Card Flourishing... A must?

[art-is-a-blast]

Hi, I'm pretty sure this topic came up couple times before, but I just wanted to ask this to everyone who is currently doing card flourishes, actually this question also goes to those of you who don't perform card flourishes. thanks for reading my post and here we go.

ok, i've started doing magic about four years ago, and i believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that back then, card flourishing wasn't really a big thing in magic community. but starting about two years ago I started to notice that alot of the forum members and other well known performers were doing flourishes. but I was never really interested in starting flourishes, but as time goes by I'm starting to feel like I'm not a real magician just because I don't do card flourishings, but I still feel like its just a different genre in magic like how close up magic is different from stage magic, so my question is do you guys think flourishing is a must for all young magicians or do you think its just a different genre in magic that is not required for card magicians? also I beileve that alot of famouse magicians are also not into flourishings(again, correct me if i'm wrong) like dan hauss, daniel garcia, Mr.Blaine, justin miller, and so on.

Again, thanks for taking time to read my post.

 

[jprace]

I don't flourish, and I don't consider flourishing magic. I consider it juggling. You are juggling cards, nothing more.

 

[CaseyC]

i feel the same way as you and that's why i have recently started to learn flourishing like basic sybil cuts and stuff. But i have realized that for some reason, flourishing doesn't excite me as much as magic does. through learning some basic two handed cuts though, i have gained a better appreciation for flourishing and cardistry. before when i would watch a flourish, i would just see it as a bunch of cuts. now i realize truly how much practice is needed to perfect
certain flourishes.
magic is and always has been my main focus and interest.

 

[magicdavid]

It's sure not a must for me......I like not doing something that every magician on earth my age isn't doing.

 

[art-is-a-blast]

it's just that I think flourishing doesn't get you anywhere, I did not mean to offend anyone, its just that layman don't even care about it, all they want is magic effects. they don't want you showing off, and even if i do flourishes, all i'll do is just take videos and put it online to show other magicians how skilled iam, i just think its a selfish form of magic. again no offense to anyone i still think its cool.

 

[copperfield 14]

Justin Miller likes flourishes and it's not a must to learn flourishes.

 

[RXillusionist]

There are certain flourishes that are a MUST for magicians. Enough said.

 

[The Tumbleweed]

I flourish, but magic is my main priority, I just flourish for fun.
A lot of people play soccer, and a few of them juggle the ball for fun, but their main game is on the field. It's the same with magic.

 

[JPIllusions]

you should at least know basic swing cut variations and charlier. And sprining cards and like basic fanning. Just stuff you might actually use in magic

 

[DLeerium]

I flourish, but magic is my main priority, I just flourish for fun.
A lot of people play soccer, and a few of them juggle the ball for fun, but their main game is on the field. It's the same with magic.

Agreed with tumbleweed (that rhymes!)

But yes, I do magic and flourishing, however magic will always come first for me. Flourishing is a way IMO of doing something eye catching and will grab an audiences attention before you perform magic, however it is definitely not necessary.

Like Dan and Dave said, flourishing is like juggling, and even when they perform in real life, they show very little flourishes (to laymens that is).

Flourishing does add a sense of 'skill and dexterity' to your magic, however if your magic is already top notch, then flourishing will do very little.

 

[RDChopper]

well there are also some styles that involve and mix magic ith flourishes....


take brian tudor for an example... he mixes flourishes with magic(almost no patter) and it still is very visual and fun, I kinda like that style sometimes...

yeah! you could come and do a 54 card display with your hands chin and feet, people will applause you, cheer you, but nothing compares to a good old card trick....


have a nice day!

 

[Thatcoolguy612]

i learn flourishes if they have a practical use in magic, all the flourishes i do are false, so if i ever want to make it look like i am further mixing the cards i can, plus it looks pretty impresive. ill also learn a flourish if it has an optional ace or single card production. I also enjoy flourishing because it keeps up your dexterity making learning difficult slieghts just a bit easier( plus you wont have arthritis when you grow up). But answering your question, i dont think it is a must, like i met a magician who performed for the president of the united states...he couldnt even do a swivel cut.

 

[nayost]

agree with most of the above posts. it all depends on what type of character you want your audience to perceive you as. i like to keep things simple and not go over their heads with cuts that they can't follow. but like most said above, practical flourishes such as fanning, swing cut and such are useful and should be in a magician's arsenal.

 

[praetoritevong]

Agreed with tumbleweed (that rhymes!)

But yes, I do magic and flourishing, however magic will always come first for me. Flourishing is a way IMO of doing something eye catching and will grab an audiences attention before you perform magic, however it is definitely not necessary.

Like Dan and Dave said, flourishing is like juggling, and even when they perform in real life, they show very little flourishes (to laymens that is).

Flourishing does add a sense of 'skill and dexterity' to your magic, however if your magic is already top notch, then flourishing will do very little.

Seconded..

 

[Chris W]

The only flourishes that I know are Sybil and my own. But people never really ask me to do a flourish....they always ask me to "do that trick where the aces turn into queens!" Flourishes are awesome in many regards though: for example, lots of people do a flourish to get the attention of others and then use that to perform magic for those people....

 

[jazzhands1]

My 2 cents on this. (I'm in a rush so it'll be short):

You need to know your motive when performing magic. Consider these two scenarios:

1st scenario:
-You perform your set of card tricks. The spectators, of course are amazed. Some might think you seriously do have supernatural powers, especially after doing a mentalism trick (like Stigmata :O).

In this scenario, you did the impossible. If you wanted to convince people of your supernatural powers, you would do these impossible feats with everyday objects.

2nd scenario:
-You perform a flashy routine, combining both flourishes and magic. The spectators are impressed, of course, but this time they think that you just did something tricky with the cards - no real magic involved.

Here, the spectators are impressed. You obviously displayed great skill with the pasteboards in both flourishing and magic. This time, they are more likely to think you "manipulated" the cards, rather than using your "magic" abilities.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In addition, think about flourishing itself. Do you like the artform? Or do you like being known as a "cardsharp"?

I myself do both magic and flourishing. Rather than showing that I have supernatural powers, I prefer to show that it's an illusion with normal, everyday objects. You could say I belong to the group of 2nd scenario magicians.
And, I enjoy flourishing. It's fun to be the "cardsharp" at parties and showing your skill. It also keeps my fingers loose for my other hobbies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's your choice.

(sorry, i'm in a rush)
JAZZ