jigsaw
Thank you for all your responces, they have been most insightful. I know at writing this thread has basically died so I would like to quickly mention how I as an individual look at my own magic.
There is a quote by Aaron Fisher that I always think about which basically says that our job as magicians is to provide pictures throughout the trick that the audience will remember and think about after.
I must say that I agree with this statement as almost everything I personally partcipate in outside of magic I have pictures of the memory. Anyway when I attempt to construct presentations and methods for my magic I try to imagine a jigsaw. The pieces of the jigsaw are the slights I use, the structure of the pieces together make up the overall method for the trick, the colour of the jigsaw is my presentation and the final image is the different pictures which I hope my audience will remember. I realise that this sound vague but I try to break everything down to individual elements to try to find the most efficient and entertaining way.
Everyone can do a trick but this to me is a very black and white picture. This is the main reason why I feel that there is a lack of creativity in the performance area of magic. I like to keep things as simple, slight and concept, as possible I don’t want to distract the attention of the audience with my hands near the deck.
I’ll run through the loose presentation of my favourite trick that I perform, the classic chicago opener. I use a blank backed duplicate to fit in with the presentation...
'have you ever heard of the old saying as white as a sheet?'
...responce...
'you know when someone is scared their skin turns white, as white as a sheet'
'here take/pick one i'll show you what I mean'
I offer the cards to the audience to be remembered and replaced
‘now your going to scare your card, scream at the deck’
Normally the audience member screams but not that loud, if I am working for a group I say this.
‘in fact lets get everyone to scream at the cards’
This eases the tension that the first spectator is feeling allowing everyone to let go and interact with the trick that is happening. Even though no cards are being handled.
‘lets see if that worked’
I spread though the deck finding the blank backed duplicate, I won’t go in to the whole method as I realise that the majority of magicians here know how the trick works.
Before I turn over their first selection I ask for the selection to be named. This is for the main reason that the audience member to think about the card so there is misdirection to perform a spread center double lift, which is similar to the paintbrush change. I have opted for this style of double as traditionally in this effect the cards above the blank duplicate are cut to the bottom. If this approach is taken I have found that you would have no room for error for your double as all the audience attention is drawn on the deck, significantly increasing the chances of being caught out.
When the audience are reacting I turn the double over.
‘that was quite good, here hold this’
I put the blank card on the spectators hand asking them to place their thumb on top. I force the duplicate in to another member of the audience handing them the deck. Normally I would step backwards a pace. Everything is in the spectators hands I am clean to build up the effect.
‘lets scare another card making it white again, scream as loud as you can’
I go through the screaming procedure again and I let the audience members spread through the deck. During this period if they are taking a long time to spread I ask what their card was to relive the tension and natural build up.
After the card has been named I pause or say ‘sorry what was that again?’
I point to the blanked backed duplicate an ask for it to be turned over.
I have posted a video of this presentation on the Go Out Perform thread although some of the patter at the beginning has been missed out.
I realise that everyone looks at their magic differently, I guess this is just my small unique blend. I hope that all of you have enjoyed reading this.
Until next time
Matt