a well developed character, a variety of effects (not just card tricks), a fully written script and an understanding of what...

I don't think anyone currently makes the appearing wand. There are some out there that were made by Walsh, Harakan and Fabjance. I'd check (call or e-mail) with Stevens, Viking and Denny's. They at least will know what you are talking about where most other magic stores will only do a...

I’m not sure how a video will help - he has three cards (which he has described in detail) and is asking what to do with them. My sense it is a sort of Monte trick. I’ll have to look at a couple of sources to figure out more.

Why do you think they are asking this? Do they ask this when they learn you are a magician or after you have performed something for them? Are these spectators you have previously performed for or first time spectators? My sense is they don’t want to waste time watching you unless you are...

I think the answer is obvious from your post - change the presentation.

What do you call a magician who coaches his audience? What do you call a magician who claims to be better than Erdnase? What do you call a magician who only performs for tweenagers who don't know any better on YouTube?

I'll second Bob Cassidy. Fundamentals is also available to purchase separately as a pdf download from lybrary.com.

My response to that question is "the illusion of magic is sometimes more real than reality" or "it is as real as you want it to be." Both answers are a bit more contemplative and, in my opinion, enhance the reactions to your magic rather then telling them it was all a trick.

Without knowing the "why", there really isn't anything you can do. From the description, it just sounds like the person was uncomfortable with the idea of mentalism.

@SilverWolf42712 , welcome to the forums and welcome to magic. We discourage posting in old threads but welcome new threads on any magic related topic. I started magic in my late 30s and that was 10 years ago. Enjoy the ride

I clarified Gabriel's post.... I think....

To figure this out, the question you need to answer is why they were uncomfortable. What was the instruction you gave them for writing down the name and what was the nature of the cold reading? I could see someone becoming uncomfortable if they wrote down the name of someone who has died and...

Well done. Congratulations. Shows are always a work in progress, substituting one effect for another when one doesn't work. Sounds like you may need to replace Dresscode in your show.

I came up with it as a result of my process of acquiring lots of books and seeing how very different each book is. I like a lot of different books all for different reasons - some have amazing sleight of hand, others have unique gimmicks, other have diabolical methods, other have amazing and...

To add to what @Antonio Diavolo said, the line confuses spectators and distracts from the effect. The spectator isn't sure if they picked the wrong card, if they should pick a different card or if they should stay with the card they picked. Every time I see this said, the spectator looks...

Don't equate more complicated and more difficult with better magic. Some of the best effect I perform are extremely simple. Try to view magic from the audience's perspective, not the magician's perspective. You can do amazing stuff with the books you have. But if you are like most of us, you...

I agree that we shouldn't trivialize our magic by saying it is just a trick or explaining that it is sleight of hand. However, I think in most places claiming you have some supernatural power would not be believable in performing magic (mentalism is a completely different discussion). The...

After your date orders her main course, "are you happy with that selection, or would you like to change your mind?" Not that anyone should actually say that in an actual performance.

I didn't know that there was videos of Mark Wilson until I saw your post. I was just going from his book "Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic." Mark Wilson doesn't provide any attribution in his book for this or any other effects that he teaches. I can trace the handling as far back as...