GIMMICKS vs SLEIGHT
I listened to the roundtable discussion of Wayne Houchin, and part of what he said is that "Why go through all the technicality in trying to achieve a card transpo with an ordinary deck of cards, if you can easily use a duplicate to do it."
Personally, I disagree with this. A card transpo can be done with little technicality even without the use of a gimmick.Don't get me wrong gimmicks are fun and hell easy to use. But in my opinion, it takes away the power from the magician.Why?Duplicates,gimmicks, blank cards etc, may give a lasting impression to the spectators, but after that what?
Let's say you'll meet the same group of spectators again and that they want you to perform the trick you did for them previously.(This might sound like breaking the rules, but look it up, Jay Sankey had a principle that states that fulfilling request can be done in magic just like repeating a trick, but you have to set conditions for the spectators to do so)(Joshua Jay also states the application of the Ham Sandwhich Effect in his book)What will you do?
Lets say you did a mindblowing torn and restored effect using a gimmick. And out of the blue you are requested to do the same trick again?(either in the near future or in a different group who previously learned about your effect)Let just say that you're caught impromptu.WHat will you do?
Man,in my opinion, it sucks to tell eager spectators that you can't do the trick for them. Of course you can't tell them that you left the gimmick in your jeans last week. That's a major no no...This is what I mean by gimmicks take your power away from you.
On the other hand, if your magic is purely sleight of hand, but uses a variety of ordinary objects, an impromptu issue would be nothing. You can easily apply the Ham Sandwhich effect.
Sleight of hand skills are the very treasures that a magician keeps. Even without a medium (gimmick)these talents have the power to bend reality for the spectators.
In card magic, well, a large variety of gaff cards had been printed daily...But ask yourself, will these things give me power or take it away from me?Duplicates in my opinion only serve as lazy means for a magician. It makes even the props illogical.
Where in the world can you find a deck of cards with two ace of spades?None.The only reason a person uses it or keeps it in a deck is to fool the next group.What if they request you to do it with their own deck of cards?
Can you do it?
But with sleight of hand and your performing style, as well as your repertoire, these are,for me,the tools of a great magician.Don't worry about a card transpo without a dupe, that's what the sleight of hand artists in theory11 are here for, to make the impossible-possible.
I salute those artists that find innovative ways to achieve a certain effect without gimmicks and funny props, for you are giving power to magician, rather than taking it away from them...
I listened to the roundtable discussion of Wayne Houchin, and part of what he said is that "Why go through all the technicality in trying to achieve a card transpo with an ordinary deck of cards, if you can easily use a duplicate to do it."
Personally, I disagree with this. A card transpo can be done with little technicality even without the use of a gimmick.Don't get me wrong gimmicks are fun and hell easy to use. But in my opinion, it takes away the power from the magician.Why?Duplicates,gimmicks, blank cards etc, may give a lasting impression to the spectators, but after that what?
Let's say you'll meet the same group of spectators again and that they want you to perform the trick you did for them previously.(This might sound like breaking the rules, but look it up, Jay Sankey had a principle that states that fulfilling request can be done in magic just like repeating a trick, but you have to set conditions for the spectators to do so)(Joshua Jay also states the application of the Ham Sandwhich Effect in his book)What will you do?
Lets say you did a mindblowing torn and restored effect using a gimmick. And out of the blue you are requested to do the same trick again?(either in the near future or in a different group who previously learned about your effect)Let just say that you're caught impromptu.WHat will you do?
Man,in my opinion, it sucks to tell eager spectators that you can't do the trick for them. Of course you can't tell them that you left the gimmick in your jeans last week. That's a major no no...This is what I mean by gimmicks take your power away from you.
On the other hand, if your magic is purely sleight of hand, but uses a variety of ordinary objects, an impromptu issue would be nothing. You can easily apply the Ham Sandwhich effect.
Sleight of hand skills are the very treasures that a magician keeps. Even without a medium (gimmick)these talents have the power to bend reality for the spectators.
In card magic, well, a large variety of gaff cards had been printed daily...But ask yourself, will these things give me power or take it away from me?Duplicates in my opinion only serve as lazy means for a magician. It makes even the props illogical.
Where in the world can you find a deck of cards with two ace of spades?None.The only reason a person uses it or keeps it in a deck is to fool the next group.What if they request you to do it with their own deck of cards?
Can you do it?
But with sleight of hand and your performing style, as well as your repertoire, these are,for me,the tools of a great magician.Don't worry about a card transpo without a dupe, that's what the sleight of hand artists in theory11 are here for, to make the impossible-possible.
I salute those artists that find innovative ways to achieve a certain effect without gimmicks and funny props, for you are giving power to magician, rather than taking it away from them...